Budget friendly meal ideas the kids are sure to love

If you’re looking for some easy-to-make kid-friendly recipes look no further! From lunchtime sandwiches to warm dinners and even kid-friendly breakfast ideas, these five Wonder® recipes are easy on the wallet and will help get meals on the table quickly. Make modifications based on your family’s favourites and say goodbye to overcomplicated meal prep and cooking.

1. Breakfast for Dinner Brekkie Cones

Getting the kids to the dinner table may feel like a chore, especially after a long day at school. Create a bit of excitement and serve this hearty breakfast option for dinner!

Ingredients

For the Cones
   • 4 –  Wonder® White 7” Wraps 
   • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
   • 1-2 tbsp. water

For the Filling
   • 4 eggs
   • 4 sausage links
   • 1 cup frozen diced hashbrowns 
   • 1 tsp butter
   • Salt and pepper to taste
   • Ketchup if desired 

Directions 

1. In a frying pan, sauté diced onion and broccoli florettes in 1 tsp. olive oil over medium low heat, stirring for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are softened. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. Generously butter a 9”x9” glass baking dish with 3 tbsp. softened butter, reserving remaining 1 tbsp. Line the baking dish with the slices of Wonder® bread, creating a 1” lip up the side of the baking dish, cutting slices as required, and ensuring no gaps between slices.
4. Evenly sprinkle ½ of the cheese over the bottom on the bread-lined baking dish, followed by the cooked onion and broccoli, and then remaining cheese.
5. In a medium sized bowl, crack the eggs, add the milk and whisk to thoroughly scramble the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. 
6. With a pastry brush, or your fingers, butter exposed top bread crusts with retained 1 tbsp. butter. Pour beaten egg mixture slowly over filling and immediately place filled baking dish in the preheated oven. 
7. Bake for approx. 25-30 minutes, turning the pan halfway through cooking, until eggs are just set in center. Let stand 5 minutes, and serve with breakfast potatoes or fruit.

2. Easy Pizza Recipe English Muffin Pizzas

Pizza: the go-to meal for parents across all households. This super easy, quick, and fun recipe featuring Wonder@ English Muffins is a great way to feed everyone for under $20. Choose the toppings you want while letting the kiddos make theirs exactly the way they want. If you’re feeling really creative use your toppings to make a heart, smiley face or initials to make each mini pizza even more special. 

Ingredients

• 6 Wonder® English Muffins separated into halves
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ tsp. garlic powder
• ¼ tsp. dried oregano
• 1/3 cup tomato sauce
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded
• Optional ingredients: mini pepperoni, sliced black olives, diced green peppers, diced red peppers, mushrooms, onions, or your family’s favourite pizza toppings!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 
2. Separate your Wonder® English Muffins into halves and place onto a baking sheet, flat side down. 
3. Mix together olive oil with garlic powder and oregano. Brush on each Wonder® English Muffin half. Alternatively, just drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with seasonings. 
4. Toast in oven for 5 minutes, or until just browned. 
5. Remove toasted Wonder® English Muffins from the oven. Top each half with 1/2-1 tbsp. tomato sauce and cover with cheese and any other additional toppings you’d like to add.
6. Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5 minutes.

3. Easy Way to Use Leftovers Submarine Hotdog Sandwiches

Using pantry items and leftovers in the fridge in a delicious and simple meal is easy to do with Wonder® Submarine Sandwiches! Cold cuts to meatballs or even pulled chicken or pork from the night before, lend themselves perfectly to a quick meal under $20 and under 20 minutes! 

Ingredients

Veggie Sub 

• 1 Wonder® Hotdog Bun
• 1 piece of romaine lettuce
• 2 slices of tomato or to taste
• 2 slices pickles – dill or sandwich
• 2 slices of cucumber or to taste
• A handful of shredded carrots
• 2 slices of marble cheese
• 1 tbsp. of Italian salad dressing
• 1 tbsp. of hummus or to taste

Cold Cut Sub

• 1 Wonder® Hotdog Bun
• 1 piece of romaine lettuce
• 2 slices of tomato or to taste
• 2 slices pickles – dill or sandwich
• 2 slices of cucumber or to taste
• A handful of shredded carrots
• 2 slices of marble cheese
• 1 tbsp. of Italian salad dressing
• 3 slices of sandwich meats (e.g. turkey, chicken, and luncheon)

Meatball Sub

• 1 Wonder® Hotdog Bun
• 1 tbsp. of pizza or marinara sauce
• 3 frozen meatballs cut in half
• A sprinkle of mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Olives to taste

Directions

1. Slice your Wonder® Hotdog bun in half.
2. Spread the hummus (for veggie subs), Italian dressing (for cold cut sub), and the pizza sauce (for meatball sub) over cut side of the bottom bun.
3. Continue to top the bottom bun and layer all other additional ingredients.
4. Top with the top portion of the Wonder® Hot dog bun and serve!

4. Quick Lasagna Recipe Using Tortillas 

Ole! This fun dinner idea is a great solution when you only have 20 minutes to spare, leaving the oven to do the rest while you get the kids organized for the evening. If the little ones are looking for some way to fill their time, why not have them join in and help you build their ideal lasagna along the way. 

Mom Tip: 
If your kids have different tastes and you have the patience to indulge them, use smaller pans and a cut your Wonder® White Tortillas down to a smaller size allowing them to make their own individual creations!

Check out more tips on getting the kids into the kitchen here. 

Ingredients 

• 9 Wonder® 7” White Tortillas
• 1 small Rotisserie Chicken, skin removed, meat removed from the bones and pulled into bite size pieces
• 2 tbsp. taco seasoning mix
• Cooking spray
• 350ml jar of salsa; to your heat preference, with additional for serving 
• 500ml can of black beans; drained and rinsed (you will only need ¾ of the beans)
• 2 cups shredded cheese, nacho blend or cheddar
• Alternate meat options – 1 lb ground beef, pulled park or veggie crumble. Cook raw meat and drain of fat, and mixed with taco seasoning. Option of adding any cooked vegetables- onions and peppers, corn kernels- to the bean layer

Directions 

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix pulled chicken with taco seasoning. Spray the inside of 9×9” glass baking dish with cooking spray. 
2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
3. Spread 1/3 cup salsa over the bottom of baking dish, lay in 2 tortillas, overlapping in the center and going up 2 sides of the baking dish. Add 1/3 of the chicken mixture, ¼ of the beans, and top with ½ cup shredded cheese.
4. Repeat to make 3 layers of filling, alternating the overlap of the tortillas to all sides. On the top layer, use 3 tortillas and cut as needed to fully cover the top of the baking dish. Add the remaining salsa and cheese.
5. Covered with foil, interior side coated with cooking spray. Place on a baking tray lined with foil and bake 30 minutes until bubbling. Remove foil in last 10 minutes to brown the top. 
6. Let stand 10 minutes out of the oven and then slice. Serve with additional salsa, sour cream and avocado or guacamole, cilantro and a wedge of lime.

5. Theme Inspired Sandwiches Festive Tuna Melt 

There’s never a wrong time to enjoy a delicious tuna melt and this fun take on a classic is a great way to make it a kid-friendly lunch.  

Ingredients

• 4 Wonder® English Muffins
• 2 cans tuna, drained and flaked (alternate- use flaked or shredded rotisserie chicken)
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp. parsley, washed, dried, picked and finely chopped
• ½ stalk celery, small dice
• 1 tbsp. mustard
• ½ lemon, zest and juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella or white cheddar cheese
• Pretzel sticks (snowman arms)
• Assorted vegetables – carrot baton (nose), black olive slices (eyes and buttons), red and green pepper slices (scarf and smile)

   
Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, celery, lemon and salt and pepper.
   Mom Tip: Can be made up to two days ahead and stored in the fridge.
2. Evenly spread 2 tbsp. of the tuna mixture on each cut half Wonder® English muffin and place on a lined baking sheet. Add shredded cheese to cover tops of English muffins. Broil on high 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted.
3. Plate 2 English Muffins per person. Decorate with cut vegetables to resemble a snowman with eyes, nose, smile, scarf and arms. Serve with a cup of soup for a fast and easy winter lunch! 

If you’ve got a picky eater on your hands an easy way to bring some wonder to lunchtime is to use a cookie cutter and serve up your kiddo’s favourites from PB&J, to bologna or just a couple pieces of toast with a little winter fun. 

Check out some additional easy to make sandwiches!