Lunchbox Recipes Kids Will Actually Eat

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We’ve all been there. You open your kid’s lunchbox after school to discover uneaten food. Alternatively, you might remember when you were a kid and your parents packed something you didn’t like.

In this collection, I’ve compiled 14 lunchbox recipes your kids will actually eat. From snacks to desserts to the main course, kids will love these recipes.

Baked Ham and Cheese Roll Ups

A white plate with four golden-brown pinwheel pastries filled with ham, cheese and herbs, placed on a blue cloth napkin.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

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Baked Ham and Cheese Roll Ups are a fun twist on a classic kid-friendly ham and cheese sandwich. These roll ups are very flavorful, packable and customizable. You can easily meal prep them in a large batch and pack them more than once for your kids.

GET THIS RECIPE: Baked Ham and Cheese Roll Ups

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Apple Oatmeal Bars

A close-up of two apple crumble bars with a crumbly oat topping next to a sliced apple on a white surface.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Apple Oatmeal Bars are great to pack for your kid as a snack or dessert. They are full of nutrients and fiber from the apples and oats while still being sweet and enjoyable for kids. Apple Oatmeal Bars can last for a week if refrigerated or even longer if frozen.

GET THIS RECIPE: Apple Oatmeal Bars

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Turkey Club Sandwich Kebabs

A skewer with turkey club sandwich pieces, lettuce, tomato, and cheese is dipped into a bowl of creamy dip topped with chopped green onions.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

What’s more fun than a sandwich? A sandwich on a stick! If your kids like turkey sandwiches, these Turkey Club Sandwich Kebabs are a fun, packable recipe just for them. Plus they are perfectly dip-able in your child’s favorite sauce.

GET THIS RECIPE: Turkey Club Sandwich Kebabs

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Spider Sandwiches

A round ssandwich with two chocolate chips on top and pretzel sticks on the sides, resembling a spider, placed on a fabric surface.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Spider Sandwiches are a spooky twist on a classic PB & J that are perfect for Halloween season. The body of the spider is a cut out PB & J sandwich, the eyes are chocolate chips, and the legs are pretzels. Pack these in your kid’s lunchbox or send a batch of them to school for your kid’s classroom Halloween party.

GET THIS RECIPE: Spider Sandwiches

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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

Oatmeal peanut butter protein balls with colorful candy pieces scattered on a white wooden surface.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Kids love chocolate and peanut butter, so why not give them a nutrient boost with these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls. These protein balls are made from only 6 ingredients: oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, M&Ms, cinnamon and salt. They are perfect for your kid to pop into their mouth at the lunch table between talking to friends.

GET THIS RECIPE: Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls

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Ham and Cheese Sushi Rolls

Four sandwich pinwheel "sushi" rolls with layers of bread, ham, cheese, and spinach are arranged on a white plate.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Ham and Cheese Sushi Rolls are another fun version of a sandwich to add some whimsy to your kid’s lunch box. Ham, cheese, spinach and mayo are wrapped in bread for this sushi-inspired dish. If your kid loves pieces of Japanese culture like anime, Pokémon or Nintendo, this is a way to include their interests in their lunch.

GET THIS RECIPE: Ham and Cheese Sushi Rolls

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Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

Celery sticks filled with cream cheese and topped with shredded cheese and bacon bits are arranged on white plates. There is 4 plates stacked on top of each other on the left side with 3 celery sticks with some leaves and stalks on top, while 2 celery sticks without stalks or leaves can be seen on the right side resting on a single plate.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery is an enjoyable way to get your kids to eat their veggies. What better way to do it than to add bacon? This savory version of the classic “ants on a log” is filling and will be a big hit with your kids.

GET THIS RECIPE: Bacon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Celery

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Mediterranean Pinwheels

Sliced tortilla wraps, fresh lettuce, veggies, hummus and tzatziki sauce garnished with red bell pepper can be seen in the top compartment in a packable metal and plastic lunchbox tray. Some pretzels and a peach can be seen in the bottom compartment while an uncut pepper rests outside and above the tray.
Image Credit: A Paige of Positivity

Pack these Mediterranean Pinwheels in your kid’s lunch to give them a taste of Greece. These are filled with protein, veggies and deliciousness for a satisfying lunch that will keep your kids full all day. They can be customized with meats like chicken or turkey as well if your kid prefers.

GET THIS RECIPE: Mediterranean Pinwheels

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Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

Six chocolate chip bananas muffins laid out in 2 rows on a white surface.
Image Credit: It Is a Keeper

Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins are an easy and nutritious way to use up overripe bananas. Not only do they contain bananas, they also have applesauce for even more of the fruit your kid needs. These are way better and more flavorful than store bought, perfect for your kid’s lunch.

GET THIS RECIPE: Easy Banana Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

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Halloween Mini Pizzas

Five mini Halloween pizzas on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. The top two and middle pizzas have white cheese shaped like ghosts on top along with black olive bits for eyes, while the bottom two have jack o lanterns made out of Colby jack cheese.
Image Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Halloween Mini Pizzas are perfectly packable pizzas for your kid’s lunch. You and your kid can make fun decorative toppings for the pizza. They are great for Halloween but you and your kid can get creative and make any designs your heart desires.

GET THIS RECIPE: Halloween Mini Pizzas

Pigs In A Blanket (Air Fryer Or Oven!)

Mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls and sprinkled with Everything But the Bagel seasoning rest in a black air fryer basket. A baking sheet lined with parchment paper can be seen in the top right corner and has two more pigs in blanket on it. Red metal tongs rest on a white and red checkered towel in the bottom right corner.
Image Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Pigs in a Blanket are mini hot dogs wrapped in crescent roll, a favorite of mine as a child. They are perfectly bite-sized and fit right into a lunch box. If your kids love hot dogs for dinner, they’ll love Pigs in a Blanket for lunch.

GET THIS RECIPE: Pigs In A Blanket (Air Fryer Or Oven!)

Cheery Orange Creamsicle Muffins

A plate of orange creamsicle muffins can be seen in the top left of the image. The bottom right corner of the image contains a wooden cutting board that has three cucumber slices and a clementine on top of it. The bottom left corner contains a plastic lunch tray with several divided compartments. The compartments contain an orange creamsicle muffin, clementines, cucumbers, cheese, crackers, and bell peppers.
Image Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Cheery Orange Creamsicle Muffins are muffins made with clementines that are lovely for school lunches. They have notes of citrus and vanilla and chocolate chips can be added if desired. Recipe writer Kristy Richardson wrote that her friend that normally doesn’t like citrus muffins liked these, so don’t be afraid to give these to your kids even if they aren’t big citrus fans.

GET THIS RECIPE: Cheery Orange Creamsicle Muffins

Easy Homemade Pepperoni Rolls

A hand holding a piece of pepperoni roll with a bite taken out of it hovers over a ramakin of marinara sauce.
Image Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Easy Homemade Pepperoni Rolls are made with six ingredients and are a delicious way to have a fundraiser favorite any time. If your kid likes pepperoni pizza or mozzarella sticks, they’ll love these. They can be made in the oven or air fryer for a convenient handheld lunch entree.

GET THIS RECIPE: Easy Homemade Pepperoni Rolls

Pink Raspberry Pancake Kabobs

Four pink pancake kabobs topped with one raspberry each sit on a translucent blue plastic plate next to a translucent green plastic fork.
Image Credit: On My Kid’s Plate

Raspberry Pancake Kabobs are a portable way to have breakfast for lunch. These are a great way to incorporate your kid’s favorite color into their lunchbox. They don’t have food coloring in them but you can add it if you would like to.

GET THIS RECIPE: Raspberry Pancake Kabobs

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Meet Christina

Woman in red blouse slicing lemons in a kitchen setting.

Hi there, it’s nice to meet you!  I’m a recipe developer, author, TV contributor and recipe hoarder that shares tried and true recipes anyone can make.  It Is a Keeper started in 2010 as a hobby that quickly grew.  Spending time in the kitchen has always made me happy – whether I’m making an old favorite that I know by heart or trying a new recipe. You can learn more about me here. 

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