This post: 25 Easy and Delicious Back-To-School Lunch Ideas
I know… I can hear the quiet cringe of parents everywhere.
Soon enough we’ll be back in the daily grind of school, homework, sports, and non-stop “busy.” But to make life a LITTLE easier, we rounded up a bunch of killer (seriously… so many of these recipes are huge hits on Pinterest), lunch ideas your teen is gonna love!
Most are easy, many are healthy (some not so much), but ALL are delish! Check out these easy and practical killer back-to-school lunch ideas!
25 Delish Back-To-School Lunch Ideas
SANDWICHES
Easy Turkey Roll-Ups
Skip the bread and try rolling up sliced turkey (or another meat) in a tortilla and add lettuce, veggies and cream cheese, mustard, or even ranch dressing. These easy sandwiches come together quickly and they pack well. Plus, they’re a whole lot cheaper than storebought!
Find the recipe at Easy Health Living HERE
Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich
Made with only 4 ingredients – grilled chicken, mozzarella, pesto, lettuce, and tomato – this sandwich is super easy to make! (Just make a batch of grilled chicken on the weekend to make it really easy.) But… don’t let the few ingredients, fool you. This sandwich has a great flavor that’s crazy good!
Find the recipe at Spoonful of Flavor HERE
Easy Chicken Quesadillas (Fajita Style)
Who says quesadillas have to be served warm? They’re actually pretty darn yummy cold, too! This quesadilla is filled with tons of irresistible flavors, including chicken, diced onions, peppers, taco seasoning, and, of course, lots of gooey cheese.
Find the recipe at Mom’s Dish HERE
Hearty Submarine Sandwich
For your “always hungry” teen who needs a hearty lunch, you really can’t go wrong with a submarine sandwich brimming with meat, veggies, lettuce, cheese, onions, pickles, and seasonings on a delish hoagie roll. The sky really is the limit on what you can put in a sub… just let your teen’s tastebuds be the guide.
Find the recipe at The Tipsy Housewife HERE
Turkey Bacon and Avocado Grilled Cheese
Let the grilled cheese cool completely before wrapping it up and, YES!! you really can pack it in a lunch! What teen doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? And, with so many variations, they’ll never get tired of them. This one is filled with lots of turkey, bacon, cheese, and avocado for a sandwich they’ll actually look forward to.
Find the recipe at Mommy Thrives HERE
Healthy (But NOT Boring) Cucumber Sandwich
If your teen is a vegetarian (and even if they’re not) this sandwich is a WINNER! This cucumber sandwich is a simple 10-minute sandwich that’s easy enough to make on busy mornings before your teen dashes out the door. Made with lots of cucumbers, sprouts, and avocado, it’s easy and actually very hearty!
Find the recipe at All Recipes HERE
CHIPS, CRACKERS N’ MORE!
4-Ingredient Crispy Baked Zucchini Chips
Served with their favorite dip or alone, these Zucchini Chips will give your teen’s tastebuds something to look forward to all morning long. And, the best part is, they’re easy to make with only 4 simple ingredients!
Find the recipe at Flavor the Moments HERE
All Too Tempting Parmesan Ranch Popcorn
Did someone say popcorn? Who can resist popcorn, but make it flavored with all their favorite seasonings and it makes it even more irresistible! So simple to make, too!
Find the recipe at Five Heart Home HERE
3-Ingredient (+ Seasoning) Homemade Pita Chips – Perfect for Dips!
This recipe is all you need to make the BEST homemade pita chips! So easy, so flavorful, and perfect for snacking at lunchtime and served with your teen’s favorite dip(s) or even salsa.
Find the recipe at The Mediterranean Dish HERE
Seasoned Ranch Crackers (68K Shares on Pinterest!)
Made with cheese crackers, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, lemon pepper, and dill weed, I feel pretty sure your teen won’t make it to lunchtime before diving into these crackers! Yep… they’re THAT good!
Find the easy recipe at Savoring the Good HERE
Chocolate-Covered Potato Chips
Never heard of chocolate-covered potato chips before?? Well… to be honest neither had I! But I actually tried them and they’re crazy good! The combination of sweet and salty is rather addicting.
Find the recipe at Julie’s Eats and Treats HERE
Buffalo Ranch Snack Mix
If your teen is tired of boring chips, whip up a batch of this easy Buffalo Ranch Snack Mix! It’s Chex Mix combined with pretzels and cashews tossed in a spicy buffalo ranch sauce for a killer twist on the traditional snack mix.
Find the recipe at The Creative Bite HERE
SCRUMPTIOUS SALADS
Easy Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian Pasta Salad takes just minutes to make with spiral rotini pasta, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese tossed in Italian dressing. Such an easy extra to pop in your teen’s lunch that’s hearty and delicious.
Find the recipe at Together as a Family HERE
Spinach and Bacon Mason Jar Salad
The cool thing about mason jar salads is that they stay remarkably crispy since all the ingredients are layered and the dressing is at the bottom. Just eat from the jar or bring a collapsible bowl to enjoy. This spinach and bacon salad is so healthy because of the spinach and hard-boiled egg, but it adds just enough bacon to make it teen-tempting! Check out this site for more mason jar salad recipes!
Find the recipe at The Seasoned Mom HERE
Keto Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad (348K Shares on Pinterest!)
Sometimes, our kids just don’t want a heavy sandwich or traditional lunch… that’s where salads come in! This Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad paired with a muffin, crackers or a croissant makes the perfect lunch. Of course, it’s delish served up as a sandwich, too. Made with bacon, onions, jalapenos, cheese, and chicken, your teen who craves a little “kick” is going to love this!
Find the recipe at Stylish Cravings HERE
BEST Broccoli Salad Ever
This easy Broccoli Salad is a staple in my house. It’s always a hit with my kids AND their friends! Made with crunchy broccoli (did someone say healthy?), lots of salty bacon, cheddar cheese, and a creamy dressings that’s crazy good – your teen is going to flip over this one!
Find the recipe at All Things Mama HERE
LIP SMACKIN’ EXTRA BITES
Crack Chicken Biscuit Bites
Filled with chicken, ranch, bacon (what teen can resist bacon!), and cheese in an easy biscuit dough cup. They’re a breeze to make and always a hit with kids – great for lunch and even an after-school snack.
Find the recipe at Call Me PMC HERE
Healthy 3-Ingredient Banana Oat Muffins (900k shares on Pinterest!)
With more than 900k shares on Pinterest, this is one of the tried and true recipes you just HAVE to try! Made with oats, bananas, and vanilla extract, (plus the mix-ins and toppings of your choice), this recipe has no sugar, no flour and it’s 100% no hassle!
Find the recipe at The Lazy Dish HERE
Spinach Dip Bites
These Spinach Dip Bites are filled with spinach, artichokes, and three different cheeses, all baked into a crescent dough cup. An easy and delish snack to pop in your teen’s lunch!
Find the recipe at Lil Luna HERE
4-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Granola Cups (1 MILLION Shares on Pinterest!)
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
Dark Chocolate Energy Bites
This is seriously one of the easiest snack recipes you’ll find. Delicious dark chocolate topped with your favorite trail mix (they used Whole Foods’ Antioxidant Energy Trail Mix) and let them harden or place in the refrigerator for faster results. It’s that easy. It’s that healthy. It’s that delicious! Makes a great after-school snack, too!
Find the recipe at Simply Tarayln HERE
HEALTHY FRUIT & VEGGIE OPTIONS
Easy Yogurt Parfait
Got a teen who’s not big on sandwiches or heavy lunches? This easy yogurt parfait is the perfect alternative! Inexpensive mason jars are the perfect container for this easy lunch idea filled with yogurt, healthy granola, and fruit. Serve this with a small salad or muffin and it makes a great lunch! Plus, it only takes 5 minutes to make!
Find the recipe at The Recipe Rebel HERE
Ranch Crack Dip with Sour Cream
Trying to get your teen to eat more veggies? This dip is definitely the answer! It’s basically crack in a bowl… need we say more?
Find the recipe at My Crazy Good Life HERE
Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
This glorious combination of seasonal fruits tossed with a sweet and tangy honey lime dressing is refreshing, light, and honestly feels like dessert disguised as a side dish. Even if your teen isn’t a big fruit lover, they’re going to love this!
Find the recipe at Joyous Apron HERE
Cream Cheese Apple Dip
Just three simple ingredients – cream cheese, brown sugar, and vanilla – come together to make the best (and easiest) lunchbox snack EVER! This dip is perfect for dipping apples, pear slices, strawberries, or any other fruit of your teen’s choice.
Find the recipe at Grateful Prayer Thankful Heart HERE
