The back-to-school season is here, and we all know how important it is to pack a lunch that will make our kids happy and satisfied. When it comes to delicious and easy lunch options, sandwiches are always a winner! A yummy sandwich is a classic lunchtime favorite, offering endless possibilities for creativity and flavor. I’ve rounded up my 15 favorite back-to-school sandwiches that are not only tasty but also a breeze to make.
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PinTips to Make Sandwiches More Interesting for Kids
While sandwiches are a tried and true lunchtime favorite, they can be a bit mundane after a while. Making sandwiches more interesting for kids can be a fun and creative way to get them excited about lunchtime. Here are some tips to make sandwiches more enjoyable and appealing for kids:
- Use Fun Shapes: Make sandwiches visually appealing by using cookie cutters to create fun shapes like stars, hearts, or animals. Think Monogram Sandwiches and Two-Tone Sandwiches. These playful shapes will instantly spark joy and have your kid excited about what shape they’re getting that day!
- Add Colorful Ingredients: Brighten up sandwiches with colorful fruits and veggies like strawberries, blueberries, cucumbers, or bell peppers. The vibrant hues will make the meal more enticing. After all, we eat with our eyes first!
- Try Unique Spreads: Experiment with different spreads such as flavored cream cheese, hummus, guacamole, or basil pesto. These tasty spreads will add exciting new flavors to their sandwiches.
- Build Your Own: Give your kids a sense of ownership by providing an assortment of ingredients and letting them build their own sandwiches. This hands-on approach will make lunchtime interactive and enjoyable.
- Mini Sandwich Fun: Make lunchtime fun-sized with mini versions of their favorite sandwiches using slider buns, small rolls or just cutting them into little “sammies” as we like to call them. These adorable mini sandwiches are perfect for little hands.
- Add a Sweet Twist: Add a touch of sweetness with sliced apples, a drizzle of honey, or a honey mustard dressing. This delightful contrast will elevate the taste. We love this Apple Pie Panini for a savory and sweet combo.
- Serve as Kabobs: Thread sandwich ingredients onto skewers to make sandwich kabobs. This presentation adds a playful twist and makes eating more enjoyable!
- Make it a Wrap: Swap regular bread with tortilla wraps or lettuce leaves for a different texture and presentation like I do for Rainbow Roll-Up Sandwiches and Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps.
Kid Friendly Sandwiches for School Lunch
Peanut Butter and Jelly Skewers
Everyone knows and loves a good classic PB&J, but sometimes you just want to make something a little more fun. PB&J Skewers are a blast to make and kids love anything on a stick!
Monogram Sandwich
Monogram Sandwiches are a fun personal touch to your kids lunch time! It takes something ordinary and makes it special.
Egg Pesto Melt
My kids love a good egg sandwich and ask for this Egg Pesto Melt all the time. The pesto really takes it to the next level!
Animal Face Toast
I'm convinced there's nothing cuter than these Animal Face Toasts! Imagine your kid's eyes lighting up when they open their lunch box to one of these cuties.
Egg Salad Sandwich
Egg Salad Sandwiches are so easy to make and this recipe is absolutely delicious. Tons of protein and tasty! A win-win.
Banana Peanut Butter Roll Ups
All you need to make these Banana Roll Ups is your favorite nut or seed butter, a banana and a tortilla! Add a drizzle of honey for a little extra sweetness!
PBJ Pancakes Sandwiches
Make PB&J's more fun by using peanut butter pancakes as the "bread" and your favorite jam in the center!
Two Tone Sandwich
School lunch should be fun to eat but also easy to make! These Two Tone Sandwiches are super cute and ready in minutes!
Kid-Friendly “Sushi” Sandwiches
When you want the simplicity of making a sandwich but with a more exciting look, Sushi Sandwiches are the ticket.
Rainbow Roll Up Sandwiches
Rainbows for Days! I don't know any kid who wouldn't love to open up their lunch box to these Rainbow Roll Up Sandwiches!
Cucumber Cream Cheese Sammies
Cut these sammies into 4 squares or use a cookie cutter to make fun mini sandwich shapes!
Uncrustables
Homemade uncrustables come in any shape you can dream up and are so easy to make!
Pizza Pinwheels
These pinwheels are really like a pizza "sandwich" because the filling is savory, kind of like a ham and cheese sandwich, but much cooler looking.
Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps
Low carb but highly delicious, these Turkey Club Lettuce Wraps are a great option for lunch.
Turkey Pickle Roll Ups
Turkey Pickle Roll Ups are a simple yet fun addition to any school lunch.
Chocolate Sunbutter Pancake Sandwiches
Chocolate Sunbutter Pancake Sandwiches are perfect for school lunches (especially at nut-free schools) or as a satisfying snack!
Rice Cracker “Face” Sandwiches
Here are some Rice Cracker "Face" Sandwiches to help you feel extra happy today! Making lunch fun is the best way to make sure it gets eaten!
Get creative when it comes to sandwich making and don’t be afraid to think outside of the box. If you need even more tips for school lunch, get my Weelicious Lunches Cookbook filled with innovative solutions for quick, delicious, easy-to-make, kid-friendly lunch box meals that are perfect for back-to-school!
Wow. Nut free schools? Glad I am in Europe. That would annoy me.
We use sunflower seed butter as an alternative to peanut butter. It’s allowed at schools and tastes delicious!
YUM!
Love some of these ideas and if I could put one of my own in….finely chop some cooked chicken breast mix with sweetcorn and mayo and crispy bacon bits if liked then spread over either bread or cold pancake, cut up how they like it…add a few little cherry tomatoes and seedless grapes to eat with it.
At home I add lettuce leaves before rolling pancake/crepe but this tends to go soggy so not ideal for p/lunch.
yep – wondering if you serve those cold as well. how well do they do in a lunch box after a few hours ? also wondering how well that banana dog would hold up or if it would get brown and mushed up in a lunch box. Love the ideas though. Worth trying to see.
It is true that paninis will be different in school lunch than right after they’ve been cooked. I let it cool completely before packing and don’t have a problem with it getting soggy! You could try wrapping it in foil to keep it warm, although that might make it more soggy.
I should clarify the ‘soggy’ … not super wet, but just ‘humid’ and not crisp, if that makes any sense????
Love the idea of a panini, but according to my daughter, anything toasted/grilled ends up soggy. I usually let it cool off before I put it in her sandwich container, but even still, it is never as good as ‘hot off the press’. Anyone have any suggestions, or feedback on this?
We used to substitute soy butter for peanut butter and it worked well… until the school banned the substitutes too… apparently allergic kids saw the butter and freaked out and it caused “panic”. Sigh. It was good while it lasted.
Would like to hear more about the hot sandwiches too!
I let them cool completely before packing in the lunch box, pack an ice pack in lunch, and everything is eaten at room temperature!
Hey, I love the ideas but I was curious, do you serve the hot sandwiches cold or do you pack them in a thermos or other container to keep them warm? I have a hard time believing those sandwiches are good cold.
Replace the peanut butter with the alternative of your choice!
Sunflower butter is a great peanut butter alternative!
Great ideas but just wanted to point out that most schools are nut free. Would love to see some more PB alternatives!
Today was BBQ pork on a Hawaiian roll. Tomorrow, the always popular pb&j pancake Sammie! Maybe pizza rolls or turkey tacos this week too. School lunch definitely doesn’t have to be boring! Thanks for the great ideas Weelicious!
I love all these fun ideas!