Many parents are looking for the best cold lunches for school. As schools have a no-food policy during school hours, you don’t want your child to return home hungry or even risk being malnourished. Therefore, you need to find something that can be enjoyed at every fall season. You also want something that will not spoil by the time lunch break comes around.

Best Cold Lunches For School

Ignacio’s Super Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Take the classic PB&J sandwich up a notch with this triple-layered twist. A slice of toasted bread in the middle seems like a small addition, but it makes all the difference. For a nut-free alternative, try sunflower seed butter.

Basic Chicken Salad

a scoop of chicken salad topped with fresh ground pepper on a plate with sliced tomatoes and lettuce leaves

Use your leftover chicken to create this make-ahead sandwich filling that’ll please even the pickiest of eaters. Recipe creator Jackie M. suggests using thighs or breasts, but rotisserie chicken works well too.

Ranch, Bacon, and Parmesan Pasta Salad

Here’s a filling meal or side dish that lovers of ranch dressing will ask for again and again. Plus, it’s an easy way to sneak in colorful veggies like peas, carrots, and onions.

California Club Turkey Sandwich

If you can’t decide what to pack in your child’s lunch box, a simple turkey sandwich is always a safe bet. This elevated version is easy to customize with your little one’s favorite toppings and condiments.

Bento Box Turkey Roll-Ups with Caprese Salad

bento box with turkey sandwich roll ups, almonds, and snap peas with dipping sauce

This well-rounded meal (which consists of turkey roll-ups, caprese salad, almonds or an allergy-friendly alternative, and sugar snap peas served with a balsamic dressing) will fit perfectly into your kid’s bento box.

BLT Wraps

It couldn’t be easier to make this basic BLT wrap with just bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, Cheddar cheese, and flour tortillas.

Waldorf Chicken Salad Wrap Bento Box

green bento boz with chicken salad, apples, and walnuts

This delicious lunch has “the flavor of a Waldorf salad, but as a chicken salad wrap, separated into a bento box to keep it from getting soggy,” according to recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar fabeveryday.

PBJ ‘Sushi’ Kid’s Bento Box

How fun is this kid-friendly “sushi” that tastes suspiciously like peanut butter and jelly? Your child will love it served with chocolate sauce and fresh fruit.

Sweet Ham Roll-Ups

Apples add welcome sweetness to these ham wraps with cream cheese, Cheddar, and mustard. Reviewer Kristy Hopkins suggests adding diced red bell peppers into this mix for extra color and flavor.

Lunch Box Pita Pockets

Reviewer Elvira Silva, who added romaine lettuce and thinly sliced red onions, says this is a “delicious and easy one-dish meal.”

Kid-Approved Bento Toolbox Lunch

“Eating healthy was never more fun,” recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar bd.weld says of this adorable packed lunch that is sure to spark creativity.

Ants on a Log

You can’t go wrong with a tried-and-true favorite like ants on a log! Pair this 3-ingredient snack with your child’s favorite sandwich for a well-rounded lunch.

Better Peanut Butter Sandwich

What sets this 3-ingredient nut or seed butter sandwich apart from the rest? It’s made with applesauce instead of jelly. Kids will love this simple substitute.

Queenie’s Tomato Bagel Sandwich

bagel halves with cream cheese, tomatoes, basil

This caprese salad-inspired bagel sandwich — made with sliced tomatoes, basil, and cream cheese — is easy to prepare and “totally portable,” according to recipe creator PATTQUEEN.

Delicious Egg Salad for Sandwiches

Almost 2,000 happy home cooks have given this top-rated recipe rave reviews. “This recipe is a prime example of how the most basic ingredients can make something filling and comforting,” says reviewer Sarah Jo.

Amazingly Good and Healthy Tuna Salad

“My kids hated tuna….until this,” reviewer Lisa Moose Cagle-Opre says of this healthy twist on a classic dish. “Great blend of flavors.”

More Inspiration

Soba Noodle Salad with Chicken and Sesame

EASY COLD LUNCH IDEAS

This list of cold lunch ideas includes everything from homemade lunchables to chicken wraps and filling salads.

They’re easy to make and some can be made in just 5 minutes using leftovers and fresh produce.

Whether you’re low-carb, looking for something to indulge in, or just looking for unique lunch ideas, this list has something for you – even ideas that work great for the working man in your life, whether that’s your husband or you!

There are 35 ideas in this list that prep well and taste incredible when cold. That means you can just pack your lunch up with an ice pack and enjoy it hours later no matter where you are. No microwave required!

We love to make these lunch ideas for work while working at home since they’re easy to prep ahead and have ready to eat for those busy days!

EASY COLD LUNCH IDEAS

35 easy and delicious cold lunch ideas that are perfect for work or packed for school.

5-MINUTE BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP

A quick and simple wrap made with leftover chicken tenders. With just 5 ingredients, this lunch is perfect for work or game day.

COLD ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

A simple Italian Pasta Salad with fresh garden vegetables and cheese. It packs perfectly for lunch and tastes incredible as a work lunch idea

EASY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN WRAP

A quick and easy lunch recipe that is best when eaten cold. It’s delicious and full of flavor!

NO-COOK MASON JAR CHICKEN TACO SALAD

This healthy and easy Chicken Taco salad in a jar is quick to put together and uses canned chicken breast so it requires no cooking. It’s the perfect, on-the-go ready to eat lunchbox meal for adults and kids

GRANOLA CRUNCH APPLE-PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH WRAPS

These crunchy Peanut Butter Sandwich Wraps come together in just moments and are completely adaptable – no need to measure exact amounts! Perfect for on-the-go meals and make-ahead lunches!

MAKE-AHEAD HEALTHY TRAVEL SALAD

Lunchtime can’t get here quick enough when a Make-Ahead Healthy Travel Salad is waiting for you. Not only is this salad bright and colorful, but it’s also loaded with healthy ingredients and texture galore!

CLASSIC EGG SALAD RECIPE

This simple egg salad recipe with hard-boiled eggs that peel easily, mayo, relish, mustard and dill. Makes a delicious and comforting sandwich for lunch!

CHEESEBURGER ROLL-UPS

A great way to use up leftover ground beef, these cheeseburger roll-ups taste incredible when cold and packed as an easy lunch idea.

BBQ CHICKEN BOWLS

There’s nothing better than the taste of sweet, tangy BBQ Sauce, smothered on top of juicy grilled chicken! This cold lunch idea is filled with fresh greens, grilled asparagus, and a creamy avocado ranch dressing, creating a flavorful dish packed with vitamins, fiber and protein

CHICKEN SALAD PITA

All you need is 10 minutes to throw together the most delicious and versatile chicken salad pita ever. With pre-cooked chicken, you’re close to a delicious lunchbox chicken salad. Eat it over a bed of lettuce, over whole grain bread, or just off a spoon.

PESTO CHICKEN WRAP

Need a quick and healthy meal you can eat on the go? These pesto chicken wraps with sun-dried tomatoes are so tasty and easy to make!

BUFFALO BLUE SALAD

This protein-packed salad features spicy buffalo chicken, crisp banana peppers, juicy grape tomatoes, and tangy blue cheese crumbles.

AVOCADO CHICKEN WRAPS

These Avocado Chicken Wraps are a delicious and healthy 10-minute lunch! They’re loaded with avocados, shredded chicken, grape tomatoes, cilantro, a spritz of lime, and a blend of Mexican spices and make a delicious cold lunch idea!

APPLE, QUINOA, AND ALMOND KALE SALAD

This Quinoa Apple Kale Salad is filled with nutrients, fibers, and protein and is delicious when packed and eaten cold!

TORTELLINI SALAD WITH CORN, TOMATO & ZUCCHINI

A summery pasta salad filled with cheese tortellini, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and basil topped with a fresh lemon vinaigrette

PENNE PESTO PRIMAVERA

Homemade Penne Pesto Primavera is the most delicious and the easiest recipe! It’s full of flavors and is a great cold lunch idea for work!

Cold Lunch Ideas To Pack for Work

Chef John’s Fresh Spring Rolls

Fresh spring rolls (also called summer rolls…confusing right?) are a favorite Vietnamese dish in which rice noodles, veggies, and meat (either chicken, shrimp, or pork) are wrapped in a translucent, rice-paper wrapper. Watch the video to learn Chef John’s technique for filling and rolling fresh spring rolls.

Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls, and Egg Rolls: What’s the Difference?

Fruity Curry Chicken Salad

This lunchtime favorite is even better the next day: “This salad is best if eaten the day after preparation,” says recipe creator Karen L. Baker. “This allows the ingredients time to mingle, giving a fuller flavor. If desired, use nonfat mayonnaise.” Curry powder adds its mildly sweet and earthy notes to this chicken salad.

Green Gazpacho

Gazpacho is an easy, no-cook soup that is always served cold. Here, it gets a makeover — instead of the usual tomato base, it’s made with cucumbers, avocado, and honeydew melon.

What Is Gazpacho? Get 7 Tips for Making Great Gazpacho

Amazingly Good and Healthy Tuna Salad

Light mayonnaise and spinach put a healthy twist on tuna salad. Reviewer Lisa Moose Cagle-Oprel says even her kids could get behind it: “My kids hated tuna….until this. Great blend of flavors.”

Antipasto Salad II

salami, cheese, tomato, and artichoke antipasto in white bowl

This classic Italian appetizer also makes a hearty lunch that can be made ahead of time and served cold.

Best Cold Lunches For School

Ignacio’s Super Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

Basic Chicken Salad

Ranch, Bacon, and Parmesan Pasta Salad

California Club Turkey Sandwich

Bento Box Turkey Roll-Ups with Caprese Salad

BLT Wraps

Waldorf Chicken Salad Wrap Bento Box

PBJ ‘Sushi’ Kid’s Bento Box

Sweet Ham Roll-Ups

Lunch Box Pita Pockets

Kid-Approved Bento Toolbox Lunch

Ants on a Log

Better Peanut Butter Sandwich

Queenie’s Tomato Bagel Sandwich

Delicious Egg Salad for Sandwiches

Amazingly Good and Healthy Tuna Salad

More Inspiration

EASY COLD LUNCH IDEAS

5-MINUTE BUFFALO CHICKEN WRAP

COLD ITALIAN PASTA SALAD

EASY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN WRAP

NO-COOK MASON JAR CHICKEN TACO SALAD

GRANOLA CRUNCH APPLE-PEANUT BUTTER SANDWICH WRAPS

MAKE-AHEAD HEALTHY TRAVEL SALAD

CLASSIC EGG SALAD RECIPE

CHEESEBURGER ROLL-UPS

BBQ CHICKEN BOWLS

CHICKEN SALAD PITA

PESTO CHICKEN WRAP

BUFFALO BLUE SALAD

AVOCADO CHICKEN WRAPS

APPLE, QUINOA, AND ALMOND KALE SALAD

TORTELLINI SALAD WITH CORN, TOMATO & ZUCCHINI

PENNE PESTO PRIMAVERA

Cold Lunch Ideas To Pack for Work

Chef John’s Fresh Spring Rolls

Fruity Curry Chicken Salad

Green Gazpacho

Amazingly Good and Healthy Tuna Salad

Antipasto Salad II

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