Young Teens in the Kitchen: Easy Holiday Recipes

Do you have a list of life skills for teens that you want your kids to learn before they grow up? I do and teaching them how to cook is at the top. You can use some easy holiday recipes and the excitement of the season to get your middle schooler excited about cooking.

Teens often take great pride in what they create in the kitchen. They love hearing people tell them how yummy their food is – just like we do.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that my girls enjoy helping with anything that has to do with holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. If this sounds familiar, why not take advantage of your children’s interest and invite them in to the kitchen with you this season to help make the family meal?

Now, I’m not saying hand them the recipes and tell them good luck. Nor am I suggesting you start them off with your most complicated dish. Luckily, when it comes to Thanksgiving, it’s simple to find easy-to-prepare recipes, often requiring just a handful of items, that will complement or even enhance your traditional meal.

Even if your standard menu already has a quick dish they could tackle, consider finding something new for your teen to create. They won’t have to worry about recreating a holiday favorite that everyone is looking forward to, and they’ll feel more ownership over the food. Perhaps it can become “their” dish!

Hopefully they’ll have fun and want to join you in the kitchen more often. Wouldn’t it be nice to have help cooking family dinners?

Get your teens in the kitchen this Thanksgiving with some easy recipes.

Side Dishes

5 Ingredient Corn Casserole from Taste of Lizzy T’s

Apple-Orange Cranberry Sauce from Williams-Sonoma

Homemade Succotash from Cooking with Caitlin

Libby’s Pumpkin Muffins from Very Best Baking

Maple Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts from My Man’s Belly

Whipped Sweet Potato Bake from Kraft Recipes

Desserts

Apple Pecan Dump Cake from The Frugal Girls

Caramel Apple Crisp Bites from Princess Pinky Girl

Copycat Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars from The Frugal Girls

Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cakes from Big Mama’s Home Kitchen

Pecan Squares that’ll make you say “How easy is that?” from And they Cooked Happily Ever After

Simple Cinnamon Pumpkin Monkey Bread from Mad in Crafts

Whether your teen starts with a dish for the holiday meal or a regular family dinner, it’s time to get your middle schoolers cooking.

This week we’re talking about Celebrating Thanksgiving with Teens. Discover other ways your older kids can help make the holiday special.

How do you include your teens in the kitchen?

Want more ideas for getting dinner on the table when you’re busy homeschooling? Check out our friends from iHN.

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Megan Zechman

I love homeschooling! Learning is a way of life for our family. Most days you will find us exploring our Central Florida community, having fun while learning. I am constantly looking for new and interactive ways to engage my older children.