Cooking is an essential skill that our children will use throughout their lives. Fortunately, it’s also an easy skill to teach. No lesson plans or complicated curriculum are necessary; just get your kids in the kitchen and prepare meals together. Younger children will usually be eager to help and can do simple tasks like washing vegetables or mixing ingredients. As they get older, move on to tasks like peeling potatoes and cracking eggs. Later they can begin slicing vegetables and preparing simple dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches and scrambled eggs. As their skills grow, continue to increase their responsibility and freedom in the kitchen. Before long, they will be able to prepare recipes on their own!
Below are some free resources your family can use to prepare meals together and to encourage your children’s interest in cooking. There are downloadable cookbooks, YouTube channels, and more to help teach kids to cook.
This page contains affiliate links. See our complete disclosure for more information.
Free Downloadable Cookbooks for Kids
These downloadable cookbooks are full of simple recipes that will help teach your kids to cook.
ABC Snacks Cookbook– Creative snacks for every letter of the alphabet
Family-Friendly Recipes: Kids in the Kitchen– Age-appropriate recipes for younger children
Keiki Can Cook!– Fun and healthy recipes to make with kids, published by WIC Hawaii
Kids… Get Cookin’!– Fast and fun recipes for kids
A Little Cook Book for a Little Girl– Classic cookbook published in 1905
The Mary Frances Cook Book (or Adventures Among the Kitchen People)– A storybook and cookbook combined, published in 1912
Recipes for Healthy Kids– Created by the USDA
When Mother Lets Us Cook– Recipes for children to make without assistance, published in 1916
When Mother Lets Us Make Candy– Beginning candy making, published in 1915
YouTube Cooking Channels for Kids
Cooking videos are a fun way to teach kids to cook.
Bigger Bolder Baking– Lots of baking recipes
Cook with Amber– The teenage host prepares a variety of recipes
Eats Amazing– Makes healthy food fun
Everyday Food with Sarah Carey– Cooking tutorials that feature simple meals
Family Fun Pack– Kid hosts prepare a variety of recipes.
Hey Kids, Let’s Cook!– Recipes, nutrition, manners, and more
Hoopla Kidz Recipes– Cakes, cupcakes, and more
How to Cake It– Cake decorating
Nerdy Nummies– Baking creations that resemble characters and objects from video games, TV, books, and films
Cooking Websites for Kids
These websites offer recipes, lesson plans, and even a cooking club to help teach kids to cook.
Able2Learn– Step-by-step visual recipes
ChopChop Cooking Club– Children earn virtual patches as they learn cooking skills
Clabber Girl– Baking lesson plans
Cooking with Kids– recipes and how-to videos
Family Consumer Sciences– Lots of lesson plans covering cooking and nutrition
Food Hero– Recipes, activities, coloring sheets, and more
Food Literacy Center– lesson plans covering recipes and kitchen skills
Kids Cooking Activities– a large collection of kid-friendly recipes
The Kids Cook Monday!– Recipes, tips, and more
Home Baking Association– Lesson plans, activities, and age-specific activities
Allrecipes.com’s Kid Chef Recipes– Hundreds of recipes for kids to make
A Guide to Cookery Skills by Age– A helpful guide created by the BBC
Related Posts
Note: This post was originally published on October 9, 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
Our Blog
At the Freedom Homeschooling Blog, you'll find homeschool resources and information, tips for homeschooling on a budget, encouragement, and more! Please follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
