Categories: Food & Drink

12 Easy Lunches You Can Make During The School Year

Juggling school and your personal life as a college life can be extremely difficult and challenging. Trying to find time to eat lunch between classes and homework is just the cherry on top of it all in all of the chaos. Cut your stress in half with these 12 easy lunches you can make during the school year!

1. Tomato Bazil Mozarella Crisps

A fun and new recipe that you will want to try for your school lunch are these crunchy and delicious crisps. You will only need a few ingredients for this recipe and you will be snacking on these treats for the rest of the week!

You need:

  • Sourdough Bread
  • 2 Roma Tomatoes
  • Mozzarella Cheese
  • Olive Oil
  • Agave Nectar
  • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
  • Fresh Basil

You will layer the ingredients on your base layer of sourdough before popping these in the oven for 20 minutes at 375! After they are baked to a crisp, add the agave nectar, basil, and pepper flakes to top it all off. Enjoy!

2. Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

These rolls of absolute deliciousness are sure to hit the spot after class! These are super easy to make and you will have enough time to hit the books during your lunch break. You can easily simplify this recipe by using a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken that is shredded to fill these taquitos.

You need:

  • 2 cups of cooked chicken
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1 cup of baby spinach
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 15 corn or flour tortillas
  • 1 cup of cheddar cheese
  • 6 oz of cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, spinach, chicken, cheese, and spices in a bowl. Warm tortillas in the oven or on the stove. Scoop some of the mixture onto the tortillas and roll. Line up on a pretreated baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes at 400. Enjoy!

3. Vegan Feta and Spinach Sandwich

A classic lunch staple with a fun and tasty twist. You will want to throw away your old ham and cheese sandwich after trying this vegan alternative that is one in the same amount to time but with double the flavor!

You need:

  • 4 slices of sandwich bread
  • vegan butter
  • 4 slices of vegan feta cheese
  • 1/2 cup of sauteed spinach
  • salt and pepper to taste

Toast the sandwich bread with the vegan butter until golden brown. Pile on the spinach and feta cheese and continuously flip on the griddle until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

4. Chickpea Salad Pinwheels

A nice vegan alternative to a lunchtime favorite is found in these delicious and super cute chickpea salad pinwheels. You can easily prepare this meal ahead of time, and you can keep going back to this meal over and over again during the week for your school lunch.

You need:

  • 2 cans of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 large avocado
  • 1 jalapeno, chopped
  • 1/2 red onion chopped
  • 1/4 cup mustard
  • 1/4 cup vegan mayo
  • pepper, garlic salt, and hot sauce to taste
  • 2 large tortillas
  • 2 handfuls of spinach

5. Sesame Ginger Fried Rice

Want Chinese food for lunch but without the takeout prices? Try out this sesame ginger fried rice to hit your cravings and make a delicious school lunch while in a time crunch.

You need:

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 2 tbsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp chili garlic
  • 1/2 small onion
  • 1/2 cup of mushrooms
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, diced
  • 3 green onion, diced
  • 4 baby bok choy bundles, cut
  • 2 cups leftover cooked rice

Combine sauces and set them aside. Heat olive oil and saute onion, garlic, and mushrooms. Add ginger, green onions, bok choy, and cook. Add rice and reduce heat. Enjoy with cilantro or sesame seeds.

6. Greek Salad

Some days you really need something quick for your school lunch and time is not permitting you to even do that! This recipe is quick, easy, and you literally are going to dump all of your ingredients in a bowl.

You need:

  • 1 tsp Dill, dried
  • 3/4 English cucumber quartered, seeded, then cut into 1″ slices
  • 2 cloves Garlic
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut 1″ pieces
  • 1 1/2 tsp Oregano, dried
  • 1/4 cup Red onion
  • 5 Roma tomatoes, cut into 1″ pieces
  • 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, whole and pitted
  • 1/2 tsp Pepper
  • 1 tsp Salt
Like we said, dump in a bowl, and enjoy your quick and easy lunch!

7. Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Don’t have time time to run to Chick Fil A for that wonderful buffalo sauce? This is the next best thing that will satisfy your CFA craving in half of the time.

You need:

  • 1/2 cup Buffalo sauce
  • 6 Chicken, Tenders
  • 1/4 cup Lettuce
  • 4 Flour tortillas
  • 1/4 cup Blue cheese, Chunky
  • Cheddar cheese

Combine buffalo sauce, chicken, and blue cheese together and scoop onto your flour tortilla. Top with cheddar cheese and lettuce and enjoy!

8. Avocado Caprese Salad

During the summer, a nice and refreshing salad is the perfect meal during your lunch break! Try out this new and fun salad that could easily be transformed into a sandwich too! Check out the deets below!

You need:

  • 1 1/2 cup small tomatoes, halved
  • 8 oz fresh Mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 large avocado, sliced into small chunks
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced into chiffonades
  • freshly ground pepper and salt

Toss all of the ingredients into a bowl and spread the liquid ingredients over the salad. Season with the basil, salt, and pepper to your liking, and enjoy!

9. Lemon Broccoli Pasta

Sometimes, whatever you had for breakfast just does not hold you over throughout the day, or at least until lunch! This school lunch will leave you feeling full and satisfied for the rest of the day! Just grab a few ingredients and you are well on your way to a tasty meal.

See Also

You need:

  • Water
  • 8 cup Broccoli florets
  • 1 lb Penne pasta
  • 4 tbsp Butter
  • 4 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 tbsp Garlic, minced
  • 2 Lemons, zested
  • 1 tsp Pepper
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 4 tbsp Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup Pine nuts, toasted (optional)

Boil the water and pasta until al dente. In a separate pan, add olive oil and butter and warm. Add in garlic and broccoli until soft and fragrant. Combine pasta and broccoli and garnish with zested lemons, salt, cheese, and pine nuts.

10. Bacon Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Your childhood school lunches probably consisted of the classic deli meat and cheese sandwich with a side of chips and a juice box. As yummy as it is, sometimes you have to make healthier choices with your lunch but this is a yummy choice!

You need:

  • 3 Romaine lettuce leaves
  • 3 Slices Cooked bacon
  • 3 Slices Turkey breast
  • Mustard, for serving

Layout romaine leaves and add slices of turkey with bacon on top. Top with mustard or other condiments of your likings and enjoy!

11. Shrimp Cucumber Snacks

A delicious and different option for your school lunch is definitely this shrimp and cucumber combo! Break out of your boring lunch routine and try something new that will be super yummy.

You need:

  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 Y roller
  • 1 package of raw shrimp
  • 1 avocado

Cut the cucumber in half and take the Y roller to shave thin slices off of the cucumbers. Brown and season your shrimp with your favorite flavors and seasonings. Line up cucumber slices and line up cooked shrimp with avocado bites on top. Top with toppings like sriracha, mayo, or hot sauce for more flavor. Roll up the sheet of cucumber and cut it into bite-size pieces.

12. Veggie Quesadillas

A yummy traditional meal is about to start a yummy party in your mouth! Get those extra greens in with this delicious school lunch while still enjoying a quick and filling meal.

You need:

  • 2 tortillas
  • 1/2 cup of your favorite cheese
  • butter
  • zucchini
  • squash

Warm your griddle or pan and spread butter over tortillas to toast and brown. Add on cheese and veggies and cook until all the cheese has melted.

Which of these recipes are you packing for your school lunch? What seems the yummiest? Share with us in the comments below!

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Gabrielle Perales

English and Media Strategies student at Texas Tech University, lover of coffee, running, and houseplants.

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