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12 Toddler Lunch Ideas
Here are 12 Toddler Lunch Ideas sure to please parents and kids alike. These fun, clever recipes make use of pantry and frozen items whenever possible but never sacrifice on taste.
👥 1 Servings⏱️ Prep & Cook: 10 min⏳ Prep: 5 min🔥 Cook: 5 min👤 Meggan Hill📖 culinaryhill
🥘 Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you prepare them:
🍳 Cookware
- ●bowl
- ●microwave
- ●oven
- ●saucepan
- ●cutting board
- ●skillet
- ●spatula
📝 Preparation Steps
1
1. Microwavable macaroni and cheese (Yield: 1 cup)
2
In a small, deep, microwave-safe bowl, add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup pasta and stir to combine. Microwave on full power for ⏱️ 2 minutes, watching to ensure the water doesn't boil over.
cup water1/2
3
Using oven mitts or a kitchen towel, remove bowl from microwave. Stir pasta and continue microwaving in 2-minute increments until pasta is tender, about 4 to ⏱️ 8 minutes longer. If all water is absorbed, stir in an additional 1-2 tablespoons water (my pasta took ⏱️ 6 minutes and 1 extra tablespoon water).
4
Using oven mitts or a kitchen towel, remove bowl from microwave. Stir in 1/4 cup milk and 1/2 cup cheese and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until cheese is melted and a creamy sauce forms, 1 to 1 1/⏱️ 2 minutes total. Season to taste with salt.
cup milk1/4
5
2. Chicken noodle soup (Yield: 2 cups)
6
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups chicken broth to boil. Stir in heaping 1/2 cup egg noodles and 1 rib celery, sliced (about 1/4 cup) and cook until noodles are tender, 8 to ⏱️ 9 minutes.
chicken broth2 cups
7
Stir in 5 ounces canned chicken (or 1/2 cup leftover chicken) and 1/2 cup frozen peas and carrots. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and season to taste with salt. Serve with oyster crackers.
cup frozen peas and carrots1/2
8
3. Bean and cheese burrito (Yield: 1 burrito)
9
Lay one 8-inch tortilla flat on a plate or cutting board. Spread 2 tablespoons refried beans down the middle of the tortilla, then top with 2 tablespoons shredded cheese.
refried beans2 tablespoons
10
Roll the burrito tightly by folding the sides over the filling, then rolling from the bottom up. Place the burrito seam-side down on a plate and microwave for ⏱️ 45 seconds to ⏱️ 1 minute. Cut in half, cool, and serve with salsa on the side.
Salsa on the side, for serving
11
4. English muffin pizza (Yield: 2 muffin halves)
12
Toast both halves of the English muffin in a toaster. Spread 1 tablespoon marinara sauce on each muffin half (2 tablespoons total) and top each half with 1 tablespoon mozzarella cheese (2 tablespoons total).
marinara sauce2 tablespoonsshredded mozzarella cheese2 tablespoons
13
Microwave on full power until cheese is melted, about ⏱️ 1 minute. Let stand ⏱️ 1 minute before serving.
14
5. Franks and beans (Yield: 1 serving)
15
On a small plate, add 3 cocktail wieners and 2 tablespoons baked beans. Microwave on full power for ⏱️ 30 seconds, remove from microwave, and stir the beans. Let stand ⏱️ 1 minute, then serve with ketchup on the side.
cocktail wieners3baked beans2 tablespoonsKetchup on the side, for serving
16
6. Turkey roll up (Yield: 1 roll up)
17
Lay one 8-inch tortilla on a flat surface and spread with 1 tablespoon ranch dressing. In the middle of the tortilla, layer 2 ounces turkey, 1 slice cheddar cheese (cut in half), 1 lettuce leaf, and 4 thin tomato slices. Roll tightly, then cut into 4 pieces.
ranch dressing2 tablespoonscup shredded cheddar cheese1/2shredded cheddar cheese2 tablespoonscheddar cheese cut in half1 slicecheddar cheese1 (1 ounce) slicelettuce leaf1
18
7. Fruit and yogurt parfait (Yield: 1 parfait)
19
In the bottom of a small bowl or cup, add 1/4 cup yogurt (or use the individual cup the yogurt came in). Top with 1 tablespoon granola, 1 strawberry (quartered), and 1 tablespoon blueberries.
cup yogurt1/4granola1 tablespoonblueberries1 tablespoon
20
8. Grilled ham and cheese sandwich (Yield: 1/2 sandwich)
21
Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Butter one slice of bread on one side, cut in half, and lay both pieces butter-side down in the skillet. Add one half of the slice of cheese to each piece of bread. Top one side of the sandwich two pieces of deli ham.
bread1 slice
22
Toast the bread slices until golden brown and the cheese has melted, 1 to ⏱️ 2 minutes. Using a spatula or turner, lift one side of the sandwich and place on top of the other. Gently press down with the spatula until the two sides of cheese adhere. Transfer to a plate and let stand ⏱️ 1 minute. Cut in half to serve.
bread1 slice
23
9. Picnic pasta salad (Yield: 1 1/2 cups)
24
Bring 2 quarts water to boil. Add 1/2 cup small pasta and cooking according to package directions, about ⏱️ 8 minutes. Drain well and rinse with cold water.
cup small pasta1/2
25
In a medium bowl, add cooled pasta, 1/2 small tomato (finely chopped, about 1/4 cup), 1/4 cup frozen vegetables such as corn or peas (thawed), and 2 tablespoons finely chopped cooked bacon (2 slices). Drizzle with 2 tablespoons ranch dressing and toss to combine.
cup frozen vegetables such as corn or peas, thawed1/4ranch dressing2 tablespoons
26
10. Cheese and fruit plate (Yield: 1 serving)
27
Cut 1 slice cheddar cheese into quarters and set on a plate. Add 8 Wheat Thins crackers and 4 thin apple slices. Serve with 1 tablespoon sunflower seed butter on the side.
cup shredded cheddar cheese1/2shredded cheddar cheese2 tablespoonscheddar cheese cut in half1 slicecheddar cheese1 (1 ounce) slicethin apple slices4sunflower seed butter1 tablespoon
28
11. Chicken salad on crackers (Yield: 1 cup)
29
In a small bowl, add 1 (5 ounce) can chicken, drained and flaked, 1 rib celery (thinly sliced, about 1/4 cup), 1/4 cup grapes (quartered), and 1/4 cup mayonnaise. Stir well to combine. Serve with Ritz crackers.
cup mayonnaise1/4
30
12. Rice cakes with peanut butter (Yield: 1 rice cake)
rice cake1peanut butter1 tablespoon
31
Lay rice cake on a flat surface. Top with 1 tablespoon peanut butter and layer with banana slices from 1 banana.
rice cake1peanut butter1 tablespoon
Nutrition Facts
calories
251 kcal
fat Content
14 g
serving Size
1 serving
fiber Content
2 g
sugar Content
4 g
sodium Content
578 mg
protein Content
9 g
trans Fat Content
0.1 g
cholesterol Content
25 mg
carbohydrate Content
23 g
saturated Fat Content
5 g
unsaturated Fat Content
7 g
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