One of the best ways to turn kids into good eaters and spark their interest in food is, of course, to get them into the kitchen. That's not super-practical at home every day, though, but there is another way to do it — cooking shows and reality cooking competitions! Over the past couple of decades, so many truly fantastic cooking- and baking-themed competition series and reality TV have come out, and they are the perfect way to get kids excited about food and learning how to cook and bake themselves.
Cooking is a life skill that we should all prioritize for our children, and using a medium they already love such as TV is an excellent way to do it outside of time spent in your own kitchen. And if you already have a budding foodie, watching these culinary shows and competitions is an effective way to foster their interest and support their passion. Plus, it's educational!
My kids absolutely love shows like Chopped Jr. and Nailed It!, and watching these series always inspires them to try new foods and to actually be creative in the kitchen themselves. We're sharing 18 of our very favorite foodie shows to enjoy with kids who like to experiment in the kitchen.
'Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time'
A lot of us were practically still kids ourselves when Chef Duff Goldman's show Ace of Cakes premiered on the Food Network in 2006, and we immediately loved and appreciated his creativity and ingenuity in the kitchen. Well, in the spring of 2021, he brought his signature charm and laid-back attitude to TV once again with the new kids' series, Duff's Happy Fun Bake Time. In it, he and the gang — along with a few furry friends — teach kids about food science.
'Top Chef Family Style'
Bravo's Top Chef is one of the original reality TV cooking competitions, and now the series is flipping the script with a new spin-off, Top Chef Family Style. Hosted by singer Meghan Trainor and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson, the show pairs young cooks with an adult family member to compete in the franchise's signature Quick Fire and Elimination challenges.
'Waffles & Mochi'
Michelle Obama's Netflix series Waffles & Mochi is an amazing way to both help picky preschoolers and engage kids who are simply curious about food. The adorable show, which debuted in March 2021, takes kids around the world with two puppets who learn all about different ingredients.
'Bake Squad'
Another new and totally awesome baking series on Netflix is Bake Squad. Hosted by Milk Bar's Christina Tosi, it's a competition series in which professional bakers try to impress potential clients with their flavors and creativity. The winner of each episode gets to have their dessert served at a special event.
'Sugar Rush'
The Netflix baking competition show Sugar Rush has been a foodie favorite for a few years. In the series, four baking teams compete to win $10,000. Three rounds of baking take place, and a different team is eliminated during each round. Judges include renowned chefs Adriano Zumbo and Candace Nelson (of Sprinkles Cupcakes). This fast-paced show will definitely keep kids transfixed.
'Good Eats'
Listen, Alton Brown's Good Eats is undeniably one of the OGs of food education shows, and with its science slant, it's a real winner for kids. Both the older and newer episodes will leave kids wanting to learn more about food and the science behind cooking and baking.
'Disney's Be Our Chef'
Although it's unclear whether Disney's Be Our Chef will return for a second season, it's worth going back to watch the first one with your kids. Available exclusively on Disney+ and hosted by Angela Kinsey of The Office, it's a cooking contest series in which families must whip up a three-course meal for the chance for their dish to be added to a menu at Walt Disney World.
'I Draw, You Cook'
I Draw, You Cook is a really unique series in which chef Alexis deBoschnek — who is best known for her work on BuzzFeed's Tasty — competes against another chef to turn children's fantastical drawings into amazing dishes. So one episode might involve a superhero dessert and another a dragon-inspired feast.
'Chopped Junior'
The Food Network competition series Chopped Junior has been around for six years already, and it's definitely a staple of the network's lineup. The premise is the same as the original series, in which contestants receive a mystery basket full of interesting ingredients that don't necessarily go together and must create something delicious from them to win a cash prize.
'MasterChef Junior'
If you're among those who think celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is always mean, MasterChef Junior will change your mind. The cooking competition is hosted and judged by Gordon, Christina Tosi, and chef Aarón Sanchez. Kids who are passionate about cooking and baking learn from the pros and compete for the title and a massive cash prize of $100,000.
'The Great British Baking Show'
If you have kids who would love seeing how some of the most incredible and delectable desserts and treats come together in what looks like a storybook setting, The Great British Baking Show is a must-see. The charming series is such a treat to watch, and all of the competitors are usually so kind and sweet while also being uber-talented. It's one parents and young aspiring chefs can enjoy together.
'Zumbo's Just Desserts'
An Australian show, Zumbo's Just Desserts is just plain fun to watch. Pastry chef Adriano Zumbo hosts and judges the series, which pits 12 amateur bakers against one another in a series of very complicated challenges that result in some of the most incredible-looking desserts and candies we've ever seen.
'The Big Family Cooking Showdown'
The Big Family Cooking Showdown is another BBC cooking competition series we absolutely love. Hosted by The Great British Baking Show alum Nadiya Hussain and Zoe Ball, it sees families compete over the course of eight rounds, three semi-finals, and a finale. They make affordable meals and meals to impress the neighbors, and there's even a round where the judges visit their homes.
'Nailed It!'
Netflix's Nailed It! is one of our very favorite baking competitions on TV because it is just so darn funny. But it's also inspiring and can help kids to learn to pursue their passions even if they don't start out very good at them. Hosted and judged by comedian Nicole Byer and renowned pastry chef Jacques Torres, it lets wannabe bakers compete in the hopes of creating the best of the worst version of elaborate desserts created by a professional baker. Let's just say, things get hilariously messy. Your kids will roll on the floor laughing — and you will too.
'Kids Baking Championship'
Another competition series from the Food Network, Kids Baking Championship, sees really serious young bakers compete in various baking challenges to win a slew of prizes, including $10,000 and a feature in Food Network Magazine. Not only do these kids come up with some incredible creations, but they also are sweet and supportive while doing it.
'Best Leftovers Ever'
If you have a kid who refuses to eat leftovers, watch this show with them! Contestants on Best Leftovers Ever compete in three rounds with different themes, all using leftovers that they must transform into a completely different meal that tastes delicious and looks appealing. Whoever reigns supreme nabs the $10,000 prize.
'Chef's Table'
If your kid already has a passion for food or you're hoping to spark some interest and help refine your child's palate, Netflix's Chef's Table is an excellent watch. It chronicles the stories of some of the best, most highly revered chefs in the world, demonstrating their passions and explaining each of their unique journeys in the culinary world.
'My World Kitchen'
My World Kitchen is a wonderful cooking show out of England. The series features kids with all different ethnic backgrounds who join their families in cooking a traditional dish to share with friends. It's a great way to demonstrate how food is connected to community and cultural heritage.
