Kid-Approved Lunches

09/09/2021

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Lasagna Rolls-Ups

This is the quick and lunch-friendly version of lasagna. Try tucking in a few pieces of pepperoni when you need to switch it up. And be sure to cook an extra noodle in case one tears!

Get the Recipe:Lasagna Roll-Ups

Shark Quesadillas

Take a bite out of mid-day hunger with this shark-inspired lunch. For the perfect texture, let the quesadillas cool completely before packing them in your little one’s lunch box.

Get the Recipe:Shark Quesadillas

Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese

What’s more fun than finding a container full of swirly, twirly corkscrew pasta smothered in creamy cheese sauce?

Get the Recipe:Broccoli and Bacon Mac and Cheese

Cheesy Pizza Hot Dogs

For the ultimate lunchbox meal, wrap hot dogs in mozzarella cheese and pizza dough. Don’t forget their favorite condiments for dipping!

Get the Recipe:Cheesy Pizza Hot Dogs

Take-to-School Taco Bar

Get the Recipe:Take-to-School Taco Bar

Pizza Lollipops

Trust us — nothing can top pizza on a stick. Simply insert popsicle sticks into balls of pizza dough, then top each pop with cheese, pepperoni or veggies and bake.

Get the Recipe:Pizza Lollipops

Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Your kids will love eating their veggies with this yummy salad. Fun, wheel-shaped pasta gets a colorful makeover with broccoli, corn and tomatoes.

Get the Recipe:Wagon Wheel Pasta Salad

Sweet Potato and Chicken Roti

Combine rotisserie chicken with mashed sweet potato for a wholesome and flavorful filling. Rolled up in lavash flatbreads, this is a meal that will keep kids full all afternoon.

Get the Recipe:Sweet Potato and Chicken Roti

Spiced Tomato ABCs

Molly’s tomato pasta is way better than lunch from a can. She uses harissa and crushed red pepper to add a spicy kick, but that can easily be adjusted for little eaters.

Get the Recipe:Spiced Tomato ABCs

Chocolate-Chip Sunflower-Butter Muffins

Lucky for busy parents, these muffins get better after a stay in the freezer. Make a batch on Sunday, freeze them, then pop one straight into a lunchbox for a moist, tender and delicious treat.

Get the Recipe:Chocolate-Chip Sunflower-Butter Muffins

Meat Lover’s Pizza Crescent Ring

All of the flavors of pizza, rolled up into buttery crescent dough: Send a slice of the ultimate kid-approved meal to school!

Get the Recipe:Meat Lover’s Pizza Crescent Ring

Chicken Noodle Soup

Fill an insulated container with a good, old-fashioned favorite. No time to make the stock from scratch? Store-bought works just as well in this recipe.

Get the Recipe:Chicken Noodle Soup

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

This super-easy meal is a kid-friendly and healthier alternative to your run-of-the-mill chicken fingers.

Get the Recipe:Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Power Wraps with Sweet Potato Hummus

A homemade sweet potato hummus adds an extra-special touch to Trisha’s turkey wraps.

Get the Recipe:Power Wraps with Sweet Potato Hummus

Ham and Cheese Waffles

Tired of sandwiches? Put your ham and cheese into waffle batter instead. Get even more creative by slicing them into sticks to make it easier to dip into syrup.

Get the Recipe:Ham and Cheese Waffles

Pizza Rolls

These bite-sized rolls are stuffed with crumbled Italian sausage, pepperoni, pizza sauce and loads of cheese before they’re fried up to a perfect crisp.

Get the Recipe:Pizza Rolls

Fun Shaped Sandwiches

Pint-sized sandwiches in fun shapes make the perfect school lunch. These ones feature lots of kid-favorite ingredients: turkey, cheese, tomato and crisp cucumber.

Get the Recipe:Easy Kids’ Lunches: Fun Shaped Sandwiches

Cream Cheese and Ham Stuffed Peppers

These creamy and crunchy stuffed peppers are perfect for a packed lunch. Use scallion instead of parsley or deli turkey instead of ham for a variation.

Get the Recipe:Cream Cheese and Ham Stuffed Peppers

Veggie and Chorizo Quesadillas

In a lunch rut? Try Trisha’s foolproof technique for perfect quesadillas and switch up the toppings as you like. Be sure to let the quesadillas cool completely before wrapping them in foil! Otherwise, the steam will make them soggy by lunchtime.

Get the Recipe:Veggie and Chorizo Quesadillas

Chicken Salad Rolls

Get the Recipe:Chicken Salad Rolls

Buttered Pasta for Children

If your kid’s not a fan of pasta sauce, these buttered noodles will do the trick!

Get the Recipe:Buttered Pasta for Children

Crunchy Cereal Chicken Fingers

Breakfast cereal adds a playful crunch to otherwise run-of-the-mill chicken fingers. Plus, it’s an ingredient that’s probably already in your pantry!

Get the Recipe:Crunchy Cereal Chicken Fingers

10-Minute Tomato Soup

Get the Recipe:Ten-Minute Tomato Soup

Mini Quiches with Peas and Bacon

Make their day with a breakfast-for-lunch-inspired recipe: cheesy eggs baked in a mini pie crust along with crisp, salty bacon.

Get the Recipe:Mini Quiches with Peas and Bacon

Mel’s Banana Muffins

These muffins are packed with two times the wholesome goodness; wheat germ and whole-wheat flour make them a hearty and satisfying lunch for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Get the Recipe:Mel’s Banana Muffins

Cold Peanut Soba Noodles with Chicken

Get the Recipe:Cold Peanut Soba Noodles With Chicken

Cheesy Italian Beef Quesadillas

Kids large and small are sure to love these bite-sized quesadillas. Follow Jeff Mauro’s lead and use creamy Provolone cheese, juicy roast beef and bell peppers to fill them or sub in your kiddos favorite ingredients to make them your very own!

Get the Recipe:Cheesy Italian Beef Quesadillas

Make-Ahead Lunch Box

Add color to your little one’s lunches with these tasty wraps. A variety of veggies and cold cuts make them fun to look at — and just as great to eat.

Get the Recipe:Make-Ahead Lunch Box

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Hearty pasta gives classic Caesar salad a satisfying, kid-friendly upgrade.

Get the Recipe:Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Pita Pizzas with Veggies

These simple and full-flavored pizzas are a great way to get your kids in the kitchen and to load up their lunches with more veggies. Whole wheat pita is the perfect base for this quick, healthy and delicious meal.

Get the Recipe:Pita Pizzas with Veggies

Falafel-y Farfalle

Who doesn’t love a big scoop of pasta salad? Molly’s recipe includes chickpeas, mint, parsley and cilantro to mimic the flavors of her go-to falafel. Reviewers rave about her punched-up dish — and say their kids love it, too!

Get the Recipe:Falafel-y Farfalle

Panko-Crusted Chicken Nuggets

Get the Recipe:Panko Chicken Nuggets

Back-to-School Made Easy

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