Try this simple veggie chilli recipe for kids. A fun way to get your four-year-old helping in the kitchen and learning about healthy, hands-on cooking.

Cooking with young children can be messy—but it's also one of the most rewarding ways to teach life skills and healthy eating habits. At around four years old, children are eager to help and love getting involved. It’s the perfect time to introduce them to the kitchen in a fun and age-appropriate way.

Recently, I cooked a veggie chilli with my four-year-old daughter, and it turned into a surprisingly successful (and delicious) afternoon. In this post, I’ll share the recipe, how we made it fun and safe, and why I’ll be letting her help me more often from now on.

Getting Kids Involved in the Kitchen

Children love copying adults, and when they get to take part in something as grown-up as cooking, it gives them a real sense of pride. For Bella, it wasn’t just about stirring ingredients—it was about being in charge. She even chose her own outfit for the occasion: a chef’s apron and matching hat. She looked ready for her first cooking show appearance!

Encouraging young children to help in the kitchen can support:

• Confidence and independence

• Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination

• A positive relationship with food and healthy eating

To keep it safe, we used a Kiddy Kutter—a child-safe knife that cuts food but not fingers. This allowed Bella to join in with the chopping without any risk.

Choosing the Recipe Together

When I asked Bella what we should have with the veggie chilli—thinking rice or jacket potatoes—she confidently said spaghetti. It wasn’t what I had in mind, but why not? This twist actually worked out well. The long spaghetti strands were fun for her to break up and easy for her to eat, making it the perfect base for our kid-friendly meal.

INGREDIENTS

This recipe is wonderfully simple and can be adjusted to suit your family’s taste. We used tinned ingredients to keep preparation quick and easy, making it ideal for cooking with children.

In the first cooking pan we mixed together:

• Butter beans
• Chopped tomatoes
• Kidney beans
• Organic red chilli powder (choose mild for children)
• Mixed herbs

In the second cooking pan we simply added:

• Spaghetti

Bella broke up all the spaghetti to make it easier to eat!

All the ingredients were plant-based, and many were organic—perfect for a healthy family meal.

Cooking the Chilli (Parent-Assisted)

While Bella helped prepare the ingredients, I took over when it came to the actual cooking. I was still cautious about letting her near boiling water or hot pans, so she stood nearby and watched proudly as everything came together.

The method was simple:

1. I added boiling water to the pan of spaghetti and set it to cook for around 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, I combined all the chilli ingredients in a second pan and gently stirred them on the hob.

Bella was in charge of breaking up the spaghetti and helping to pour and mix ingredients into the pan before it went on the heat. She loved being hands-on but stayed safe throughout.

A Proud Little Chef

The joy on Bella’s face when dinner was ready was priceless. She told her dad, “I cooked dinner tonight!”—not once, but at least five times. That sense of ownership made her even more excited to eat the meal, and she polished off the entire bowl. As for spaghetti with veggie chilli? It’s a new favourite in our household.

Personalised Kids Chef Apron from Etsy

Why Cooking with Kids Is Worth It

Cooking with young children might take longer and create more mess, but it’s absolutely worth the effort. It teaches responsibility, encourages healthier eating habits, and creates lovely memories along the way.

Next time you’re planning dinner, consider choosing a recipe your child can help with. Start simple, stay safe, and let them take the lead when they’re ready. You might just discover a mini chef in your midst!

Personalised Childrens Baking Set from Etsy

Final Thoughts

Getting children involved in the kitchen is one of the best ways to foster confidence, teach practical skills, and support healthy eating habits from a young age. This veggie spaghetti chilli was a great success and gave Bella a real sense of pride. We’ll definitely be making it again—and next time, she might just take the lead from start to finish.