There may come a point in time during your child’s ‘threenager’ moment when dinner becomes complicated. Your child will want, say, a PB&J sandwich, and may have asked for one the previous night(s) as well; you will not want to make him/her one. Your child may ask for ____ [insert unhealthy and likely meal-inappropriate snack here]; you will also not want to give him/her one. Not surprisingly, your child’s excitement for your actual dinner plans may be, shall we say, modest.
For those nights, or for any other night where you just need to get something on the table fast, there is this strange-but-kinda-yummy bird, which is essentially what amounts to a stroganoff in Brazil. The sauce is basically/mostly condiments; almost any protein can go in it. And it tastes…well, it tastes pretty much like a McDonald’s hamburger, which is to say kinda sweet and vaguely beefy, both kinda heavy and kinda weightless. Can’t promise you anyone will give you kudos for technique or presentation on this one, but bowls/plates will empty; you may also surprise yourself with how much you like it yourself, especially when sitting in an empty kitchen at 9PM. That kind of dish, this.
Check out our other easy toddler recipes and best chicken dishes!
Ingredients Overview
This dinner-friendly recipe for “McDonald’s for Dinner: Chicken & Beef Stroganoff” uses accessible proteins (both chicken and beef optionally) combined with a creamy, mild sauce and pantry‐staple ingredients like mushrooms, onions, stock, and noodles or rice. The technique keeps things simple—saute the meat, cook the aromatics, deglaze, finish with cream/stock, then serve. Because it’s designed for toddlers and their families, the seasoning stays gentle, textures are soft but not mushy, and you get real protein + comfort factor in one skillet dish.
Steps Summary
- Cook the meat – Slice the chicken and/or beef into toddler-friendly strips or bite-sized pieces, pan-sear until just browned, then set aside.
- Saute aromatics & mushrooms – In the same pan, cook onion and garlic (and mushrooms if using) until softened and fragrant.
- Build the sauce – Deglaze the pan with stock or a touch of wine or water, add mustard (optional) and sour cream (or yogurt/cream substitute), plus a little flour or cornstarch to thicken.
- Return meat + combine – Add the cooked meat back to the pan, stir to coat with sauce, adjust seasoning to toddler-friendly (low salt, mild pepper).
- Finish & serve – Pour the stroganoff over cooked noodles, rice, or soft vegetable ribbons, top with a sprinkle of fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.
FAQ
Q: Can I use only chicken or only beef?
Yes — the recipe allows either chicken or beef (or a mix) depending on your preference and what’s on hand.
Q: Is this suitable for toddlers?
Yes — the sauce is mild, the meat is cut small and cooked until tender; just ensure the texture is safe and age-appropriate for your child.
Q: Can I swap the noodles for something vegetable-based?
Yes — for a lighter version, serve over spiralised zucchini or steamed cauliflower rice.
Q: How can I make it freezer-friendly or prep ahead?
You can cook the sauce and meat ahead of time, refrigerate, then warm and serve over freshly cooked noodles. The sauce may separate slightly if frozen; stir well when reheating.
Q: What if I want a vegetarian version?
You could swap the chicken/beef for cubed firm tofu or cooked lentils, and use vegetable stock instead of meat stock for a vegetarian-friendly twist.
Links
What to Serve With Chicken Stroganoff
- White rice
- Soft steamed peas or green beans — easy for toddlers to pick up and chew.
- A side of steamed carrot sticks or roasted sweet potato cubes for added colour and softness.
- Fresh bread or dinner roll to soak up the creamy sauce.
More Toddler-Friendly Recipes Like This
- “Mashed Potato Quesadilla with Veggies – Samosadilla For Kids” — similar comfort-food, veggie-inclusive twist.
- “Marry Me Chicken For Toddlers” — similar creamy chicken comfort-food, veggie-inclusive twist.
- “The Best Meatballs For Kids (Lion’s Head)” — another protein-rich dinner that’s toddler-friendly.
What To Make For Dinner When Your Kid Wants McDonald’s
Description
A chicken recipe for kids so fast and easy it actually out-McDonald's McDonald's, this chicken stroganoff recipe--it's kind of a thing in Brazil--tastes just like a fast food hamburger.
Ingredients
Instructions
Prep
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Cut your meat or chicken into small strips or cubes (if your child can handle a thicker, chewier pieces). Season all over with salt and pepper.
Cook
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Set your stove to Medium and place a big knob of butter into a large pan or pot–dutch ovens work particularly well here–once hot.
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Drop your meat pieces and a large spoonful of minced garlic into pot/pan and sear for 30 seconds a side.
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Add tomato paste, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce to the pot and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add in about 1/8th cup of water–and stir and scrap to remove bits stuck on the bottom of the pan. Bring the contents of the pot/pan to a light simmer.
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Reduce stove temperature to Low, add in heavy cream, and cook for an additional 3-4 more minutes.
Serve
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The results are similar to a curry or stew in terms of thickness, so you can pair with either rice or noodles; the Brazilians also include french fries on the plate, which may not be a bad idea to emulate if your child hasn’t yet embraced saucy-meat-on-top-of-carbs kinds of meals. We tend to place the stroganoff and the rice or pasta on separate sides of the bowls–not only does it allow our child to decide what bites he wants, it makes for good spoon/fork practice, too.
Adapt
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Pro tip: totally fine, even really smart, to use leftover and/or precooked chicken or beef here–just make the sauce, cut the meat into pieces, and drop it into the pot to warm up. The Eastern European version of stroganoff is basically the same as above, just with mustard instead of the tomato condiments and sour cream instead of heavy cream; sub accordingly if your child prefers the yellow to the red. If you want to add mushrooms to this dish, as is common to stroganoffs in both Brazil and Mitteleuropa, remove your meat after the initial sear, then cook the mushrooms in the pot for 4-5 minutes before returning the meat and adding the ketchup/tomato paste to the pot.
User Reviews
Stupid good would be how I’d describe this. I didn’t want to like this but did, and I’m kind of annoyed my kids liked it so much. Because now I have to make it again.