18 Easy, Packable, And Delicious School Lunch Ideas For Kids

These lunches understood the assignment.

It's Back-to-School season — and that means one thing: It's time to pack those lunchboxes again!

So we rounded up more than a dozen ideas for packing easy, creative, and delicious lunches that will keep your kids full and fueled for the school days ahead. 

1. Pizza Bagels

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Seriously, what kid (or adult) wouldn't be excited to see these in their lunchbox? Add some broccoli as a topping if you want to get a little green in (it's actually quite delicious).  

Recipe: Pizza Bagels | Shop This Recipe

2. Chicken Ranch Wrap

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This lunch makes great use of the MVP of time-saving meal prep, the rotisserie chicken. Use whatever dressing you have on hand, but the correlation between having kids and having ranch dressing in the fridge is STRONG.

Recipe: Chicken Ranch Wrap | Shop This Recipe

3. Crust-free Nut Butter & Jam Sandwiches

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An oldie, but a goodie. This is the lunch that will give them major nostalgia vibes later in life. If your school is allergy-free, remember to swap in sun butter or another nut-free alternative.

Recipe: Crust-free Nut Butter & Jam Sandwiches | Shop This Recipe

4. Pesto Pasta

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Pro tip: Always cook the extra pasta in the box if you can. Keep it plain, and then you can mix in sauces as needed for a few meals! 

Recipe: Pesto Pasta | Shop This Recipe

5. Pack-and-Go Frittata Sandwiches

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So much versatility for one impressive little sandwich. This one can be breakfast, lunch, or dinner! 

Recipe: Pack-and-Go Frittata Sandwiches | Shop This Recipe

6. Lettuce Wrap Box

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This colorful lunch really delivers on crunch. Feel free to add some chicken or another protein if you need to make it more filling!

Recipe: Lettuce Wrap Box | Shop This Recipe

7. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos

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This is a vegetarian-friendly option that's packed with healthy fats and vitamins that help little brains grow super strong.

Recipe: Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos | Shop This Recipe

8. Sun Butter, Strawberry, and Banana Quesadilla

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Whole grains? Healthy protein? A solid serving of fruits? And it tastes like dessert?! This one gets an A+.

Recipe: Sun Butter, Strawberry, and Banana Quesadilla | Shop This Recipe

9. Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels

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Pinwheels are perfect for those with "discerning" (aka picky) palates. Not only are they totally customizable, but the fun shapes also make them more interesting to eat. 

Recipe: Turkey & Cheese Pinwheels | Shop This Recipe 

10. Chicken Marinara

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Kids know that it's a scientific fact that eating lunch out of a thermos just tastes better. If you're out of marinara, this could work well with a pesto or an Alfredo sauce as well! 

Recipe: Chicken Marinara | Shop This Recipe

11. Mediterranean Box

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For kids, this pairs well with grape juice. Make one for yourself, too, because for  adults, it pairs well with (ahem) grownup grape juice. 

Recipe: Mediterranean Box | Shop This Recipe

12. Mini Chicken Tacos

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Another rotisserie chicken shortcut for the win! Add some colorful veggies as toppings and you'll do right by the food pyramid. 

Recipe: Mini Chicken Tacos | Shop This Recipe

13. Onigirazu (Rice Sandwich)

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This is the perfect way to use up the leftover salmon from dinner. Plus, you can make swaps to mimic your kiddo's favorite sushi roll, like adding avocado and cream cheese! 

Recipe: Onigirazu (Rice Sandwich) | Shop This Recipe

14. Grilled Cheese Roll-ups

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The recipe says the tomato soup is optional, but let's be real. ... We all know it's not. 

Recipe: Grilled Cheese Roll-ups | Shop This Recipe 

15. Crunchy Avocado Tuna Wraps

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This lunch is like if the tuna fish sandwich got a glow up over the summer and is now showing off its new look at school. 

Recipe: Crunchy Avocado Tuna Wraps | Shop This Recipe

16. BLT

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You can't mess with perfection. This will be the sandwich your kiddo's friends will be trying to trade lunches for. 

Recipe: BLT | Shop This Recipe

17. Ham & Cheese Skewers

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This recipe is a two-fer — it shows you how to take the same ingredients and make two excellent make-ahead lunches: ham and cheese skewers AND ham, cheese, and apple rollups. 

Recipe: Ham & Cheese Skewers | Shop This Recipe

18. Pasta Salad

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This comes together quickly, and it's another one that is super easy to add a few more colors from the veggie rainbow if you feel the need: broccoli or peas, yellow or orange peppers, even red onion or fresh herbs for the more mature palates.

Recipe: Pasta Salad | Shop This Recipe

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