Plan a kid-friendly cookout the whole family will love. 5 easy tips from a dietitian + mom of four, plus a simple kid-approved menu and drink ideas.
Planning a kid-friendly cookout this summer? Whether it’s a Fourth of July party, a backyard birthday, or a random Tuesday when half the neighborhood ends up in your yard, feeding a crowd of littles (and their grown-ups) doesn’t have to be complicated.
I’ve hosted my share of cookouts as a registered dietitian and mom of four, and here’s what I’ve learned: the secret isn’t a Pinterest-perfect spread. It’s a little planning and a few simple swaps that keep the kids happy AND let you actually enjoy your own party. Here are my 5 go-to tips for a kid-friendly cookout that feels easy.
An Easy Kid-Friendly Cookout Menu
You don’t need a separate “kids menu” — that’s the beauty of a cookout. Set out one spread and let everyone build their own plate. (This is my Same Dinner, Different Plate approach in action: same food, just plated the way each kid likes it.) Here’s a simple lineup to pull from:
Mains (pick 1–2)
- Hamburgers or turkey burgers with a build-your-own toppings bar
- Hot dogs or chicken sausages — slice into “coins” for little hands
- Grilled chicken skewers
- Cheese quesadillas off the grill for the picky crowd
Easy sides
- Corn on the cob
- Pasta salad or a simple green salad
- Veggie cups with the dip in the bottom — grab-and-go and way more fun
- Watermelon and a big bowl of fresh fruit
Fun for the kids
- Fruit kabobs or watermelon on a stick
- A build-your-own dessert station (let them decorate — the adults will too)
- Need more inspo? Take some time and look through one of my favorite posts: 50 Kid-Friendly Meal and Snack Ideas
Drinks
- Water and flavored water, front and center on hot days
- A kid “mocktail”: 100% juice or lemonade with frozen-fruit ice cubes
5 Kid-Friendly Cookout Tips
1. Make recipes that appeal to both adults and kids. Why make more work for yourself when it comes to the cooking and cleanup? You don’t need to! So I look for easy recipes that I know both kids and adults will enjoy. Lately I’ve been getting a lot of our recipes from my friends over at Healthy Family Project. They have a new FREE e-cookbook, Simply Summer: 20 Fresh Cookout Favorites, filled with fresh, in-season fruits and veggies! Even if you aren’t hosting a summer cookout, you’ve got to download the cookbook and try the PB&J Popsicles. They are Joey’s new favorite!
2. Keep your backyard stocked with toys. Kids need entertainment beyond the food. Yes the kids will eat, but they’ll likely want to play more! From bubbles to soccer balls to hula-hoops to sidewalk chalk, make sure your backyard is stocked with toys. And just in case it rains, keep an episode of Paw Patrol or Daniel the Tiger on deck. If everyone is crammed inside you might want a calming activity for the kids, and an episode of a TV show won’t hurt!
3. Create a special drink for the kids! Essentially this is a mock-tail, but it’s for kids! And your pregnant friends. I’ll usually have 100% fruit juice on hand with frozen berries that can be used as ice cubes. Or better yet, you could make fruit ice cubes for water or lemonade! These are the trays I used below.
4. Ask parents about special dietary needs beforehand. Chances are if you have a friend whose child has a food allergy they’ll let you know or offer to bring something special. I’m sensitive to this because we have family and friends with children who have nut allergies. But if there’s someone new to the group I always ask. The last thing you want is to have a child feel singled out OR have to rush and make something extra last minute. You want to be able to enjoy time visiting with your guests!
5. Have a food activity for the kids. There’s always the make your own ice cream sundae bar, which is a favorite for adults and kids. Beyond dessert, you could have the kids make their own fruit kabobs, or better yet, pizza kabobs! We’ve also had a make-your-own S’more Station, which was fun for both kids and adults! Click here for the pizza kabob recipe.
Oh I just thought of another food activity— involving dessert of course. The kids could decorate their own cannoli cream pie cups! Find the recipe for the cannoli cream pie cups here.
I’d love to hear how you please both kids and adults when planning a kid-friendly cookout!
Looking for more kid-friendly meal ideas? You might enjoy these posts:
Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for Sports Nights
3-Ingredient Dinners Kids Will Actually Eat
Cookouts are the easy part — it’s the weeknight dinners that get you. Grab my free 5PM Dinner Theme Planner and never stare into the fridge wondering “what’s for dinner?” again. Print it, hang it on the fridge, and let the themes do the deciding.
→ Download the Free 5PM Dinner Theme Planner
Feeding a family is a lot — and so is chasing your own nutrition goals in the middle of it. If you’d like one-on-one support from a registered dietitian who gets the chaos of real family life, I’d love to help.
→ Book a Nutrition Counseling Appointment with Katie Serbinski, MS, RDN
