In January, my husband and I jumped on the bandwagon and completed our first #Whole30! We learned a lot and really enjoyed the shift it made in our thinking about food. We didn’t realize how “grain heavy” our meals had become, how often we were eating out, and that sugar was in practically everything we were consuming. 

I am not a Whole 30 expert by any means and this was the first time I have ever eliminated anything from my diet. So, if I can do this, anyone can! All the recipes I found online and from friends were a huge help. While my husband and I enjoyed almost every recipe we tried, our toddler (of course) had other opinions. We have recently entered the ultra-picky stage of toddlerhood and we also have a baby who just began baby-led weaning. So it became very important to make sure the meals I chose were family friendly! 

Here’s a round up of my favorite 15 family-friendly Whole 30 recipes. Many of these can easily be altered to become Paleo, Keto, or simply clean-eating recipes, too. 

15 Family-Friendly Whole 30 Recipes

Take Out Fake Out – Healthy copies of restaurant & take out dishes

Pizza Night – These pizza potato skins can be made Paleo or Whole 30 style! This would be a fun one to have kids prep with you in the kitchen. You can change out the toppings just like you would for a regular pizza. 

Taco Tuesday – Minus the taco of course! These stuffed poblano peppers are delicious! Try adding a bag of riced cauliflower to them to make more filling. Watch what spices you include, especially if you have a toddler who turns up his nose at spicy meals.  

Firecracker Pineapple Chicken  – A bit labor intensive, I’ll admit, but the flavor here really packs a punch. If you are a fan of Chinese take out, this one is for you. Also gluten-free & Paleo-friendly. 

Zuppa Toscana – This comforting Italian soup mimics the Olive Garden version. Serve with a side salad topped with Tessemea dressing. Sorry, no bread sticks this time! 

Comfort Meals – Doesn’t even feel like a diet 

White Chicken Chili – Who loves to use their instant pot or slow cooker? We kept coming back to this recipe during our first Whole 30. Again, watch your peppers and spices on this one if your kids require a milder recipe. 

Twice Baked Potatoes – The perfect chance to sneak in some veggies. These are great for a side dish with grilled pork chops or steak. You don’t even miss the dairy, I swear it! My favorite canned coconut cream is from Trader Joe’s. 

Breakfast Casserole – Make a huge pan of this and store it in the fridge to reheat for breakfast all week. I did find this a bit lacking in flavor, so I would recommend adding whatever spices you prefer. We like Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute. 

Zoodles with Meat Sauce – A toddler and baby favorite at our house! You can even buy pre-made zoodles at many grocery stores now. Make sure your store-bought marinara sauce is sugar-free! 

In a Pinch – These recipes are the fastest to make on the list

Sheet Pan Chicken Sausage & Veggies – So quick! So yummy! And this is my son’s favorite meal from the entire list. It’s also simple to switch out what veggies you use for this recipe. If you keep chicken sausage on hand, then you can just throw in whatever veggies are uneaten in your fridge. Easy peasy! 

Steak Fajita Roll Ups – Whether you actually roll it up or not, steak fajitas are a quick meal to throw together. The skirt steak at Costco is our favorite. Throw in your desired peppers, onions, or mushrooms. Make some guacamole and you’re all set. Costco also has an approved salsa – just read labels to be sure! 

Beef Stew – If you don’t own an instant pot – get ya one now! This recipe really is life changing like the title says. If you don’t have an instant pot, there are oven directions. But in the instant pot, this is done lightning fast! Don’t forget to eliminate the sugar from the ingredient list. 

All-Time Favorites – My personal go-to recipes 

Egg Roll in a Bowl – Also known as “crack slaw,” this is so easy and tasty! We make this every other week, and it’s a winner. A bit harder to convince the toddler on this one, as it is veggie heavy. You could try making a version with more pork and less cabbage to appease your kiddos. 

Tuscan Chicken Spaghetti Squash – My favorite recipe on the list! I like to add Whole 30 approved bacon to the ingredient list. I also top my son’s portion with cheese. If you make the chicken the day before and use the microwave method she explains for the spaghetti squash, this recipe is pretty quick to make. 

Sweet Potato Fries – Yum! Bunless hamburgers with crispy sweet potato fries is what we had for lunch several times a week. This meal is simple but tastes great! 

BBQ Pulled Pork – We love BBQ; it’s part of our Texas genes. Finding an approved, store-bought Whole 30 BBQ sauce (that we like) is next to impossible. This recipe includes a homemade version that fits the bill. There’s both instant pot and slow cooker directions for the pork. Serve inside a sweet potato or with a side salad. 

There you have it: family-friendly Whole 30 recipes for the whole family! Let me know yours in the comments!