Find the best gluten free dairy free recipes that are kid-friendly, great for meal prep, and perfect for back-to-school season when life gets a busier. We’re even sharing a complete list of ingredient staples, storage tips, and more to make meal times a breeze!
Kid-Friendly Dairy Free Meal Prep
One of our favorite life hacks to staying on track with nutrition is having meals prepared and ready to go in advance. Then, when hunger strikes, all you have to do is heat them up! However, creating recipes that are both nutritious and kid-approved isn’t always easy. Until now, that is!
To make life a little easier and meal times a lot less stressful, we’ve gathered up our favorite kid-friendly gluten free dairy free breakfasts, snacks, lunches, and dinners just for you. We’re even giving you a grocery list, too! The best part? They’re all super easy to prepare, filled with good-for-you ingredients, and always delicious!
Staple Ingredients for Gluten Free Dairy Free Recipes
A common misconception when it comes to eating dairy free is that you’ll have to give up rich textures and cheesy flavors, but that isn’t the case! You just have to get a little creative in the kitchen.
Take a look at all of our favorite gluten free dairy free swaps and substitutions here. In the meantime, some of our go-to staple ingredients include:
Gluten Free Staples
Dairy Free Staples
- Nutritional Yeast
- Coconut Milk or Cream
- Olive Oil
- Hemp Milk
- Oat Milk
- Almond Milk
- Raw Cashews
Tips for Storing and Reheating
If you think meals are always best served fresh, think again! These tips will ensure that even leftovers taste brand new.
Freeze Individual Portions. For foods like muffins, cookies, and snacks, try wrapping each serving individually and storing them all together in a sealable bag. Then, when you’re ready to eat, all you have to do is grab and defrost one rather than a whole batch.
Keep Broth and Non-Dairy Milk on Hand. The easiest way to spruce up leftover soups, pastas, and casseroles that have gone a bit dry is to add a splash of broth or dairy free milk as they warm back up. This will not only help liquefy the sauces but will also enhance the flavor.
Prepare Ahead of Time. It’s always best to let frozen leftovers thaw in the fridge overnight rather than trying to get them to thaw quickly. So, if you can, try to prepare in advance, and move foods from the freezer to the fridge the night before. Then, all you have to do is warm them back up!
Utilize Your Favorite Tools. Kitchen gadgets are your best friends when it comes to kid friendly dairy free meals. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of the Instant Pot, crockpot, air fryer, and more for easy reheating!
Kid Friendly Dairy Free Recipes
In case you didn’t already know, everything we do at Cotter Crunch is gluten free. However, we do our best to try to accommodate all dietary needs. Therefore, the recipes below are dairy free and often have ingredient alternatives to meet all your needs!
Dairy Free Breakfasts and Snacks
Boston Cream Pie Oatmeal – A superfood breakfast treat, this oatmeal is made with a boost of protein and natural ingredients for a satisfying dairy free breakfast that tastes like dessert.
Almond Butter Breakfast Cookies – This wholesome healthy recipe is made with simple ingredients and no refined sugars so you can have cookies for breakfast guilt free!
Egg Wraps – Made with just 2 ingredients and high in protein, these wraps are quick to whip up and easily customizable with all your favorite fillings.
Gluten Free Zucchini Muffins – Made with fresh produce, dark chocolate chips, and a blend of gluten free flours, these muffins are soft, fluffy, naturally sweetened, and full of fiber to keep you full.
No Bake Cowboy Cookie Energy Bites (Vegan Option) – Made with better-for-you ingredients, this gluten free dairy free breakfast recipe is everything you love about cowboy cookies in the convenience of a no bake bite.
Dairy Free Chia Pudding with Peaches – Loaded with fresh fruit, chia seeds, and plant-based protein, this breakfast is quick to prepare and guaranteed to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Grape Smoothie – Sweet, refreshing, and ready in minutes, this dairy free smoothie can easily be customized with add-ins like gluten free oats, chia seeds, and plant-based protein for a crowd-pleasing recipe.
Dairy Free Lunches
Gluten Free Vegan Sandwiches (3 Ways) – It doesn’t get any easier (or more delicious) than a loaded sandwich. These options are made with gluten free bread and plant-based ingredients and are loaded with flavor so good everyone will be begging for seconds.
Broccoli Cheese Soup with Cauliflower Sweet Potato Tots – Bursting with classic cheesy flavor – just without the cheese, the only thing that can make this soup better is a side of tots that are secretly full of veggies.
Strawberry Salmon Salad with Gluten Free Crackers – A fun twist on classic chicken salad, this recipe is a great source of protein, omega fatty-acids, and vitamin C! Decadent and creamy, it’s perfect when scooped up with your favorite homemade gluten free crackers.
Note: If you want to save some time, feel free to use store-bought crackers like our favorite here instead!
Dairy Free Dinners
African Peanut Stew – The easiest weeknight comfort food, this recipe is warm and hearty for the perfect stew. Make it on the stove, in the crock pot, or even with an Instant Pot. Vegetarian option!
Reader Review: “This was so delicious! We used chicken thighs and paired it with brown jasmine rice for a hearty winter meal. Our 7 year old loved it and asked for seconds. Next time we will try the chickpeas for a veggie version. Love that it can be made mild or spicy to taste.” -S Mears
Gluten Free Slow Cooker Spaghetti – Your favorite family dinner just got better thanks to tender gluten free noodles and a flavorful pasta sauce stuffed full of veggies.
Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie – Warm, hearty, and quick to prepare, this Shepherd’s Pie is a lower carb recipe made with veggies and protein.
Pork Chops Marmalade – Sweet and tangy, these pork chops are a one pan recipe that is naturally gluten free, dairy free, and grain free.
Greek Quinoa Burgers – A nutrient-rich powerhouse, this recipe is the “meatiest” plant based burger you’ll ever taste. Rich in flavor, they’re a great addition to any meal! Vegan friendly.
Downloadable Grocery List
Now that you have all the gluten free dairy free recipes you could need, we’ve made things even more simple with this downloadable grocery list. Find everything you’ll need below, and go ahead and click the link here to print it off for easy shopping!
More Family Friendly Meals Plans
Looking for more kid friendly meal plans to make your meal prep easy? We’ve got you covered with these options! All of the recipes are always gluten free and easily adaptable to fit your family’s dietary needs.
