36 School Lunch Ideas to Try When You’re Tired of PB&J

Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix

Go ahead and double this tasty recipe—you're going to want it to last all week.

Recipe: No-Bake Granola Bars

When you're in a pinch, these no-bake bars will fill up a lunch box or save snack time.

Recipe: Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Bacon

Don't let the name fool you—this grilled cheese is as kid-friendly as it gets.

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese

Send this perfect tomato soup in an insulated container with aforementioned grilled cheese recipe!

Recipe: Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Forget greasy French fries. Serve these crispy zucchini sticks as a healthy school-day alternative.

Recipe: Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage

Meal prepping at its finest—make a sheet pan of this pizza, and you have more than one lunch ready to go.

Recipe: Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars

Got a peanut butter-cup lover on your hands? Send the lunch box stocked with one of these decadent treats.

Recipe: Almond-Chicken Wrap

Instead of the usual mayonnaise-based dressing, we made a simple homemade honey mustard, which kids will love.

Recipe: Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches

Buttery biscuits, creamy white barbecue sauce, and slow-cooked chicken make this recipe a weekday warrior for kids and adults alike.

Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies

Bring a touch of nostalgia to lunchtime.

Recipe: Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans

Leave those fast-food chicken tenders in the dust. Homemade is so much better. For school lunch, you can pack more portable sides.

Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

These mini sliders make a fun alternative to a basic ham sandwich, don't you think?

Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich

Sneak in healthy apples and protein-packed cheese for a turkey sandwich that's anything but boring.

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese

Fix up two pieces of bread with this classic Southern spread, and that's about as deliciously simple as it gets.

Recipe: Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars

These gooey, crumbly bars top off a lunch spread in the best way.

Recipe: Creamy Cheddar-Potato Soup with Bacon

Like a loaded baked potato, but in soup form—pour it in an insulated container, and it's good to go.

Recipe: Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese

If breakfast is your kiddo's favorite meal, serve it up at lunch for a fun treat.

Recipe: Fresh Fruit Salad

This fruit salad lightly marinates in a honey-orange mixture—which means even the most fruit-adverse will be convinced to get their fruit in.

Recipe: Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken

Use this easiest-ever Tex Mex chicken in whatever your student prefers: tacos, burrito bowl, quesadilla, or even nachos.

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

This classic spread will never go out of style. Make a batch, and send it to the cafeteria.

Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas

Tex-Mex...but make it school lunch-ready! Roast turkey is the ultimate loophole.

Recipe: Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars

These ooey-gooey treats taste like a twist between blackberry cobbler and a bar cookie—which means...heaven?

Recipe: White Calzones with Marinara Sauce

Calzones feel oh-so special when the kids can fill and fold their own.

Recipe: Skirt Steak Sandwiches

Make lunch feel a little fancy with these mini steak sandwiches.

Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches

Sneak some spinach into everyone’s lunch boxes with tender turkey and spinach meatballs.

Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich

Say hello to your new favorite way to use leftover turkey.

Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup

Send a bowlful of comfort to school with this old-fashioned chicken noodle soup.

Recipe: Ham and Dijon Grilled Cheese

A classic grilled cheese but even more dynamic. Ham and Dijon mustard make a tasty duo.

Recipe: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies taste just like Grandma's—which is just the comforting touch needed to end a school lunch.

Recipe: Lightened-Up Creamy Chicken Spaghetti

This is the ultimate weeknight warrior, and it makes the best leftover lunch the next day.

Recipe: Ham Biscuits

Southerners have been eating ham biscuits for lunch for generations. Why stop now?

Recipe: Crack Crackers

Elevate cheese crackers with ranch dressing mix for an easy kid-pleasing snack.

Recipe: Ham-Stuffed Biscuits With Mustard Butter

A few simple ingredients—a Hawaiian roll, deli-style ham, mustard, and cheese—combine to create a ham sandwich that is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

Recipes: Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

We like to switch up a classic chicken salad sandwich by using lettuce cups.

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

This recipe is full of customizable ingredients, so every child gets exactly what he or she likes.

Recipe: Chicken and Fontina Panini

You wouldn't guess this fancy-feeling lunch panini only calls for five ingredients.