Hello, friends! This Veterans Day, I believe one of the best ways to show our gratitude is by gathering our families and creating something special together. 🇺🇸
Making a meal is a wonderful way to turn our appreciation into action, and it’s even more meaningful when little hands are helping out in the kitchen. ❤️
I’ve put together some of my favorite kid-friendly recipes that are perfect for honoring our heroes and making sweet family memories. ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: Freedom Flag Fruit Skewers
- Most Unique: Patriotic Potato Salad
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Star-Spangled Mac & Cheese
Fun & Patriotic Main Courses
“Brave” BBQ Chicken Drumsticks 🇺🇸
I just love this recipe because it turns dinner prep into an art project! I love this one because even the littlest chefs can help brush on the sauce, making them feel like a real part of the meal prep. It’s a simple step that makes them feel so proud of their contribution.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~45 mins
Best For: A fun, hands-on main course that kids love.
Key Materials: Chicken drumsticks, Your favorite BBQ sauce, Small American flag food picks
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that using a set of mini American flag toothpicks is the perfect finishing touch to make these drumsticks look extra festive on the platter.
Image-1: A platter of glossy BBQ drumsticks with small American flag picks sticking out of a few of them.
All-American Hero Sliders 🇺🇸
This is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser in my house, and the “build-your-own” station makes dinner an interactive activity. My kids love having the freedom to choose their own toppings, and it makes mealtime so much more fun for everyone involved.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: An interactive dinner that lets everyone customize their meal.
Key Materials: Ground beef, Slider buns, Cheese slices, Toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles)
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a non-stick mini burger press helps my kids form perfect little patties every single time, which they absolutely love.
Image-2: A close-up of two assembled sliders on a plate, with a small bowl of ketchup and a child’s hand reaching for one.
Red, White & Blue Themed Pasta 🇺🇸
Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best! The vibrant colors in this pasta make the dish feel extra special for the holiday without any extra work from you. It’s a wonderful, easy way to bring a patriotic touch to the dinner table.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: A quick and versatile weeknight meal with a festive look.
Key Materials: Tri-color rotini pasta, Butter or olive oil, Grated parmesan cheese, Optional: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I always keep a bag of Barilla Tri-Color Rotini Pasta in my pantry because it makes any pasta dish instantly more cheerful and fun.
Image-3: A white bowl filled with the colorful pasta, with steam rising and parmesan sprinkled on top.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Kid-Friendly Side Dishes
Star-Spangled Mac & Cheese 🇺🇸
This is the ultimate comfort food, and the simple star shape trick makes it feel incredibly festive for the kids. When you pull this out of the oven, their eyes will light up! It’s a little bit of magic on a plate.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~40 mins
Best For: A classic comfort food with a delightful patriotic surprise.
Key Materials: Elbow macaroni, Cheddar cheese, Milk & butter, Star-shaped cookie cutter
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A set of nested star-shaped cookie cutters is so versatile for this and many other fun food projects throughout the year.
Image-4: An overhead shot of the golden-brown baked mac and cheese in a casserole dish, with the star shapes clearly visible on top.
Freedom Flag Fruit Skewers 🇺🇸
This is the perfect task for younger kids to keep them busy and proud of their contribution to the meal. My daughter and I made these last year, and she was so excited to show everyone the beautiful, healthy snack she made all by herself.
Details: Difficulty: Very Easy | Time: ~15 mins
Best For: A healthy, no-cook side that toddlers and young children can make.
Key Materials: Strawberries, Bananas, Blueberries, Wooden skewers
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Having a pack of 100 bamboo skewers on hand means you’re always ready for fun and easy projects like this one.
Image-5: A child’s hands carefully threading fruit onto a skewer, with a completed platter of skewers in the background.
Patriotic Potato Salad 🇺🇸
I think this is such a fantastic way to introduce kids to different types of vegetables while sticking to a familiar dish they love. The beautiful colors make this classic side dish look like a celebration in a bowl.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~50 mins (includes boiling)
Best For: A visually stunning twist on a traditional side dish.
Key Materials: Red potatoes, Yukon Gold potatoes, Blue or purple potatoes, Mayonnaise, mustard, celery
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Ordering a bag of mixed “patriotic” potatoes from a grocery delivery service makes finding all three colors incredibly simple.
Image-6: A scoop of the colorful potato salad in a bowl, showing the distinct red, white, and purple potato chunks.
“Stars and Stripes” Corn on the Cob 🇺🇸
This is such a simple, tactile activity that lets kids customize their own food in a fun, thematic way. It’s a little messy, but the smiles you get are more than worth it. It’s all about making food fun!
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~20 mins
Best For: A simple side that lets kids get creative with their food.
Key Materials: Corn on the cob, Butter, Paprika, Corn holders
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A set of star-shaped corn on the cob holders adds that extra little patriotic detail that makes the meal feel complete.
Image-7: A piece of corn on the cob on a plate, with red paprika sprinkled over the yellow kernels, held by star-shaped corn holders.
Quick Tips for Cooking with Kids
- Talk About the “Why.” While you’re cooking, take a moment to explain in simple terms why you’re making a special meal for Veterans Day—to say “thank you” to people who served our country.
- Assign Age-Appropriate Jobs. Give toddlers tasks like stirring cold ingredients or washing veggies. Older kids can help measure, mix, and assemble things like the fruit skewers.
- Prep Ahead. Chop any veggies or measure out spices before you invite the kids into the kitchen. This keeps the process smooth and focused on the fun parts.
- Embrace the Mess! Cooking with kids is messy. Put down a mat, have towels ready, and focus on the memories you’re making, not the flour on the floor.
What Do the Flag Colors Mean?
As you cook with all these reds, whites, and blues, it’s a great time to share what the colors on the American flag stand for! Red symbolizes hardiness and valor (bravery), white stands for purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Your meal is a colorful tribute to these important values.
I hope these ideas inspire you to get in the kitchen with your family this Veterans Day. Cooking together is more than just making food; it’s about creating moments of connection and teaching our children the importance of gratitude. It’s a beautiful way to honor those who have given so much for our country.
Which one of these patriotic recipes will you and your family try first? Let me know in the comments below
