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Caprese english muffins are a quick, packable lunch that's a step up from the usual sandwich. Learn how to assemble them so they stay fresh in the post below.
English Muffin Lunch
Last week, I found an almost-forgotten bag of English muffins in the back of the fridge. Been there? A quick toast and a handful of fresh toppings later, and I had a lunch my kids devour-no questions asked! Best of all? It’s surprisingly lunchbox-friendly.
Many of my best school lunch ideas start with leftovers because cooking once and eating twice just makes life easier! The same Caprese toppings I use here also work in my Caprese grilled cheese or tomato mozzarella skewers snack box.
What You Need
This English muffin lunchbox is simple to throw together, and you can easily adjust the ingredients based on what you have in the fridge. Here's what you'll need:
- English muffins: regular, whole wheat, or multi-grain; use your favorite!
- Mozzarella cheese: mozzarella works well in this recipe, but provolone or a shredded Italian blend work too.
- Cherry or grape tomatoes: sliced into rounds.
- Fresh basil: adds that signature Caprese taste. Dried Italian herbs can work in a pinch.
- Balsamic Glaze: optional, adds a little tangy sweetness.
- Olive Oil: a light drizzle adds flavor and prevents everything from drying out.
- Salt and pepper: optional, for seasoning
How to Pack a Caprese English Muffin for Lunch
To keep these Caprese English muffins fresh until lunchtime, you'll want to pack them just right:
- Toast the muffins
Lightly toast the English muffins first to give them a little crunch. This will help them hold up under the toppings and prevent a soggy lunch. - Add the toppings
Layer on the cheese, tomatoes, and fresh basil. This order helps the cheese melt evenly if you decide to warm it up and creates a moisture barrier between the tomatoes and the bread. - Drizzle
Finish by drizzling a little olive oil and balsamic glaze on top to punch up the flavor. Pack any extra in a small, leak-proof dip container to add right before eating. - Pack it for school
Pack the Caprese muffins in the largest compartment of a bento-style lunch container. Healthy sides like fruit and veggies should go into the remaining compartments or kept separate. When you're ready for school, pack everything into a lunch bag and you’re ready to go!
Healthy School Lunch Sides
Now that you've got these epic Caprese English muffins, round things out with homemade fruit cups, no-bake brownie bites, chewy fruit leather with real fruit, or healthy chocolate chip snack bars. Trust me, they never make it back home!
School Lunch Packing Tips
Follow these additional tips to ensure these Caprese bites stay fresh for hours:
Use the right container
Skip the ziplock bag or everything might get squished together. Tuck the Caprese bites snugly in a hard, sandwich-sized container to prevent them from moving around.
Keep it safe to eat
Tomatoes, cheese, and basil all stay fresher (and safer) with an ice pack to regulate the temperature. Don’t worry, they definitely still taste delicious cold or room-temp!
Layer smart:
Place the cheese between the muffin and the tomatoes to create a barrier and prevent moisture from soaking into the bread.
Let them cool
If you toast the English muffins, make sure they cool completely before packing to avoid soggy bread from condensation.
Go light on the glaze
Pour extra into a small dip container to add just before eating. This will keep the muffins crunchy until they’re ready to enjoy.
Caprese English Muffin Lunchbox
Ingredients
- 1 English muffin, split and toasted
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 cherry tomatoes, halved (or 2 slices of regular tomato)
- Fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil, for drizzling
- Balsamic glaze, optional
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
Toast the muffin
- Split the English muffin in half and toast until crisp.
Add toppings
- Sprinkle the toasted halves with shredded mozzarella. Top with tomatoes and fresh basil. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze (if using), then season with a little salt and pepper.
Pack for school
- Place Caprese bites in a hard lunch container keeping healthy sides, like fruit and veggies, separate. Include an ice pack, if necessary.
Jennifer says
I love using english muffins for lunches, I’ll try this lunch idea asap!
Julia says
My kids are obsessed with these caprese english muffins!
Kathy says
This was such a fun and easy lunch for my cparese loving kid!