The thing about lunches is your kids have to eat them every day. Which means you need school lunch ideas to keep things lively. Behold, our fave school lunch ideas that are mostly not sandwiches. Mostly!
Every school is different, so make sure to check on any allergens. Some schools don't allow fish or shellfish.
Burrito Bowls
Out of the wrap and into the bowl. This is a roundup of school lunches that aren't sandwiches, afterall! Make this for dinner and pack the leftovers of this tender, seasoned meat, fluffy rice and corn salad in a Thermos. Get the recipe: Burrito BowlsOut of the wrap and into the bowl. This is a roundup of school lunches that aren't sandwiches, afterall! Make this for dinner and pack the leftovers of this tender, seasoned meat, fluffy rice and corn salad in a Thermos. Get the recipe: Burrito Bowls
Mini Layered Taco Dip
Only pack this for lunch if you want to hear about what a popular, cool lunch this was, thus requiring you to make it a weekly menu item. Don't say that we didn't warn you. Get the recipe: Mini Layered Taco Dip
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Skip the walnuts to make this one school-safe. If you have a kid that's a bit iffy on texture, pulse the veggies in the food processor to make for a thicker, veggie-packed dressing. The best part? This tastes better the next day, so you can tackle it the night before and create a (nearly?) stress-free morning. Get the recipe: Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Maple-Glazed Salmon Rice Bowl
Consider this adjacent to deconstructed sushi! The salmon is treated to a simple five-ingredient marinade, lightly pan-fried, and served over rice. Using components like leftover rice makes it a quick dinner or lunch option. Get the recipe: Maple-Glazed Salmon Rice Bowl
Broccoli Mac & Cheese Bake
Warm up the Thermos, we've got a good one! Something truly magical happens when veggies meet cheese. And we're not just talking about your kid's willingness to eat veggies. This broccoli mac and cheese bake is a testament to that magic. The creamy cheese sauce and pasta come together on the stove and finish in the oven for a cheesy, tender bake. The broccoli adds the perfect texture and taste. It goes without saying that it's a great way to incorporate some veggies, too. Get the recipe: Broccoli Mac & Cheese Bake
Crispy Salmon Rice Paper Bites
If you have a sushi-obsessed kid, then these crispy salmon rice paper bites need to be a repeat lunch. The tasty soy dipping sauce is pretty great, but our fave part might be that little sous chefs can lend a helping hand with lunch. Get the recipe: Crispy Salmon Rice Paper Bites
Baked Buttermilk Chicken Strips
A chicken strip is a magic weapon. They're great to dunk. They can be chopped up in rice or in a wrap. These ones are crispy, juicy and oven-baked to perfection. Think of them as a lighter take on a comfort food favourite. Perfect for weeknight dinners or the lunchbox, they pack tons of flavour without the deep fryer. Get the recipe: Baked Buttermilk Chicken Strips
Homemade Hummus
Hummus for lunch? Listen, we're giving you lunch ideas that aren't sandwiches (OK, maybe one!). And homemade hummus is a warrior for lunch and snack. This smooth operator is fun to dunk and swipe, is surprisingly versatile and is the perfect protein-packed snack or addition to a heartier meal, like slathered onto bread with fillers. It's good on a sandwich. OK? Get the recipe: Homemade Hummus
Saucy Meaballs
You know where we're going with this, right? Make some tasty, saucy meatballs for dinner and skewer them for lunch with fresh basil and mozzarella. Or toss them in a Thermos with pasta or rice. Or, you know, there's always the classic meatball sub if you don't have a sandwich-resistant kid. Our recipe even has four sauce variations. Get the recipe: Saucy Meatballs
Super-Simple Pull-Apart Pizza
Pull-apart pizza, bubble pizza, monkey bread pizza…this dish goes by many names. But it's delicious no matter what you call it. Customise with your favourite toppings for an easy, tasty lunch. Get the recipe: Super-Simple Pull-Apart Pizza
Hawaiian Pizza Muffins
Lunchbox-friendly pizza muffins are always a hit. These ones play up on the classic ham and pineapple combo. Oh, and they're ready in just over 30 minutes. Look at you winning lunch. Get the recipe: Hawaiian Pizza Muffins
Chicken Quesadillas
Is a quesadilla a sandwich? We'll let you decide. Some days, you probably wish you didn’t have to stand over a stove, monitoring two skillets. Problem solved with these Chicken Quesadillas. It's like a grilled cheese sandwich, but with way more potential for great fillings. Pack some sour cream for dipping and you've got a solid lunch. Get the recipe: Chicken Quesadillas
Pizza Beans
We hope your kid likes pizza, because we seem to have a lot of pizza-themed ideas. And we are not exaggerating when we say that these beans go hard! It's a simple recipe that makes a big batch with pizza sauce flavours and a stringy cheese top. Eating it cold is A-OK, but you could also tuck this one into a Thermos lunch. Get the recipe: Pizza Beans
Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Pickle Chips
And here it is, a sandwich. But this isn't just any sandwich. It's a homemade spin on the restaurant favourite Buffalo chicken sandwich with deep-fried pickles. Only there's no deep-fryer necessary. Saucy, satisfying, we can't guarantee that other kids won't be clamouring to trade. Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Pickle Chips
