When I was a kid, I used to hate sandwiches. My poor mom. Every morning, she’d go downstairs at the crack of dawn, and with the sound of flourescent lights buzzing overhead, she’d drink a cup of instant coffee and pack me (and my brother and sister) a non-sandwich lunch. That was back in the days of no internet, no Amazon, and no Walmart, so she’d have to come up with creative lunch ideas all on her own. Then she’d pack them in nothing but sandwich bags and thermoses in my super cool 1980’s denim lunch bag. (Actually, I don’t remember if I had a denim lunch bag, but it sounds very 80’s doesn’t it?)
Do you remember what you ate for lunch when you were in elementary school? I know I ate tons of crackers and cheese? And every once in awhile my mom would pack a hot dog in a thermos, and it was like I had won the lunch time lottery!
Since I still don’t love sandwiches, I tend not to pack very many in my 5 year old’s school lunches. Sandwiches are just, well.. they’re kind of boring? And these non-sandwich lunch ideas are… well, let’s just say that if someone was willing to make me any one of these recipes for lunch, I would throw down the dish towel, jump onto the coffee table, and break into song. And then they can do the dishes too while they’re at it. Any takers? No? Darn.
I know we aren’t all going to go out and try every one of the lunches on this list, but I challenge you to try just one of them. I find that when I find one idea I like, I repeat it over and over and over again (do you do that too?), and seeing that we personally only have 3 school lunch ideas on repeat in our household, a new recipe would be pretty awesome right about now!
From deep dish pizza cupcakes to silly snake dogs this list has tons of yummy ideas you need to try!
35 Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas
Mini Hot Dogs via Jo and Sue
Apples and Cheese Wraps via Weelicious
Spaghetti Muffins via Where Your Treasure Is
Mexican Pizza via Hint of Joe’s
Applewiches via A Few Shorcuts
Deep Dish Pizza Cupcakes via Plain Chicken
BLT Wraps via Handmade Charlotte
Apple and Peanut Butter Wrap via Recipe
Cheeseburger Minis via Campbell’s Kitchen
Silly Snake Dogs via Tablespoon
Chicken Noodle Soup via Love Grows Wild
Chicken Club Quesadillas via Six Sisters’ Stuff
Pizza Buns via Simple As That
Salad in a Cup via 24/7 Low Carb Diner
Pretzel Dogs via Let The Baking Begin
Hummus and Veggie Wraps via FoodieCrush
Grilled Cheese Roll Ups via Cincy Shopper
Corn Dog Mini Muffins via Happy Good Time
Mini Tacos via Style Me Pretty
Easy Fried Rice via Epicurious
Mini Burritos via The Girl Who Ate Everything
Homemade Granola Bars via Pint Sized Baker
Jumbo Burger Cups via Pillsbury
Mini Taco Cups via High Heels and Grills
Mac and Cheese Muffins via All Recipes
Mini Chicken and Broccoli Pies via Betty Crocker
Crescent Roll Hot Dog Pockets via Crazy Adventures in Parenting
How to Keep Chicken Nuggets Warm via Coupon Closet
Crispy Bacon Grilled Cheese Roll-Ups via Spend With Pennies
Homemade Nutrigrain Bars via Half Baked Harvest
Mini Biscuit Pizzas via Normal Cooking
Walking Tacos via The Girl Who Ate Everything
Banana Dog Bites via Weelicious
Sandwich Skewers via I Wash… You Dry
Wait! Before you go, check out our other lunch ideas!
What do your kids like in their lunches? I’d love for you to tell me in the comments!
I used to love to get hot sweet tea in my thermos and cut up veggies, carrot sticks and celery sticks.
or cold leftover 🍕 pizza!
My kids loved to pick their own lunchables and loved the Mexican style best.
They liked cut up fruit as well.