50 School Lunch Recipes

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50 school lunch recipes

Back-to-school season is an exciting time for parents and kids alike. While there are some aspects that make kids groan—homework being a likely culprit—there's another that tends to give parents headaches: school lunches. According to a 2021 survey conducted by OnePoll on behalf of HelloFresh, 59% of parents find the process of making school lunches stressful, citing grocery budgets and time constraints as the primary factors driving up their anxieties.

If you're running out of ideas on what to pack in your kiddo's lunch, consider curating a list of healthy, filling, affordable, and easy-to-make staples to rotate through. That can go a long way in streamlining your stress. Here, Stacker has compiled a list of 50 school lunch recipes from Allrecipes. Ranging from main dishes like crescent roll-ups and corn dog muffins, to delicious sides like ants on a log and fruit skewers, these recipes make a great jumping-off place for your school-lunch planning.

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Pasta e Fagioli I

- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here

Chicken Chili Soup

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 18
- Yield: 18 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
- Read more about the recipe here

Peanut Butter Noodles

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here

Wiener Winks

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 sandwiches
- Number of ingredients: 4
- Read more about the recipe here

Blackberry Spinach Salad

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here

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Chicken Quesadillas

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 10
- Number of ingredients: 10
- Read more about the recipe here

Fruity Fun Skewers

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 5
- Yield: 5 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here

Lunch Box Hot Hot Dogs

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 1
- Number of ingredients: 5
- Read more about the recipe here

Mayo-Free Tuna Sandwich Filling

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here

Split Pea Soup without Pork

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

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Trail Mix Sandwiches

- Prep: 20 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here

Chicken, Rice and Vegetable Soup

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

Rainbow Rotini Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

First Aid Lunch Kit

- Prep: 40 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 1 bento box
- Number of ingredients: 18
- Read more about the recipe here

Cafeteria Macaroni and Cheese

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here

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Strawberry, Spinach, and Pear Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here

Corn Dog Muffins

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 14 mins
- Total: 24 mins
- Servings: 18
- Yield: 18 muffins
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

Gyoza

- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 30 gyoza
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here

Zesty Tuna Salad

- Prep: 5 mins
- Total: 5 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here

Pork Empanadas

- Prep: 50 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 2 hrs 35 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 45 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 16 empanadas
- Number of ingredients: 15
- Read more about the recipe here

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Easy Snack Wraps

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 60
- Yield: 60 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

Kid-Approved Bento Toolbox Lunch

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 bento box
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here

Japanese Tamago Egg

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

Mini Frittatas

- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here

Better Peanut Butter Sandwich

- Prep: 2 mins
- Total: 2 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 serving
- Number of ingredients: 3
- Read more about the recipe here

Make Ahead Lunch Wraps

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 1 hr 5 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 16 wraps
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here

Turkey Wraps

- Prep: 20 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 wraps
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

Home Made Top Tarts!

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Additional: 20 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 tarts
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

Kids' Turkey and Cream Cheese Spread Bento Box

- Prep: 45 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 2
- Yield: 2 servings
- Number of ingredients: 23
- Read more about the recipe here

French Toast Dippers

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 4 mins
- Total: 19 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 dippers
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here

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Octodogs

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 1 min
- Total: 11 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 12 octodogs
- Number of ingredients: 1
- Read more about the recipe here

Mexican Bean and Rice Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 20 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here

Broccoli and Tortellini Salad

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

School Lunch Bagel Sandwich

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 1
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

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Muffuletta Sandwich

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
- Read more about the recipe here

Ham and Cheese Crescent Roll-Ups

- Prep: 10 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 3
- Read more about the recipe here

Easy Money Breakfast Burritos

- Prep: 35 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 burritos
- Number of ingredients: 8
- Read more about the recipe here

Insanely Easy Vegetarian Chili

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 15
- Read more about the recipe here

Fresh Veggie Bagel Sandwich

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 sandwich
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

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Fresh Veggie Wraps

- Prep: 35 mins
- Total: 35 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 wraps
- Number of ingredients: 12
- Read more about the recipe here

Egg Salad Sandwiches

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 8 hrs
- Total: 8 hrs 10 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

Italian Pasta Veggie Salad

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Number of ingredients: 6
- Read more about the recipe here

Nutty Brown Rice Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Additional: 1 hr 20 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here

Peanut Butter and Apple Sandwich

- Prep: 2 mins
- Total: 2 mins
- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 serving
- Number of ingredients: 3
- Read more about the recipe here

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Apple Avocado Salad with Tangerine Dressing

- Prep: 20 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
- Read more about the recipe here

Tor-Tunas

- Prep: 10 mins
- Total: 10 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
- Read more about the recipe here

Spinach Roll-Ups

- Prep: 10 mins
- Additional: 1 hr 5 mins
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 20
- Yield: 7 dozen
- Number of ingredients: 7
- Read more about the recipe here