17 Kid-Approved Lunchbox Ideas To Try This Coming School Season
As a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs, Easy Homemade Life may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. This comes at no additional cost to you, and all the prices and availability are accurate at the time of publishing.
Packing school lunches shouldn’t feel like a daily struggle, but most mornings it absolutely does. That’s why I keep a stash of easy, kid-approved lunchbox ideas that actually get eaten and don’t come home half-full. These picks save my sanity, keep the kids full and happy, and make hectic mornings way less chaotic.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
This parmesan-crusted chicken is the lunchbox win kids actually cheer for. With its crispy, cheesy coating and juicy center, it’s easy to see why it always comes home with nothing but crumbs left. It’s a go-to idea to pack this coming school season when you want something fast, familiar, and sure to get the lunchbox brag.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Packed with cheesy rice, tender broccoli, and just the right creamy texture, this casserole turns into a lunchtime favorite even picky eaters won’t trade away. It’s one of those kid-approved recipes that actually feels like comfort food but fits beautifully into a thermos. Add it to the rotation this school season and thank yourself later.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Rice Casserole
Breakfast Sandwich
This hearty breakfast sandwich isn’t just for morning, it makes a perfect kid-approved lunchbox filler, too. With bacon, eggs, sausage, and melty cheese all layered into an English muffin, it’s filling, delicious, and way more exciting than a plain sandwich. Try this lunchbox idea this school season when you need something that holds up and satisfies big appetites.
Get the Recipe: Breakfast Sandwich
Cucumber Appetizers
These little cucumber bites with salmon and cream cheese feel fancy but are actually super kid-approved when served cold in a lunchbox. They’re simple to make, easy to grab, and fun to eat, which means they’re not coming back home. Add this fresh idea to your list this coming school season for a cool and crunchy change-up.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Appetizers
Sheet Pan Eggs
Slice up a tray of fluffy sheet pan eggs, and you’ve got a ready-to-go lunchbox filler kids won’t complain about. They’re easy to cut into perfect little squares that fit in bento boxes and pair with anything from toast to fruit. This is one school season lunchbox idea you’ll want to prep ahead again and again.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Eggs
Sausage Rolls
These flaky, golden sausage rolls are everything a kid-approved lunch should be, warm, handheld, and loaded with flavor. They’re just the right size for tucking into lunchboxes and make lunchtime feel like a treat. Bake a batch this coming school season and watch them disappear before the last bell rings.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Rolls
Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
Juicy, oven-roasted chicken thighs with caramelized broccoli make for a lunchbox option that’s hearty, flavorful, and totally kid-approved. Slice the chicken into strips or chunks for easy eating and tuck it into lunchboxes with a side of dipping sauce. It’s a back-to-school lifesaver for hectic nights and next-day lunches.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
These cheesy bacon biscuits are a lunchbox treat that earns serious points with kids. With crispy bacon bits and melty cheddar tucked inside each bite, they’re both fun and filling. Try them this coming school season when you want to shake things up from the usual sandwich routine.
Get the Recipe: Bacon and Cheddar Biscuits
Blueberry Scones
Blueberry scones are a total win for school lunches thanks to their not-too-sweet, just-right flavor and fluffy texture. They pack up perfectly in a lunchbox and feel like a special treat without the sugar crash. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re an easy recipe that keeps kids happy and mornings stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Scones
Green Bean Hamburger Casserole
This green bean hamburger casserole is a warm, comforting lunch that’s still totally doable on a weekday. With beef, cheese, and green beans all baked together, it’s filling, budget-friendly, and lunchbox-ready for growing kids. It reheats like a dream and keeps little bellies full all afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean Hamburger Casserole
Parmesan Potatoes
Parmesan potatoes make a snack-worthy side that kids actually want to find in their lunchbox. They’re crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and totally addictive dipped in ranch or sour cream. These oven-roasted bites are easy to make ahead and always a crowd favorite for back-to-school meals.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Potatoes
Impossible Quiche
This impossible quiche lives up to its name by being impossibly easy and impossibly tasty, just mix and bake. It slices into tidy little squares perfect for packing into lunchboxes, and the egg, cheese, and bacon combo is always kid-approved. It’s a complete meal that saves time and keeps the week running smoothly.
Get the Recipe: Impossible Quiche
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy garlic mashed potatoes don’t just belong on dinner plates, they’re a surprising lunchbox favorite too. Packed warm in a thermos, they make lunchtime feel cozy and comforting without needing a ton of ingredients. The smooth, buttery texture and gentle garlic flavor make them a kid-friendly twist on a classic.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Ham and cheese sliders are the lunchbox magic that disappears by noon, no matter how many you pack. The soft, sweet Hawaiian rolls with melty cheese and savory ham hit all the right notes for even the pickiest eaters. Made in about 30 minutes, they’re a guaranteed lunchtime win for the new school season.
Get the Recipe: Ham and Cheese Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Egg Muffins
These egg muffins are the lunchbox MVP for kids who need real food without the mess. Made with five ingredients or less and loaded with protein, they keep energy levels up during the school day. Plus, they’re fun to eat, easy to prep in batches, and ideal for grab-and-go mornings.
Get the Recipe: Egg Muffins
Honey Glazed Carrots
Sweet and glossy, these honey-glazed carrots are a lunchbox side that doesn’t get pushed aside. They’re tender, naturally sweetened, and full of flavor, which means even veggie skeptics might just finish every bite. Made quickly with everyday ingredients, they bring color and fun to any school lunch spread.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Carrots
Parmesan and Garlic Wings
Parmesan and garlic wings are crispy, savory, and just the right size for little hands to handle. Packed with flavor but not too spicy, they’re perfect for kids who want something different in their lunchbox. Bake a batch ahead and they’ll be a go-to favorite all school season long.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan and Garlic Wings
