Do your kids love pizza? My picky kids would eat pizza every day if they could. But who wants to give their child pizza every day? I’ve been tempted to, sure, just to avoid mealtime meltdowns. But there’s gotta be something with a little less cheese and a little more nutrition that a mom can serve her kids. That's where flatbreads come in. Flatbreads start off with a dough that is similar to pizza, just a little crispier and topped in a variety of ways. I like to let everyone customize one to their own tastes. They’re relatively simple to make, so you can just put out some basic ingredients and let the kids make their own. The ingredients don't need to be anything fancy, even leftovers will do. Oh, and did I mention that you can get dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes? Are you sold on flatbreads yet? Because I was sold at the idea of the kids making their own. If you still need convincing, here are some of my favorite flatbread recipes. There is so much variety here that kids will love! I've also included my own recipe for pulled pork flatbread with step-by-step photos, so you can see just how easy making flatbreads can be.

Easy Flatbread Recipes

1. Barbecue Turkey Flatbread: What do you get when you take ingredients kids love and combine them in a flatbread? A kid-approved lunch option!
2. Grilled Flatbread with Pesto and Mozzarella: This is made on an outdoor grill but can easily be adapted for the indoors. My kids love the fresh mozzarella, which they don't normally get to eat.
3. Mixed Berry Breakfast Flatbread: If your kids love fruit, they will flip for this breakfast flatbread. You can also make this as a lighter dessert option.
4. Cheeseburger Flatbread: This flatbread combines lots of things kids love, namely ground beef and cheese.
5. Southwestern Flatbreads: Everything your family loves about Southwestern food can be found on these flatbreads. These take just 15 minutes to make, which is perfect when your family is hungry and wants to eat NOW.
6. Mango Chili Chicken Flatbread: The mango in this flatbread really helps to balance out the little bit of spice in it. If you have kids who like food that is a little spicy, this is for them!
7. Easy Greek Flatbread: This flatbread recipe is quick and healthy. The Greek yogurt gives it a creaminess the whole family will love.
8. Honey Teriyaki Chicken Flatbread: This recipe is a great way to get kids to eat protein. The honey flavor adds a sweetness that is a hit with little ones.
9. Easy Barbecue Cheddar Turkey Flatbread: You can use leftover turkey or sliced turkey for this recipe. Since most kids love turkey and cheese, this is an easy way to introduce them to flatbreads.
10. Cinnamon and Raisin Flatbread: This flatbread has no topping, but the raisins are found on the inside. Since these are thinner than most flatbreads, they cook up in about 5 minutes. Great for breakfast or as a snack (spread a little peanut butter on them for added protein).
11. Easy Meatball Flatbread: If your kid is apprehensive about trying flatbread, this is a good one to start with since it uses similar ingredients to pizza.
12. Apple and Cheese Flatbreads: If your kids are like mine, and love apples and cheese, you must try this flatbread! Substitute sliced ham for the prosciutto, and the kids won’t notice the difference at all (plus, you’ll spend less at the grocery store!).
13. Turkey Cranberry Flatbread: This combines all the favorite flavors of Thanksgiving in one tasty bite. Make them with sliced turkey anytime your family has a hankering for a Thanksgiving meal.
14. Gluten-Free Fiesta Flatbread: Your family can be gluten-free and still enjoy flatbread. Mexican food is a favorite in our family, and we can make this at home and enjoy the same flavors as when we eat out.
15. Homemade Focaccia Flatbread: Serve this flatbread with some leftover soup or stew for a hearty meal.
16. Barbecue Pulled Chicken Flatbread: This flatbread recipe packs up perfectly for a school lunch.

My favorite shortcut for making quick flatbreads is to use pre-made pizza dough, which you can find in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. And remember – you don’t even have to follow a recipe! Top flatbreads with things you already have on hand. As long as you have the dough, you can top it with lunchmeats like turkey or ham, or make an easy breakfast by adding some Canadian bacon.

Pulled Pork Flatbread

You'll need lots of flour for rolling out the flatbread. So don't be frugal with that flour. Spread it all around your work surface. Divide the dough into 6 pieces of roughly the same size and roll them about 6-7 inches in diameter.   Your flatbreads don't have to look perfect. They will be covered with the other ingredients, so you won't really notice the shape. Cook them on a large pan or griddle with a bit of cooking spray. Let the pan or griddle heat for a few minutes before placing the flatbreads on it. After 3-4 minutes, bubbles will start to form on the dough. At this point it’s time to turn over the flatbread. Cook for another 3-4 minutes until the other side is done. Use barbecue sauce as a base for the flatbread, much like you would use tomato sauce on a pizza. My kids are not fans of anything spicy, so I used a sweet barbecue sauce, but you can totally tailor this to your family's taste. Then pile on the pulled pork. I heated the pulled pork beforehand so the flatbread would have to spend less time in the oven.   Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top and pop them in the oven. A little cheese goes a long way. I often bake the topped flatbreads in our toaster oven. Super easy! But if you’re cooking up a large batch of these, use a conventional oven. When they come out of the oven, drizzle on some ranch dressing, slice with a pizza cutter and enjoy!

Pulled Pork Flatbread Recipe

Makes 6 flatbreads

Ingredients

• 16 ounces pre-made pizza dough
• Flour (for dusting work surface)
• Cooking spray
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 1/2 cups pulled pork (heated)
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven or toaster oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Place dough on a floured surface and divide into 6 equal portions.
3. Roll out each portion until it’s about 6-7 inches in diameter.
4. Cook on medium on a preheated large pan or griddle with a bit of cooking spray. After 3-4 minutes, turn over the flatbread. Cook other side for another 3-4 minutes.
5. Remove from pan and spread barbecue sauce evenly among the flatbreads.
6. Add the pulled pork, evenly distributing it between all the flatbreads.
7. Top each flatbread with cheese and bake for 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and drizzle with ranch dressing. Slice and serve.