So your kids want to make something special for Dad this Father's Day, but you get chills just thinking about letting them in the kitchen. We say let them in and have fun!

With kid-friendly recipes, simple ingredients, and quick cooking times, having the little ones in the kitchen never seemed so fun!

With the recipes below, the kids will feel proud, you won't be stressed, and Dad will feel the love.

Sounds like a great Father's Day to us!

Savory:

1. Kids’ Best Chicken Lo Mein by Mirel Freylich

Seriously—and an adults’ favorite too!

2. Loaded Sheet-Pan Nachos by Chaya Suri Leitner

With the hot summer days coming up, who wants to stand in the kitchen cooking full meals? Especially when the kids always seem to be running to play outside… This makes a great light, fun supper that the kids can eat quickly before running off to play.

3. How to Make Pretzel Dogs by Esty Wolbe

Why bother with crumbly, defrosted hot dog buns when you can wrap your hot dogs in fluffy, salty pretzel buns. Find out how to give them that crisp, pretzel taste and texture with Esty Wolbe!

4. BBQ Chicken Pitas by Adina Silberman

An appetizing sandwich that meets the top two criteria for anyday cooking: crowd-pleasing flavors plus super-easy preparation.

5. Homemade Pizza with Toppings Extravaganza from the Nitra Cookbook

This recipe yields enough dough for three delicious homemade pizza pies. Customize your pizza with these four savory toppings options: sautéed eggplant, sautéed peppers and mushrooms, sautéed vegetables, or sardines with onions and tomatoes. Perfect for pizza night, a Melave Malka, or even a rainy day activity.For another variation, try this pizza dough recipe by Estee Kafra.

6. Maple-BBQ Franks 'n Beans by Miriam (Pascal) Cohen

The alternative (much longer) title for this recipe is “I-need-to-get-supper-on-the-table-in-10-minutes-and-I-need-to-know-that-my-kids-will-eat-it franks ’n beans.” But seriously, this super kid–friendly dish is packed with flavor in just minutes of cooking!

7. Cheese-Stuffed Bread Loaf by Chef Tom Francz

This is a delicious, classy bread, great for company. You can make it out of almost any bread, store-bought or homemade. Your kids will have a great time helping you stuff it, and taking it apart is as fun as creating it.

8. Pretzel Hot Dog Skewers by Esty Wolbe

Sweet:  

9. S’mores Pizza by Elizabeth Kurtz

10. Berry Brightness Smoothie by Faigy Reiner

The tangy taste of the berries combined with the filling and thickening spinach will fill you up and give you a burst of energy.

11. Maple Orange French Toast by Sylvia Fallas

I absolutely love simcha-style French toast. I’ll skip the omelet station, pass over the fresh juice, and go straight to the buttery, syrup drenched French toast! My at-home version is less decadent, but still hits the spot. I use Gefen almond milk to keep it dairy free, and swap the white sugar for orange and maple. This freeze-able recipe is the perfect way to use up extra challah!

12. Shena’s Best Brownies by Shena Dominitz

I have loved brownies ever since I can remember. My Aunt Debbie would bring her perfect little chocolate squares of heaven to our family Shabbat dinners, where we’d steal them before dinner. I love a specifically chewy yet cooked brownie. So keeping in mind the deliciousness of those brownies with the ease of a quick, save-the-day dessert, I share my fast and simple go-to brownies. You can always bring these as your dessert dish or have these as an afternoon snack! Watch Shena make these brownies on Shena's Sweet Spice.

13. Cookie Dough Crispy Treats by Lindsay Landis

Too many adults don’t realize that their five-year-old selves were on to something: crispy treats truly are magical. Adults and kids alike can appreciate this whimsical variation on the classic, with its cookie dough swirls and chocolate chip freckles. It’s a treat no matter what your age.

14. Summer Drinks with Frozen Berries by Esty Wolbe

Want your Summer cocktails and smoothies to sing without getting watered down? Esty’s got the perfect hack for you: Frozen berries! Watch Esty make this smoothie here!

15. S’mores Stuffed Strawberries by Family Table

Watch these S'mores come to life along with 2 other amazing strawberry ideas here!

16. Mini Chocolate-Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches by Victoria Dwek

The perfect size for the mini people in your life!

17. S’mores French Toast by Esty Wolbe

S'mores French Toast is everything we want in this summer's most decadent snack. Spread with Gefen Marshmallow Fluff and Elite Chocolate Spread, then breaded with graham cracker crumbs and fried. Delicious!

18. Layered Parfait by PJ Library

Weekday breakfasts are hectic enough without having to plan around special Passover restrictions. These layered parfaits are so easy to put together that kids can make them on their own. Make a batch together after dinner to save for the morning.

19. Chocolate Chunk Cookies by Esther Deutsch

This is my son’s favorite pudding  cookie, and it never fails to put  a huge grin on his face. We bake these  cookies together regularly, usually on  Friday after school. My son is a picky eater and goes through stages when he’ll eat just pizza and cucumbers and nothing else for weeks and then abruptly tire of them, but he never  needs to be asked twice to eat these  cookies. (I was a notoriously picky  eater myself as a child, and my mom  teasingly refers to this as karmic retribution.) Because these cookies go fast, I use whole-wheat flour—if my children are going to eat that many cookies, they may as well be healthy. Well...healthier, at least.The chocolate chunks give this cookie character and lend a touch of finesse to an otherwise modest chocolate chip cookie. But if you prefer to  save the time needed for chopping the  chocolate, go ahead and use chocolate chips instead.

20. Healthy GF Mini Pancakes with Berries by Shena Dominitz

These gluten free mini pancakes are made with oat and almond flour. Stack them on a skewer with some berries and maple syrup and you have the perfect morning bites! For more delicious cooking, watch Shena Creates.    

Originally published June 2022. Updated and improved June 2025.