10 Lunch Box Recipes for Kids: Perfect School Lunches

Busy parents, rejoice! You can now make lunch for your kids that they will love and that is good for them. This post features 10 delicious recipes to choose from one of our all time favorite sites, all of which are perfect for school lunches. So, if you’re looking for a way to spice up the menu in your household, check out these recipes and get cooking!

Lasagna Rolls-Ups

This is a fast and launch-ready version of lasagna. When you need to mix things up, add a few pieces of pepperoni. Also, make an extra noodle in case one break!

Ingredients:

Kosher salt

8 lasagna noodles

Olive oil, for tossing noodles

1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta

3 tablespoons grated Parmesan

5 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, finely chopped

1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn

24 pepperoni slices, optional substitution is shredded chicken using boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup marinara sauce, for serving

Get the Recipe Here

Shark Quesadillas

Take a bite out of your midday hunger with this shark-inspired lunch. Let the quesadillas cool fully before packing them in your child’s lunch box for the ideal texture.

Ingredients:

Two 8-inch flour tortillas

1/2 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

2 slices jarred roasted red peppers, halved

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

8 black olive slices

1/4 cup sour cream

Get the Recipe Here

Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese

What’s more enjoyable than finding a container filled with swirling, twirly corkscrew noodles smothered in cheesy sauce?

Ingredients:

Kosher salt

8 ounces cavatappi or other corkscrew pasta

4 cups broccoli florets (about 8 ounces)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

4 slices bacon (about 4 ounces), chopped Or Ground Beef

4 scallions, chopped (white and green parts separated)

4 scallions, chopped (white and green parts separated) 

Freshly ground pepper

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

1 cup milk (try our grass fed milk)

1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (about 6 ounces)

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Get the Recipe Here

Cheesy Pizza Hot Dogs

Wrap hot dogs in mozzarella cheese and pizza dough for the ultimate lunchbox dinner. For dipping, don’t forget their favorite toppings!

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

1 pound refrigerated pizza dough, at room temperature

3 mozzarella cheese sticks

6 beef hot dogs

Get the Recipe Here

Pizza Lollipops

Nothing — not even pizza on a stick — can compare to it. Insert popsicle sticks into balls of pizza dough, then top with cheese, pepperoni, or vegetables before baking.

Ingredients:

1 pound refrigerated pizza dough, at room temperature

8 ounces fontina cheese, shredded, plus more for topping

16 pepperoni slices (or other toppings)

1 cup marinara sauce, warmed

Get the Recipe Here

Chicken Noodle Soup

Fill an insulated container with wonderful, classic comfort food. Is there not enough time to make your own stock? In this dish, store-bought works just as well.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 medium carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices

2 celery ribs, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices

4 fresh thyme sprigs

1 bay leaf

2 quarts chicken stock, recipe follows

8 ounces dried wide egg noodles

1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Chicken Stock:

1 whole free-range chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds), rinsed, giblets discarded

2 carrots, cut in large chunks

3 celery stalks, cut in large chunks

2 large white onions, quartered

1 head of garlic, halved

1 turnip, halved

1/4 bunch fresh thyme

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

Get the Recipe Here

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These chicken fingers are quick and simple, but they’re better for you. They’re a kid-friendly and healthier alternative to your typical chicken fingers.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1 Pound Chicken Breasts Cut

1 1/2 cups panko 

1/4 cup grated Parmesan 

1 tablespoon olive oil

Kosher salt

Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons yellow mustard

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Get the Recipe Here

Ham and Cheese Waffles

Are you sick of making sandwiches? Use waffle batter to stuff your ham and cheese. To make it simpler to dip in syrup, cut them into sticks.

Ingredients:

1 cup cubed ham

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

A generous sprinkling of freshly ground pepper

2 cups prepared waffle batter

Cooking spray

Maple syrup, for serving

Get the Recipe Here

Cheesy Italian Beef Quesadillas

These little quesadillas are great finger food for kids of all sizes. Jeff Mauro’s solution is to use creamy Provolone cheese, juicy roast beef, and bell peppers to fill them, or replace the ingredients with those preferred by your children to make them their own!

Ingredients:

4 large flour tortillas

1/2 pound provolone cheese, thinly sliced 

1 pound good-quality roast beef, shaved very thin

1 cup jarred fire-roasted bell peppers, drained and julienned

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Garlic salt

Mild giardiniera relish, for serving

Get the Recipe Here

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Hearty pasta transforms a classic Caesar salad into a hearty, kid-friendly option.

Ingredients:

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup Parmesan

1/4 cup sour cream

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon finely grated garlic

8 ounces penne pasta

One 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, plus more for oiling the grill grates

1 1/2 cups shredded romaine lettuce

1/4 cup finely chopped celery

2 medium vine-ripe tomatoes, chopped

Get the Recipe Here