15 Recipes to Make With the Kids Before Summer’s Over

This list of 15 Recipes to Make With the Kids Before Summer’s Over is all about simple, hands-on, memory-making food. Think sweet treats they’ll beg to lick the spoon for, and easy, kid-approved savory meals they’ll actually eat without bribery. So grab your little sous chefs and make some magic (and maybe a little mess) together!

Sticky Garlic Chicken Nuggets

A bowl of asian chicken in a white bowl with chopsticks. — Sticky Garlic Chicken Nuggets. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

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Crispy chicken nuggets meet a sticky, tangy homemade garlic sauce in this irresistible recipe. It’s crunchy, saucy, and totally craveable.
Get the Recipe: Sticky Garlic Chicken Nuggets

Peanut Butter Cup Cakes

A tray of cupcakes topped with caramel and popcorn. — Peanut Butter Cup Cakes. Photo credit: One Hot Oven.

These peanut butter cupcakes are topped with caramel icing and Cracker Jack. Yep, peanuts, caramel, popcorn! It’s a cupcake party packed into every bite.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cup Cakes

Wild Blueberries Yogurt Cake

Wild Blueberries Protein Cake. — Wild Blueberries Yogurt Cake. Photo credit: Best Clean Eating.

This no-bake blueberry yogurt cheesecake sits on a nutty crust and packs in 8 grams of protein per slice. It’s low-carb, easy to make, and a total family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Wild Blueberries Yogurt Cake

Peanut Butter Cookies and Cream Bars

These bars are a sweet mashup of peanut butter, cookies, and cream. They’re rich, chewy, and basically impossible to stop snacking on.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Cookies and Cream Bars

Walking Taco Casserole Recipe

A white casserole dish filled with a layered taco salad featuring lettuce, cherry tomatoes, black olives, tortilla chips, and fresh cilantro. — Walking Taco Casserole Recipe. Photo credit: Tiny Batch Cooking.

All the bold, zesty flavors of a walking taco baked into one cozy casserole. It’s fun, customizable, and perfect for quick dinners or solo nights in.
Get the Recipe: Walking Taco Casserole Recipe

Waffle Grilled Cheese

Turns out your waffle iron isn’t just for waffles. Use it to press melty grilled cheese sandwiches with crisp, golden edges and a fun twist.
Get the Recipe: Waffle Grilled Cheese

Vanilla Cake

A slice of pink cake on a plate next to a glass of milk. — Vanilla Cake. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

This simple vanilla cake is a keto-friendly dream. It’s moist, lightly sweet, and perfect for any celebration. Plus, the recipe’s easy to follow from start to finish.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Cake

Peanut Butter Jelly Muffins

Soft oat muffins with a hidden strawberry jelly center. These are peanut butter and jelly, snack-style, and great for both kids and grown-ups.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Jelly Muffins

Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake

Image shows a slice of chocolate frosted chocolate cake on a plate sitting on a wooden table. — Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

This is chocolate cake done right. It’s rich, deeply chocolatey, and unbelievably moist. Perfect for birthdays, bake sales, or just because.
Get the Recipe: Ultra Moist Chocolate Cake

Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese with ground turkey in a pot. — Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

This one-skillet meal is like grown-up Hamburger Helper. It’s packed with veggies, cheddar cheese, and lean ground turkey, and it’s ready in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Air Fryer Nachos

A close-up imag of loaded nachos topped with melted cheese, avocado chunks, black beans, diced tomatoes, green onions, and dollops of sour cream. — Air Fryer Nachos. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Got 10 minutes? You’ve got nachos. These air fryer nachos are cheesy, crunchy, and a super easy snack or quick meal for any time of day.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Nachos

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Chewy, peanut buttery, and sweet, these no-bake rice krispie treats are the kind of snack you’ll keep coming back to. They’re a classic for a reason.
Get the Recipe: Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Cinnamon apple slices on a white plate. — Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Quick, warm, and full of cinnamon flavor, these air fryer apples taste like apple pie without the hassle. They’re ready in minutes and super satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples

Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Quick & Easy!)

Start with canned biscuits and end with warm, cinnamon-sugar donuts. These come together fast in the air fryer and are perfect for breakfast or dessert.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Cinnamon Donuts (Quick & Easy!)

Air Fryer Empanadas

A hand holding a n empanada that is broken open so you can see the inside filling. — Air Fryer Empanadas. Photo credit: All Ways Delicious.

With store-bought pie crusts and seasoned beef filling, these air fryer empanadas are a breeze to make. The crust is flaky and golden, just like you want it.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Empanadas

Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups

Image shows a lasagna roll up on a white plaet. — Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.

Discover the ultimate time-saving hack for lasagna lovers: irresistible lasagna roll-ups that These lasagna roll-ups are everything you love about lasagna but way faster. Easy to make, quick to bake, and perfect for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Weeknight Lasagna Roll Ups