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6 kid-friendly barbecue ideas that are way healthier and tastier than hot dogs

Here are our favorite barbecue recipes for the kiddos

Holly Riddle
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Looking for kid-friendly barbecue ideas? It’s no secret that (most) kids love hot dogs, but if you’re catering to a mixed group of kids and adults, you probably don’t want to limit your barbecue menu to those yummy-yet-mysterious meat cylinders. As tasty as they might be, hot dogs aren’t exactly the healthiest item you could eat. And while easy and stress-free to prepare, they’re not exactly impressive to either your taste buds or your guests. So, instead of the hot dogs, throw something on the grill that’s healthy, delicious, and fun for everyone. 

Here are six kid-friendly grill ideas that are sure to please. 

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Grilled Flatbreads: Choose your favorite toppings 

Who doesn’t love pizza? While flatbreads aren’t precisely pizza, they are a pretty good stand-in, and one that both adults and kids can get behind. Let the kids help build their own flatbreads and then top the adults’ versions with something a little more upscale. You can use pre-made flatbreads if you’re not in the mood to cook up your own dough. They’ll cook quickly on the grill and you won’t even need to preheat the oven. 

We like this grilled pesto chicken flatbread recipe for the adults, but you can offer the kids other, more traditional pizza toppings, such as marinara, mozzarella, pepperoni, and more. 

Barbecue chicken on a platter on a table

Honey barbecue grilled chicken as a crowd pleaser

Barbecue chicken is always a winner. Kids like chicken tenders in general, and most adults like barbecue. If you have a particularly picky child, then you may want to grill a few plain chicken tenders on the side, so they can choose to dip them in honey mustard, barbecue sauce or ranch, or just eat them as is. 

Serve this honey barbecue grilled chicken with a side of freshly grilled corn on the cob, a salad, and some lightly grilled bread (a deceptively easy process) and you have an all-grill dinner that’s perfect for summer and pretty healthy too. 

Healthy birthday fruit kabobs on the party table

Grilled fruit kabobs for a fun, healthy dessert

The barbecue isn’t only for your savory dishes. You can pop your dessert on the grill as well, for a fun and impressive way to conclude any summer meal. These grilled fruit kabobs are a hit with both adults’ and kids’ palates. Adults love the caramelized fruit and kids love finger-friendly foods and anything on a stick.

Like the grilled flatbreads above, this is another recipe that you can personalize to fit your family’s tastes, and one that you can change up for the kids and adults. Maybe the adults want all strawberries and pineapple, while the kids want all bananas and melon. Whatever the case may be, this recipe breaks down the process step by step. 

Slices of ham rolled up

Grilled ham and pineapple kabobs for a tropical twist

Keeping with the kabob theme, if you’re looking for an alternative to your traditional savory kabobs (you know the ones — with chicken or beef cubes, plus peppers, onions, and mushrooms), you may want to try these Hawaiian-inspired grilled ham and pineapple kabobs. Sweet and fun for the entire family, they cook quickly and go great with a side of a salad or rice. 

Get the kids in on making the kabobs for extra family fun in the kitchen. After you’ve sliced your ham and diced your pineapple, invite the kids to help slide everything onto the wooden skewers.

Grilled vegetables on skewers

Grilled veggies with smoky honey mustard

Trying to get the kids to eat more veggies? In the mood for a veggie plate, but not sure if the kids will raise a ruckus if that’s all you serve them? While a typical “trick” for getting your kids to eat their veggies is to hide them under an inconspicuous cheese sauce, why not opt for a healthier, dairy-free honey mustard? 

That’s exactly what this grilled veggie plate recipe does. You’ll get all the health of grilled veggies, but the tastiness of a more familiar sauce, plus the fun of dipping and eating with your hands. While this recipe focuses on zucchini, squash and bell peppers, you can do the same with other veggies that you think your kids might enjoy. 

Quesadillas beside tray of dips and lime slices

Grilled corn and black bean quesadillas 

Quesadillas are sure to be a crowd-pleaser, no matter the age of the crowd. This quesadilla recipe is packed with veggies and yummy ingredients that the adults will love, while kids will enjoy the cheesiness and finger-friendliness, while still getting in a serving or two of healthful veggies. The quesadilla recipe is even paired with an avocado, cherry tomato and cayenne-infused salsa, for fun dipping.

You’ll need to grill your corn, zucchini, and scallions for the quesadillas, but that can be done ahead of time, if needed, and then the ingredients can be refrigerated, until you’re ready to cook the quesadillas either outside on a grill pan or inside on your favorite heavy skillet. 

Family eating dinner outdoors

Go beyond hot dogs for your next grill session

Go beyond boring for your next barbecue. Ditch the hot dogs and opt for a healthier dinner that incorporates veggies, fruits, and all your favorite barbecue flavors. It’s easier than you think, thanks to these six family-favorite recipes. The best part? All these recipes are customizable, so you can adjust the ingredients to fit your finicky family’s tastes or even just those of your family’s smallest palate.

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Holly Riddle
Holly Riddle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Holly Riddle is a freelance food, travel and lifestyle journalist, who also dabbles in copywriting, ghostwriting and fiction…
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