Packing lunch is a breeze with these easy weeknight dinner recipes that turn into delicious leftovers for school the next day; all you have to do is pack the thermoses and you’re good to go!
These recipes are kind of like a two-for-one: cook once and get two meals. Win! What’s best is that all these meals are just delicious the next day as they were for dinner.
Enjoy these easy school lunch ideas from the leftovers you’ll have after making these delicious dinners!
Veggie Mac & Cheese Soup
This soup is a great way to pack all the veggies your kids need in one meal without all the unnecessary ingredients you'll find in canned soup!
Pack This Lunch
Spaghetti Carbonara
Kids won't be able to resist the cheesy spaghetti or bacon, so this is a great dish to add to your dinner rotation. It's great for the next day's lunch packed in a thermos (unless your family gobbles it all up for dinner!)
Pack This Lunch
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Thermos
A perfect blend of noodles, chicken, cheese, and broccoli, this recipe is one you'll definitely want to have on hand for quick weeknight meals and easy school lunch leftovers.
Pack This Lunch
Sun Dried Tomato Pasta Thermos
Another easy skillet meal that makes fantastic thermos lunches for school the next day. Kids will love to open their thermos at lunch and find this creamy pasta!
Pack This Lunch
Potato Soup Thermos Lunch
Simply throw all your ingredients in the slow cooker and let the magic happen. A dinner that cooks itself and makes great thermos lunches for school is a dinner I can love!
Pack This Lunch
Lasagna Thermos Lunch
You get the same savory, cheesy flavors of lasagna without the hours of preparation and baking. Simply place the leftovers in a thermos for the next day and you won't even have to think about what to pack for lunch!
Pack This Lunch
Chicken Noodle Soup
Pair the easiness of a slow cooker meal with a classic like chicken noodle soup and you have a dinner the whole family will have seconds (or thirds) of. Your kids will love to open their lunchbox the next day and find a thermos full of this yummy soup!
Pack This Lunch
Healthy Cajun Jambalaya
It's filling, packed with veggies, and has just a kick of Cajun spice, but feel free to adjust it to your family's preferences. Enjoy this New Orleans-inspired dish for dinner and pack cold leftovers for lunch the next day.
Pack This Lunch
Leftover Chicken Lunchbox
This high-protein leftover chicken lunchbox for teens offers a variety of fresh ingredients in a colorful bento!
Pack This Lunch
Leftover Spaghetti Lunch
Try this easy way to pack leftover spaghetti so that it stays fresh and yummy in a lunchbox!
Pack This Lunch
Leftover Quiche Lunchbox
Whether it's a slice from brunch or a mini quiche you baked ahead, it packs up beautifully for a simple, satisfying school lunch.
Pack This Lunch
Meatballs
Meatballs are one of the easiest hot lunches to pack in a thermos because they stay tender and reheat beautifully.
Pack This Lunch
Lunchables Pizza
If kids can devour a slice of cold pizza straight out of the fridge, why not pack it right for school lunch?
Pack This Lunch
Chili Mac Thermos
The cheesy, hearty pasta with smoky flavors is super filling, and thanks to a thermos, the food can stay hot for hours.
Pack This Lunch
Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta
This family-favorite dinner tastes even better packed in a thermos for lunch the next day.
Pack This Lunch
Enchilada Soup
A cozy and delicious meal you can make for dinner one night and then pack for a hot thermos lunch the next day
Pack This Lunch
Teriyaki Chicken
This teriyaki chicken is a healthier version of the classic take-out and easy to pack for a hot lunch.
Pack This Lunch
Chicken and Rice Soup
One of those recipes you want to have around when you need a delicious thermos lunch idea or a warm bowl of comfort for dinner.
Pack This Lunch
Taco Lunchables
These DIY Taco Lunchables are the perfect quick lunch to make with taco night leftovers.
Pack This Lunch
Korean Chicken Bowls
Learn how to assemble these lunch bowls for teens using simple, prep-ahead ingredients.
Pack This Lunch
Thermos Mac & Cheese
Turn leftover homemade or boxed mac and cheese into a hot school lunch.
Pack This Lunch
Thai Chicken Bowls
Learn how to assemble these teen-approved Thai chicken lunch bowls using prep-ahead ingredients and how to keep them fresh for school lunch.
Pack This Lunch
Roasted Veggie Salad
Learn how to pack this healthy salad for teens and keep it fresh in a lunchbox for hours.
Pack This Lunch
Buffalo Chicken Bowls
Make these buffalo chicken rice bowls for lunch and enjoy a healthy, protein-rich meal that can be enjoyed hot or cold.
Pack This Lunch
Come back for more back-to-school tips and school lunch ideas for kids of all ages.
onSeptember 1, 2015
Still wondering what to pack?
Download my Printable Lunchbox Builder to turn the ingredients you already have into lunch ideas in minutes, or browse hundreds more kid-approved lunch recipes here.
Follow on Instagram@momables
AMB says
Love your recipes! I would sign up for weekly emails again if there were more diary free options. My son has a milk allergy so it’s difficult to use most of these.
I admire what you’re doing to transform our “processed” world!