25 Easy School Lunch Ideas for Picky Eaters (5 Ingredients or Less!)
This roundup features 25 easy & healthy school lunch ideas for picky eaters, kindergarteners, teens, and even teachers! Find recipes for cold lunches, hot lunches, bento box meals, and more – all made with 5 ingredients or less!
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Can you believe that we’re almost at back to school season? It feels like summer just started yesterday! A part of me still loves this time of year, mostly because of all the fun stationary and school supplies I get to stock up on!
Back to school season also means that we have to start thinking about what to pack for school lunch. In this month’s recipe roundup, I’ve collected 25 easy school lunch ideas for picky eaters that are all made with 5 ingredients or less! Perfect for busy families or those looking for a last-minute lunch idea.
You’ll find recipes for sandwiches, wraps, cold lunches, hot lunches in a thermos, bento box meals, and more in this round-up. They’re kid-approved favorites that are still healthy and well-balanced to keep them full for hours.
So get your notebook out, and let’s start planning some school lunches for the year!
PS: Don’t miss my other summer recipe round-ups! → last month I featured a round-up on 15 cucumber lunch recipes which contains even more lunch recipe ideas!
You may also want to check out my roundup of 12 easy peach recipes and 15 kid-friendly yogurt popsicle recipes that make delicious summer treats!
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School Lunchbox Essentials
Don’t forget to stock up on these school lunchbox essentials before back to school season! Here are some of my favorite Amazon products that make packing lunch a lot easier and convenient.
Sandwiches & Wraps
1. Spinach Turkey Cream Cheese Rollups
Make these delicious, high protein spinach turkey cream cheese rollups for a fun spin on the classic turkey and cheese sandwich! Made with just 5 simple ingredients and ready in 15 minutes or less.
2. Peach Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich
A slightly sweet chicken salad made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo! It’s a yummy, high-protein sandwich that will keep the kids full all afternoon long.
3. Falafel Pita Pockets
Recipe source + credit: VJ Cooks
These falafel pita pockets are an easy vegetarian lunch recipe that’s packed with plant-based protein and lots of delicious veggies!
4. Peanut Butter and Jelly Rolls
Recipe source + credit: It’s A Keeper
This is such a fun twist on the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich! All you need are 3 pantry ingredients and these rollups are ready to go. They’re incredibly easy to make and will keep in a lunchbox even without an ice pack.
5. Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas
Recipe source + credit: High Chair Chronicles
Switch things up with these delicious and simple pizza quesadillas made with only 5 ingredients! Even picky eaters are sure to love this pizza shaped goodness in their lunchbox.
6. DIY Uncrustables
Recipe source + credit: Princess Pinky Girl
Why buy an expensive box of Uncrustables when you can just make them at home yourself?! These DIY Uncrustables can be made with just 3 simple ingredients and are an easy lunchbox recipe that your kids can take to school without an ice pack or cooler.
7. Ground Beef Taco Pinwheels
Recipe source + credit: High Chair Chronicles
These delicious pinwheels are a high-protein lunch recipe that contains veggies and dairy too. They’re so simple to make, and a great way to use up leftover ingredients from Taco Tuesday!
8. Hummus Pinwheels With Cucumber & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Recipe source + credit: From My Bowl
Looking for a healthy veggie-packed lunch idea? These delicious vegetarian hummus, cucumber, and sun-dried tomato wraps are refreshing, light, and super colorful. The best part is that you just need 5 ingredients to make these rolls!
9. Turkey, Ham, & Cheese Apple Sandwiches
Recipe source + credit: Cupcakes and Kale Chips
How adorable are these little apple sandwiches?! They add a hint of sweetness, a serving of fruit, and lots of protein. No bread needed!
10. Peanut Butter Jelly & Fruit Tacos
Recipe source + credit: Rachl Mansfield
These 4-ingredient bread-based tacos are another fun spin on the classic PBJ sandwich! Top it off with their favorite fruits and pair it with some veggies to make this a balanced lunch for the little ones.
11. Strawberry Pancake Sandwiches
Recipe source + credit: Momables
This is another great school lunch idea for kiddos who love eating breakfast for lunch. You can mix and match their favorite fruits and pair it with some veggies and yogurt for a balanced meal.
Bento Box School Lunch Ideas
12. DIY Pizza Lunchables
Recipe source + credit: Simply Made Eats
Speaking of pizzas, how about making the kids a DIY pizza lunchable for their lunchbox?! They’re incredibly easy to make and you can mix and match ingredients based on your child’s preference.
13. Hard Boiled Eggs Snack Packs
Recipe source + credit: Eggs.Ca
This bento-box style school lunch idea is perfect for those who love to snack! Pack some hard boiled eggs along with your kiddos favorite fruits, crackers, and cheese for a nutritious lunch they won’t get bored of.
14. Tortellini Lunch Box
Recipe source + credit: Family Fresh Meals
Pack up some pasta for your little ones with this super easy 4-ingredient deconstructed tortellini pasta lunchbox. Kids will love making their own pasta bowl right in their lunchbox!
Hot School Lunch Ideas
15. Cheese & Tomato Pasta
Recipe source + credit: My Fussy Eater
If your kiddo loves pasta, try making this super simple cheese & tomato pasta in a thermos for lunch! You only need 5 ingredients and it’s ready in just 10 minutes.
16. Veggie Mac & Cheese
Recipe source + credit: Momables
I can’t write a roundup on school lunch ideas without mentioning mac and cheese! This kid-approved veggie loaded mac and cheese is a perfect way to serve your kids their favorite foods for lunch while still packing in nutrients from the veggie-based pasta sauce.
17. Easy Cheesy Thermos Beans
Recipe source + credit: Mom’s Kitchen Handbook
These cheesy beans are another high-protein vegetarian school lunch idea that kids are going to love! Pack it with some tortilla chips or a serving of rice to give your kiddos a complete meal that will keep them full for hours.
18. Grilled Cheese Dippers + Tomato Soup
Recipe source + credit: The Country Cook
Grilled cheese and tomato soup – an unbeatable combo that makes the perfect lunch on a cold winter day. Learn how to pack both of these kid-approved favorites in this blogpost!
19. Chicken Nuggets in a Thermos
Recipe source + credit: My Fussy Eater
For picky eaters who can’t get enough of chicken nuggets, this hot school lunch hack is a must-try! This post walks you through exactly how to pack your kiddo’s favorite nuggets in a thermos to keep them warm until lunch.
Other Cool School Lunch Ideas
20. Homemade Ham & Swiss Hot Pockets
Recipe source + credit: Make Ahead Meal Mom
Ditch the frozen stuff and make your own hot pockets at home with just 4 ingredients! These homemade hot pockets are such an easy make ahead lunch recipe that comes together in no time.
21. Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Recipe source + credit: The Rebel Chick
Switch things up with these easy, 4-ingredient ham and cheese pinwheels that taste incredible and are ready in just 15 minutes!
22. Mini Waffle Skewers
Recipe source + credit: Kim Schob
How cute are these mini waffle skewers?! You can make these in a pinch with just 3 ingredients. Perfect if your picky eaters love breakfast for lunch!
23. Easy Pesto Pasta Salad
Recipe source + credit: Yummy Toddler Food
If your kids are tired of sandwiches for lunch, try this cold pasta salad recipe that works great as a no-heat cold lunch idea! Made with just 5 ingredients that you can switch up based on your kiddo’s preference.
24. Baked Zucchini Fritters
Recipe source + credit: Yummy Toddler Food
Here’s another fun snack-themed lunch that kids are sure to love! Pair with some fruits and cheese cubes in a lunchbox and you’ll have a complete, balanced meal full of nutrients!
25. Tacos for Lunch
Recipe source + credit: Eating on a Dime
I absolutely love tacos – for lunch, dinner, heck I’ll even eat them for breakfast! They’re super customizable and an easy way to combine protein, veggies, and dairy for a balanced lunch. Learn how to pack a “DIY taco kit” in a lunchbox that kids can have fun assembling and eating!
More Seasonal Recipe Roundups
- 15 Yogurt Popsicle Recipes
- 15 High-Protein Smoothie Recipes
- 12 Peach Recipes (5 Ingredients or Less)
- 15 Easy Cucumber Lunch Recipes (5 Ingredients or Less)
- 20 Summer Recipes For Kids
Looking for more 5-ingredient lunch recipes?
