19 best cooking-with-kids resources

Recipes tested by real kids, with clear steps, photos and a little kitchen science. These are the most reliable kid recipes online, and they work the first time.

Step-by-step recipe videos for young cooks from America's Test Kitchen. Good for kids who learn by watching before they try it themselves. Watch one together, then make it.

A nonprofit food magazine and recipe site for kids and families, with cheap, healthy recipes and basic kitchen skills. Available in English and Spanish. Recipes list costs per serving.

A simple chart of which kitchen jobs fit which age, from washing vegetables at two to using the stove with help at ten. Print it and stick it on the fridge.

Ten core cooking skills with recipes for each, from knife work to cooking eggs and making a sauce. Good for teens learning to feed themselves.

A monthly kit with illustrated recipe cards, a real kitchen tool and skill lessons. A good gift for kids who love to cook and like getting mail.

Watch for: Groceries are not included in the box.

A clear parent guide to teaching safe cutting, with the claw and bridge grips and tips on which knives fit which age. Read it before the first cutting lesson.

A video course that teaches kids real cooking skills step by step, sorted by age group, from a mom who started it with her own kids.

Family recipes, snack ideas and meal plans with tips for getting kids involved in shopping and cooking. Practical for weeknights. Recipes are simple and use common, inexpensive groceries.

A dietitian's practical help with picky eating and getting kids to try new food. Pairs well with cooking together, since kids eat more of what they make.

Kid-friendly food safety lessons on handwashing, cross-contamination and safe temperatures from a food safety nonprofit. Good to do before the first cooking day. Print a handwashing sign for the sink.

Cooking and nutrition clubs and projects run by local 4-H groups, often with hands-on classes and county fair challenges. Find your county office online and ask about cooking clubs and summer classes.

Grow what you cook. Lesson plans, garden ideas and grants for families and schools from a longtime nonprofit. Kids who grow a vegetable are more likely to taste it, so start with radishes, lettuce or herbs in a pot.

In-person and online cooking classes, including kids' and teen series at many stores, especially in summer. Kids learn from a real chef. Class lists show ages and prices by store.

Live online cooking classes where kids cook along with a teacher from their own kitchen. Search 'cooking' and filter by age. Check each class's supply list before signing up.

Watch for: Check what equipment and adult help each class needs.

A family cookbook of simple, healthy recipes made for cooking together, from the ChopChop team. This link is the School Library Journal review. Look for it at your public library first.

A bright, photo-filled cookbook with 150 kid-tested recipes and fun food facts. A good first cookbook for a kid who likes to flip pages and pick.

A puppet cooking show where two friends travel the world learning about ingredients, made with the Obamas' Higher Ground. Gets picky eaters curious. Cook one dish from each episode.

Kid bakers compete on TV, and the judges are kind and encouraging. It inspires kids to try harder recipes and learn from mistakes. Bake along with a simple recipe afterward.