This post: 33 Easy School Lunch Ideas for Teens
Is your teen stuck in a school lunch rut? Are they always packing the same boring sandwich and chips or, worse, buying the crummy food in the school cafeteria that always seems to leave their tastebuds less than satisfied?
Well, we’re here to change that! We rounded up 33 easy lunch ideas for teens that they’ll actually like and look forward to! From mile-high club sandwiches they won’t be able to resist to easy desserts that will have their friends begging for a taste, we’ve come up with the best-of-the-best school lunch ideas for teens that are anything but boring.
33 Easy School Lunch Ideas for Teens
California Turkey Club Wrap
Is there anything more satisfying than a delicious wrap packed with turkey, cheese, bacon (of course), and veggies? This California Turkey Club Wrap is easy to make and it always hits the spot with teens!
Find the recipe HERE at Farm Life DIY
Broccoli Cheese Bites
If you’re on the hunt for a healthy lunch snack that your kids will actually eat, these Broccoli Cheese Bites are super simple to make and they’re made with ingredients you likely have on hand. With 166k shares on Pinterest, this is one recipe you have to try!
Find the recipe HERE at the Lazy Dish
Italian Sub Sandwich
I don’t know about your kids, but mine are suckers for sub sandwiches. This Italian Sub Sandwich is stuffed with ham, salami, pepperoni, cheese, tomatoes, and crisp lettuce – all snuggled in a delicious roll. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and a dab of pesto and they won’t be able to resist.
Find the recipe HERE at Bell ‘Alimento
4-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Cups
This amazing No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Cup recipe has 1 MILLION shares on Pinterest! They’re seriously scrumptious and teen-friendly. Plus, they’re actually healthy!
Find the recipe HERE at OMG Chocolate Desserts
Caprese Pasta Salad
Most of the time, salads don’t hold up well in our kids’ lunches, but this Caprese salad holds up beautifully. Paired with garlic toast, crackers or a roll and this will be one lunch they’ll actually look forward to. Plus, it’s healthy!
Find the recipe HERE at May I Have That Recipe
Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla
Skip the crummy pizza in the cafeteria and whip up this easy Pepperoni Pizza Quesadilla instead. And, don’t worry about serving it up cold in your kid’s lunch. Teens never seem to mind cold pizza!
Find the recipe HERE at Little Dairy on the Prairie
Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
This Fresh Fruit and Yogurt Parfait tastes better than any store-bought version. Pack in a small thermos and it will stay cold and delicious until lunchtime.
Find the recipe HERE at MOMables.
Garlic Cheese Flatbread
These little yummy bites are supposed to be served warm, but honestly, they taste just as good at room temperature making them a great lunchbox snack. With only a handful of ingredients, you could make these in a jiffy so your kids can enjoy them all week long.
Find the recipe HERE at Taste of Home
BLT Salad Sandwich
You might have to pack the egg salad separate from the bread to prevent the bread from getting mushy, but it will be well worth it. This BLT Salad Sandwich is delish – make it with bread or just pack a handful of crackers for a delicious and healthy lunch.
Find the recipe HERE at Two Healthy Kitchens
4-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark
Spice up your teen’s typical boring lunch with this delicious Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bark. Only four ingredients are required to whip this baby up. And, honestly, your teen might just have to hide it from all their friends at the lunch table or it will surely be gone!
Find the recipe HERE at Wyld Flour
Easy Thermos-Friendly Ramen Noodle Soup
For every Ramen Noodle lovin’ teen out there, this recipe is for YOU! It’s easy, healthy and it’s thermos friendly. On a cold winter day is there anything more satisfying than warm Ramen Noodle Soup?
Find the recipe HERE at The Vegan 8
Classic Club Sandwich
You really can’t go wrong with a delicious Classic Club Sandwich brimming with ham, bacon, turkey, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce. It will satisfy practically any teen’s hearty appetite.
Find the recipe HERE at Spend with Pennies
Easy Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Sticks
These are always a hit with my kids. They only take a handful of ingredients to make (seriously, your kids can make these themselves) and they’re great for popping in lunches!
Find the recipe HERE at I Wash You Dry
3-Ingredient Veggie Ranch Dip
With this easy-to-make Veggie Ranch Dip, there’s a good chance your teen will actually eat their veggies. It’s a breeze to make and it tastes amazing. Pack the dip in a small thermos to keep it cold until lunchtime and add a baggie of assorted fresh veggies for a healthy lunchtime snack.
Find the recipe HERE at Instrupix
Healthy Strawberry Oatmeal Bars
A delicious cross between a soft cookie bar and a streusel-topped crumbed bar, these sweet strawberry treats are perfect for your teen’s lunch or even as an after-school snack. The recipe calls for a few more ingredients than some of the other recipes here, but it makes a pretty good size batch so you’ll have plenty for the week – if they last that long, that is!
Find the Recipe HERE at Well Plated
Ranch Pasta Salad
Not too many kids can resist the taste of Ranch Dressing. But, when it’s paired with pasta and a few choice veggies it’s even more delicious. Pack this chilled pasta salad in an airtight container or small thermos and it will be cold and ready to eat at lunchtime.
Find the recipe HERE at Together as Family
Mexican Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado Sandwich
For the teen who loves to be healthy, this Mexican Tomato, Cucumber, Avocado Sandwich is filled with healthy goodness with a killer Mexican flair that makes it taste a whole lot less healthy.
Find the recipe HERE Food Faith Fitness
5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Give them the energy boost they need to get through the rest of the day with these healthy and easy Peanut Butter Energy Bites. Make a batch for the week so you have plenty of this protein-packed snack on hand. (Great for breakfast, too!)
Find the recipe HERE at Chef Savvy
Jalapeno Popper Pinwheel Sandwich
If your teen loves Jalapeno Poppers, they’re going to love these pinwheel sandwiches! They only take a few ingredients to make and they have a zesty bite that will keep them coming back for more.
Find the recipe HERE at Stylish Cravings
Homemade Blueberry Muffins
Who says muffins are for breakfast? These delicious homemade blueberry muffins are perfect for hungry teens. You might want to make a double batch of these for after-school snacks.
Find the recipe HERE at Eating on a Dime
Chicken Ceasar Wrap
Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to shave off time when making this sandwich. It’s like eating a salad in a tortilla.
Find the recipe HERE at Taste and Tell Blog
4-Ingredient Keto Everything Bagel Cheese Crisps
These easy Keto Everything Bagel Chips use three different types of cheese and a sprinkling of everything bagel seasoning for a crunchy, delicious lunch snack your teen might just flip over. But, don’t take our word for it. This recipe has more than 160k shares on Pinterest – this one is a hit! ‘
Find the recipe HERE at Stylish Cravings
Cajun Turkey BLT with Chipotle Mayo
This hearty sandwich has a few more ingredients than the others, but boy, oh boy, it’s worth it. The homemade chipotle mayo takes this sandwich up a notch.
Find the recipe HERE at Half Scratched
Fruit Salad with Honey & Lemon Juice
If you’re having a hard time getting your kids to eat fruit, this Fruit Salad with Honey and Lemon Juice just might be the answer. Use any fruit you like and pop it in an airtight container to keep it chilled until lunch.
Find the recipe HERE at Butter with a Side of Bread
Philly Style Italian Hoagie
This is one of the BEST Italian Hoagie recipes around and it’s so easy to whip up for lunches. It’s made with the best hoagie rolls, fresh veggies, cherry pepper hoagie spread, and tons of Italian hoagie meats. It’s the perfect sandwich for teens with a big hearty appetite!
Find the recipe HERE Baker by Nature
Chocolate Chip Banana Bars
Tuck this in your teen’s lunch and they’ll be thanking you for days. It’s actually pretty easy to make and they pack well in lunches which makes them an awesome tasty dessert.
Find the recipe HERE at The Cookie Rookie
Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
Most teenagers I know love Chick-fil-A! This copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich is slightly addicting and perfect to pop in your teen’s lunch. Pair with fresh fruit or veggies and dip for a delicious lunch they’ll love!
Find the recipe HERE at Cincy Shopper
3-Ingredient Pretzel Bites
These Soft Pretzel Bites are a great option to pop in your kid’s lunch. Be sure to include a dipping sauce like spicy mustard or even BBQ sauce to make them extra good.
Find the recipe HERE at This Farm Girl Cooks
Easy (Thermos-Friendly) Homemade Mac n’ Cheese
Nearly every teen loves Mac n’ Cheese, right? Why not step away from the typical ham sandwich and pack them a lunch they can actually look forward to? Just put it in a thermos and it will stay nice and hot until lunchtime.
Find the recipe HERE at The Suburban Soapbox
Honey Avocado Turkey Bacon Sandwich
This Honey Avocado Turkey Bacon Sandwich is healthy, delicious, and crunchy. It’s packed with veggies and protein so it will give your teen plenty of energy to get through the rest of the day.
Find the recipe HERE at Oh Sweet Basil
3-Ingredient Fab Fruit Dip
Here’s an easy and delicious way to get your teen to eat more fruit! This easy 3-ingredient Fruit Dip is to die for. Made with cream cheese, yogurt, and marshmallow fluff it’s way too tasty to just dip once. Pack fresh fruit in their lunch including strawberries, oranges, apples or any other type of fruit they fancy.
Find the recipe HERE at The Busy Baker
Deli-Style Roast Beef Sandwich
There’s nothing more delicious or satisfying than a homemade deli-style sandwich. Easy, and flavorful, this sandwich is packed with deli roast beef, gorgonzola cheese, fresh greens, and balsamic caramelized onions making it way too good to pass up.
Find the recipe HERE at Wonky Wonderful
Classic Trail Mix
Sure, you can buy trail mix from the store, but the beauty of making your own is that you can create just the right mix depending on your teen’s tastebuds. This Classic Trail Mix is delicious and healthy (minus a few unhealthy, but totally delicious and necessary M&Ms).
Find the recipe HERE at One Sweet Appetite
