As a mom of three—a 6-year-old daughter and twin almost-three-year-old boys—cooking dinner isn’t always a “throw on the apron and vibe out for an hour” situation. It’s more like, what can I whip up that won’t end up as a toddler food fight? One of my family’s go-to toddler pasta recipes when we’re in a pinch is our pasta and kielbasa nights. It’s super simple, done in under 20 minutes, and budget-friendly. I can already hear moms saying, hallelujah!
I’m a big believer in using what you’ve got on hand—that’s how this meal became a family staple. It’s perfect for those “almost grocery shopping day” moments when you just need to make something quick and easy.
For this recipe, here’s all you need:
In my household, we’re big Aldi fans, so most of my ingredients come from there. Their food is not only affordable and delicious, but they’ve got carts with two seats! Try finding that at Walmart! Whenever we do hit Walmart, it’s a whole operation with two separate carts—so yeah, Aldi for the win.
- 1 box of pasta (my kids love bow tie, but any kind works)
- 1 package of turkey kielbasa (any variety will do)
- 1 jar of Alfredo sauce
- A little bit of oil
- Salt
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for parents who want a little kick)
You’ll also need a pot for the pasta and a pan for the kielbasa. That’s it! Simple, right? Let’s dive into how to throw this together in 20 minutes or less.
Kid Approved – Toddler Pasta Recipes
Ingredients
- 1 box of pasta (my kids love bow tie, but any kind works)
- 1 package of turkey kielbasa (any variety will do)
- 1 jar of Alfredo sauce
- A little bit of oil
- Salt
- A block of Asiago cheese
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for parents who want a little kick)
Directions
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions.
- While the pasta is cooking, slice the kielbasa into thin circles (or any shape you prefer).
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add a little oil.
- Place the sliced kielbasa into the hot pan and cook until browned to your liking.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Grate some fresh Asiago cheese while the kielbasa is cooking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and portion it out onto plates. Add the cooked kielbasa and grated Asiago cheese.
- Scoop Alfredo sauce straight from the jar onto the hot pasta and kielbasa. This will help cool down the meal, so those hungry toddlers can eat without waiting too long.
Tip: To make dinner more fun, let your kids pick out the pasta shape when you’re shopping. It’s a small way to get them involved and excited about what’s on their plate!
Simple, quick, and toddler-approved!
Leave a Reply