I think we can all agree that it is good for kids to learn how to cook, but it can be hard to know where to start. Today I will share a few tips for cooking with kids. I consider myself lucky – my husband and I both love to cook and both of our girls have enjoyed learning to cook with us. Our 10 year old daughter has even taken a kids cooking class, but we know that is not something every child has the opportunity to do.
My girls had a blast cooking a Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole the other night for supper. They followed The Ben’s Beginners™ step-by-step lessons. I was impressed by how much they were able to do completely on their own while I observed.
TIPS FOR COOKING WITH KIDS
- START YOUNG – Even when your child is really young, you can have them with you in the kitchen. Let them watch you, let them wash vegetables, let them stir – having them involved from a young age will get them excited about being in the kitchen.
- BE PREPARED – If your child is not ready to chop items, have the items chopped, grated and/or measured and ready in little bowls – your child can pour the ingredients in as needed. It is wonderful to see their smile as they help.
- DON’T EXPECT PERFECTION – The casserole may be more cheesy on one side or maybe something did not get mixed as well as it could have – it’s ok – they are learning.
- BE PATIENT – A recipe may take longer to make now, but it will save you time down the road when the kids know how to cook – they may even make a whole meal for you one day.
- HAVE FUN – Don’t put too much pressure on yourself – try to make it a fun experience. If you don’t know what recipe to make, check out The Ben’s Beginners™ lessons as a place to start.
Children learn healthy eating habits when they learn to cook but some parents do not feel confident in the kitchen, so they don’t teach their children how to cook. If you are a parent who does does not feel very skilled in the kitchen or you need some tips for cooking with kids, I have some good news for you. October 15th is the first annual International Cook with Your Kids Day, and Uncle Ben’s wants to inspire kitchen confidence in parents across Canada to learn with and teach their kids.
Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole
For this recipe you will need:
- 1 250g package Uncle Ben’s® Bistro Express® Long Grain & Wild – Fine Herbs
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1/2 medium Red Bell Pepper, Chopped
- 1 cup Chopped Onions
- 1 cup Chopped Broccoli
- 1/2 cup Reduced-fat 2% Milk
- 4 oz Light Cream Cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon each Salt & Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 cup Chopped Cooked Chicken Breast
- 1/4 cup Shredded reduced-fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Get the full lesson / instructions for this Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole here.
Did you know that 98% of Canadian parents think it is important to cook with their children? I am glad the percentage it that high! You know your child best, invite them to the kitchen and have them help you, as they help more they will learn more and you will make some great memories together.
COOKING CONTEST
The Ben’s Beginners™ Cooking Contest awards three Grand Prize winners $10,000 CAD which may be used towards a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP).
Families may enter by taking a photo of themselves cooking a rice-based dish and uploading it HERE.
All the rules and regulations for the #LookWhatWeMade contest are available on the website – good luck!
UNCLE BEN’S BEGINNER GIFT PACK GIVEAWAY
One lucky Canadian Mommy Moment reader will win an Uncle Ben’s Beginner Gift Pack.
nicky says
So many recipes look great! I think we would first try to make the Cheesy Rainbow Rice dish.
Rosanne Robinson says
Our family would love to make the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE recipe.
Victoria Ess says
She might make Meatballs & Rice first!
Tara says
We would try the black bean and rice open face tacos. They look great.
Carol Denny says
Meatballs & Rice would be the recipe we would try.
Florence C says
My grandchildren would try the chopping recipe Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole.
Amy Heffernan says
The Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole!! Thanks!
Lynda Cook says
I would do the meatballs and rice first with my granddaughter, she is still young but would have have fun making balls!!
Lisa McLain says
Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole would be a favorite in our home !
Andrea Amy says
My son would make the Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef 🙂
Robyn Bellefleur says
We would try to make the Cheesy Rainbow Rice dish first.
Cheryl says
The chicken, broccoli and rice casserole above is the one we cook first, it’s really a combination of all things our family loves, next we would cook meatballs and rice. I just want to mention how much I truly love this program. It’s so rewarding for both child and parent! So important to teach your children how to cook
jan says
Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops look delish
Erinn Lishman says
My three girls would love helping me make- and eat!- the Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole!
Tara Betterley says
We would do the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole then maybe the meatball and rice.
Crystal Porter says
I think that they would like the Black Bean and Rice open faced tacos.
Carole Dube says
I would try the meatballs and rice with my granddaughter, she like to help in the kitchen.
missbobloblaw says
We would definitely try the Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops.
lori butler says
Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole is what we would try out first. sounds delish
Soozle says
I would try the Black Bean & Rice Open-Faced Tacos
Juliee Fitze says
The kids would really like the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE .
Doris H says
The Meatballs & Rice recipe will be the first we’d try.
Janet M says
She would like to try meatballs and rice.
Kate Hearn says
the cheesey rainbow rice one looks fun. My little guy is 5 and loves being i the kitchen when I cook. Lately I have been giving him simple jobs to help…this is great
Jennifer P. says
My younger daughter would love to try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole recipe first, and my older one would love to try the Black Bean & Rice Open-Faced Tacos recipe first.
Julie F says
I think the Meatballs & Rice would be first as it is my grandsons favourite meal!
Sarah says
My daughter loves to help me with rolling cookies, so I assume she would have fun rolling meatballs as well. Meatballs and rice would be a good recipe to try.
Kristina Ziegler says
He would make Meatballs and rice first
Wendy Jensen says
The recipe lesson we would try first is the Cheesy Rainbow Rice
Stephanie LaPlante says
I would definitely say Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Sharron says
This is a great idea
Melinda says
Meatballs and rice would be a great recipe to make with my kids.
Laurie P says
I’m pretty sure the chicken, broccoli and rice casserole would be my girls choice!
Patrick Siu says
We would make meatballs-and-rice
leanne says
My daughter would like to try the Black Bean & Rice Open-Faced Tacos
angela m says
My girls would make the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Tammy Dalley says
I would love to try the black bean and rice open face tacos, they look super delicious
Sunshine G says
I think mine would try meatballs and rice…meatballs are a top choice around here.
Amy C says
My kids would like to try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole.
Jeannie Lam says
I think my son would love to try the meatballs and rice recipe first.
Cheryl MacPhail says
I think our girls would like to try the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE 🙂
Tricia Hope says
Seeing as cranberry is her newest food jag,probably the cranberry stuffed pork chops
Tricia Hope says
We would do Chicken,Brcolli,and Rice first.
Tracy D says
The uncle bens beginners lessons page is coming up as “not found” for me. :(. Looking at everyone elses recipes, I think meatballs and rice would be a great start!
Joanne Frank says
the Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole!for the whole family
Maria says
We would make Meatballs & Rice
Dar says
Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef is right up my boys alley!! We’d try that one for sure.
Doreen Lamoureux says
Definitely the Meatballs and Rice. I myself am going the check out all the black bean recipies. yum
lisa bolduc says
my son is obsessed with meatballs and rice. I think he would pick that one. he even says he loves us 10 meatballs!
Holly MacRitchie says
My daughter would try the Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Jonnie says
I think my boys would like to try making the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole
ivy pluchinsky says
We would try Meatballs & Rice
Jenness M says
We would try out the meatballs and rice recipe.
josephine evans says
I asked my son Jack which he liked best he had a hard time picking but went with the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole. 🙂
Carol M says
Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole.
Tina L. says
Meatballs & Rice would be fun to make
Debbie W says
The CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE sounds like a crowd pleaser.
lynn clayton says
Black Bean & Rice Open-Faced Tacos
Christine says
Think we would try meatballs and rice first!
Leslie Crosbie says
Knowing my 12yr daughter, the first recipe she would want to try is the Cheesy Rainbow Rice!
Tainan Lu says
We would like to try the Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole.
Jenny Major says
My daughter would make the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Caryn Coates says
I would try the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE first
tammy ta says
Meatballs & Rice would be the recipe my kids would like to try first.
Caroline says
The Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole because your pics looks yummy.
Wayne Lecoy says
It would be terrific to win an Uncle Ben’s Beginner Gift Pack.
In response to your requirement to visit UNCLE BEN’S BEGINNER LESSONS
and then leave a comment telling you which recipe lesson my child would try first.
I don’t have any children but my nieces and i would
cook the Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops first.
Thank you for having this giveaway.
Brenda Penton says
We would do the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole lesson
Karine says
The first recipe I would do would be the meatballs and rice one because it looks easy and yummy!
Silvia D says
Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef would perfect for my daughter to try first!
Julie says
I know they would enjoy making and eating the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE
Karla Sceviour says
ohh,we`d make the Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef-looks yummy!
Julie bolduc says
The Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops sound good
Tanis says
Definitely the Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef would be our first recipe!
Doris Calvert says
I would choose the one you made but second choice would be Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef
krista gould says
We would try the Chicken broccoli and rice dish
nicolthepickle says
The Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef looks really good and a fun recipe.
Jennifer L. says
My son would like to try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole.
Dominic cloutier says
You had me at cheesy rainbow!
Angela September says
my son would DEFINITELY love the cheesy rainbow. That couldn’t be more up his alley lol
Andrea says
I would make them try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole !
Edna Williams says
So would make the Meatballs and Rice in our kitchen with my granddaughter!
margo b says
chicken broccoli and rice, my sons favorite
Elizabeth Robinson says
We would like to try the Chicken, Broccoli and Rice Casserole.
Alexander S. says
I’d love to try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole lesson.
Amber Y says
I think we’d enjoy cooking the meatballs and rice recipe most. Getting to roll the meatballs would be a lot of fun.
Linda says
The first recipe we would try would be Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops.
Ellen says
Meatballs and rice looks good.
Pam says
I think we would start with the meatballs and rice.
Wendy hutton says
we would try the meatballs and rice
Dianne G. says
I think my grandchildren would enjoy making the Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef. It has ingredients they like and the older girls enjoy peeling and chopping veggies so they would be able to practice these skills on this dish.
joy says
i would like to try meatballs and rice!
Heather Howard says
The link connecting to the Uncle Ben’s Beginner Lessons is not working.
My daughter would probably choose the CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE recipe because she loves broccoli…I would probably try the meatballs and rice. thanks for the opportunity!
Jody @ Mommy Moment says
Thanks for letting us know about the link in the giveaway form. It is all fixed now. good luck!
Maritess says
We would try meatballs and rice. My kids love molding and shaping play dough so they may enjoy shaping meatballs instead.
Wanda Tracey says
my granddaughter and I would try the black bean and rice open face tacos.
Lee-Ann says
I think we would try the same as you, it looks super yummy!
Leeanne C says
Chicken rice and broccoli casserole is my kids favorite. It surely goes along way and filling
Judy Cowan says
I think the Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chops would be a fun one to do with my niece.
Athena says
I think she’d like to make Meatballs & Rice
Erika Letson says
I would like to try the Meatballs & Rice recipe lesson first with my kids. Sounds easy and yummy!
Kim K says
The chopping exercise to make Chicken Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Allie f says
The Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole 🙂 Yum!
Sara Muzzatti says
Meatballs and rice
Donnas says
I make a chicken broccoli divan recipe (similar to the one on the website). I’d let my daughter try that one first
Irene Eichler says
I think we are going to try meatballs and rice !
Cassie Fancy says
My little ones would love to try the meatball and rice recipe first
Natalie says
Tacos are always a huge hit around here (we have Taco Tuesday every week) so Black bean and Rice Open Faced Tacos would definitely be number one on our list.
Carey Hurst says
We would most likely do the Meatballs and rice first beginners.unclebens.ca/lessons/en-ca/recipes/meatballs-and-rice/activity/pouring
Erica Seaman says
My kids would love the cheesy-rainbow-rice-with-ground-beef….it looks delicious.
Jacky Y says
I think we would try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole first
maria says
the black bean and rice tacos
Toby says
Stirring – the Black Bean and Rice Open-faced Tacos, that would be the favorite.
M says
Chicken Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Yuen C says
I would try meatball & rice!
Shari Goss (@knitwitshair) says
Chicken Broccoli & Rice Casserole
Jessica Bleasdale says
My kids would love Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef
Rose Holloway says
My child would like to try the Meatballs and Rice recipe first
Viv Sluys says
My daughter would start with Black Bean & Rice Open-Faced Tacos.
sarah alexis says
I would love to try the Chicken Broccoli & Rice Casserole recipe with my kids – I really think they will like it!
Jody D says
I think the nephews would go for the Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef first!
l p says
meatballs and rice. thanks
julia g says
Cranberry rice stuffed pork chop sounds like fun.
Fan R says
We like Cranberry Rice Stuffed Pork Chop to try it first
Kowshik Chandra Chanda says
It’s really fun to cook with a child. They show so much interest in everything. I’d love to try the Chicken, Broccoli & Rice Casserole lesson with my niece. Interesting article!