20 Leftover Dinner Ideas Perfect for Kids’ Lunch Boxes
When it comes to weeknight dinners I’m all about cooking in “bulk”. My reasoning behind this is I don’t like sending my kids to school with boring sandwiches all the time. So, when I cook a meal for dinner that I know my family loves I always make extra for their lunch boxes the next day.
Tacos, soup, pasta…are just a few leftover dinner ideas that are PERFECT for kids lunch boxes. All of these ideas taste just as good cold but if your child prefers them hot, purchasing a thermos can go a long way.
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20 Leftover Dinner Ideas Perfect for Kids’ Lunch Boxes
- 20 Minute Chicken and Rice Skillet Dinner from Home Cooking Memories
- 6 Ingredient Sloppy Joe from Grounded & Surrounded
- Bacon Ranch Chicken Pizza from The Kittchen
- Beef and Broccoli from The Blended Blog
- Cheeseburger Burritos from A Blonde’s Moment
- Cheesy Zucchini Spinach Quesadillas from Dizzy Busy and Hungry
- Chili Macaroni from Simply Stacie
- Easy Baked Chicken Taquitos from Living La Vida Holoka
- Easy Pan Pizza from Dizzy Busy and Hungry
- Easy Pierogi Lasagna Casserole from Creative Cyncronicity
- Easy Rotisserie Chicken Soup from Busy Being Jennifer
- Grilled Chicken Fajita Flatbread Wraps from The Mommy Mix
- Honey Mustard Fish Sliders from Lolly Jane
- Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup from Cooking with Curls
- Instant Pot Spaghetti from Cooking with Curls
- Mexican Beef Taco Lettuce Wraps from Home Cooking Memories
- Quick & Easy Turkey Pizza Pockets from Saving you Dinero
- Soft Beef Taco with Spanish Style Rice from The Mommy Mix
- Tuscan Meatball and Bean Soup from Living La Vida Holoka
- Whole 30 Mini Turkey Meatloaf from Bites of Wellness
What leftover dinner idea does your family like to see in their lunch box?
Get more lunch box inspiration with these posts:
- A+ School Lunch Box Recipes
- 15 Lunch Box Hacks That Will Make Life Easier For Parents
- Baked Macaroni & Cheese Cups
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14 Comments
Amy
Thank you for making this list of leftover dinner ideas for lunches. Quite often I make extra on purpose so I can have leftovers for lunches. My husband and 2 of my sons that still live at home take lunches with them to work and they are grateful when they get something besides sandwiches. Thank you too for hosting Tasty Tuesdays Archives link party.
Amanda Komoski
Yes!!! My husband can usually eat sandwiches ALL.THE.TIME but my son definitely loves the change!
Elizabeth Matthiesen
This is what my son does too, there are often leftovers that either he, his wife of the kids take to school for their lunches the next day.
Andrea
I love taking a few hours on a Sunday and cooking in bulk. You have so many great ideas.
Amanda Komoski
Thanks Andrea – I hope you found something you can add to your lunch menu 🙂
DebH
We love our leftovers for lunch and this is such a great list!
Elizabeth Matthiesen
I’m not too sure I’d like the Pierogi Casserole cold though, don’t think kids would either.
Amanda Komoski
That’s why we love our thermos 😉
Elizabeth Matthiesen
Is it a wide necked thermos? They could do with inventing a square flat one, or do they do that already?
kathy downey
Thanks for the great ideas,anything to help is greatly appreciated!
kathy downey
We enjoyed the Honey Mustard Fish Sliders from Lolly Jane,thanks for sharing the link !
Debbie White Beattie
There’s so many great recipes although I’m not a leftover person, my husband is and there’s a few that he would definitely like for leftovers
Elizabeth Matthiesen
Since I’m on my own, I often cook a much larger portion (comes naturally when you had 7 kids, LOL) and usually store some in the fridge and freeze some too. Not really leftovers as I do it on purpose. I also then have the advantage of quick easy meals sometimes. 🙂
Treen Goodwin
so many great recipes , i will be trying them out thanks for sharing !!!