15 Tasty Summer Lunches Kids Can Make Themselves
Kids home for the summer can make lunches a bit more stressful. But it doesn’t have to! Use the recipe and meal ideas below to help kids help themselves.
This post is split between:
- Young kids: You’ll find simple recipes that toddlers can help with to assemble, mix ingredients, or use safety knives for cutting soft foods.
- Older kids: Older elementary age kids to teens can do these recipes (along with the ones for younger kids) all by themselves.
Simple Lunches Young Kids Can Help With
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A Staple for a Reason
1. Basic Sandwiches
- peanut butter and jelly
- turkey and cheese
- hummus and turkey
Assemble the sandwich you prefer and enjoy!
Protein Packed
2. Easy Tuna Salad
While a grownup needs to help opening the can, young kids can mix the mayo, relish, tuna for a super easy lunch.
Pro Tip: You can also use canned salmon or chicken
Simple Lunch or Party Idea
3. Fun Tortilla Pizzas
This easy pizza takes only 15 minutes and uses simple ingredients you can find in the pantry. Use tomato paste to add flavor without making the tortilla soggy. Add your own favorite toppings.
Try it!
4. Cream Cheese and Veggie Roll Up
Use whatever sliced vegetables you have, a whole-wheat tortilla, cream cheese, and baby spinach for roll-ups that make the perfect healthy lunch.
Related: Best Lazy Summer Dinner Recipes
Make everyone smile!
5. Fruity Peanut Butter Pizzas
One reader says, “Love this recipe. It has easily become a summer lunch staple for us. A drizzle of honey sends it over the top!”
Pro Tip: Grab these kid-friendly knives so your kids can help chop the fruit.
Skip the cooking
6. Snacky Lunch
Serve your favorite healthy snacks for lunch! Kids love washing, cutting, and displaying the ingredients too. Here are some ideas
- Watermelon, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, grapes, and sliced apples
- cheese, crackers, pretzels
- hummus and pita bread
- olives
- nuts and lunch meats
- boiled eggs (can be done beforehand)
- grape tomatoes, cucumber, celery, cauliflower, sliced red peppers
Related: Easy 5-Ingredient Meals
Lunches Older Kids & Teens Can Make
Next, big kids will love cooking their favorite things!
Simple and Versatile
7. Quesadillas
Kids adore quesadillas, and the best part is that they’re incredibly versatile. Fill them with beans, meat, veggies, or anything you already have on hand.
Family Crowd Pleaser
8. Pizza Bites
Pizza bites are a favorite in my house. and for good reason. They’re delicious!
Use the oven, or toast your bread before making the pizzas. These can be done on pita bread, french bread, english muffins, or using any bread product and toppings you have.
Gourmet Lunch Time
9. Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Older kids can experiment with their favorite breads and cheeses if they want to hone their chef skills.
For Foodie Kids
10. Pesto Panini with Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato
Similar to the grilled cheese, these paninis are packed with flavor. Your child spreads prepared pesto on each side of the bread, then layer in sliced tomato and mozzarella cheese before toasting.
Eat it All Week
11. Easy Italian Pasta Salad
Simple, tasty, and a big hit with kids!
This Easy Italian Pasta Salad recipe comes together in only 20 minutes. It’s loaded with vegetables, salami, and finished off with a quick homemade Italian dressing.
Tacos Made Easy
12. Flavorful Chicken and Cheese Tostadas
These tostadas are sure to please your kids who love Mexican food. Top them with sour cream, avocado, and cilantro.
Fun For Everyone
13. Loaded Baked Potato
Baked potatoes can be cooked beforehand or during lunch in the oven, Instant Pot, or microwave. Then try one of these tasty topping combos: (Great for using leftovers too!)
- Broccoli Cheddar Baked Potato = Butter, Steamed Broccoli, Cheese Sauce
- Pizza Potato = Marinara, Melted Mozzarella, Sausage crumbles, Olives
- Fajita Baked Potato = Cooked Fajita Meat, Peppers, Sour Cream, Guac
- Loaded Chili Potato = Butter, Chili, Sour Cream, Cheese, Onion
- Cheeseburger Potato = Butter, Cooked Ground Beef, Melted Cheddar, Pickles, Ketchup
Hearty Enough for Teens
14. BLT Wrap Sandwich
It’s a wonderful recipe that travels well for lunch. But it’s also great for a quick meal at home. If you aren’t in the mood for a sandwich, you could also try making it into a pizza.
Healthy & Travels Well
15. Salad in a Jar
Give kids all the ingredients they need…lettuce, shredded carrots, croutons, real bacons bits, dressing and more!
Let them layer it all in mason jars (put the dressing on the bottom) for a fun meal!
When time is tight or you have nothing in the fridge, older kids can also warm up things from the freezer or soups in the pantry.
More Easy Meal Ideas
- The Big List of Family Dinner Ideas
- Weeknight Dinners in 45 Minutes or Less
- 12 Best Crockpot Meals to Try
What’s Next?
Make family meals easier with these 5 sanity-saving meal time hacks!