40+ Frugal & Filling School Lunchbox Ideas!

Looking for fun ways to pack your kids’ lunchboxes with frugal and filling foods? We’ve got you covered with this HUGE list of 40+ kids lunchbox ideas!

Let’s be real…packing lunches is not something we often look forward to.

I mean, maybe you’re the mom who enjoys dreaming up cute themed Bento Box lunches, but if not, we have a great line-up of frugal, filling, fun, and relatively easy lunches your kids should love!

40+ Frugal & Filling School Lunch Box Ideas

A big thanks to so many of our followers for sharing their favorite school lunch ideas over on our Facebook Page!

Kids Lunchbox Ideas: Sandwiches and Wraps

Sandwiches and wraps are pretty traditional school lunch items — but these ideas offer a little bit of a twist to help you get out of your lunch-packing rut.

1. Tortilla with their choice of turkey, ham, pepperoni, and cheese
2. Mini ham and cheese sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls
3. Homemade uncrustables (you can even buy an uncrustable maker)
4. Peanut butter and banana in a tortilla, cut into rounds
5. Mini bagels and cream cheese
6. Chicken caesar wraps
7. Any type of “wrap” with their favorite meats and cheeses
8. Nutella on whole wheat bread
9. Pizza wraps (put a little pizza sauce, cheese, and toppings in a tortilla)
10. “Subs” on hot dog buns
11. Pizza Sliders (pizza meat, mozzarella cheese, and a little sauce on small buns)

Hot Lunchbox Ideas

Many people suggested using a Thermos to keep foods hot. Alternatively, if your child has access to a microwave, send them with a little plate to warm up their lunch at school.

1. Leftovers! Whatever you had for dinner the night before, re-heated and packed in a Thermos
2. Mini waffles and chicken nuggets for a play on chicken and waffles
3. Mini pancakes! Send along syrup, peanut butter, jelly, honey…whatever else to dip or spread on!
4. Chicken/beef and rice in a Thermos
5. Grilled Chicken Drumsticks (make a double batch for dinner & send leftovers for school lunch)
6. Grilled cheese sandwich and soup
7. Baked potato with cheese, sour cream, and bacon
8. Homemade pizza
9. Leftover pizza
10. Pizza rolls
11. Chili or any other favorite soup
12. Mac & cheese or spaghetti
13. Chicken nuggets or fish sticks
14. Mini corn dogs or hot dogs
15. Taco meat and cheese with a bag of Fritos for a “walking taco”

Other Creative Lunchbox Ideas for Kids

Our followers had so many clever lunch ideas — perfect for those days when the pantry is a little sparse, the leftovers are gone, and you just can’t make one more sandwich!

1. Parfait bowls (layer honey, oatmeal, fruit, yogurt in a little container)
2. Homemade lunchables
3. Hummus & pita bread
4. Salami, cheese cubes, pretzels, sliced fruit, and hard boiled eggs
5. Nachos/quesadillas
6. Deli meat wrapped around a cheese stick
7. Salad mix, grape tomatoes, and some shredded chicken 
8. Pasta salad with added chicken and veggies
9. Mini muffins with a hard boiled egg and cheese stick
10. A bag of cereal (they can purchase milk from the school lunch line)
11. Trail mix and beef jerky
12. Yogurt + fruit
13. Energy bites with yogurt
14. A drinkable smoothie or protein shake with pretzels and goldfish
15. Apple and/or banana with peanut butter + a cheese stick

For more frugal, filling, and fun school lunch ideas, check out the comments on this post. You might also find some great ideas here, here, and here!

What are your best frugal, filling, and fun school lunch ideas? Share them below!