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Here’s an easy and delicious school lunch idea for you: Reuben Pinwheels! All the flavors of the classic sandwich get tightly rolled up into a bite-sized school lunch. What’s not to love?
This is such a simple recipe to assemble, and I’ll show you how to pack it up, so everything stays fresh until lunchtime.
Easy Pinwheels with Corned Beef
These Reuben pinwheels are filled with corned beef, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut for a crazy good bento box school lunch idea you can make in a matter of minutes.
That being said, it is one of those recipes that tastes better if you prep it the day before. Overnight, the ingredients have time to sit and “mesh” together, and the results are a tasty lunch with more free time in the morning!
Helpful note: not everyone is thrilled about saurkraut, but you can certainly omit it from the recipe or exchange it for chopped lettuce.
Inside the Reuben Pinwheels Lunchbox
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these Reuben Pinwheels for school lunches:
- tortilla: use fresh flour or gluten-free tortillas that are pliable.
- mustard: or swap it out for Thousand Island Dressing.
- corned beef: you can find it thinly sliced at the deli or use roast beef.
- swiss cheese: shredded makes this easier to assemble.
- sauerkraut: optional but adds a tangy, crunchy flavor.
- snacks: could be fruit, veggies, or a treat!
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How to Pack Reuben Pinwheels for a School Lunch
Now, it’s time for you to see how easy it is to prep and pack these Reuben Pinwheels inside your child’s or teen’s lunchbox.
- Layer the ingredients
To keep the pinwheels fresh, you’ll want to layer some ingredients between the sauerkraut and the tortilla. To do this, spread some mustard over the tortilla, then top it with the meat, cheese, and a small amount of sauerkraut. - Let it sit
Starting at one end, roll up the tortilla tightly. If you are making this the night before, leave the roll uncut, wrap it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. - Time to pack!
Remove the roll from the plastic wrap, cut it into 1-inch pinwheels, and place them into a compartmentalized lunch container. - Prepare for transport
Add the fruit and additional snacks into separate compartments so the tortilla doesn’t absorb any moisture. Close the container and pack it into a lunch bag with an ice pack.
More tips for packing these pinwheels for school
Follow these tips and your pinwheel school lunch will stay fresh for hours:
Save time
You can make this super quick recipe even more conveniently by assembling the sandwich wrap the night before. If you do so, roll the tortilla, cover it with a plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Cut the roll into pinwheels in the morning.
Make swaps
Customize these Reuben Pinwheels with the ingredients your kid likes the most. Swap corned beef for roast beef, omit the sauerkraut, or substitute it for chopped lettuce.
Separate dry from wet ingredients
If you add fruits or veggies as a lunch side, pack them separately from the pinwheels using another container or lunchbox compartment. This prevents the tortilla from absorbing moisture.
Use a firm container
You don’t want your kid to find these tasty pinwheels flattened inside the lunch bag! To avoid this, leave zip bags for something else and pack the sandwich wrap in a sturdy lunch container.
Keep it chilled
Pack this meal inside an insulated lunch bag and use an ice pack to keep the temperature inside the lunch bag cool.
Get my favorite lunch containers for kids here.
Easy Reuben Pinwheels
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon mustard or Thousand Island Dressing
- 1 large flour tortilla
- 2 ounces sliced corned beef or roast beef
- 1- ounce shredded Swiss cheese
- 2 tablespoons sauerkraut
- Fresh berries
Instructions
- Spread the mustard or dressing over the surface of the tortilla.
- Layer the tortilla with slices of corned beef, shredded cheese, and sauerkraut.
- Starting at one end, tightly roll the tortilla into a roll.
- Wrap the entire roll with plastic wrap and refrigerate. If making this the morning of, skip this step and proceed with the recipe.
- When you’re ready to pack, remove the plastic wrap and cut the roll into 1-inch pinwheels.
- Add the pinwheels to a compartmentalized lunch container, keeping them separate from the fruit and additional snacks.
- Pack the lunch container into a lunch bag with an ice pack.
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