4-Ingredient Hard Boiled Egg Bento Box

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 clementine (sliced; or use another fruit of choice); 2 tbsp peanut butter

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

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

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

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

🍳 These egg bento boxes are:

Made with just 4 ingredients
Ready in under 30 minutes
Healthy & high-protein
Super customizable!
Perfect for meal prep

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 4-ingredient hard boiled egg bento box lunches on busy mornings when I don’t have much time.

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!

🍳 Want more easy breakfast ideas? Make sure to check out my roundup of 50 high protein breakfast meal prep recipes with just 5 ingredients or less!

⏰ More Time-Saving Hacks!

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.
Fruit:You can really use whatever fruit you like or have on hand – blueberries, chopped strawberries, oranges, and even grapes are perfect in this bento box! I’ve made these with apple slices and clementine wedges, and they’ve both held up well until lunch.
Peanut butter: Adds healthy fats and protein, plus it doubles as a fun dip for the apple slices and crackers.

📌 OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS: Oh my gosh, there are SO many different ways to customize this bento box! You can add fresh veggies like baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips. For extra flavor, top your hard-boiled eggs with red pepper flakes, everything bagel seasoning, or good ol’ salt & pepper.

SUBSTITUTION IDEAS

📌 Eggs: If you don’t like eggs, you can use another protein like cold cuts, cooked meatballs, or cooked chicken nuggets. If you’re on a low-cholesterol or heart-healthy diet, you can scoop out the yolks and just pack the egg whites.

📌 Crackers: Swap for pita chips, pretzels, goldfish crackers, cheez-its, gluten-free crackers, mini rice cakes. If you want something low carb, swap out the crackers for some veggies like baby carrots, celery sticks, cucumber slices, or bell pepper strips.

📌 Clementine slices: I used clementine wedges for my bento box but you can use apple slices, grapes, orange wedges, pear slices, strawberries, or 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! I got mine at HomeGoods, but check out the suggestions below for budget-friendly options from Amazon.
Small container with lid: I love using reusable salad dressing containers when packing dips for lunch! I packed my peanut butter in a small container so it didn’t spill all over the other food in the bento box.
Saucepan: for boiling the eggs

$13.98

$8.99

$9.99

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 6-8 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, cover the saucepan, and let the eggs sit for about 10 minutes. This will make the hard boiled eggs firm yet slightly creamy. Make sure to cover the saucepan for this step.

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!

🎥 VIDEO: If you’re new to the world of hard boiling eggs, a video is worth a thousand words! Here’s a quick 1 minute video on how to hard boil eggs from BuzzFeed:

2. Slice the fruit

Cut your fruit into wedges or slices. If you’re using sliced apples, you can add a squirt of lemon juice if you want to prevent it from browning. However, 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

Halve the hard-boiled eggs and place in the largest section. Add a sprinkle of salt & pepper, or your favorite seasoning on top if desired.

Add the crackers in one section, fruit 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.

Notes & Suggestions

Season the eggs: You can eat the hard boiled eggs plain, but I like to add a bit of salt & pepper or some everything bagel seasoning to boost the flavor!
Hard boil a batch of eggs ahead of time: 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 on busy mornings!
This recipe is very customizable: Feel free to customize these bento boxes any way you like. That’s the best part about bento boxes – they are so dang customizable. Check out the substitutions section above for some ideas!

Storage Instructions

Meal Prep: Assemble the bento box with the halved hard boiled eggs + peanut butter, and store up to 2-3 days in the fridge. I recommend adding the crackers and sliced fruit the morning of for maximum freshness.

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.

Freezer: This bento box is NOT freezer-friendly. Eggs, fruit, and crackers may change texture when frozen and thawed.

$13.98

$8.99

$9.99

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
Fruits – 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 fruit 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.

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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
Small container with lid for peanut butter
Saucepan for making hard boiled eggs

Ingredients

2 eggs
6-8 whole wheat crackers
1 clementine sliced; or use another fruit of choice
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 clementine into wedges. If you're using another fruit, you can chop or slice it accordingly.
Assemble the bento box. Place eggs, crackers, and fruit 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

Season the eggs: You can eat the hard boiled eggs plain, but I like to add a bit of salt & pepper or some everything bagel seasoning to boost the flavor!

Hard boil a batch of eggs ahead of time: 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 on busy mornings!

This recipe is very customizable: Feel free to customize these bento boxes any way you like. That’s the best part about bento boxes – they are so dang customizable. Check out the substitutions section above for some ideas!

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, send me a message!

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