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10 Soothing Recipes for Sick Days Home with Kids

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the…read more
published Oct 9, 2025
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A bowl of pasta e fagioli
Credit: Joe Lingeman

Sick days at home with kids require a lot of energy — both the mental kind required of parents trying to balance working from home and playing another episode of Paw Patrol and getting another glass of water, but also for whoever is fending off sickness.

Feeding sick kiddos is also a balance of making something tasty (especially if appetites are low) and also nourishing and hydrating to help with recovery. These 10 soups, pastas, and smoothies are easy to make, flavorful, and soul-soothing too.

Recipes for Sick Days Home with Kids

1 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Slow Cooker Pasta e Fagioli
This slow cooker recipe make you fall in love with the bean and pasta Italians know best.
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2 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Slow Cooker Whole Chicken Soup

This is our slow cooker take on the classic sick-day soup, which has the benefit of added fat and collagen from the whole chicken cooked in its broth.

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3 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
One-Pot Meatballs & Pasta Os
Make everyone around the table excited about dinner with this recipe for pasta and meatballs inspired by spaghettios.
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4 / 10
Credit: Lauren Volo
Best Miso Soup at Home

Miso soup is literally as easy as heating up broth and cutting up tofu and green onions. If your kid isn’t that into tofu, consider swapping the protein for a can of drained chickpeas or white beans instead.

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5 / 10
Credit: Emma Christensen
Egg Drop Soup

Another incredibly easy but nourishing soup, egg drop is all about broth and lush, protein-rich eggs.

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6 / 10
Credit: Dan de Jesus
Wonton Soup

This recipe calls for homemade wontons, but you could easily sub frozen ones and just rely on the garlic-ginger broth to soothe sore throats or unsettled tummies.

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7 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Strawberry Smoothie
An easy recipe for a classic strawberry smoothie made with fresh strawberries, banana, and Greek yogurt.
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8 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Coco Loco Smoothie
The Coco Loco smoothie features a coconut base, a handful of cauliflower, and some frozen mango for a kid-friendly treat.
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9 / 10
Credit: Joe Lingeman
Easy Banana Kiwi Smoothie
This kid-friendly smoothie balances the spinach with bananas, avocado, and kiwi for a sweet, creamy flavor.
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10 / 10
Credit: Patty Catalano
Starbucks Medicine Ball
An easy recipe for an at-home version of Starbucks' Medicine Ball tea.
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This article originally published on The Kitchn. See it there: 10 Soothing Recipes for Sick Days Home with Kids

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