This is such a simple recipe, but so tasty. I test and try all the recipes on this website so you don’t need to. This is the best version of meatballs I’ve created and a staple in our household. What I love is that I usually have most ingredients already in. If your child is not a fan of this type of dish, scroll down to read my thoughts on how best serve it to them! You’ll see from the pictures below that my children have made this dish with me before - opting to make ‘meat-sausages’ instead! My sauce-phobic son was definitely more keen to try this after having a hand at preparing it with me as well.

Download recipe here:

‘I have tried many meatball recipes, but my children never liked them, they devour these and they are so easy to make! Absolutely worth the £1.50 to have the recipe and print it out for my folder’ - mum of 2

How to serve this meal to your child

Beginner: ‘My child refuses any new meals’

Cook for yourself and reheat some of the meatballs and serve a tiny bit alongside your child’s usual meal the next day or you could offer it as a small starter whilst they are waiting for their meal. If your child doesn’t like a lot of sauce, just give them the meatball to play around with or cut up. The more exposure to new food, the better! The great thing about this approach is that you are not cooking specifically for your child, you are giving them leftovers from a meal that you would have cooked anyway, so straightaway there is LESS expectation and pressure. It’s about creating easy opportunities to widen your child’s food list.

Intermediate eater: ‘My child may try this new dish but I’m not sure’

Choose a day when you can eat together. Offer other components your child usually eats so there is no pressure. Serve the meatballs separately to the pasta so they can add as much as they wish or none at all if they are unsure! Kids like the independence of building their own meal and being left to it. It doesn’t matter if your child doesn’t touch the new meal, it is all about your child getting used to seeing new food and taking it in and also seeing you eat it to give them confidence for future meals.

Advanced eater: ‘My child eats most things I give them and is not phased by new food’.

Serve the new meal and if they unexpectedly do refuse it, the best advice is not to panic and don’t feel bad. It’s just one meal. Say non-confrontational words such as ‘you don’t have to eat anything you don’t want to’ and see if they can try a bit in their own time. If they don’t, it is best to move onto the next mealtime and write it off and try another time!