20 Budget-Friendly Summer Lunch Ideas for Kids
As the sun shines and school vacations begin, we understand the importance of providing nutritious and tasty meals that won’t break the bank. It always seems like kids eat more in the summer when they are home then when at school, doesn’t it? That’s why we wanted to come up with a list of cheap lunch ideas for kids!
If you are struggling to find something your kids like or just tired of making the same lunches, you will love these recipes. There is a variety of recipes so I am sure there is something your kids will love.
1
Easy Canned Chicken Salad
This chicken salad by Caramel and Cashews is a simple and delicious way to make a healthy chicken salad with canned chicken! No cooking required and it is quick to make. Serve it on crackers, on a salad or as a sandwich.
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2
Dill Tuna Salad Cucumber Boats
Dill tuna salad cucumber boats by Served From Scratch are a great lunch idea for kids! They are really easy to make and are a delicious twist on a classic lunch favorite. Add a little fun and dill pickle flavor to your tuna salad with this healthy gluten free lunch.
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3
How to Make Healthy Homemade Uncrustables
These homemade Uncrustables by Simply Well Balanced are the perfect cheap lunch idea for kids! They are easy to make at home and kids love Uncrustables. You can make these ahead of time and freeze them so they are ready when your kids want them.
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4
Apple Pancakes Made with Yogurt
Pancakes are something most kids enjoy any time of the day. These apple pancakes are a delicious lunch idea for your kids. They are easy to make, full of flavor and made from scratch. You can make these pancakes ahead of time and freeze them too so they will be ready when you want to serve them – just heat and serve!
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5
Easy Pepperoni Pizza Muffins Kids Can Make
These easy pepperoni pizza muffins by Saving Talents are the ultimate cheap lunch idea for kids! They only take a few minutes to put together for the oven and your kids will love helping you prep them. Simple and delicious!
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6
Homemade School Lunch Cheese Sticks Recipe
These cheese sticks by Faith Filled Food For Moms are really easy to make with just 3 ingredients, making them a great cheap lunch idea for kids! They are easy to make so the kids will feel good about helping you make lunch and they will love eating them too.
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7
Easy Breakfast Casserole with Sausage
Our easy breakfast casserole with sausage is a great lunch for kids. It is easy to customize to your liking with different vegetables that your kids love. Have it as a breakfast, lunch or even dinner (we do breakfast for dinner sometimes!)
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8
Homemade Corn Dogs Recipe (Better than the Fair)
Do your kids love corn dogs? Then they will love these homemade corn dogs by Herbs & Flour! They are so easy to make and taste way better then the store bought ones. They are browned to perfection with the perfect amount of sweetness, they are our favorite way to make corn dogs.
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9
Easy Zucchini And Corn Fritters
These Easy Zucchini Corn Fritters by The Yummy Bowl are crispy, cheesy, super flavorful and a great healthy lunch idea for kids. They are loaded with zucchini, corn, bell peppers, and seasonings and served with sour cream and green onions. Easy to make and delicious!
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10
Air Fryer Frozen Cauliflower
This Air fryer Frozen Cauliflower recipe by Ambitious Foodie is a really easy cheap lunch or snack idea for the kids this summer! It is delicious with a few simple spices and cooked in the air fryer so it won't heat up the house. It's a delicious side dish too.
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11
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches by Amanda's Cookin' are an easy and fun summer lunch idea for kids. They will love helping you make them and then enjoy eating them too! These sandwiches are also great if your children have friends over for the day too.
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12
Chicken Macaroni Salad (Easy and Delicious)
Chicken Macaroni Salad by Maple + Mango is a cross between a creamy pasta salad and a chicken salad in one delicious dish. It is easy to make and a great summer lunch idea for kids! Many kids love macaroni salad and they will absolutely love this chicken macaroni salad.
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13
Easy Crispy Potato Tacos
These easy crispy potato tacos by Dancing in the Rain are a vegetarian taco recipe that the whole family will love! They have crispy fried potatoes, cheese, tomatoes and other great toppings making them a great lunch idea for kids. They are easy to make and delicious.
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14
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls (with Lavash Bread)
Cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls by Christina's Cucina are a really easy but delicious lunch idea that your kids will love! Your children can help you make these for lunch and then they will love eating them too. They are a cheap meal made with just 3 ingredients.
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15
Butternut Squash Mini Pizzas
These butternut squash mini pizzas by Fluxing Well are a delicious gluten free and low carb way to enjoy a pizza for lunch! They are easy to make and are the perfect lunch idea for your kids. You can also use eggplant or zucchini for these mini pizzas.
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16
High Protein Strawberry Cottage Cheese Smoothie
Smoothies are always a great lunch or breakfast idea for kids and this high protein strawberry cottage cheese smoothie by Life Around The Table will be their favorite! They are delicious and taste like a strawberry cheesecake, but they are healthy with no processed sugars.
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17
Chicken Minestrone Soup
Chicken minestrone soup by The Food Blog is a delicious lunch idea that your kids will love! It has the perfect combination of chicken, noodles, veggies and seasonings. The leftovers taste as good as the day you make it so this is a perfect lunch for a couple days.
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18
Easy Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
These lemon pepper chicken wings by Low Carb Spark are perfectly juicy and crispy, your kids will love them! They are easy to make in the oven and are the perfect snack or lunch idea for kids in the summer.
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19
Frozen Mini Pizza in Air Fryer (English Muffin Pizzas)
Easy to make, these frozen mini pizzas in the air fryer by Summer Yule are delicious and the perfect lunch idea! You prep them ahead of time and put them in the freezer. These mini pizzas are an easy lunch on a busy summer day and taste better then store bought frozen pizzas.
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20
Crispy Pan Fried Gnocchi
This crispy pan fried gnocchi by The Littlest Crumb is a quick and easy lunch idea that takes only about 20 minutes to make. They are topped with a light garlic butter parmesan sauce that is delicious and your kids will love!
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I hope your kids love these summer lunch ideas! Many of the recipes we picked out have only a few simple ingredients keeping them budget friendly. It can get expensive feeding kids in the summer!
