Delightful kids birthday party food ideas! These tasty and nutritious options are sure to bring smiles and excitement to any child’s birthday celebration.
Planning a birthday party for kids involves finding the right balance between foods that are both fun and somewhat healthy.
While treats are a must, it’s also important to include options that provide some nutritional value. To make your planning easier, I’ve compiled a list of creative and somewhat healthy food ideas that are perfect for a kid’s birthday party.
Each of these ideas is designed to be both appealing to kids and straightforward enough for parents to prepare. They also offer variety to cater to different tastes and dietary requirements.
1
Amazing Mac & Cheese Pizza
I love pizza, and I love macaroni and cheese. After lots of experimenting, I figured out a wonderful way to combine the two. The pizza is a big hit among my colleagues, friends and family! —Martha Muellenberg, Vermillion, South Dakota
2
Birthday Cake Fudge
This decadent birthday cake fudge is the perfect thing to make your big day special. Or prepare it ahead and package it as a surprise gift for a friend. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
3
Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Cheeseburger sloppy joes will become your new favorite twist on the classic sandwich. Serve them with fries for a true cheeseburger-inspired meal!
4
Easy Chicken Strips
I came up with these crispy strips one night when I was looking for a fast new way to serve chicken. They also make delightful appetizers, especially when served with barbecue or sweet-and-sour sauce for dunking. —Crystal Sheckles-Gibson, Beespring, Kentucky
5
Slow-Cooker Monkey Bread
I often take this slow-cooker monkey bread to church potlucks—children and adults alike love it! The rum extract is optional. —Lisa Leaper, Worthington, Ohio
6
Contest-Winning Taco Casserole
To make assembly for this taco bake easy, you can prepare the taco meat ahead of time and freeze, or cook the noodles days before for later in the week.
7
BB-8 Cake
This BB-8 cake is easy to assemble and decorate. A cake mix gives you a jump-start so you can spend more time arranging the decorations. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
8
Taco Mac
This zesty taco mac and cheese is just as yummy the next day. Simply warm it up and garnish with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and cheese. —JoLynn Fribley, Nokomis, Illinois
9
Ice Cream Tacos
This Ice Cream Taco recipe is just as much fun to eat as they are to make! They’re the perfect handheld treat.
10
Bacon Cheeseburger Buns
This is a fun way to serve bacon cheeseburgers without all the fuss of assembling the sandwiches to serve a gang. These convenient packets can be dipped into ketchup or barbecue sauce as you eat them. —Marjorie Miller, Haven, Kansas
11
Baby Shark Cake
It doesn’t take much to add a fun theme to a birthday party. This delightfully decorated baby shark cake, plus a few colorful frills, will bring the theme to life. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
12
Chicken Bites with Apricot Sauce
Satisfying a hungry crowd is simple with these oven-baked morsels. The bite-sized chicken pieces are served with an incredibly easy sauce that combines apricot preserves and mustard. —Michelle Krzmarzick, Redondo Beach, California
13
Mac ‘N’ Cheese Soup
I came across this recipe a few years ago and made some changes to suit my family’s tastes. Because it starts with packaged macaroni and cheese, it’s ready in a jiffy. —Nancy Daugherty, Cortland, Ohio
14
Slushy Fruit Salad
This easy make-ahead frozen fruit salad is perfect for a party. There’s no last-minute assembly like you need with a fresh fruit salad.
15
Kool-Aid Pickles
Everyone will love these Kool-Aid pickles. The longer you marinate them, the brighter and more flavorful they’ll be!
16
Puppy Dog Cake
Just a glance at this tasty canine confection is bound to get guests’ stomachs growling! This cake is surprisingly simple to prepare, too. You can easily “groom” this baked treat into a pooch by adding chocolate and a fruit snack to make a friendly face. —Nancy Reichert, Thomasville, Georgia
17
Pizza Tater Tot Casserole
For a spin on a classic casserole, try this easy version. For a fun twist, just add your family’s favorite pizza toppings! —Sharon Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota
18
Oreo Rice Krispies Treats
These Oreo Rice Krispies Treats are chewy on the inside with a crispy, crunchy cookie top. Not only are they tasty, but the crumbled cookies make for a sweet presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
19
Air-Fryer Nacho Hot Dogs
Adults and kids alike will love these Southwest-inspired air-fryer hot dogs. This meal is not only budget-friendly, but it’s hot, cheesy and delicious, too. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
20
Gluten-Free Ice Cream Sandwiches
These chilly gluten-free ice cream sandwiches are perfect for hot, sunny days. The gluten-free chocolate cookie is so tasty you could eat it plain…but you won’t want to miss out on the ice cream! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
21
Mini Burgers with the Works
I started preparing these mini burgers several years ago as a creative way to use up bread crusts accumulating in my freezer. They’re delicious. —Linda Lane, Bennington, Vermont
22
Marshmallow Fruit Dip
You can whip up this sweet and creamy dip in just 10 minutes. I like to serve it in a bowl surrounded by fresh-picked strawberries at spring brunches or luncheons. —Cindy Steffen, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
23
Unicorn Cake
This charming and colorful unicorn cake looks impressive but is actually simple to make. You’ll need edible decorations like glitter, jimmies and more.
24
Unicorn Cake
This charming and colorful unicorn cake looks impressive but is actually simple to make. You’ll need edible decorations like glitter, jimmies and more.
25
Princess Toast
I made these sparkly treats for my daughter’s Brownie troop and they’re great for princess parties. Sometimes I use lemon curd in place of the jam. —Marina Castle Kelley, Canyon Country, California
