Are you stuck in a lunchbox rut? Try one of these tasty non-sandwich school lunch ideas to start feeling excited about lunch again.
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To help you get out of your lunchtime routine a little, we’ve put together this list of our member’s favorite Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas!
Related: Top 5 Lunchboxes We’ve Tested
Not every kid loves bread or, due to dietary restrictions, can have it. Specialty gluten-free and allergy-friendly bread can get expensive. Though I do often make my own grain-free paleo bread, I also serve up tons of breadless lunches for the whole family too.
Non-Sandwich Lunch Recipes
Ready to check out these favorite no bread lunches? Here’s my top ten. And when you’d cooked your way through this list, you’ll find my top gluten-free lunches here.
1. Apple Wraps
Tons of flavor without the bread! These ham and cheese apple wraps are also low in carbohydrates making them diabetic-friendly.
2. Tiny Pumpkin Pancakes
Mini Pumpkin Pancakes are a fun way to rock Breakfast for Lunch! The best part about pancakes is when you make one big batch, you can freeze them so they’re ready at your fingertips for breakfast on the go or in your lunch box.
3. Homemade Fish Sticks
Make your own fish fingers and pack them in the lunchbox! These fish sticks are gluten-free and the recipe even has a dairy-free alternative in case you need to go without dairy as well.
My daughter loves egg salad. The MOMables recipe for Greek Yogurt Egg Salad is a kid-pleaser! That recipe is available when you subscribe to our free newsletter by clicking here.
4. Fruit & Yogurt Parfait
Not only will I show you how to make your own homemade fruit and yogurt parfait, but I’ll also show you how to pack yogurt in a lunchbox so it stays cool all day long.
5. Tortilla Pizza
This one is always a family hit. This recipe is so easy you can serve pizza any day of the week, and since these tortilla pizzas are personal-sized each child can pack their own pizza for lunch with all of their favorite toppings.
6. CopyCat McDonald’s Nuggets
There’s a reason our Homemade Chicken Nugget recipe has been enjoyed more than 300,000 times. It’s simple and delicious! Stop buying the unhealthy bagged ones in the freezer section, and make your own for dinners or lunches.
7. Chicken Noodle Soup
This easy slow cooker chicken noodle soup can easily be packed in a thermos and enjoyed for lunch. Yum!
8. Mini Quiches / Egg Cups
Whip up a batch of these amazing Taco Egg Cups. Made with eggs, cheese, and your favorite taco mix-ins these are an instant lunchtime win.
9. BLT Salad
The Classic BLT sandwich transforms into an epic BLT salad. Packed with bacon, avocado, and cheese and drizzled with ranch dressing this salad is loved by both kids and adults.
10. Parmesan Spinach Bites
These Spinach Balls are packed with parmesan cheese and hands down the most delicious way to eat your daily greens!
Since I’m all about balance, here’s my big list of epic sandwich fillings so you can make exciting sandwiches when you do pack them for lunch!
Which of these non sandwich lunches will you enjoy first?
Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas
Get out of the sandwich lunch rut and try one of these 10 non-sandwich lunch ideas, starting with these crispy taco cups.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 20 taco cups 1x
- Category: lunch
Ingredients
- 40 wonton wrappers
- 1 can refried black beans, warmed
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
- ¾ cup pico de gallo/salsa
- Sour cream, for topping
- Guacamole
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F. Grease 2 muffin tins with cooking spray. Line each cup with 2 wonton wrappers and lightly spray with cooking oil.
- Transfer the muffin tins to the oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the wonton wrappers are golden brown and crispy.
- Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe bowl, warm the beans.
- Remove the taco cups from the oven and fill each with warmed black beans, cheese, pico de gallo/salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and green onions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 taco cups
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 1.2g
- Sodium: 465.9mg
- Fat: 10.6g
- Saturated Fat: 4.4g
- Trans Fat: 0.2g
- Carbohydrates: 27.5g
- Fiber: 3.9g
- Protein: 8.8g
- Cholesterol: 24.2mg
Keywords: non sandwich lunches, bread free lunch ideas
Rony Jahid
Non-sandwich is very testy for us. We want to eat anytime in a day. It is easy to make it. So, I will make it everyday for our family members and it is very helpful to our health.
MOMables
Awesome!
Carson
My kids love ham or turkey wrapped around sweet pickles. (I usually cut each pickle in half so that they get a fair amount of protein rather than filling up on pickle.)
Amber
Thanks so much for sharing all your great ideas and making them available to other! This is worth the money you are asking for! I can put my extra time into planning and being a better homeschool mom all while having confidence I am giving my kids healthy meals too! One less thing for a momma to think about is freeing!
MOMables
Thank you so much Amber!
Christine Lacey
Do you have any advice for bento boxes with sealable sections? My son likes sliced tomatoes and tomato juice leaks out of that section into his other sections.
MOMables
which lunchbox are you currently using? check out our store for the lunchboxes i like. it sounds like you need a compartamentalized container. one container with different sections. how are you sending the tomatoes? sliced by themselves? in a sandwich? give me a little more info so i can help :)
M Anderson
I just purchased the Yumbox bento lunch box and it has several compartments but it doesn’t leak. I can put yogurt and dips inside and it does not spill over onto other areas. The entire box uses one sealed attached lid, which I find is much easier for my 4-year old. No more lost individual lids!
Sharee
Look into Kids Konserve round containers (they don’t leak), Lunchbots leak proof rounds or their click lock containers (leaf proof).
Dawn
Try the “Press and Seal” glad wrap. That way you can just seal off the messy section without having to try to cover the entire thing.
Roimata
Have you seen the planetbox ones? They come with sealable containers that fit inside, a little one for dips and a big one for substantial items.
MOMables
Yes, I’ve seen the planet box. I like them, but they are not the most affordable for many parents.