4-Ingredient Hard Boiled Egg Bento Box Lunch

Name: Hard Boiled Egg Bento Box
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 eggs; 6-8 whole wheat crackers; 1 apple (sliced); 2 tbsp peanut butter

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Skip the lunchables and make this protein-packed hard boiled egg bento box lunch for only $1 each! This super easy 4-ingredient bento box is the perfect quick & healthy lunch or snack for picky eaters and those who crave variety.

⏰ TIME: 25 mins | 🤑 COST: $1.07
🍱 4 INGREDIENTS

If you’re rushing out the door in the mornings and have zero idea what to pack for lunch, there’s nothing better than a good ol’ bento box lunch!

I had never heard of a bento box before I started this blog, but now I’m just absolutely in love with them. They’re like lunchables, but better!

I love packing these super easy hard boiled egg bento box lunches on busy mornings when I don’t have much time. They’re made with just 4 simple ingredients that don’t require a ton of prep. Just meal prep some hard boiled eggs over the weekend, so you have them on hand for easy meals (like this one) for the whole week.

Even though it’s such a simple recipe, it’s still healthy and full of nutrients. You’ve got protein, fruit, whole grains, and healthy fats to keep you full the entire afternoon.

It’s also a nutritious option for school lunchboxes especially for picky eaters who love snacking. You can even customize it with their favorite fruits, veggies, and crackers!

If you like quick & easy lunch recipes like this one, don’t forget to check out my post on 25 easy school lunch recipes that are all made with 5 ingredients or less!

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Hard boiled eggs: A great source of protein, and the star of the show here. I recommend meal prepping a batch of hard boiled eggs over the weekend so you can just plop them in the bento boxes for busy weekday mornings. You can also buy a bag of packaged hard boiled eggs from the grocery store, but that tends to be more expensive
Whole wheat crackers: Adds a little crunch to the lunch. You can use any kind of crackers you have at home, but I like using whole wheat crackers which contain more fiber to keep me full for longer
Apple slices: Acts like a little “dessert”! I like using apples because they keep well in a lunchbox without becoming soggy. Grapes, berries, and oranges would also work well
Peanut butter: Adds healthy fats and protein, plus it doubles as a fun dip for the apple slices and crackers

📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: If you have another section in your bento box, you can add some fresh veggies like baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips. You can also top your hard-boiled eggs with red pepper flakes, everything bagel seasoning, or just salt & pepper to boost the flavor a bit.

substitution ideas

📌 Eggs: cooked meatballs, cooked chicken nuggets, turkey or ham deli meat slices, pepperoni/salami slices. If you’re on a low-cholesterol or heart-healthy diet, you can scoop out the yolks and only pack the egg whites to decrease the amount of saturated fats in this recipe

📌 Crackers: seasoned crackers, pita chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, cheez-its, gluten-free crackers, mini rice cakes

📌 Apples: grapes, clementines or orange slices, pear slices, strawberries, blueberries

📌 Peanut butter: sunflower seed butter or hummus is a great nut-free option! You can also use almond butter or cashew butter

Equipment You’ll Need

The following text may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this post at no additional cost to you.

Bento box container: Keeps everything separate and fresh! It also helps cut down on how many containers, storage jars, and ziploc bags you need to pack. I got mine at HomeGoods, but here is a popular one from Amazon! See below for more suggestions.
Small container with lid: I love using reusable salad dressing containers when packing dips for lunch! I packed my peanut butter in these small containers so it didn’t spill all over the other food in the bento box
Saucepan: for boiling the eggs
Paring knife: For slicing the eggs and apples

$13.98

$7.99

$13.99

The product links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

Step-by-Step Instructions for the Hard Boiled Egg Bento Box

1. Cook the hard boiled eggs

First things first, let’s make the hard boiled eggs. I like to cook 6 eggs at a time so I have enough eggs on hand for the week.

Place the eggs in a saucepan and add cold water until the eggs are submerged. Place on high heat and bring to a boil, leaving the saucepan uncovered.

Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat and let the eggs sit in the saucepan for about 10 minutes. This will make the hard boiled eggs firm yet slightly creamy. Make sure to cover the saucepan for this step.

Next, remove the eggs from the saucepan one at a time and place in an ice-water bath for 1-2 minutes. Once cooled, remove them from the ice bath. Peel the eggs and voila, you have your hard boiled eggs!

Here’s a quick 1 minute video on how to hard boil eggs from BuzzFeed:

2. Slice the apple

Use a sharp knife to cut your apple into wedges. You can add a squirt of lemon juice if you want to prevent it from browning, but I found that the apple wedges hold up well in an airtight container for 3-4 hours without much discoloration.

3. Assemble the bento box

Place the egg halves in the largest section. Add a sprinkle of salt & pepper, or your favorite seasoning on top if desired.

Add the whole wheat crackers in one section, apple slices in another section, and the peanut butter in a small salad dressing container with a lid.

Close the bento box tightly. If packing for school or travel, add an ice pack to keep everything fresh.

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Notes & Suggestions

I recommend meal prepping a batch of hard boiled eggs over the weekend. That way you can just grab the hard boiled eggs, slice them, and pop them in the bento box to take to lunch on busy mornings
Feel free to customize these bento boxes any way you like! That’s the best part about bento boxes – they are so dang customizable! See the section on substitutions above for more ideas
This bento box lunch is great for school lunchboxes and also for adults to bring to lunch!

Storage Instructions

Meal Prep: Hard boil eggs up to 2–3 days in advance. You can also cut the apples in advance, but make sure to store in an air-tight container and squirt on a little lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning. Store components separately in airtight containers for best freshness. Assemble the bento box the morning of

Packing in Lunchbox: Use an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to keep everything fresh. Pack peanut butter in a sealed container to avoid leaks

Fridge: Store the fully assembled bento box in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours

Freezer: This lunch is not freezer-friendly. Eggs, apples, and crackers all change texture when frozen and thawed

$13.98

$7.99

$13.99

The product links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! These hard boiled egg bento boxes are a quick but well-balanced lunch that includes protein, fiber, healthy fats, and vitamin C.

Here’s some of the good stuff in this recipe:

Eggs – a great source of protein. If you’re on a low-cholesterol or heart-healthy diet, you can scoop out the yolks and only pack the egg whites to decrease the amount of saturated fats in this recipe
Apples – offer a naturally sweet “treat” that’s also loaded with fiber and vitamin C
Peanut butter – healthy fats and a dash of protein
Whole wheat crackers – includes fiber; some crackers also contain a little bit of protein

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with your own doctor or your child’s pediatrician before making any changes to your diet or your child’s diet/feeding approach. Read the full disclaimer here.

🤑 The cost estimate for this recipe is $1.07 per bento box. I used all generic brand ingredients to keep the cost low. The cost will vary greatly depending on where you buy your ingredients. As we all know, egg prices can also vary seasonally! If you use fancy crackers or opt for organic eggs, then the cost of the recipe will go up.

For babies: Serve mashed or chopped egg instead of a whole hard boiled egg. Don’t offer raw apple slices – switch it up for a soft ripe fruit like pears, mango, or banana. Skip the peanut butter and crackers, or offer peanut butter puree or baby teething crackers instead

For toddlers: Cut eggs into smaller pieces. Use softer crackers or puffs meant for younger toddlers. I would also recommend a softer fruit like pears, mangoes, bananas. You can also steam the apples to soften up first before offering

I stored my apple slices in an air-tight container for about 3-4 hours and they did not brown up. If you’re storing it for longer, toss the apple slices in a little lemon juice then store in a container or ziploc bag.

You can use sunflower seed butter or hummus instead of the peanut butter!

If you’re going to eat it within 1-2 hours and it’s not super hot where you live, then you may not need an ice pack or cooler. Any longer than that or if you’re in a warmer environment, then I would recommend storing it in an insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to keep it safe and prevent bacterial contamination.

Need snack ideas? 🍿

The Printable Recipe Card

Hard Boiled Egg Bento Box

Skip the lunchables and make this protein-packed bento box lunch for only $1 per box! This super easy 4-ingredient hard boiled egg bento box is the perfect quick & healthy lunch or snack for picky eaters and those who crave variety.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 20

Total Time 25

Course Lunch, Snack

Servings 1 bento box

Equipment

Bento box container or container with separate compartments
Saucepan for making hard boiled eggs
Paring knife for slicing apples

Ingredients

2 eggs
6-8 whole wheat crackers
1 apple sliced
2 tbsp peanut butter

Instructions

Make the hard boiled eggs. Place the eggs in a saucepan and add cold water until the eggs are submerged. Place on medium-high heat and bring to a boil, leaving the saucepan uncovered.
Once the water comes to a boil, turn off the heat. Cover the saucepan. Let the eggs sit in the covered saucepan for about 10 minutes. You can adjust the time depending on your preferred egg consistency.
Once the time is up, remove the eggs from the saucepan one by one. Place the eggs in an ice bath for about 1-2 minutes, then remove. Peel the eggs and slice in half. See the video in the step by step instructions above for a visual demonstration of how to make hard-boiled eggs
Slice the apples. Using a paring knife, slice the apples into wedges.
Assemble the bento box. Place eggs, crackers, and apple slices in separate bento box compartments. Scoop peanut butter into a small container with a lid.
Serve and enjoy! You can place the assembled bento box in the fridge for up to 24 hours, or pack it in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack.

Notes

I recommend meal prepping a batch of hard boiled eggs over the weekend so you have it on hand for using in recipes throughout the week

Feel free to make substitutions! That’s the best part about bento boxes – they are so dang customizable! Add your favorite fruit or swap the fruit out for baby carrots. See the section on substitutions above for more ideas

This bento box lunch is great for school lunchboxes and also for adults to bring to lunch!

Keyword 4-Ingredient Recipe, Bento Box, Egg Recipes, High Protein Recipes, High Protein Snacks, Lunch Recipes, Quick Recipes, Snack Recipes, Under 30-Minute Meals

Did you make this recipe? Let me know how it went!

I’m always open to suggestions, comments, or feedback on tweaking my recipes. If something wasn’t clear or if you think a step could be done better, or you added your own edits to this recipe, share it in the comments below or send me a message!