As most parents know all too well, trying to get kids to eat anything besides beige-colored food can feel like an Olympic sport. One minute they love something, the next it’s their mortal enemy. But we have a theory. If you let them help make the food, they might actually eat it. The beautiful chaos of letting your tiny sous chefs into the kitchen is a rite of passage, and while it might result in beans on the ceiling, it's a core memory in the making.
Cooking with kids is proven to be a great way to get them to explore new flavors and build confidence [3]. The trade-off, of course, is the epic mess. (As the mom of a toddler, my heart is honestly racing just thinking about this). But what if you could have the fun, memory-making part without the "simmering a sauce for three hours" part? That's where we come in. With SOMOS, you get the authentic-yet-modern flavors you crave in a fraction of the time, making it perfect for involving the whole family.
Your Weeknight Survival Guide
Here are a few kid-friendly Mexican meal ideas that are big on flavor (but not spicy!) and low on prep time and cleanup, so you can focus on the fun stuff.
1. Build-Your-Own Nacho Bar
Nachos are the ultimate crowd-pleaser and a perfect canvas for little hands. This is less a recipe and more a "dump everything on a tray and hope for the best" kind of vibe, which is exactly what weeknights call for. Plus, the beauty of nachos is that you can customize them to your satisfaction, so strong opinions are both welcomed and rewarded:
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The Base: Our Birria Loaded Nachos recipe is your best friend here. The SOMOS Birria Taco Simmer Sauce gives you that rich, slow-cooked flavor without having to stand over a stove for 3 hours. Just cook your protein in a slow-cooker (set it and forget it), and instapot or simmer on the stove, shred, and you're golden.
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The Assembly: Let your kids layer the chips, meat, and cheese on a sheet pan and heat in the oven until the cheese gets melty.
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The Toppings: Set up a toppings bar with small bowls of things they can add themselves. Think avocado, sour cream or crema, and for the adventurous ones, a scoop of Pico de Gallo Medium Chunky Salsa. Will cheese end up all over the counter? Probably. Is it worth it? Definitely.
2. Mexican Street Corn Rice Cups (Esquites)
This is a fun way to serve a side dish that feels like a main event. Our recipe for Mexican Street Corn White Rice Esquites is a game-changer.
The SOMOS Mexican Street Corn White Rice pouches microwave in just 90 seconds, which is about the maximum attention span for anyone under the age of 10. Ask your little ones to tear the pouch 2", stick in the microwave and heat. When done, scoop rice into cups and let the kids go to town with toppings like cotija cheese, a squeeze of lime, and a dollop of crema. It's a whole sensory experience.
3. The "Please Eat a Vegetable" Dip
Sometimes you just need a win. This Fall for this Sweet Potato Dip is your secret weapon. It’s vibrant, filling, and packed with nutrient-rich good stuff. Diced sweet potatoes mixed with our SOMOS Mexican Black Beans makes for a delicious, protein-packed dip that even picky eaters tend to go for. Serve it with your favorite Tortilla Chips for scooping!
A Note on Spice 🌶️
The number one question from parents is always, "But is it spicy?" The answer: it doesn't have to be! Many classic Mexican dishes are more about deep, savory flavor than pure heat [4].
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Start Mild: Introduce Mexican flavors with salsas that are big on taste but low on heat. Our Salsa Verde Mild Salsa is perfect—it has all the tangy flavor from roasted tomatillos without the spicy kick. We also love our super mild-yet-flavorful Cilantro Lime White Rice and Mexican Black Beans which make the perfect base for any kid-friendly meal.
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Customize the Heat: The beauty of a build-your-own meal is customization. The kids can stick to the mild stuff, while the adults can add a drizzle of something with a little more personality, like our Salsa Macha with Mango & Pineapple, to their own plates.
Getting dinner on the table with kids doesn't have to be a battle. By making it interactive and delicious, you might just find your new family tradition. We'll handle the flavor, you handle the fun.
Ready to bring the fiesta to your kitchen? Check out all our quick and delicious SOMOS Foods products and get started.