34 Remarkably Easy School Lunches Kids Will Love
Looking for easy school lunches to make for your kids? Even picky eaters will love these healthy packed lunches that you can easily make ahead. Kid approved pizza muffins, yummy tortillas, homemade wraps, and LOTS more!
It’s back-to-school time already and that means that parents everywhere are facing the dreaded lunchbox dilemma. What should I pack for school lunch today?!
Do you hate packing school lunches as much as I did? I simply had no inspiration. It was either peanut butter and jelly for days on end or spending a fortune on bought lunches.
Also my kids were super fussy when it came to food and often came back home with their food untouched. So, that made it even harder.
Are You Looking For Creative Lunch Ideas?
I was always looking out for easy school lunches that they would eat. Eventually I came up with a short list.
I’m guessing that many of you are facing the same dilemma. So, I hunted high and low to bring you over 36 easy school lunch ideas that your kids will love.
This post is part of my Meal Planning for Busy Families collection. I’ve got hundreds of recipe collections organised by meal type, plus a free printable meal planner .
34 Easy School Lunches Kids Will Love
Lunchbox Wraps
Wraps were always a big hit in our house, and I am sure it was the novelty factor . Kids love something that looks and feels a little different.
The best part is you can stuff them with just about anything. This makes them a brilliant option for using up leftovers or sneaking in a few extra veggies without any complaints.
Whether your kids like something simple or a little more adventurous, there is a wrap on this list that they will love.
Southwest Turkey Wrap Recipe
If your kids are bored with sandwiches, this southwest turkey wrap is about to become a new lunchbox favorite. The homemade southwest sauce is the secret ingredient that makes it totally irresistible!
Rainbow Vegetable Wrap
This colorful rainbow wrap is as fun to make as it is to eat! Get the kids involved in the kitchen and pack a lunch they will actually be excited to open.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These ham and cheese pinwheels are the ultimate make-ahead lunch solution! Easy to customize for even the pickiest eaters, they are perfect for the lunchbox all week long.
Caesar Chicken Wraps
Chicken Caesar wraps are a lunchbox game changer! Make a batch at the start of the week, and you’ll have quick, easy lunches sorted for days.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps
Chicken, bacon, and ranch in one easy wrap? Yes please! This is the ultimate lunchbox upgrade that uses up leftover chicken and comes together in just minutes.
Pepperoni Pizza Caesar Salad Wrap
This Pepperoni pizza Caesar wrap combines two lunchbox favorites in one handheld wrap. This fun and totally customizable idea is ready in under 15 minutes. Picky eaters will be asking for it on repeat.
Pizza-Inspired Lunches
Let’s be honest, if you could put pizza in the lunchbox every single day, most kids would be perfectly happy. While a slice of leftover pizza is always a winner, there are so many fun ways to bring those pizza-inspired flavors into lunchtime. Here are some of our favorite pizza-inspired lunch ideas to try!
Pepperoni Pizza Muffins
Pepperoni pizza muffins are a genius lunchbox idea that puts a totally fun spin on pizza! Make a big batch, freeze them individually, and you have an easy grab-and-go lunch ready all week long.
Rainbow Pitta Pizzas
Rainbow pitta pizzas are a brilliant way to get kids excited about eating their veggies! Let the kids choose their own colorful toppings. You might just be surprised at how many vegetables they are willing to try.
Pizza Rolls
If your kids refuse sandwiches, homemade pizza rolls are about to solve your lunchbox problem! Make a big batch on the weekend. Let the kids pick their own toppings and lunch is sorted for the whole week!
Pizza Scrolls
Puff pastry pizza scrolls are the perfect solution for those days when you just cannot face making another sandwich! Fill them with kid friendly fillings and bake a batch ahead of time. Lunch is sorted for the whole week!
Homemade Pizza Pockets
Homemade pizza pockets are stuffed with oozy cheese, rich pizza sauce, and whatever toppings your kids love most! Make a big batch anad pop them in the freezer. You will have the ultimate grab-and-go lunchbox solution ready whenever you need it.
Sandwiches Alternatives
There is nothing wrong with a good sandwich. But if your kids are starting to lose enthusiasm for their lunchbox, it’s time to mix things up a little! Sandwich alternatives don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are some of our favorite sandwich alternatives to shake things up!
Cheese and Bacon Sausage Rolls
Cheese and bacon sausage rolls are always popular! Ready in under 30 minutes and totally freezer friendly, they taste just like bakery sausage rolls. Best of all you get to control exactly what goes in them!
Bacon and Veggie Quiches
Lunchbox bacon and veggie quiches are super easy to make and perfect for filling the kids’ lunchboxes! Kid-friendly, veggie-packed, and freezer-friendly, just defrost one in the lunchbox and lunch is sorted.
Egg Salad Mini Pitas
Egg salad mini pitas are made in a flash and perfect for little hands to hold! Packed with creamy egg salad, crunchy celery, and fresh herbs, kids will be excited to spot them in their lunchbox.
Ranch Chicken Rollups
Looking for a lunch that’ll actually get your kids excited to open their lunchbox? These ranch chicken roll-ups are creamy, crunchy, and packed with flavor that kids can’t resist.
Bacon, Grilled Cheese, Turkey Kabobs
Bacon grilled cheese and turkey kabobs are just the lunchbox shake-up you need! Easy to prep and packed with kid appeal. Your little ones will be excited to open their lunchbox every single time!
Chicken Quesadilla
Transform leftovers into an exciting school lunch with chicken quesadillas! Cheesy, satisfying, and endlessly customizable, quesadillas are a lunchbox win that works hot or cold.
Chicken Breast Fritters
Whip up a generous batch of chicken breast fritters for a satisfying family supper. Stash the leftovers and you have a protein packed, kid approved lunch ready to grab the next morning!
Bento Boxes and Novelty Sandwiches
There is something about a bento box that makes lunchtime feel like a little event. Kids love having lots of different things to pick at. The variety means there is almost always something in there that excites them!
Novelty sandwiches work the same kind of magic. They turn an everyday lunch into something that makes kids smile the moment they open their lunchbox! The key is keeping things simple.
DIY Frozen Uncrustables
DIY Frozen Uncrustables are a total game-changer for picky eaters. Kids absolutely love them, and making your own means you can control the ingredients, save money, and customize the fillings.
Bear-Shaped Peanut Butter and Jelly
If your kid is a PB&J devotee, this bear-shaped peanut butter and jelly bento is for them. A simple sandwich press transforms their favourite lunch into something totally new and exciting!
Star-Shaped Mini Ham Sandwiches
Star-shaped mini ham sandwiches are proof that a little cookie cutter can completely transform lunchtime! Ready in just 5 minutes, this genius idea turns an everyday ham and cheese sandwich into something special. Kids will be genuinely excited to open it up!
Chicken Taco Bento Box
A chicken taco bento box is a brilliant way to make lunchtime interactive and exciting! Kids get to build their own little taco cups right at the table. And when kids build it themselves they are far more likely to eat everything inside!
Warm Lunches
A good kid-proof thermos opens up a whole new world of lunchbox possibilities. It keeps food warm and delicious right through to lunchtime. From mac and cheese to chicken noodle soup, here are some warm lunch ideas your kids will love!
Baked Mac and Cheese
Creamy baked mac and cheese is the ultimate thermos lunch that kids will be genuinely excited to open! Made with a rich homemade cheese sauce and a golden crispy topping, this is pure comfort food.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Homemade chicken noodle soup is the ultimate thermos lunch for a cold school day! Packed with tender chicken, hearty egg noodles, and fresh vegetables in a rich, flavourful broth, it is pure comfort in every spoonful and ready in under an hour.
Roasted Tomato Soup
Roasted tomato garlic soup is rich, smooth, and packed with deep flavor from oven-roasted tomatoes and garlic. Simple enough to make ahead and freeze in individual portions, it is a brilliant thermos lunch that even picky eaters will happily slurp up!
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Rich and creamy broccoli cheddar soup is ready in just 35 minutes and packed with tender veggies and melty cheddar cheese! Pop the leftovers in a thermos, and you have a warm, comforting school lunch that will make every kid at the table jealous.
Taco Soup
Crockpot taco soup is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it lunch solution! Loaded with ground beef, beans, corn, and bold taco flavors, just toss everything in the slow cooker the night before. Pop the leftovers in a thermos for a warm and hearty school lunch the whole family will love!
Sweet Treats
Every lunchbox deserves a little something sweet to finish things off. Honestly, who could argue with that?
A small treat at the end of lunch is one of those simple things that kids genuinely look forward to. Here are some of our favorite sweet treats to try!
Apple Hand Pies
Apple hand pies are the ultimate lunchbox sweet treat. Make a batch on the weekend and tuck one in the lunchbox all week long. Packed with warm cinnamon spiced apple filling and wrapped in a golden flaky crust, they are absolutely irresistible!
Cookie Monster Cookies
Cookie Monster cookies are the most adorable lunchbox sweet treat going! Loaded with Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and chocolate chips and topped with wonky candy eyes. These blue cookies are guaranteed to make every kid at the lunch table wildly jealous!
Pink Cake Pops
Pink cake pops are the sweetest little lunchbox surprise you can tuck in for your kids! Soft vanilla cake rolled into balls, dipped in pink candy coating, and finished with white sprinkles. They look like they came straight from a coffee shop but are easier to make than you might think!
Star Spangled Fruit Salad
This star-spangled fruit salad is a gorgeous, healthy dessert that kids love! Juicy strawberries, plump blueberries, and adorable apple stars come together in minutes. Kids will be thrilled to find this refreshing treat in their lunch!
Cinnamon Yogurt Dippers
Cinnamon yogurt dippers are a genius way to make Greek yogurt feel like a whole lunchbox experience! Pair the creamy cinnamon dip with fresh fruit, apple straws, or pretzels. A simple snack kids will actually get excited about!
Nut Free Chocolate Bliss Balls
Nut-free chocolate bliss balls are the perfect no-bake lunchbox treat made with just 5 ingredients! Safe for nut free schools and made with sunflower seeds, dates, and cocoa. They are so chocolatey and delicious that kids will never guess they are eating healthy!
No-Bake Chocolate Chip Energy Bites
No-bake chocolate chip energy bites are the ultimate make-ahead lunchbox snack that kids will gobble up! Packed with banana, peanut butter, oats, and mini chocolate chips. Make a big batch and stash them in the freezer for a grab and go snack all week long!
Making school lunches doesn’t have to feel like a daily struggle. A little planning and a handful of reliable go-to recipes is all it takes. You can keep the lunchbox feeling fresh and exciting all year long!
We hope this collection of 34 easy lunch ideas for school has given you some brilliant new ideas to try.
Don’t forget to pin this post for those mornings when inspiration runs dry. Head over to the easy kid-friendly recipes resource hub at Rediscovered Families. It’s your complete starting point for easy family recipes, holiday treats, meal-planning help, and more!