It can be so hard to find a dish that everyone in the family loves. We are at the point where if three of the four of us like dinner, I call it a win. This kid-friendly broccoli dinner is such a hit that everyone loves it. It sounds too good to be true, especially when my boys can NEVER seem to agree on anything, but this truly is an excellent meal for a family.
If you are looking for a dinner with all of the food groups covered, here it is. It’s flavorful, it’s filling, and it’s healthy.
Want to try a kid-friendly broccoli dinner that cooks up in less than 30 minutes?
Let’s go to The Chalkboard.
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Why Is This A Family-Friendly Dinner?
This meal is perfect for families. It is on the table in less than 30 minutes, healthy, and easily adaptable. Toddlers to teens will love this! It is simple but not lacking in flavor.
What Are The Ingredients For This Kid-Friendly Broccoli Dinner?
This list may seem extensive, but many ingredients are pantry items you are likely to have on hand and if you want, omit the sauce. It’s great either way.
Main Ingredients
- Sausage – Any kind you like, sweet, spicy, even the chicken variety will work here. You want to take off the outside casing and crumble it as you cook; the smaller pieces cook faster. If you like your sausage as is, cook it as you normally would and then chop. It’s much easier to chop cooked sausage.
- Grapes – Red grapes work well here, and their flavor complements the other ingredients. They can be a choking hazard for little ones, so make sure to cut them.
- Broccoli – Fresh or frozen will do.
- Farro – This whole grain is filled with fiber and cooks up in no time. You can easily substitute another ancient grain or even rice.
- Chicken Broth – I prefer low sodium to control the amount of salt in the dish.
Spices and Dressing
- Red Pepper Flakes – this recipe uses a ¼ tsp to add just a hint of heat. If your family doesn’t like it, it won’t affect the flavor if you omit it.
- Garlic – The garlic flavor starts to erode shortly after chopping, so prep it while you cook.
- Balsamic Vinegar – A good quality balsamic honestly tastes better. Since this is the main ingredient in the dressing, it’s worth using a good one.
- Mustard – I have used both dijon and whole-grain mustards, and both work well.
- Honey – Just a little bit for sweetness. You can even substitute our latest obsession, hot honey, here. Do not give it to kids under a year old, as per advice from the Cleveland Clinic.
- Olive Oil – We have learned that not all oils are the same. You can substitute avocado oil for all uses in this recipe. It’s a great alternative.
How To Make This Kid-Friendly Broccoli Dinner
Unlike other recipes, which frustratingly tout being ready in 30 minutes, this one is REALLY ready in 30 minutes. It’s great for a weeknight and requires very little prep.
Bring a pot of water to boil and follow the instructions on the packet for the farro.
Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Take the casing off of the sausage, then place in pan to lightly brown, about 8 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add the garlic, cooking for one minute. Add the chicken broth, broccoli, salt, and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for about 4-5 minutes until the broccoli’s texture is to your likeness. Add the grapes and heat until warm.
While everything cooks, make the sauce by combining balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, olive oil, and one minced garlic clove in a mason jar. Whisk or cover and shake to combine.
To serve, place the sausage and broccoli mixture on top of the farro and top with the dressing. Kids may prefer to omit the sauce. It’s great both ways.
FAQ
How Do You Remove Sausage Casings?
Use kitchen shears to cut the cover down the long side of the sausage. Using your fingers, peel the casings to remove the meat.
Kid-Friendly Broccoli Dinner
This meal is perfect for families. It is on the table in less than 30 minutes, healthy, and easily adaptable. Toddlers to teens will love this! It is simple but not lacking in flavor.
Ingredients
- 8 oz farro
- 2 tbs olive oil divided
- 1 lb. sausage casing removed
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 head broccoli cut into florets
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 cup grapes halved
Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 Tbs. mustard Whole grain or dijon
- 2 Tbs. honey
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- 1 clove of garlic mined
Instructions
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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the farro and cook according to package instructions.
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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Crumble the sausage into the skillet and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until lightly browned, 7-8 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the garlic; cook for 1 minute more.
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Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, chicken broth, broccoli, salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the broccoli is done to your likeness.
Make The Dressing
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Combine balsamic, mustard, honey, olive oil, and garlic in a bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed or place in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.
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To serve, place the sausage mixture and farro in a bowl and top with dressing.
What Do You Think?
What’s your favorite kid-friendly broccoli dinner? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to hear!
Happy Cooking!
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Scout says
Broccoli, farro, and grapes – way to pack the nutrition in and the kids loved it, so definitely have to give it a try! Looks delicious 🙂
Braghan says
Looks very tasty! I’ll have to try this with my kids!
Kachina says
I often struggle to eat broccoli and I’m a fully grown adult (apparently)! This recipe is perfect to get me to eat more of the good stuff, so thanks for sharing.
Lindsey says
Great recipe!