Easy Home Lunches For Kids
With so many people choosing to homeschool or do virtual learning this year and others who have no choice but to do school at home, I thought I would post a bunch of easy home lunches for kids that you can make or fix in just a few minutes.
The majority of these easy lunch ideas take less than 20 minutes to make. I’ve tried to include recipes for a variety of diets so hopefully there is something for everyone.
For those who have the time, teaching your children how to make a few of these recipes would be a great learning opportunity for them. It would also make your life easier in the future.
However, I’ve included recipes for freezer-friendly food that can be thawed or microwaved in case you aren’t home with your children during the day.
Pizza Recipes
While most kids have probably had the standard English muffin pizza, why not try something new? This Pita Bread Pizza from This Old Gal is made in an air fryer and only takes 6 minutes to cook.
Sleep Over Pizza Balls can easily be made for lunch too. This recipe was developed by 10-year-old Reese Alvarado to serve when her friends came over to spend the night. It looks super yummy and is definitely kid-friendly.
For Special Diets-Low Carb/Keto/Gluten Free
If your children have to eat a special diet, many of these easy home lunches for kids will fit the bill. These Turkey Pinwheels with Bacon and Ranch from Joy Filled Eats had me drooling this morning. Taryn serves them on cucumber slices which is a great way to get an extra dose of veggies in your children. I also love that she uses a spice blend for the ranch flavor and not a packet full of processed ingredients.
These easy Pepperoni String Cheese Roll-ups are something my whole family would love. They are so simple to make at the last minute. I’ve seen something similar done with sliced ham, cheese, and a pickle spear.
And don’t forget about Homemade Spaghetti O’s. This easy pasta dish is made with gluten-free noodles and is dairy free too!
This easy Dill Pickle Chicken Salad from Cook At Home Mom is low-carb, Paleo, and Whole 30 approved. Served in lettuce cups this recipe is a real winner. And Laura shares a secret tip to ensure flavorful chicken! Don’t miss this recipe.
Vegetarian Lunch Ideas
For those that choose not to eat meat or just want to get some more vegetables into their kids, these easy vegetarian lunch ideas are quick to fix on those days you need lunch in a hurry. Quite a few of these ideas make great packable lunches too if your school district is doing a combo of virtual learning and in-school days.
This Creamy Vegan Pasta with Tomato and Basil from Joanna at Raised on Veggies looks delicious and should satisfy any picky eater. Joanna also created this Veggie Wrap that would be a great way to get the younger kids involved in creating their own lunch.
This Vegan Tofu Egg Fried Rice from My Plantiful Cooking uses leftover rice to make a quick, delicious lunch.
Other Easy Home Lunches For Kids
These super easy Tuna Lettuce Wraps barely take any time to make. With just 4 ingredients, you’ll have a tasty lunch prepared in no time.
Make these Pasta Lunch Packets on the weekend and your children can pull out whatever kind of pasta they want for lunch. This is a really fun idea and a way to meal prep some lunches ahead of time.
And if you want to prepare sandwiches ahead of time, this method for Homemade Peanut Butter and Jelly Uncrustables will save you lots of money while providing your children with one of their favorite meals. Pop a batch in the freezer for those days you really have no idea what to fix for lunch.
And for a sandwich idea that’s just a little different, try making quesadillas. High Chair Chronicles shares an easy Mini Chicken Quesadilla recipe that kids of all ages will love. You can use leftover chicken in the quesadilla and I would even add a few leftover cooked vegetables like broccoli or carrots for some added nutrition.
Don’t forget about “snacky” lunches. My kids love having rolled-up sandwich meat, cheese sticks, crackers, and some fruit or veggies. Add nuts or hummus for an additional boost of protein. To make this meal even more interesting, you can serve this in a muffin tin or a divided tray.
If You Don’t Mind A Little Cooking
These easy Corn Dog Bites from Recipes From A Pantry are made in the Instant Pot. They don’t take long to mix up and are better for your kids than a store-bought frozen corn dog. Plus, the smaller size is perfect for kids who may not be able to eat an entire corn dog.
This Ham and Cheese Crescent Ring is a great change of pace from plain old ham and cheese sandwiches. The kids can help you put it together and it can bake while you slice some fruit or grab some carrots and broccoli and ranch dressing for dipping.
Bucatini Cacio E Pepe is an authentic Italian pasta dish that is made with ingredients you most likely have on hand. This simple, quick recipe from A Hedgehog In The Kitchen is sure to be a winner with your kids.
Once the weather turns cooler, Taco Soup makes an easy meal for feeding kids at home. It can be frozen in individual containers and heated up quickly in the microwave for a warm, comforting lunch.
Leftovers
One final easy lunch idea is to serve leftovers. If you are cooking dinner the night before, plan on making some extras to reheat for lunch the next day.
To be sure your family doesn’t eat it all at dinner, go ahead and pack some in containers before everyone sits down to eat. This way, you’ll have enough for lunches too.
Do you have a favorite “at home” easy lunch idea? If so, please share in the comments. Let’s help each other out!
Related Posts:
- More lunch ideas for busy Moms and Dads. These lunch ideas are especially helpful if you have to pack lunches some days.
- This back to school meal plan will help you get prepared for the school year no matter how you plan to school your kids.
