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The 19 best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids

Trying to serve your kids an at least semi-well rounded meal? Here are the best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids!

If your kids are much like mine, when I ask them what they want to eat, they will yell back either CHICKEN NUGGETS or MAC N CHEESE.

The basics are king around here.

However, mac and cheese is not a whole meal (usually).

Here in the south, mac and cheese is not only the king of comfort food, but it’s definitely a main dish all on it’s own. And a Thanksgiving staple! Don’t fight me on that!

I serve my 1 and 3 year old in these divided silicone plates so they get 1 “main dish” and 2 sides.

One of our sides is always cut up fruit: berries, sliced apples, sauteed apples, sliced banana, mandarin oranges, something like that.

The second side is what is up in the air. For breakfast, it’s a yogurt pouch. For lunch, it’s either goldfish or chex mix. For dinner, I try for more of a side dish.

But, if you are like me, when it’s time to make food your brain goes completely blank as to what to cook.

If you are wondering what to eat with mac and cheese, there are loads of possibilities!

Below I am rounding up my best ideas of what to serve with macaroni and cheese. I will round up a general list of ideas and then keep scrolling to links to actual recipes for some great ones!

The 19 best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids

The best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids

Here are my general favorite sides with macaroni and cheese.

  • Cut fruit
  • Hot dogs (or chicken sausage)
  • Bacon
  • Chicken nuggets
  • Fries – my kids actually prefer sweet potato fries
  • Tots
  • Chex mix, pretzels, chips
  • Veggie sticks
  • Cheese stick or babybel cheese
  • Baked carrots
  • Green peas (I make frozen ones in the microwave, and add butter)
  • Potatoes any way – mashed potato, smashed, baked
  • Mac n cheese
  • Corn
  • Pickles
  • Applesauce
  • Bread/rolls (when in doubt, give my daughter a hawaiian roll.. or 3)

If you are wondering what goes with mac and cheese for adults, consider:

  • Cole slaw
  • Baked beans
  • Green salad
  • Green beans
  • Grain salad like cous cous, quinoa, etc
  • Broccoli
  • Sautéed spinach
  • Brussel sprouts

(And if your kids will eat those things, more power to you! Mine will not.)

Here are some mouth watering recipes for mac and cheese sides!

The best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids

Trying to serve your kids an at least semi-well rounded meal? Here are the best side dishes to serve with mac and cheese for kids!

What’s your favorite mac and cheese side dish?

Thanks for reading!

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