36 School Lunch Ideas to Try When You’re Tired of PB&J
Take Your Child's School Lunch to the Next Level
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Smoky Snack Mix
Recipe: Smoky Snack Mix
Go ahead and double this tasty recipe—you're going to want it to last all week.
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No-Bake Granola Bars
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.
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Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Bacon
Recipe: Gourmet Grilled Cheese with Bacon
Don't let the name fool you—this grilled cheese is as kid-friendly as it gets.
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Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese
Recipe: Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese
Send this perfect tomato soup in an insulated container with aforementioned grilled cheese recipe!
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Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks
Recipe: Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks
Forget greasy French fries. Serve these crispy zucchini sticks as a healthy school-day alternative.
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Sheet Pan Pizza with Corn, Tomatoes, and Sausage
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.
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Chocolate Peanut Butter-Fudge Bars
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.
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Almond-Chicken Wrap
Recipe: Almond-Chicken Wrap
Instead of the usual mayonnaise-based dressing, we made a simple homemade honey mustard, which kids will love.
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Chicken Biscuit Sandwiches
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.
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Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies
Recipe: Oatmeal-Caramel Cream Pies
Bring a touch of nostalgia to lunchtime.
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Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
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.
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Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
These mini sliders make a fun alternative to a basic ham sandwich, don't you think?
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Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
Recipe: Turkey, Apple, and Brie Sandwich
Sneak in healthy apples and protein-packed cheese for a turkey sandwich that's anything but boring.
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Classic Pimiento Cheese
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.
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Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars
Recipe: Raspberry-Almond Crumble Bars
These gooey, crumbly bars top off a lunch spread in the best way.
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Creamy Cheddar-Potato Soup with Bacon
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.
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Breakfast Biscuit Sandwich with Sausage, Egg, and Cheese
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.
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Fresh Fruit Salad
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.
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Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken
Recipe: Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken
Use this easiest-ever Tex Mex chicken in whatever your student prefers: tacos, burrito bowl, quesadilla, or even nachos.
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Egg Salad Sandwiches
Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches
This classic spread will never go out of style. Make a batch, and send it to the cafeteria.
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Turkey Quesadillas
Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas
Tex-Mex...but make it school lunch-ready! Roast turkey is the ultimate loophole.
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Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars
Recipe: Blackberry-Oat Crumble Bars
These ooey-gooey treats taste like a twist between blackberry cobbler and a bar cookie—which means...heaven?
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White Cheese Calzones with Marinara Sauce
Recipe: White Calzones with Marinara Sauce
Calzones feel oh-so special when the kids can fill and fold their own.
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Skirt Steak Sandwiches
Recipe: Skirt Steak Sandwiches
Make lunch feel a little fancy with these mini steak sandwiches.
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Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches
Recipe: Turkey and Spinach Meatball Sandwiches
Sneak some spinach into everyone’s lunch boxes with tender turkey and spinach meatballs.
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Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich
Recipe: Turkey, Pesto, and Fresh Mozzarella Sandwich
Say hello to your new favorite way to use leftover turkey.
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Soulful Chicken Soup
Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup
Send a bowlful of comfort to school with this old-fashioned chicken noodle soup.
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Ham and Dijon Grilled Cheese
Recipe: Ham and Dijon Grilled Cheese
A classic grilled cheese but even more dynamic. Ham and Dijon mustard make a tasty duo.