Soothe a sore mouth with these comforting soft foods for braces, including creamy pastas, soups and smoothies that are easy to eat and full of flavor.
36 Easy to Eat Soft Foods for Braces
Updated on Jul. 29, 2025
1/36
Peach Smoothie
Total Time
5 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Whip up this creamy peach smoothie as a refreshing and nutritious snack or a quick chilled breakfast. Because you can use frozen fruit, you don't have to wait until peaches are in season to enjoy this delicious smoothie. —Martha Polasek, Markham, Texas
2/36
Bananas Foster Oatmeal
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This oatmeal tastes like bananas Foster, my favorite dessert. If you can’t find rum extract, double the vanilla. —Carol Touchton, Seffner, Florida
3/36
Strawberry Gelato
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You'll love this smooth and creamy gelato with bright strawberry flavor and just a hint of sea salt and honey. Fresh raspberries or blackberries can be substituted for the strawberries if you prefer. If your berries are tart, add a touch more sugar or honey. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon
4/36
Rosy Applesauce
Total Time
50 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I always end up with lots of rhubarb each summer, but many of the recipes use a lot of sugar. This one lets the fruit sweeten up the rhubarb instead. I refrigerate the sauce overnight to help the flavors blend. —Amy Nelson, Weston, Wisconsin
5/36
Buttermilk Pancakes
Total Time
40 min
Servings
2-1/2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
You just can't beat a basic buttermilk pancake for a down-home country breakfast. Paired with sausage and fresh fruit, these pancakes are just like the ones you get at Cracker Barrel. —Betty Abrey, Imperial, Saskatchewan
6/36
Mushroom Stuffing
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
13 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I first tried this stuffing a few years ago, and it quickly became our family's favorite. Just flavor a hearty cornbread mix with mushrooms and bacon and taste the spectacular results. —Kathy Traetow, Waverly, Iowa
7/36
Frozen Yogurt
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
It's so simple and easy to make your own frozen Greek yogurt. You might even want to get the kids in on the fun. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
8/36
Slow-Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
Total Time
6 hours 30 min
Servings
12 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Much of the work for this soup can be done in advance, and it keeps all day in the slow cooker. The recipe can easily be doubled if you’re feeding a crowd. Once you’ve tried it, try mixing it up—add sage or savory with the thyme, or replace the thyme with nutmeg. For a vegan version, replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. —Jennifer Machado, Alta, California
9/36
Favorite Banana Split Smoothies
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings.
From the Recipe Creator:
I try to get as many fruits and veggies into our menus as possible. A smoothie is a great way to load up on nutrients. This banana one is a favorite! —Tiffany Van Zee, Pella, Iowa
10/36
Ginger Applesauce
Total Time
4 hours 25 min
Servings
about 5 cups (8 servings)
From the Recipe Creator:
When it's apple-picking time, it's also time for all the delightful treats you can make with them, including applesauce. This is my favorite way to prepare it. It's simple to do and it makes the whole house smell like fall. —Renee Pajestka, Brunswick, Ohio
11/36
Sausage Stuffing
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
Every family seems to have their own favorite dressing recipe that becomes a tradition, and this is ours. It came from Grandma, who passed it down to my mother. Now our children have carried it into their kitchens. This is truly a good old-fashioned recipe. —Norma Howland, Joliet, Illinois
12/36
White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mac and cheese is simple and has lots of flavor from the cheeses and ground chipotle chile. I use conchiglie pasta because its shape allows more melted cheese to pool inside. Yum! —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
13/36
Ginger Honey Marinated Salmon
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Ginger, garlic powder and green onion blend nicely for this marinated salmon. We've found it tastes even better when marinated in the fridge overnight. We also like to use this versatile mixture when grilling chicken! —Dan Strumberger, Farmington, Minnesota
14/36
The Best Ever Pancakes
Total Time
20 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I'm not joking when I say I make pancakes every weekend. I love them in any form and variation. —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin
15/36
Strawberry Milkshake
Total Time
5 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
16/36
Beer Cheese Soup
Total Time
25 min
Servings
8 servings (1-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This soup was a hit with a group of German exchange teachers who visited our high school. When I don't use bread bowls, I usually serve it with soft pretzels or crusty bread. And it's also an even bigger treat with slices of cooked bratwurst or kielbasa stirred into it. —Paula Zsiray, Logan, Utah
17/36
Pumpkin Mousse
Total Time
10 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
If you've had your fill of pumpkin pie, this cool and creamy pumpkin mousse is perfect for you. Its light and fluffy texture won't make you feel 'stuffed' after your favorite turkey dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
18/36
Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes
Total Time
2 hours 40 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cream cheese is the secret ingredient in these comforting spuds. Simply mash, mix and let them warm in the slow cooker. —Frieda Bliesner, McAllen, Texas
19/36
Cherry Fruit Smoothies
Total Time
5 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You need just four ingredients to blend together these super-fast smoothies for breakfast. Try whipping them up on a hot summer day for a cool and refreshing treat. —Macy Plummer, Avon, Indiana
20/36
Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings (about 1-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
This creamy, luscious ice cream will remind you of the signature treat served at church ice cream socials. What dessert could be better? —Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin—Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin
21/36
Greens and Beans Turkey Soup
Total Time
2 hours 45 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
On winter evenings, we like nothing better than a piping hot bowl of soup. This one uses the turkey carcass to make a flavorful stock for the soup. —Susan Albert, Jonesburg, Missouri
22/36
Cod and Asparagus Bake
Total Time
30 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The lemon pulls this flavorful and healthy dish together. You can use grated Parmesan cheese instead of Romano if you'd like. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey
23/36
Four-Cheese Baked Eggs
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I created this dish I was thrilled that my husband enjoyed it so much. He normally prefers omelets for brunch, but devoured his first helping of these eggs, then asked for more. —Lisa Speer, Palm Beach, Florida
24/36
Dill Sauce for Salmon
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
There's nothing like fresh salmon, and my mom bakes it just right so it nearly melts in your mouth. Plus, the sour cream dill sauce is subtly seasoned with horseradish so that it doesn't overpower the delicate salmon flavor. —Susan Emery, Everett, Washington
25/36
Old-Fashioned Applesauce
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
We had all kinds of apple trees in the yard when I was growing up, so I don't know for sure which ones Mother liked best for applesauce. (Today I use Cortlands.) I do know that her applesauce was very white. The secret, she said, was to keep the apples in salt water while she peeled them so that they wouldn't darken. —Doris Natvig, Jesup, Iowa
26/36
Strawberry Lime Smoothies
Total Time
5 min
Servings
3 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Peak-of-freshness strawberries make this thinner, easy drink a summer staple. —Elizabeth Johnson, Greenville, South Carolina
27/36
Creamy Cauliflower Pakora Soup
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings (3 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband and I often crave pakoras, deep-fried fritters from India. I wanted to get the same flavors but use a healthier cooking technique, so I made soup using all the classic spices and our favorite veggie, cauliflower! —Melody Johnson, DePere, Wisconsin
28/36
Baked Mac and Cheese
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Even people who have had their own homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe for years ask for mine when they taste this crumb-topped version. For the best baked mac and cheese, use extra-sharp cheddar cheese for more flavor. —Shelby Thompson, Dover, Delaware
29/36
Parmesan Mashed Potatoes
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My grandsons rave over these creamy potatoes loaded with Parmesan. That’s all the endorsement I need. Sometimes I use golden or red potatoes, with skins on. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
30/36
Tomato-Orange Soup
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Who knew orange and tomato were such a good pair? Whenever I serve this, I keep the recipe handy for requests. —Barbara Wood, St. John’s, Newfoundland
31/36
Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings.
From the Recipe Creator:
Use fresh or frozen fruits in this coconutty recipe. It's like a pina colada, but better for you and more versatile. —Gunjan Dudani, Bellevue, Washington
32/36
Brown Sugar-Glazed Salmon
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Pop these protein-packed brown sugar salmon fillets in the oven before whipping up a sweet basting sauce. This tangy entree cooks up in minutes, making it a perfect meal for busy families and unexpected weekend guests. —Debra Martin, Belleville, Michigan
33/36
Creamy Skillet Noodles with Peas
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I’ve made this creamy noodle side for years. Since kids and adults go for it, I keep the ingredients on hand at all times. —Anita Groff, Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania
34/36
Chicken Soup with Dill
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings (2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
I could eat soup for every meal of the day, all year long. I particularly like dill and spinach—they add a brightness to this light and healthy soup. —Robin Haas, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
35/36
Strawberry-Carrot Smoothies
Total Time
5 min
Servings
5 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My children resist veggies, but they love this carrot smoothie. It packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies—but to my kids, it's just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
36/36
Skillet Mac and Cheese
Total Time
25 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This creamy mac and cheese is so simple it’s almost too easy! Kids really go for the rich cheese flavor, but I’ve never met an adult who didn’t love it just as much. —Ann Bowers, Rockport, Texas
Soft Foods for Braces FAQ
What foods are easiest to eat right after getting braces?
The easiest foods to eat after getting braces are soft, smooth and require light chewing, like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, yogurt, applesauce and soups. Warm savory oatmeal or risotto are easy dinners to make and eat that don’t feel like a compromise. For the first few days, teeth can be extra sensitive to temperature as well, so skip anything too hot or frozen solid.
Can I eat soft bread with braces?
Soft bread is usually easy to eat with braces as long as it doesn’t have a hard crust or a chewy texture, like bagels and fresh sourdough bread. White sandwich bread, brioche rolls and soft dinner rolls are all good choices. Whole-wheat bread can also be eaten, but avoid heavily seeded ones which can be tough on brackets and get stuck in the wires.
What desserts are safe to eat with braces?
Plenty of desserts are safe to eat with braces, like creamy puddings and fluffy mousse, which need little chewing. Ice cream and milkshakes are also excellent choices as long as you give them a few minutes to warm slightly so they aren’t too cold. You can also try blending Greek yogurt and frozen berries or frozen bananas for a soft-serve-style treat. Remember to steer clear of anything sticky or hard, such as brittle, toffee or chewy nougat, as these can easily damage your brackets or wires.
