Ham & Cheese Sub Sandwich Lunchbox

Plus, learn how to keep your kids’ ham and cheese sub sandwich fresh for hours in the school lunch box with the tips in this post.

Homemade Lunchables Sandwich

Who knew replacing sandwich bread with a hoagie roll could instantly turn everyday ham and cheese into something your kids are excited to eat for lunch at school?

Mainly because it reminds them of the Lunchables sub, but this homemade version is assembled with better quality ingredients and more nutritional substance from snacks like berries and veggies.

As far as the hoagie goes, you can slice one in half for smaller appetites or use the whole roll for teens or larger appetites.

Related: More Homemade Lunchables

What is in a Ham and Cheese Sub

Here’s what you’ll need to make these lunchbox hoagies: 

• Hoagie roll: could also use a long French or whole grain loaf sliced into sections or pistolettes. 
• Mayonnaise: replace it with hummus or mustard.
• Deli meat: sliced ham or turkey work great! 
• Sliced cheese: Cheddar, Provolone, Mozzarella- what’s your favorite? 
• Snacks: fresh fruit and veggies with dip. 
• Treat: it’s your choice- chocolate, snack bite, granola bar, etc. 

I’ve kept the sandwich fillings very simple, but if your kids love tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles, feel free to add those too. Just make sure to keep a layer of lettuce, cheese, or deli meat between the bread and tomatoes/pickles so your sub doesn’t get soggy.  

Want to fill the lunchbox with more fresh and kid-favorite ideas? I’ve got all you need right here: 

How to Pack a Ham and Cheese Sub for Lunch

There are two ways to pack this ham and cheese sub for lunch; you can either assemble it entirely or Lunchables style, which I’ll show you how to do both below:

1. Assemble
   Open the hoagie roll, and spread the mayo into the bread. Top one side with ham and cheese. Close the sandwich and pack it into the compartmentalized lunch container. 
2. Add snacks
   Fill the remaining compartments with fruit and veggies. Use a mini sauce container to hold dips and sauces. 
   
   Note: to keep sandwich bread and dry ingredients fresh in a lunch container, it’s important to keep them separate from wet ingredients like fruit and veggies.
3. Pack and ship
   Close the lunch container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack. 

Check out this video for extra tips on how to pack a sandwich for lunch so it stays fresh and never gets soggy!

Don’t forget to pack a plastic spoon or knife so your kid can spread the mayo onto the bread.

More Homemade Lunchables 

Recreate your kids’ favorite lunchables at home and you’ll have healthy school lunches you’ll feel good about packing! My favorites are DIY lunchables nachos, taco lunchable, and pizza lunchable! Wait. Did you try my homemade chicken nuggets lunchables? Delicious!