10 Healthy Chicken Recipes & Its Benefits for Children

Having a toddler in the house must be tough as you are always running behind him/her with a plate full of food in your hand, trying your best to feed your child. Toddlers are at this amazing age where their development and growth takes place at a spontaneous rate, which is why you must be prepared to serve all kinds of food to your child. Different kinds of food carry versatile proteins, vitamins and minerals, all necessary for your child’s growth, hence you need not be biased to any of them, but always be sure to keep your options open. If you happen to be a non-vegetarian, then the chicken is the first food item that comes to your mind. It is time that you introduce this amazing meaty dish to your child since it contains a lot of health benefits. Rich in protein, phosphorus, selenium, and niacin, chicken offers several health benefits to your little one. 

Homemade Chicken Recipes Options for Children

If you are planning to introduce this meat to your child’s diet and have no way to figure out the same, worry not as you have come to the right place. We have a list of healthy chicken recipes for kids that your child will drool over once he/she gets the taste of it. Find some homemade chicken recipes for kids. Children can be fussy eaters and hence there are a number of kid-friendly chicken recipes available for you to try out.

Recipe #1. Spinach & Chicken Quiche

How about adding some greenery to the red meat for your little one? Spinach and chicken quiche are loaded with protein, iron and carbs and also a great way to trick your picky eater to eat some greens.

You will need:

• Some fresh spinach or frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 1 10-inch pie shell/crust (unbaked)
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• Salt and pepper to taste

Also Read: Yummy Overnight Oats Recipes For Your Child

How to Prepare:

• Sprinkle 1 cup cheddar cheese on the pie crust and set it aside
• Add the cooked chicken, onion, 1 cup spinach and the remaining cheddar cheese in a bowl, and stir to mix them well
• Spoon the chicken mixture into the pie shell and spread it evenly
• Add milk, eggs, salt, pepper, and mayonnaise in another bowl and whisk. Pour this over the pie mixture
• Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes or until the knife comes out clean
• Let it sit for 20 minutes
• Serve it hot

Recipe #2. Chicken Sausage & Hash Brown Breakfast

This dish will make up for an amazing, tasty, yet healthy breakfast recipe for your child.

You will need:

• 3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
• 6 chicken sausage patties
• 6 slices rye bread
• 6 slices Gouda cheese
• 6 slices cheddar cheese
• 4 tbsp butter

How to Prepare:

• Cook the hash browns as per the instructions on the package and set them aside
• On a skillet, cook the sausage patties until they turn brown. Set them aside
• Heat a pan on medium heat. Butter one side each of the bread slices and put two of them in the pan, butter-side down
• Top each bread slice with two cheese slices, sausage patty, hash browns and two slices of cheddar cheese. Cover with the remaining bread slices, butter side up
• Cook each side for three to five minutes or until each side turns light brown and until the cheese is melted
• Serve it hot

Also Read: Baked Rice Recipe For Your Child

Recipe #3. Chicken & Egg Hash

This easy chicken recipe is convenient to make, which combines leftover cooked chicken with potatoes and eggs for a healthy meal.

You will need:

• Some bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 2-pound potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 medium-sized bell pepper, diced
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 4 clove garlic
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp thyme

How to Prepare:

• Warm 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook it in the skillet, turning it every ten minutes, until it is golden brown on both sides
• Drain the fat and add the chicken broth to the skillet and cook it on low flame for 45 minutes
• Remove the chicken and shred the meat. Skim the fat from the remaining liquid and set it aside
• Cook potatoes in a pot of water for 5 minutes. Bring it to a boil and then drain the saltwater
• Heat the remaining oil in the skillet and sauté the potatoes, onions, bell pepper, and whites of the scallions for 5 minutes. Season with thyme and paprika and sauté for four more minutes
• Add the chicken and sauté for 5 minutes and then add the reserved liquid, as needed, and cook
• Take it off the heat and sprinkle the greens of the scallion on top
• Serve it hot

Recipe #4. Chicken Mayo Sandwich

The name itself says how easy and quick this is to prepare for your child. Just give a few minutes to the preparations and soothe your child’s hunger pangs in no time with this meaty dish loaded with nothing but nutrients.

You will need:

• 850g broiler chicken
• 2 cups mayonnaise
• 14 bread slices
• 80g butter
• 4 tbsp celery, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste

Also Read: Spinach For Babies- Nutritional value, Health Benefits and Recipes

How to Prepare:

• Clean and wash the chicken and boil it in 3 cups of mildly salted water. Cook till it is tender and shred the meat
• Add mayonnaise, celery, and pepper to the cooked chicken and mix well
• Butter the bread slices, you can trim the sides if you want
• Place the bread slices on a plate, with the butter-side up and top it with a teaspoon or two of the chicken mayo mixture and spread it evenly
• Cover it with another slice of bread, with the butter-side down and press it to make the sandwich
• Cut the bread diagonally and serve

Recipe #5. Baked Honey Mustard Chicken

This recipe is a real time-saver for you. So when you are in a hurry and have very little time to do the preps, turn to this recipe for your child’s healthy snack.

You will need:

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup prepared mustard
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Grease a baking dish and place the chicken pieces in it. Sprinkle salt and pepper over them
• In a small bowl, combine mustard, basil, parsley, and paprika and mix well. Pour half of this liquid over the chicken and brush it evenly
• Bake the chicken for 40 minutes and flip the chicken pieces to the other side. Pour the remaining liquid over the chicken pieces and bake for another 20 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink and juicy
• Let it sit for 15 minutes after it is cooked and serve

Recipe #6. Baked Spaghetti with Chicken

If your child is in the mood for Italian, just toss with chicken with spaghetti and you will create one healthy dish for your young one.

You will need:

• 5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 2 pound processed cheese food, such as Velveeta
• 1 pack spaghetti
• 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 pinch garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

• In a large pot of boiling water, add a little salt and the chicken. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the water and let the broth continue to boil
• Shred the chicken and set it aside
• Add the spaghetti to the boiling broth and cook until soft, or for 8 to 10 minutes. Once done, drain the broth and return the spaghetti pot to the stove
• Add the soup, the shredded chicken, tomatoes, cheese, and chilli peppers. Season with garlic powder. Add the salt and pepper to suit your taste and cook for a minute or two or until the cheese is melted
• Serve it hot

Recipe #7. Chicken Burgers

This is one chicken recipes for toddlers that your child just can’t deny. Go ahead and try it right away!

You will need:

• 2 pounds ground chicken
• 2 pack burger buns
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 4 garlic cloves minced
• 1 onion, finely grated
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare:

• Combine the chicken, egg, a quarter cup of bread crumbs, garlic, salt, and pepper and mix well. Take two tablespoons of this mixture into your moistened hands and shape them into flat patties
• Spread the remaining breadcrumbs on a plate or a shallow dish and roll the patties in them
• Heat the olive oil on medium heat and put the patties in it
• Cook them until both sides of the patties turn brown
• Serve it with ketchup

Recipe #8. Tango Mango Chicken with Rice

It’s the Alphonso season! This tasty treat involves a hint of chicken, rice and mangoes, all tossed together. If your mouth is filled with saliva already, then check out the recipe now.

You will need:

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 5 cups cooked white rice
• 2 can mango slices
• 2 onions, cut into thin slices
• 2 yellow and red bell peppers each, cut into long strips
• 2 chilli pepper, minced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups plum sauce

How to Prepare:

• Heat the oil in a skillet and stir in the onions and red and yellow bell pepper strips. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until they become soft
• Add the chilli peppers and stir for another three minutes, or until you get an aroma of cooked chilli
• Stir in the chicken and the mango slices with the juice, and let it cook for about ten minutes or until the chicken is no longer tender and pink in the centre. Turn the chicken to let it cook evenly on both sides
• Add the plum sauce and cook until the sauce thickens
• Pour this over cooked white rice

Recipe #9. Baked Chicken Nuggets

No child can say ‘No’ to nuggets. So try out this recipe and let your toddler lick his/her finger till the end.

You will need:

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 1 cup grated parmesan
• 2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 2 tbsp dried thyme
• 2 tbsp dried basil
• Salt to taste

How to Prepare:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a cookie sheet and set it aside
• Cut the chicken breasts into 1½ inch sized cubes
• Combine the breadcrumbs, cheese, basil, thyme, and salt in a bowl and mix them well
• Keep the melted butter in a separate dish for dipping
• Dip the chicken pieces in the butter and then coat with the breadcrumb mixture and place them on the greased cookie sheet
• Bake for 20 minutes and serve it fresh hot with ketchup or a mint dip

Recipe #10. Chicken Noodle Soup

When your child craves for a snack and you want to make him/her something light, chicken noodle soup is the perfect dish to your rescue.

You will need:

• 3 cups egg noodles
• 14 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups diced, cooked chicken meat
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 2 cups chopped celery
• 1 cup of water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 2 tbsp salt
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tsp poultry seasoning

How to Prepare:

• Bring salted water to a boil in a large bowl. Add oil and egg noodles and let it boil for another 10 minutes. Once the noodles are cooked, drain the water and set it aside
• In a large saucepan, combine the broth, poultry seasoning, and salt. Once it starts boiling, stir in the onion and celery. Cover it with a lid and let it simmer on low heat for 20 minutes
• In another small bowl, mix the cornstarch thoroughly with water, until it fully dissolves. Add it to the soup gradually, while stirring constantly
• Stir in the noodles and heat for a while
• Sprinkle it with some pepper and serve it hot

Benefits Of Chicken For Your Child

Here, we need to know chicken recipes benefits for our children. Must read this.

1. It helps build muscles
2. Keeps bones healthy
3. Boosts immunity
4. Promotes a healthy heart
5. Develops your child’s brain faster

With such amazing benefits that chicken has in store for your toddler, it is time that you try out these easy recipes and feed your child with chicken often. Once your child develops a taste for it, he/she will definitely ask for more.

Did you like the blog? Did you find it useful? Do share your thoughts with us in the comments section below; we’d love to hear from you.