12 lunch box recipes to be ready for back-to-school

🎒 Back-to-school comes faster than you think

Lunch boxes go back into service in a few weeks, and now is the time to build a bank of ideas before the rush of hurried mornings. Here are twelve recipes that can be made ahead, travel well and are eaten cold, no microwave needed. From pasta salads to snack muffins, there’s something for the kids and for office lunches alike.

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Pepperoni pizza-style pasta salad

All the flavors of a pizza in a cold pasta salad: pepperoni, cheese and tomato sauce. The kids open their lunch box and they’re happy, and one big bowl on Sunday covers three lunches. A safe bet to start the week.

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Classic macaroni salad

Creamy macaroni salad just like the one at family gatherings. It keeps for several days in the fridge and even gets better overnight. Enough to settle several lunches at once.

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Mexican street corn pasta salad

In-season corn, a little lime and spices give this pasta salad real character. It’s eaten cold, doesn’t leak into the bottom of the box and stays good until Thursday. Make it while corn is still at its best.

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Tuna pasta salad

A can of tuna, short pasta, crunchy vegetables, and lunch is assembled in fifteen minutes. It’s cheap, it’s filling and it travels without a problem. The kind of recipe that saves you when the fridge is empty.

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Chimichurri pasta salad

Chimichurri wakes up an ordinary pasta salad with loads of fresh herbs and garlic. Last night’s grilled chicken recycles perfectly into it. A lunch that actually tastes like something, even cold.

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Lemony orzo salad with feta & chickpeas

Orzo, chickpeas and feta make a complete meat-free lunch. The lemon keeps everything fresh and bright until lunchtime. Perfect for days when you want to eat light without being hungry by two o’clock.

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Blueberry and lemon muffins

Lemon zest, fresh blueberries and sour cream that keeps them moist for days. They freeze individually and thaw on their own in the lunch box before recess.

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Mexican Bean Salad

Beans, corn, bell peppers and a punchy dressing: it comes together in ten minutes from the pantry. It’s filling, costs next to nothing and keeps all week. A vegetarian lunch that doesn’t leave you hungry.

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Bruschetta pasta salad

Farfalle with cherry tomatoes, bocconcini and fresh basil, all coated in a garlicky dressing. Make it the night before and it’s even better the next day at noon.

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The best egg salad

A sandwich classic that never goes out of style. Egg salad is made the night before and spread in thirty seconds in the morning. On good bread with crunchy lettuce, it gets the job done.

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Deluxe banh mi

The banh mi turns a simple sandwich into a lunch you can’t wait to open. Pickled vegetables, cilantro and a crusty baguette are a complete change from ham and cheese. Prep the night before and assemble in the morning.

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Zucchini muffins

Garden zucchini hides in soft muffins the kids eat without asking questions. They freeze individually and slide into the lunch box still frozen. A homemade snack that replaces store-bought bars.

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