20 (Secretly) Veggie-Packed Recipes for Picky Eaters

Updated May 01, 2019
Credit: Sara Tane

Parents of picky eaters, this one's for you! From spaghetti squash to beet chips, we've found 20 veggie-packed twists on kid-friendly favorites. Trust us—these healthy recipes with hidden vegetables will win over even the fussiest kids. 

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Sea Salt and Vinegar Zucchini Chips

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Hadduck Hillegas

Sea Salt and Vinegar Zucchini Chips Recipe

Light, crisp, and just as good as their junk-food counterparts, these veggie chips are a revelation. Malt vinegar is made from fermented ale and is mildly sweet. If you prefer a sharper flavor, substitute cider vinegar or white vinegar. The best way to get uniform slices? Use a mandoline.

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Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Zapalowski

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Recipe

When life gives you too much zucchini, make this chocolate zucchini bread. Moist enough to feel like a cake, this recipe is a great way to use up excess zucchini as well as sneak vegetables into a sweet treat. There’s plenty of chocolatey flavor, so the entire family will love this healthier take on zucchini bread. Plus, it easily doubles and freezes well, so you can enjoy it even after summer ends. 

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Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach Recipe

Bake the squash in advance to shorten prep time; squeeze the noodles dry, and store in a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.

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Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash

Credit: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe

(Used on Day 2 and Day 3)

This recipe goes with: Pan-Seared Shrimp with Rosemary Spaghetti Squash, Greek Spaghetti Squash Toss

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Crispy Air Fried Sweet Potato Wedges

Credit: Adam Hickman

Crispy Air Fried Sweet Potato Wedges Recipe

Side dish or snack? We say both! If you think sweet potatoes are just for Thanksgiving, give these spicy wedges a try. The smoky spice blend is easy to whip up ahead of time, but the potatoes are best eaten while hot. Though it’s tempting to crowd the air fryer basket and cook everything in one batch, resist the urge—air flow is crucial for maximum crispiness. Not a fan of cilantro? Try basil, parsley, or fresh thyme leaves.

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Cauliflower Pizza Steaks

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Cauliflower Pizza Steaks Recipe

This pizza may not have any dough, but that doesn’t make it any less satisfying. The cheese, meat, and pepperoni come at the forefront, so you get the feeling that you’re eating pizza before you realize you’re eating cauliflower. The crisp, roasted, and slightly salty cauliflower is an easy alternative to a cauliflower-based crust that you can actually pick up with your hands. Plus, no extra equipment, like a food processor, is needed. 

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Cauliflower Piccata

Credit: Meredith Food Studios

Cauliflower Piccata Recipe

These thick cauliflower steaks are cooked through yet firm enough for a meaty bite, making them the perfect keto or meat-free meal. Topped with flavorful sauce, they’re pretty much effortless. To make this dish vegetarian-friendly, simply swap vegetable stock in place of the chicken stock.

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Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Credit: Anna Theoktisto

Air-Fried Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Recipe

Whether you’re having vegetarian friends over to watch the game or you just enjoy recipe mash-ups starring your favorite flavors, these spicy air-fried cauliflower bites check all the boxes. It just takes a smidgen of blue cheese to add a lot of flavor to the quick stir-together sauce. If you’re not a fan of pungent blue cheese, try milder gorgonzola, or even feta. To make this no-fuss recipe even easier, pick up a package of pre-cut cauliflower florets.

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Shrimp Fried Cauliflower Rice

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Shrimp Fried Cauliflower Rice Recipe

This five-ingredient main is a great way to get more seafood into your weeknight rotation. Seek out shrimp that's free of sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), a common preservative that significantly boosts the sodium in your shrimp. Can't find riced cauliflower? Make your own by pulsing cauliflower florets in a food processor until crumbled. Easy!

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2-Ingredient (More or Less) Sweet Potato Pancakes

Credit: Jennifer Causey

2-Ingredient (More or Less) Sweet Potato Pancakes Recipe

Yes, you can make sweet potato pancakes with just two ingredients (give or take)! If you’re a little skeptical, you’ll become a believer after biting into them. They’re simple enough for weekdays, yet feel indulgent enough for weekend brunch. We’ve included a delicious topping that only three more ingredients. Roast a couple of sweet potatoes ahead of time, and try it this weekend!

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Butternut Squash Noodles

Credit: Alison Miksch; Food Styling: Mary Clair Britton and Kady Wohlfarth; Prop Styling: Prissy Lee

Butternut Squash Noodles Recipe

This dish tastes as good as it looks. You can purchase pre-spiralized squash noodles at many grocery stores, so don't worry if you don't have a spiralizer. Trust us, you won't miss the carbs with these easy butternut noodles. 

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Roasted Butternut Squash-and-Spinach Lasagna

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Roasted Butternut Squash-and-Spinach Lasagna Recipe

Talk about the perfect fall dinner. 

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Kale-Ginger Smoothie

Credit: Greg DuPree

Kale-Ginger Smoothie Recipe

Smoothies are a great way to front-load your day with produce and nutrition. Just one serving of this power breakfast offers about two-thirds of the day's calcium and nearly a quarter of potassium in a low-calorie package. Chia seeds amp up fiber and protein, plus they're one of the richest plant sources of heart-healthy alpha-linoleic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid).

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Crispy, Sweet Air-Fried Beet Chips

Credit: Anna Theoktisto

Crispy, Sweet Air-Fried Beet Chips Recipe

Specialty root chips can cost $5 to $6 per bag at the grocery store; save big bucks by whipping up a couple batches in your air fryer. The secret to crispy beet chips is to slice the beets super thin; if your knife skills aren’t Top Chef level, use a mandolin to get wafer-thin slices. Don’t overcrowd the basket; air flow is crucial to getting the chips nice and crispy.

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Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips

Credit: Karen Rankin

Air-Fried "Everything Bagel" Kale Chips Recipe

Welcome to your new go-to snack food—kale chips 2.0! These flavor-packed nutritious chips come out of the air fryer even crispier than they do from your regular oven. Store-bought everything bagel seasoning can be gorged with sodium. Our homemade version delivers the same flavor using staples you probably have hanging out in your spice cabinet. Shop for the perkiest fresh kale you can put your hands on—it yields the crispiest chips.

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Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes

Credit: Victor Protasio

Beet Red Velvet Cupcakes Recipe

Beets act as a natural food coloring and give these cupcakes a tender crumb. Microwaving the beets and adding lemon juice for acidity helps retain their color, making the cupcakes even more red.

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Kale Mashed Potatoes

Credit: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr

Kale Mashed Potatoes Recipe

We stir in a bit of greens to up the nutritional value in Kale Mashed Potatoes. This side dish gets a head start with frozen mashed potatoes.

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Gnocchi with Spinach and Pepper Sauce

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Gnocchi with Spinach and Pepper Sauce Recipe

Our shortcut version of Spain’s beloved romesco sauce boasts all the smoky flavor of the original with a fraction of the prep time. Gluten Free? We like the cauliflower gnocchi from Trader Joe's. 

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Mushroom Bolognese over Spaghetti Squash

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Mushroom Bolognese over Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Go low-carb with hearty spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Cook an extra squash, and store the flesh in ziplock bags for a quick side during the week.

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Dessert Spaghetti Squash with Apples, Walnuts, and Cinnamon Goat Cheese

Credit: Sara Tane

Dessert Spaghetti Squash with Apples, Walnuts, and Cinnamon Goat Cheese Recipe

While a sweet spaghetti squash might sound a little unconventional, it's quite a treat. Accompanied by a warm, buttery cinnamon apple mixture, this squash is packed with festive fall flavors. The simple goat cheese and Greek yogurt mixture is the perfect, creamy component to finish it all off, and you're going to be licking the spoon with this light and healthy topper.

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