Nadiya Hussain might be a recipe writing genius, a Bake Off superstar, a national treasure, and a highly entertaining TV personality, but when it comes to describing herself, she puts it fairly simply: “I am a family woman and a family cook”. Though her books are filled with creative, exciting, and unusual recipes, she never fails to pay homage to simple family cooking; from the spaghetti hoop fish bake featured in Time to Eat to the strawberry shortcake cupcakes in her latest book Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya is our go-to guide when it comes to kid-friendly cooking. Here, we’ve rounded up fifteen of her best family-friendly recipes, including savoury snacks, easy midweek meals, and toothsome treats that the little ones will love.
Nadiya Hussain’s Cheese Biscuits with Tomato Jam
For a tasty after-school snack these savoury cheese biscuits with sweet tomato jam cannot be beaten. Better yet, the recipe is so straightforward that children can get stuck in too, especially when it comes to rolling the dough and cutting out the biscuits.
Nadiya Hussain’s Strawberry and Clotted Cream Shortcake Cupcakes
These pretty cupcake/shortcake hybrids are baked with a biscuit base and a fresh strawberry centre, then topped with an utterly addictive strawberry ice cream frosting. They’re ideal for a children’s party, but are definitely not just for kids.
From the book
Nadiya Bakes
A collection of all new baking recipes accompanied by gorgeous photography
Packed with cakes, pies, and puddings to warm the heart and lift the spirits
Including mouthwatering savoury bakes as well as irresistible sweets
Buy From
Chicken and Rice Bake
This is family-friendly midweek cooking at its best. Everything is cooked in one pot, meaning there’s much less washing up to do, plus the fluffy rice absorbs all of the delicious juices from the spice-rubbed chicken drumsticks making for a truly flavoursome dinner.
Nadiya Hussain’s Peanut Butter and Jelly Traybake
Another tasty traybake, this time of the sweet variety. Nadiya’s peanut butter and jelly traybake is basically a giant, shareable, American-style pancake, swirled through with raspberry jam and peanut butter.
Nadiya Hussain’s Seekh Kebab Toad in the Hole
A classic British comfort dish is given a South Asian twist in this seekh kebab toad in the hole recipe. Nadiya replaces the traditional sausage with mildly spice meatballs enveloped in a fluffy, Yorkshire pudding-style batter. This one is guaranteed to be a hit with kids and grown ups alike.
Nadiya Hussain’s Avocado Pasta with Peas and Mint
When it comes to weeknight cooking speed is of the essence, especially where hungry kids are involved. This healthy, filling, and completely vegan pasta sauce is made with creamy avocado and requires no cooking – just a quick whizz in the blender.
Caramel Soda Bread Tear and Share
Nadiya certainly knows how to create a mouth-watering sweet treat with an absolute minimum of fuss. This caramel tear and share is essentially a sweet soda bread (no tricky yeast involved) baked with an oozy caramel centre and finished off with a generous drizzle of melted chocolate.
Nadiya Hussain’s Hoop Fish Bake
This recipe is a godsend for anyone trying to introduce more fish into their kids’ diets. Made with white fish fillets, fresh vegetables, tinned spaghetti hoops, and topped with a layer of crispy breadcrumbs, it’s a dish that will tempt even picky eaters.
Nadiya Hussain’s Money Can’t Buy You Happiness Brownies
If there’s one thing that unites humans of all ages, it’s surely brownies. These utterly decadent, totally indulgent brownies from Nadiya Bakes are made with a triple chocolate base, a nutty caramel centre, and a creamy cheesecake topping. A pile of these will make you everyone’s favourite person.
Mustard Kale Mac and Cheese
One thing we love about Nadiya is the way she can put a healthy twist on an indulgent recipe and still make it super tasty. This mustard kale mac and cheese has all the glorious, gooey cheesiness of a traditional mac and cheese, but with the addition of kale so you and your family can get your greens in.
Nadiya Hussain’s Pepperoni Pull-Apart
With all flavours of a pepperoni pizza, this savoury tear and share bake is perfect for a weekend lunch. It goes particularly well with soup, and is made for sharing, so the whole family can get stuck in.
Nadiya Hussain’s Hot Cookie Dough and Ice Cream
This giant cookie pudding will delight the kids, and there’s plenty for adults to like too. Who could say no to warm, soft cookie dough served hot from the oven with vanilla ice cream?
Nadiya Hussain’s Baked Bean Falafel
Another clever recipe that makes use of a popular store cupboard staple, these baked bean falafels are a total revelation. Using tinned baked beans to make falafel might sound strange, but trust is – this is guaranteed to be a hit.
Wellington Sausage Rolls
Jazz up a standard packed lunch with these wellington sausage rolls – they’re made with beef sausages, chopped mushrooms, and Worcestershire sauce for a rich, savoury flavour.
Nadiya Hussain’s Teriyaki Chicken Noodles
Yet another ingenious one-tin recipe, this dish involves succulent chicken thighs, vermicelli noodles, and a tasty teriyaki sauce all baked together in one roasting dish. If you’re making this for kids you can reduce the heat a little by adjusting the amount of chilli you add.
