If you’re following a gluten-free diet, you’re not going to want to eat ho-hum substitutes while the rest of your family scarfs down the homemade lasagna you made them. And if your kid is the one on a restricted diet, they’re definitely not going to appreciate a special meal either. The good news is there are plenty of easy and kid-friendly gluten-free dinners that the whole family can enjoy—without the extra work (some meals are ready in 30 minutes or less) or FOMO.
From protein-focused dinners, to rice dishes and grain-free meal ideas, here are our favourite kid-friendly gluten-free dinner recipes that are easy enough to make all week long. We’ve even included some keto, paleo and vegan recipes for your gluten-free dinner plan, plus tips for getting your kids involved with meal prep.
Image source: theHUB from Walmart.ca
Ready in: 40 minutes
Why we love it: This easy and kid-friendly gluten-free recipe is better than take-out! It’s crispy, salty, flavourful and everything you crave in a traditional fried rice. If you’re gluten-intolerant, just make sure that the soy sauce and hoisin you use are certified gluten-free. (You can also make this dish keto-friendly by skipping the hoisin or making your own low-carb version.)
How kids can help: With a kid-safe nylon kitchen knife, your child can help with the chopping prep and you can be their best friend for letting them. They’ll also love cracking the eggs and measuring out the cups of frozen vegetables.
Missing any ingredients? Order cauliflower, sesame oil, boneless skinless chicken breasts and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: Crumb
Ready in: 17 minutes
Why we love it: There’s something about salmon—perhaps the richness, fattiness and pretty pink colour—that is very kid-friendly and this dish is no exception. This easy, gluten-free dinner recipe features beautifully glazed salmon skewers on a pile of lacy cucumber spirals and comes together in under 20 minutes.
How kids can help: This kid-friendly dinner recipe calls for a spiralizer to cut the cucumbers, which is great news for parents. The spiralizer is considered one of the safest kitchen tools for kids that like to help out, because the cutting mechanism is fully enclosed[1].
Missing any ingredients? Order cucumbers, shallots, gluten-free roasted salted cashews and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: theHUB from Walmart.ca
Ready in: 45 minutes
Why we love it: Another fun salmon recipe, this twist on sushi makes for an easy, kid-friendly gluten-free dinner. The toppings are easily adaptable to your family’s favourites. If you can get sushi-grade raw salmon, go for it—otherwise smoked salmon does the trick. You can also serve the fresh rice cakes on roasted seaweed sheets. (Kids dig that salty flavour and crunch!)
How kids can help: Your kid will love forming the rice into patties with their hands. (Just make sure they’re well washed!) If they’re still interested in helping after that, they can assemble all the toppings, including smoked salmon, red onion, capers and sesame seeds.
Missing any ingredients? Order premium sushi rice, rice vinegar, sesame seeds and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: Taste Canada Awards
Ready in: 28 minutes
Why we love it: This simplified version of the Thai classic makes an easy, kid-friendly gluten-free dinner—and it’s a great way to use up leftover proteins. Kids love the sweetness and tang of the secret ingredient (ketchup!) and the grown-ups can make it as spicy as they like by kicking up the sriracha.
How kids can help: Your kid will love mixing up the sauce for this one with the aforementioned ketchup and sriracha, plus soy sauce, lime and brown sugar. (Tip: Not all packaged soy sauces are gluten-free, so make sure to check those labels!)
Missing any ingredients? Order gluten-free soy sauce, medium rice noodles, limes and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: theHUB from Walmart.ca
Ready in: 45 minutes
Why we love it: If you’re following a gluten-free or keto diet, you can have your pizza and eat it too. You won’t even miss the regular dough—the texture and mild flavour of cauliflower is the perfect substitute for a low-carb pizza crust.
How kids can help: Leave the food-processing to the grown-ups—your kid will be happy spreading the sauce and topping the pizza with their favourite ingredients.
Missing any ingredients? Order cauliflower, eggs, shredded cheese and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: Bake Eat Repeat
Ready in: 40 minutes
Why we love it: The whole family can get behind this easy and kid-friendly gluten-free chicken dinner recipe. We’re very into the lime and cilantro flavours in the marinade and the kids can always skip the chopped-herb garnish.
How kids can help: Put the kiddo to work washing the rice before cooking—and ask them to wait till the water turns clear. You can even guess how long it will take and time it for a fun little experiment.
Missing any ingredients? Order chicken, long-grain white rice, black beans and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: theHUB from Walmart.ca
Ready in: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why we love it: Even your pickiest eater will like this kid-friendly dinner idea—yet it’s flavourful enough to suit grown-up taste buds too. Make this recipe gluten-free by substituting the sliced bread with gluten-free bread or bread crumbs.
How kids can help: Get those little hands mixing up the ground turkey with the eggs, gluten-free bread crumbs, cooked quinoa, tomato sauce, spices and seasoning. Just make sure they wash with hand soap before and after!
Missing any ingredients? Order extra lean ground turkey, cremini mushrooms, quinoa and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: Elsa Brobbey
Ready in: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why we love it: This rich, flavourful and hearty vegan stew is also naturally gluten-free and paleo without trying too hard to be. It needs to simmer for a while on the stove, but otherwise we appreciate how easy this dinner recipe is to throw together.
How kids can help: Kids and bubbling pots of stew don’t go well together, but under careful supervision, they can help mix the vegetable blend of onion, garlic, leek and ginger with white wine vinegar and water.
Missing any ingredients? Order green lentils, sweet potato, curry powder and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: theHUB from Walmart.ca
Ready in: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why we love it: This light and summery chicken recipe is lemony, garlicky, creamy and so simple to throw onto the grill for an easy and kid-friendly gluten-free dinner.
How kids can help: Get them to whip together the yogurt marinade by simply mixing plain yogurt with lemon, garlic, salt and pepper.
Missing any ingredients? Order yogurt, chicken leg quarters, potatoes and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Image source: Ashley van der Laan (Sweet Potato Chronicles)
Ready in: About 1 hour
Why we love it: These golden and crispy polenta fries are way easier than they look—and we like to keep side dishes interesting so it’s not always rice or potatoes to accompany a kid-friendly gluten-free dinner like chicken or meatballs.
How kids can help: Once the polenta has cooled in the fridge, your child can help cut it into sticks (with a kid-safe knife) and carefully place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Missing any ingredients? Order cornmeal, chicken stock, cheese and more through Walmart.ca Grocery Pickup & Delivery.
Shop Kid-Friendly Gluten-Free Recipe Ingredients
Article Sources
- The Spruce Eats. The Six Best Spiralizers of 2020.
- Healthline. 11 Impressive Health Benefits of Salmon.
- Japanese Cooking 101. Tuna-Mayo Onigiri Recipe.
- Healthline. 11 Proven Health Benefits of Quinoa.
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