27 Quick and Easy Dairy-free Dinner Recipes – Kid Friendly!

Dear Lactose intolerant readers, we haven’t forgotten about you. You might be gutted because you are seeing all these delicious recipes that include dairy products, but you can’t try for yourself, or your kids, friend, or someone in your family is lactose intolerant, and you are struggling to find for them some nice recipe, we have made it easy for you.

You can always rely on us to curate for you the best and most delicious recipes of all worlds and for all diets.

Today, we have compiled 27 Quick and Easy Dairy-free Dinner Recipes for you that are also kid-friendly and perfect for your family gatherings, and sure to please everyone. We’ve got everything you need, from quick weeknight meals to more time-consuming weekend feasts. Let’s get started!

Peanut Butter Chicken Recipe

Peanuts are my favorite dry fruit by far, combined with this cream chicken, it’s an explosion of flavors waiting to happen in your mouth. The chicken cooks in the peanut sauce, which makes it absorb a lot of flavors and taste divine, especially when served with some steamed rice.

Ingredients

• 2TB avocado oil
• 8 chunks of skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 red chilies, finely sliced (deseeded if too hot)
• 2tsp grated ginger
• 2tbs garam masala
• 100g nut butter

Get the recipe here.

Nasi Goreng Bake Recipe

Nasi Goreng is a South Asian dish that combines chicken, shrimp, and eggs on one plate. Yes, you read it right, this combination might sound strange which is totally understandable, but the end result is quite shocking.

These main ingredients balance each other very well and taste amazing with rice, but what brings the whole dish together is the combination of sauces and spices used.

This dish though is a bit chili, but if you have kids or someone who doesn’t like it, you can always omit it, however, I highly recommend you try it with chili at least once for it makes a lot of difference.

Ingredients

• 2 TB oil
• 500g thigh fillet
• 1 onion
• 2-garlic-clove
• 2 tbs manis
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbs sweet chili sauce
• *Optional: 1 tsp sambal oelek
• 2 cups rice

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: Can You Bake a Pie in a Toaster Oven?

Zesty Prawn and Fennel Pasta Recipe

To all my pasta lovers, it’s time to put that tomato sauce on the side for a while. Don’t get me wrong, I’m the biggest pan of pasta with tomato sauce, but you can’t eat all the time and miss out on some great pasta dishes like this one.

This dish has a perfect combination of ingredients that includes, shrimp, fennel, capers, anchovies, chili peppers plus much more. Again, the combination might look a little bit odd, but the taste is excellent, so it will quickly find its way back to your dinners.

Also, if you had a busy day, you can quickly prepare it and serve it in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients

• 400g Casarecce Barilla (see Notes)
• 2 TB olive oil
• chopped anchovies
• 1 long, chopped red chili
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley stems
• 1 tablespoon drained capers
• crushed garlic
• 2 sliced baby fennel bulbs; reserve fronds

Get the recipe here.

Creamy Lamb, Spinach, and Cashew Curry Recipe

If you are looking for a simple but filling family dinner, then look no more because this delicious curry with lamb, spinach, and cashews checks all the boxes. The lamb is cooked with a curry sauce that is creamy but dairy free and infused with so many spices that give a strong but very yummy taste.

The meat comes out so tender and coasted with the sauce, served it with some steamed rice and you’ll have a winner on your hand. This stew is one of those dishes that you must try asap or you will miss out on a lot!

Ingredients

• Cashew oil 50g
• 1 tsp mustard
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 sliced onion
• sliced green chilies
• 2-tbsp grated ginger
• crushed garlic
• red chili flakes
• tsp cumin
• 2 tsp coriander
• 2 tsp turmeric

Get the recipe here.

Tuna Patties Recipe

Tuna patties are what we’ll be making in this recipe. A simple dish, but a delicious one indeed! You just have to combine all the ingredients in one bowl, shape them into patties, refrigerate them for 1 hour, then fry them until they become golden brown.

Serve it with a salad or with some steamed rice, and you’ll have a healthy and delicious dinner that your kids will fall in love with no doubt!

If you want to spice it up, you can serve it with chili sauce on the side for the grown-ups, and ketchup for the kids!

Ingredients

• 425g springwater-drained tuna
• 125g corn kernels
• chopped celery
• 4 chopped scallions
• Egg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup spicy sauce *accordingly
• tbs lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons frying oil, salt, and pepper to taste

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: Can You Eat Canned Tuna Raw? (The Pros and Cons)

Spinach Chickpea Curry: With Coconut, Not Tomatoes Recipe

If you are looking for an easy weeknight meal, that will surely please the whole family, this is the one for you. It’s a super quick, easy, and delicious dish that can be on the table within twenty minutes only. This spinach chickpea curry is made with coconut milk rather than tomatoes, which makes it more flavorful, and succulent.

You can serve it with steamed rice, or flatbread. Add to it a dollop of cream or my favorite, plain yogurt then serves it hot and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 TB oil
• 1 diced onion
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 chopped, seeded red chili
• 2 cm knob ginger, grated
• 1 tsp curry
• turmeric
• 400g coconut milk
• 3/4 tsp or to taste sea salt

Get the recipe here.

Stovetop Beef and Shells Recipe

For a cold winter night, or if you are like me and like to cheat and prepare even in the summer, this stovetop beef and shell recipe is the best comfort food you’ll ever find. There are a lot of flavors packed into the sauce made from ground beef, onion garlic, tomatoes, and red wine.

All of the flavorful sauce is absorbed by the pasta shells during cooking. If you’re serving this dish, don’t forget some crusty bread to mop up the sauce. If you want to go all out, add some shredded cheese and sour cream to the top. In no time at all, you’ll be comfortable and content.

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups uncooked shells
• 1 lb lean meat
• 1 chopped onion 1 minced garlic
• tin (15 ounces) tomatoes crushed
• tin (8 ounces) ketchup
• 1tsp sugar
• 1/2 salt
• 1/2 pepper

Get the recipe here.

Spice & Honey Salmon With Couscous Recipe

Spice and honey salmon with couscous is a delicious and nutritious meal that can be prepared in minutes. The salmon is baked until flaky and moist after being seasoned with a mixture of spices.

To add a sweet finish, brush it with some honey before the baking time is complete. This combination might sound weird, but its taste is the complete opposite. The honey goes very well with the salmon and couscous.

Fresh parsley, green onions, and lemon juice are added to cooked couscous after it has been cooked in chicken broth for a few minutes. With only 30 minutes of prep time, this tasty dish is ideal for a weeknight meal. For a complete meal, serve with a simple salad or steamed vegetables or on its own, and enjoy!

Ingredients

• Lemons
• 2 teaspoons ras-el-hanout
• 1 large or 2 small garlic cloves, chopped spring onions
• 3 tsp olive oil, plus a drizzle
• 2 salmon fillets, skinless
• couscous
• 2 tsp honey, sliced mint

Get the recipe here.

Oyster Sauce Beef Stir Fry With Kaffir Lime Leaf Recipe

This stir-fry with oyster sauce with kaffir lime leaves is a great way to use up fresh ingredients that are just stilling in your fridge to prepare a delicious filling meal. This 30-minute meal features tender beef simmered in a rich oyster sauce and finished with a sprinkling of fresh kaffir lime leaves that gives them the kick they need to impress all palates.

If you have some veggies sitting in your fridge that you want to use up, or you simply want to add more veggies to your meals, you can also stir fry them with the beef and enjoy a very tasty diary-free dinner!

Ingredients

• 600 g steaks
• oyster sauce 200ml
• 4 kaffir lime leaves
• Coriander bunch

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: 30 Healthy Sauce & Condiment Recipes (Easy & Tasty)

Pasta Arrabiata Recipe

Arrabbiata sauce, or sugo all arrabbiata in Italian, is a spicy sauce for pasta made from garlic, tomatoes, and dried red chili peppers cooked in olive oil until perfection.

It originated all the way from Rome, so if you decide to prepare it, you get a bonus of getting your house to smell like an Italian restaurant.

The chili used in the sauce makes it very spicy, but it gives a very unique and tasty flavor that you can’t get any other way. This is why I highly recommend you try it at least once, even if you don’t like hot foods like me, because this recipe doesn’t work without its chili.

This recipe put the z is easy, you just have to prepare the sauce in a skillet by combing in it all the ingredients, and at the same time prepare the past, then serve in 10 minutes and enjoy!

But remember, please try it at least once with chili flakes and let me know how it turns out!

Ingredients

• 375g rigatoni
• 2 TB oil
• 1 chopped brown onion
• 50g chopped salami
• crushed garlic
• 1/4 tsp chilli
• 400g tomato dice
• 1 tbsp chopped oregano
• Serving baby spinach
• Salting

Get the recipe here.

Vegan Aubergine Curry Recipe

I’m just gonna go ahead and say, I never liked eggplants, but this recipe makes them irresistible. The eggplants are fried to perfection and then added to red lentils curry, and cooked until it becomes thick and creamy.

The fried eggplants add a very nice flavor to the curry, combine with the curry spices, it’s just unbeatable. This curry is also very versatile as you can serve it on its own, with rice, or with flatbread and it will still taste amazing!

Ingredients

• Red lentils
• grated onion
• 400g can cherries
• tsp turmeric
• 3cm chunks of aubergine
• 2-tablespoon groundnut oil
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 tsp coriander
• Split cardamom pods
• crushed garlic cloves

Get the recipe here.

Instant Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

In just 30 minutes, you can make this hearty and comforting One Pot Chicken Wild Rice Soup! Chicken, wild rice, carrots, celery, and a creamy broth are all combined in an Instant Pot soup and cooked to perfection. On a cold day, this is an ideal meal to eat to prepare for your family, because it tastes so comforting, it will touch their hearts and warm up their bones.

The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of butter, but you can easily substitute them with vegan butter or coconut oil instead to make it dairy-free, then enjoy it with a crusty loaf of bread for dipping.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp vegan butter
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 1 1/2 cups of carrots
• 1 1/2 cups of celery
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 8 oz sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup wild rice this was tested with 100% wild rice, not a blend
• 1 1/2lb chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts
• 1 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup canned coconut cream or canned coconut milk

Get the recipe here.

Thai Pasta With Spicy Peanut Sauce Recipe

Nowadays, you are either working a full-time job, or your full-time job is being a parent, so at the end of the day, it’s very hard to find the strength to cook a full meal and slave in the kitchen for an hour or two. This is why I love this recipe. It’s more of a stir fry dinner that can be made in 1 skillet and served in less than 30 minutes.

You get to add those extra 30 minutes to your rest time because god knows all parents deserve it, and at the same time, treat your family to a delectable restaurant-style dinner that will leave them all smiles and giggles!

Ingredients

• Package (12 ounces) WHOLE-WHEAT LINGUINE
• 11.1-ounce jar of peanut sauce
• lime juice 2 tbsp
• Bean sprouts, 2 cups
• 1 peeled, seeded, chopped cucumber
• 2 julienned carrots
• 5 sliced green onions
• 1 julienned sweet red pepper
• 1/2 cup minced cilantro

Get the recipe here.

Sriracha Tofu Stir Fry Recipe

This quick and flavorful Sriracha Tofu Stir Fry comes together in no time at all. A sriracha-based sauce is used to coat the crispy tofu before it is stir-fried with vegetables and the rest of the ingredients.

For a complete meal, serve over rice or noodles. You can make this dish as spicy or as mild as you like by varying the amount of sriracha sauce used. Whether you like tofu or not, you should give this recipe a shot because you never know how good it will be if you don’t!

Ingredients

• 1-pound tofu
• Carrots, 1 cup
• 1 cup peppers
• 1 cup peas
• edamame, 1 cup
• 1 package of brown rice noodles

Get the recipe here.

Easy Cuban Vegan Bowls With Avocado Ranch Dressing Recipe

In search of a tasty and nutritious vegan recipe? Look no further than these simple and delicious Cuban vegan bowls with vegan avocado ranch dressing that tastes just like the real stuff. Black beans, rice, vegetables, and, of course, avocado are all included in the bowls’ nutritious ingredients.

These flavorful and satisfying bowls are perfect if are looking to expand your repertoire of plant-based dishes, or simply eat delicious food!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Califia Farms Almond Milk
• lime juice 2 tbsp
• 1 avocado
• 2-garlic-cloves
• dill, 1 tsp
• chives, 1 tsp
• 2 tsp chopped parsley
• S&P to taste

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: Homemade Coconut Yogurt recipe {vegan, Raw, Paleo}

Pineapple Fried Rice Recipe

If you love rice like me, I’m obsessed to the point where I eat it almost every day, then this recipe will be right up your alley, and jazz up your rice dishes. I love fresh pineapples, however, I have always been skeptical when it comes to cooked pineapple, but this recipe provided all the encouragement that I needed to try them.

The pineapple adds a lovely tropical and fruity flavor to the rice, and when combined with the nutty flavor of the cashews, it makes for a perfect must-try dish!

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 chicken-apple links
• Red bell pepper and carrot
• 2 onions
• cooked brown rice
• 1/4 pineapple
• 3-tablespoon cilantro
• 2-tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tsp lime
• 1tsp sugar

Get the recipe here.

Healthy Salmon Bowls With Chickpea Salad Recipe

I love food bowls like these because you can fit in several side dishes, or salads, and have a complete meal that is far from boring in one single bowl. Both the salmon and the chickpea salad used in this bowl are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, it makes a very nutritious meal to end your day with and rewards you for all your hard work.

Ingredients

• Salmon filet, 16oz/500g
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, minced chickpea salad, avocado sauce, and hummus

Get the recipe here.

Sweet-and-Sour Supper Recipe

It’s easy and delicious to show your family how much you care with this Sweet-and-Sour Supper recipe. Pork, chicken, and shrimp are seasoned with pineapple juice, vinegar, and ketchup in a sweet and sour sauce. Served with rice, this dish is sure to please even the most discerning diner.

This meal can be ready in as little as 30 minutes, which is a huge perk. You should try this Sweet-and-Sour Supper recipe the next time you want a quick and easy meal that everyone will enjoy. You won’t be dissatisfied with this one at all!

Ingredients

• 1lb beef
• 1/2-teaspoon chili powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons oregano
• salt (1-1/2 tsp)
• Adding pepper
• 3 cups rice
• 7 ounces drained mushroom stems and pieces
• sliced green pepper

Get the recipe here.

Jerk Cauliflower Steaks With Rice and Peas Recipe

I know that a lot of people don’t like cauliflower, but let me tell you something, it’s not cauliflower’s fault. It’s your fault for not cooking it correctly. I like my cauliflower always fried or baked because when I say it tastes divine, I mean every letter of this word.

In this case, you will coat the cauliflower steaks with lime juice and jerk paste, and let them rest for a while, then bake them until golden brown.

Serve it hot with rice and enjoy this underrated beautiful veggie!

Ingredients

• Cauliflower
• 1-2 tablespoons jerk paste
• 1 juiced, 1 wedged lime for serving
• 100g rice
• coconut milk
• 200g drained, rinsed kidney beans
• 4 chopped scallions

Get the recipe here.

Dairy-free Roast Potatoes With Chicken Mornay Recipe

This dairy-free roast potato with the chicken mornay recipe is ideal for a family dinner during the cold winter months. Chicken, potatoes, carrots, and onions are roasted in the oven before being doused in a vegan mornay sauce.

Delicious and filling, this dish is sure to please the whole family. The best part is that it’s simple to make and can be prepared in advance and kept in the fridge for up to 1 day. Actually, preparing it in advance helps the flavors settle and combine well, so when you heat it, it intensifies its taste, and makes it taste even better!

To make this recipe dairy free, simply omit the milk and replace it with soy or almond milk and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 4 Pontiac potatoes (1kg)
• olive oil 1 1/2 tbsp
• 500g trimmed, 2cm-cubed chicken thigh fillets
• 30g vegan butter
• 2 TB flour
• 1/2 cup soymilk
• 1 tsp Massel stock
• sliced carrot
• 100g chopped broccoli
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Get the recipe here.

Honey Soy Chicken Noodle Stir Fry Recipe

Weeknight meals don’t get much easier than this Honey Soy Chicken Noodle Stir Fry! Chicken, noodles, and vegetables are the main ingredients, along with a simple honey soy sauce for dipping. It’s a simple recipe that you can tailor to your own tastes.

There is no need for special equipment or skills to make this stir fry, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights when you are super tired and don’t have the time to slave in the kitchen for hours, but you still want a nice, tasty meal to end your day with. Toss everything in a pan and cook until it’s hot and delicious then serve it and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 500g breast fillet (cut into strips, skin off)
• 1/4 cup soy
• 2-tablespoon honey
• garlic (minced)
• Carrots (cut into strips, medium)
• Onion (cut into wedges)
• 1/2 pepper (cut into strips)
• 200g udon
• *Optional: canned corn
• bok choy
• zucchini
• green beans

Get the recipe here.

Ground Turkey Pasta With Tomato Garlic Sauce Recipe

For a weeknight dinner, this is a delicious and simple pasta dish. The tomato garlic sauce adds a lot of flavor to the dish, and ground turkey is a healthier option than ground beef. Because it only takes 30 minutes to prepare, this dish is a real-time-saver.

Using a large skillet, sauté the ground turkey and garlic until the meat is no longer pink. Then simmer for ten minutes with the tomato sauce and seasonings. You can also tailor the recipe to what you prefer, for example, I live to use onion instead of garlic, and it comes out so yummy!

I can’t stress enough how good this tastes, it’s just a chef’s kiss!

Ingredients

• whole wheat penne
• 1lb raw turkey
• zucchini, 1-2 cups (sliced and halved)
• 1-2 cups peppers (sliced)
• 2 TB oil
• 4-garlic-cloves
• half-pint cherry tomatoes
• Saltshaker

Get the recipe here.

Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry Recipe

An easy weeknight meal, this teriyaki chicken stir fry is packed with flavor and nutrition. A homemade teriyaki sauce is used to marinate the chicken before cooking it with a variety of vegetables, which gives a really nice taste that is different from what you are used to.

For an easy and delicious dinner option, try this chicken stir fry next time you need something quick and easy. We guarantee you’ll be happy!

Ingredients

• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut 1″
• S&P to taste
• sliced medium onion
• 2 cups florets
• 1 julienned pepper
• 1 julienned carrot
• 8oz sliced mushrooms
• 3-minced garlic

Get the recipe here.

Basil Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Recipe

The following is a recipe for a traditional chicken dinner with a modern twist. The basil pesto is the essential component of this dish. In keeping with its Italian roots, this recipe for pesto calls for basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese; however, instead of the oil that is typically used, it is made with Greek yogurt which makes it my personal favorite but to make it dairy free, you can use vegan yogurt or olive oil instead.

The result is a flavorful and creamy sauce that goes wonderfully well with roasted vegetables and chicken that has been grilled. Everything is cooked on a single sheet pan so that the process can be simplified even further.

Simply prepare your ingredients, then let the oven do the rest of the work after it has been preheated. This dish can easily be prepared on a weeknight or for a more relaxed dinner party setting. Give it a shot, and you’ll see for yourself how well it works!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 breasts
• 8 spuds (halved)
• Asparagus bunch
• 8-ounce can of tomato sauce
• 1TB onion flakes
• 1 tsp garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh or dried basil
• Pepper/salt (to taste)
• basil (to taste)

Get the recipe here.

Very Veggie Vegan Pizza Recipe

Vegetable-heavy, this vegan pizza is a nutritious and delicious option for lunch or dinner. Everyone will enjoy this pizza because of the flavorful combination of tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The best part about this recipe is that it’s a cinch to put together.

Once you’ve preheated your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, top a pre-made pizza crust with whatever vegetables you’d like. Bake for about 20 minutes after slathering on some vegan cheese and tomato sauce. Enjoy!

It’s also the perfect way to sneak in more veggies into your kids’ diet, or your diet, I know I do.

Ingredients

• 1 ball of pizza dough (or Food Processor Dough or Thin Crust Dough)
• 1 jar of red peppers
• 3-garlic-cloves
• 8 baby Bellas
• 1/4 onion
• 1/2 cup chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons olive oil for dough, plus more
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, 3 cups spinach

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: 10+ Best Kid-Friendly Vegan Recipes

Ground Beef Dinner Skillet Recipe

Ground beef dinner skillet is a simple one-pan meal that’s full of flavor and ideal for a busy weeknight! Seasoned beef is sauteed in a simple blend of spices until it’s browned. To create a hearty meal, diced tomatoes, frozen corn, and other pantry staples are added to the pan after the beef has cooked.

It’s a great weeknight dinner option because it only takes a few minutes to prepare. And best of all, you can tailor it to your family’s preferences with ease. Ground Beef Dinner Skillet Recipe is a great option whether you’re in the mood for something quick and easy or something more flavorful. Try it out this evening and let me know how it turns out!

Ingredients

• 10 oz beef (300g)
• 1-cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup rinsed, drained black beans
• 2 peppers roasted
• Carrot
• 1/3 cup mint
• Cumin
• Coriander, 1 tsp
• chili powder
• Dry mint, 1 tsp
• TB tomato paste
• 1 TB oil

Get the recipe here.

Cauliflower Fried Rice Recipe

Making your favorite Chinese takeout dish at home without guilt is easy with this delicious cauliflower fried rice recipe, and a great dish to change all my cauliflower haters out there are minds.

In this dish, cauliflower rice replaces the traditional white rice and goes great with the chicken and vegetables. For even more convenience, you can use pre-riced or frozen cauliflower to speed up the process of preparation.

Add more veggies, use shrimp instead of chicken, or ratchet up the heat with a dash of sriracha sauce for a truly customized dish. Even if you don’t want to give up the taste of your favorite takeout dish, this cauliflower fried rice recipe is a great alternative. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 small head or 2 to 3 cups of cauliflower rice
• 2 Tbsp tamari or soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons olive or other oil
• 1 carrot minced
• 2 eggs
• 3 minced cloves of garlic
• 2 scallions, chopped finely
• sesame oil

Get the recipe here.

LEARN MORE: 20+ Cauliflower Rice and Fish Recipes for an Optimal Low-carb Diet

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed going through this list of diary-free dinner recipes as much as we enjoyed compiling them for you.

Whether you are looking for a dairy-free dinner recipe, or just some quick dinner recipes to spice up your evening and reward yourself for a long day at work, we guarantee that you’ll find more than a few recipes in this list that will become your go-to dinners among the many dairy-free options available.

We’ve got everything from simple weeknight dinners to dishes that are perfect for entertaining. That being the case, what are you still sitting there thinking about? Get to cooking!