Kid-Favorite Warm Lunch Ideas for School

Pack one of these warm lunches for school to keep kids full and nourished with their favorite foods! Plus, all the tips to keep them hot till lunch.

collage image of warm lunch ideas for school

Warm School Lunches

Many of your kids’ favorite meals make terrific warm school lunches. This list includes the recipes and tips for keeping each thermos lunch hot for hours. Of course, it all starts with packing them in the best kids thermoses.

Thermos Macaroni and Cheese

5 from 19 votes

Learn how to reheat leftover mac and cheese without the pasta drying out! Check out the step-by-step instructions on how to pack mac and cheese in a double-insulated thermos as well as delicious foods to pack with it!

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Warm Lasagna Thermos Lunch

5 from 18 votes

This no-bake lasagna recipe shows you how to assemble the dish straight into the thermos without a ton of layering required!

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Teriyaki Chicken Thermos Lunch Bowls

5 from 26 votes

This recipe offers the healthy version of the classic take-out while also saving you money. This is the type of meal that can be made a few days in advance as it stores really well.

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Chicken Noodle Soup in a Thermos

5 from 16 votes

This cozy soup will warm you up from the inside out. Chicken soup always seems to taste even better the next day, giving you a break from the usual lunch-packed sandwiches and wraps!

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Thermos Ramen Noodle Soup

5 from 24 votes

Ditch the packaged ramen noodle soup and make this budget-friendly homemade ramen soup instead. Not only is it a great option for home meals, it’s a convenient packed warm lunch option too.

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Hot Spaghetti Carbonara Lunch

5 from 10 votes

This meal may look fancy, but it is the easiest to assemble with kid-friendly ingredients – spaghetti, bacon, and carbonara sauce!

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Easy Chicken & Rice Soup Thermos Lunch

5 from 16 votes

Use rotisserie chicken to reduce the time needed to make this hearty and filling rice that tastes great the next day as lunch!

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Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta Lunch

5 from 16 votes

Dinner leftovers show you how you can easily create an irresistible warm packed lunch with leftover sun-dried tomato chicken pasta.

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chicken burrito bowl in a lunch container with carrot sticks and cubed pineapple

Lunchbox Chicken Burrito Bowls

5 from 14 votes

Do your kids love Chipotle?! This chicken burrito bowl allows them to enjoy their favorite flavors at school!

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Hot Thermos Enchilada Soup

5 from 15 votes

Get ready for the soup version of classic enchiladas! The combination of spices in this soup is well-balanced to ensure that they aren’t overpowering for kids.

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Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta

5 from 14 votes

This flavorful, creamy pasta is the perfect warm lunch your kids will want to eat day after day!

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Healthy Cajun Jambalaya Thermos Recipe

5 from 11 votes

The rice and chicken sausage in this packed lunch make an incredibly healthy meal option without compromising on those rich Jambalaya flavors!

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Chili Mac Thermos Lunch

5 from 13 votes

If you thought you loved classic mac and cheese, don’t skip this chili version! It’s loaded with cheesy and smoky flavors and will keep those stomachs full until dinner!

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Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Thermos

5 from 14 votes

This is a classic midweek family dinner turned into a satisfying packed lunch that everyone’s going to love.

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Thermos Tomato Tortellini Soup

5 from 17 votes

Who can say no to a classic creamy tomato soup with tender tortellini pasta?! If your family loves marinara sauce with pasta, you won’t want to skip this one! Whip it up in just minutes with canned tomatoes, Italian sausage, and pasta.

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How to Keep Lunches Warm

While my kids rarely eat their food hot at the table, they do enjoy the food warm until lunch. I’ve found that heating the food piping hot in the morning is the only way to ensure it stays warm until lunch.

Sometimes, learning how to use a thermos for hot food can be a bit of a trial and error, especially with so many brands out there. If you’ve wondered how long does a thermos keep food hot, you’re not the only one. Typically, anywhere between 4 and 12 hours, depending on the container.

If hot lunches are part of your rotation, grab a copy of the 101 Lunch Ideas Ebook!

101 Packed Lunches eBook

All my best kid-friendly lunches from over a decade of creating meal plans. Add some variety to your child’s lunchbox with these epic lunches, plus receive my Pack Meals Like a Pro ebook, free with purchase!