lunch Archives - Busy Moms Helper

30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas

August 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

In just a couple weeks I’ll have THREE kids in school, which starts at 7:45 am. Yes, that early – insane, right? Not only will I have to get them out of bed, feed them breakfast, get them ready and make sure they don’t forget bags as we rush out the door, there’s lunchboxes to pack. Yikes! Luckily, I can plan ahead with this list of 30+ Non-Sandwich Lunch Ideas.

We still do sandwiches in our lunchboxes sometimes, but how can I make my kids do the same stuff all the time if even I get sick of the repetition? That’s why we need some good non-sandwich ideas to get us through the coming school year.

Chicken Salad with Grapes from Add a Pinch

Pizza Bombs from Spend with Pennies

Chef Salad on a Stick by Pocket Change Gourmet

Easy Pasta Salad from Saving Room for Dessert

Apple Zucchini Muffins from Two Peas and Their Pod

Tortilla Hot Dog Wraps from BS in the Kitchen

Crescent Sloppy Joes from Pillsbury

Baked Spaghetti by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Mini Deep Dish Pizzas from Damn Delicious

Mango Chicken Tacos by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chicken Egg Rolls by Life in the Lofthouse

Cream Cheese & Tomato Crescents by Lil’ Luna

Copycat Panera Macaroni and Cheese by Shugary Sweets

Easy Deviled Eggs by Six Sisters’ Stuff

BLT Pasta Salad by Center Cut Cook

Corn Dog Muffins by The Pioneer Woman

Spiralized Zucchini with Roasted Tomatoes

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes from Crazy for Crust

Ham Fried Rice from The Recipe Critic

Make-Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Parfait by Iowa Girl Eats

Chicken Tostadas by Cooking Classy

Blueberry French Toast Sticks by Busy Mom’s Helper

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Pita by The Jenny Evolution

Chicken Fajita Quesadillas by Jo Cooks

Lunch on a Stick by Good Life Eats

Better than Chipotle Steak Burrito Bowls by Gimme Delicious

BBQ Chicken Pockets by King Arthur Flour

Heirloom Tomato Caprese Bruschetta by Busy Mom’s Helper

Broccoli Cheese Loaded Twice Baked Potatoes by Good Life Eats

Baked Garlic Popcorn Chicken by The Cozy Apron

Chicken Apple Wraps by Just a Pinch

Mini Biscuit Pot Pies by Busy Mom’s Helper

Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps

January 11, 2019 by Danielle

My Hubby is a Google+ addict. Not over-the-top crazy, but it’s the social media he prefers. I’m often found browsing Pinterest and Facebook, he’s on G+. What’s awesome, though, is when he comes across a good idea for a recipe on there, and we can add it to our menu. That’s what happened with these Spicy Thai Chicken Wraps!

I’m so glad he found the inspiration for this recipe because it was totally delish! He’s a spicy-lover, and I’m not…yet it was just the right amount for both of us. Not sure how it worked out that way, but it was perfect! These Thai Chicken Wraps are a great meal, or just serve the chicken alongside some pasta or veggies.

Ingredients – Sauce

8 tbsp. (1 jar) Red Curry Paste (found in the aisle near soy sauce and such)
8 tbsp. Sugar
4 tsp. Apple Cider Vinegar (regular Cider Vinegar is fine)
4 tbsp. Tomato Soup
4 tbsp. Water
4 tsp. Sesame Oil
4 tsp. Garlic Powder
1-2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

Ingredients – Other

6 Chicken Breasts, cut into strips
1 cup Tomatoes, diced
1 cup Mozzarella, shredded
Tortillas for Wrap (I used Spinach & Herb Tortillas)
Toppings: Tomatoes, Cheese, Lettuce, etc.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line a large baking pan. Place Chicken strips in pan.
In a medium bowl, mix all of the sauce ingredients well. Pour over chicken in pan.
Sprinkle the Mozzarella and Tomato dices over the top of the chicken. Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until cooked through.
Make wrap as desired, and enjoy!

Truffle Mayo Turkey Sandwich with Mushrooms

February 18, 2016 by Danielle

Awhile ago, hubby and I went out for a quick bite to eat and I had the most amazing Truffle Mayo Turkey Sandwich with Mushrooms. I told him it was going on my list of ‘have to make’ recipes – but guess what? I like my version even better!

Now, you’ve got to have the right ingredients to really make this sandwich as delicious as can be – starting with the meats. Oscar Mayer Selects Natural meats are minimally process with no artificial ingredients or artificial preservatives (see the back of the package for the ingredients used to preserve quality), no artificial flavors, no gluten and no by-products. That’s quality, in my book – you don’t need to give up the good stuff to enjoy the quality cold cuts your family deserves.

Yes, the title says TURKEY, but hubby wanted to try it with their Slow Roasted Roast Beef, and loved it. Feel free to mix and match – there’s not really a right or wrong way, in general! Oscar Mayer Selects Natural is available in five yummy varieties: Slow Roasted Turkey, Applewood Smoked Turkey, Rotisserie Seasoned Chicken, Applewood Smoked Ham and Slow Roasted Roast Beef.

Along with the right cold cuts, the cream Truffle Mayo brings this sandwich to the next level! Don’t worry – it’s super easy to make, and only takes a few simple ingredients.

Ingredients – Truffle Mayo

3 Eggs, yolk only
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. Black Truffle Oil
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice
1 tbsp. Corn Starch

For the sandwich: Oscar Mayer Selects Natural meat of choice, Hoagie (or bread of choice), Swiss cheese (again, feel free to switch – hubby used Pepper jack), sliced mushrooms, and a dash of salt and pepper if desired.

Directions

Make the Truffle Mayo: whip all of the ingredients by hand, or in a blender, until smooth.
On your hoagie, lay out your cheese slices, top with your meat choice, sprinkle on some sliced mushrooms, a dash of salt & pepper if you want – then drizzle on the mayo. Close and ENJOY!

See, incredibly simple and quick to make – which really helps save time at lunch! We each enjoyed our tasty sandwich, and there was enough Truffle Mayo left over to make this again 1-2 more times that week for both of us!

Learn more about Oscar Mayer Selects Natural and see what other delish recipes you can whip up!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Cook Once Eat Three Times

November 1, 2015 by Danielle

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #HeatAndEat #CollectiveBias

I hate moving! As happy as I am to have a beautiful new house, and be much closer to hubby’s work, the piles of boxes and never-ending To-Do list is overwhelming. Since I still have to feed my family, any time saved in the kitchen is helpful, and what better way than to Cook Once Eat Three Times? Yup, just cook extra for dinner – then get two different lunches from the leftovers. Love it!

You heard that right – one simple dinner recipe, then switch it up into TWO more leftover creations! To start, make sure you have all your ingredients from Target. Be sure to grab your Reynolds™ heat & eat disposable containers for the leftovers – they’re in the disposable containers aisle, clearly labeled!

They come in different sizes, so you can switch it up based on your meal.

You don’t want a cold lunch, and these are perfect for storing in your lunch bag, then reheating easily in the microwave. I love that they fit perfectly in the lunch bags, and they’re a safe alternative to plastic containers.

When you’re ready to prep dinner, just cook some boneless/skinless chicken breasts in some BBQ sauce – either the slow cooker or the oven work great. Enjoy that with some potatoes and veggies for a yummy dinner!

Then with the leftover BBQ Chicken, whip up these two fabulous lunches!

BBQ Chicken Pasta – Recipe here

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Ingredients

Hogie or Sandwich bread of choice – I used rolls
Leftover BBQ Chicken from the night before
Cheese slice of choice
Bacon Bits

Directions

Shred or dice your chicken. Mix with some bacon bits. Scoop onto half of your bread/roll.
Top with a slice or two of cheese, then the other bread/roll half.
Store in your Reynolds™ heat & eat disposable containers in your lunch bag. When ready to eat, remove the lid and reheat so the chicken is heated and the cheese is melted nice and gooey. Yumm-o!

It’s so nice just cooking one time (and it’s super simple anyway!) then easily mixing together TWO MORE lunches for work or school. The lids stay on the containers securely, so you don’t even have to worry about messes in your bags – score!

BBQ Chicken Pasta

October 31, 2015 by Danielle

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Calphalon. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #KnifeSkills

Who has tons of time to make a good lunch or dinner? I’m thinking not many hands were raised – and I’m right there with ya! Life’s too busy to spend forever cooking, but we still want to give our families delicious, healthier options. Luckily, this yummy simple-to-make BBQ Chicken Pasta just became even easier with the Calphalon Self-Sharpening Knife Set!

As far as prep goes, the time that could be cut the most was chopping the produce and meat – and to make that go faster, while still being safe, is with sharpened, quality knives. And when you’re already looking to ‘cut’ down on time, it helps that they’re self-sharpening, with ceramic sharpeners built into the storage block (in the stainless steel spot). Calphalon even shares plenty of Knife Skills on their site – to keep your skills as sharp as their knife set!

Ingredients

1 box Pasta of choice
1-2 Chicken Breasts, boneless and skinless
2-3 cups BBQ Sauce
1 cup Green Onions
Shredded Cheese of choice

Directions

Bake chicken, marinated in half the BBQ sauce, at 375 for about an hour (or until chicken is cooked through). Cook pasta according to package directions.
Dice the green onions and chicken breasts – add to pasta. Include the remaining BBQ sauce and mix it all together. Plate and top with shredded cheese.

See, told you it was super easy! I like to whip up a bunch and freeze the extras, so we can grab a meal when we’re super stressed for time.

I’ve already been through several of these videos and know they’re gonna help me plenty in the kitchen! You can check out the 3 Models they offer on their site. Plus enter below for a chance to WIN YOUR OWN KNIFE SET!!!

Who wants to win a Calphalon Self-Sharpening Knife Set of their own?! Here’s your chance!

Contest entrants are only eligible to win once per sweepstake, per household as part of a campaign sponsored by Influence Central.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3 Tasty Breakfasts in 30 Minutes

October 28, 2015 by Danielle

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of J.M. Smucker’s®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Remember earlier when I told you I was going to share some fabulous recipes that were super easy to whip up with Martha White® Baking Mixes as a base? Well here you go – 3 Tasty Breakfasts in 30 Minutes! Spend just half an hour baking and you’re set for days – and the best part? They don’t HAVE to be breakfasts! Use them for snacks, lunch, whatever you want. Woot woot!

Just run by Kroger, grab all the ingredients (there’s not many!) and get cooking for a little bit – even double the batches and freeze some for later! I’m all about working smart instead of hard, especially when it saves me some previous time. The trick to doing all of these in 30 minutes is that they’re all baked at the same temperature – do it all at once, not one at a time 🙂

Blueberry Lemonade Scones with Glaze

Ingredients

2 packages Martha White® Blueberry Muffin Mix
3/4 cup Heavy Cream
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice

Glaze

3 tbsp. Heavy Cream
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1/4 tsp. Vanilla

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F, spray or line a round cake pan.
Mix the baking mix, heavy cream and lemon juice. Spread into the prepared cake pan and bake for 22-26 minutes.
For the glaze, whip the 3 ingredients and pour over your finished scones. Enjoy!

Sundried Tomato and Mozzarella Loaf

Ingredients

4 Packages Martha White® Buttermilk Cornbread Baking Mix
1 1/3 cup Water
1/2 – 1 cup Sundried Tomato slices
1 – 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 tbsp. Basil
3 tsp. Oregano
Dash Salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F. Spray or line a cake pan – I used a round angel food cake type pan for fun.
Mix all of the ingredients together well, pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 16-22 minutes. Serve warm for gooey, cheesy yumminess!

Wildberry Chicken Sandwich

Ingredients – Muffins

2 packages Martha White® Muffin Mix
3/4 cup Heavy Cream or Milk

Ingredients – Chicken Filling

Shredded Chicken, boneless and cooked
Mayo
Diced Celery
Salt & Pepper
Dash Garlic Powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 Degrees F. Spray or line muffin tins.
Mix the muffin ingredients and bake 10-15 minutes.
Mix the chicken filling together – it’s all to taste, so the amounts just depend on what you prefer.
Cut each muffin in half, add some chicken mixture, then close and enjoy the sandwich!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of J.M. Smucker’s®. The opinions and text are all mine.

Sweet Teriyaki Marinated Sandwich

September 3, 2015 by Danielle

This post is sponsored by Nature’s Harvest®Bread. All opinions are mine alone.

I love a good sandwich – but it’s only ‘good’ if it has amazing flavor! That, mixed with flexibility and that’s a winner in my book – like this delish Sweet Teriyaki Marinated Sandwich using Nature’s Harvest®Bread. The tangy and sweet mix together perfectly, leaving you licking your lips and fingers with a smile on your face!

I love that the Nature’s Harvest®Bread, their Honey Wheat Whole Grain featured in these pics, has a nice, smooth texture but a great taste that really goes well with the marinade. It’s a bonus that it includes at least 8 grams of whole grains per serving, with no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup! I can feel great about packing it in my kiddos’ lunches, and enjoying some myself!

Marinade Ingredients

1/2 cup Corn Syrup
1 tbsp. size wedge of Sweet Onion
1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
2 tsp. White Vinegar
1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar
1 tsp. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Powdered Milk
1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice
1/8 tsp. Poppy Seeds
1/8 tsp. Salt
1/8 (or less) tsp. Black Pepper
1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

Marinade Directions

Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend on high about a minute, or until it’s well-mixed. Pour into a container so you can marinate your sandwich meat of choice!

Note: Can be stored in an airtight container, in the fridge, for a few days.

See, told you it was easy! Just marinate whatever meat you’d like (I find chicken and steak are both equally amazing with this) and add your favorite sandwich toppings. Viola! You’ve got yourself a totally delicious sandwich! You can even mix up the bread if you’d like! Nature’s Harvest® bread comes in the following varieties:

100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread
Honey Wheat Made with Whole Grain Bread (what I used here)
Butter Top Made With Whole Grain White Bread
Butter Top Made with Whole Grain Wheat Bread

Be a Winner of the Nature’s Harvest® Sandwich Art Photo Contest!

Moms – have a little whole grain fun with your kids’ lunchboxes this school year and enter to win a “Kitchen Crash” from Celebrity Chef and contest judge, Kelsey Nixon! Winner will be announced in September.

From August 24, 2015 to September 6, 2015, parents can visit the Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook page to submit a photo of their sandwich art creations, using Nature’s Harvest bread, for the chance to win fun prizes
Kelsey will be judging the top 10 Semi-Finalist entries based on:
o Visual appeal
o Creativity
o Incorporation of nutritious ingredients
The top 10 Semi-Finalist entries will also be posted to the Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook page for consumer online voting from September 14, 2015-September 20, 2015

For Official Contest rules visit: Nature’s Harvest Bread Facebook

Check out these other great lunch ideas…

Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce

February 11, 2014 by Danielle

No need for a Subway sandwich trip because you can now make this Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce Sandwich at home.

You know those days when you’re so tired, you can’t think (much less spell) straight? Today was that for me, so instead of rambling about whatever comes to my foggy mind right now, please pretend I’m putting the funniest, most interesting paragraph ever. Thanks, I owe you 😀

This Sweet Onion Chicken Teriyaki Sauce, a copy-cat from Subway, is super easy, and is so GOOOOOD! Seriously, only a few minutes and you’re set to go. Woot!

Ingredients

1/2 cup Corn Syrup

1 tbsp. Sweet Onion, minced

1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar

2 tsp. White Vinegar

1 tsp. Balsamic Vinegar

1 tsp. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Powdered Milk

1/4 tsp. Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp. Poppy Seeds

1/8 tsp. Salt

1/8 (or less) tsp. Black Pepper

1/8 tsp. Garlic Powder

Directions

Whisk all of the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Place in microwave for about 1-3 minutes, or until heated through.

Allow to cool. Serve with your favorite chicken, or even beef!

Chicken Caeser Salad Sandwich

May 9, 2013 by Danielle

Okay, so I consider myself a skilled speller. Seriously, I was editor-in-chief for the yearbook in high school (wow, that was awhile ago), edit manuscripts for some author friends, and edit almost everything for my hubby. Now with THAT SAID…..the word Caeser is just a struggle for me. I actually had to google how to spell it. I can’t remember which order the a and the e go! Does anyone else struggle with that word? If so…yeah, I’m not alone! If no…well, I’m alone and should avoid writing Caeser. Moving on…

I’ve been trying to add more variety to Flash’s and Wonder Woman’s lunches lately, and was thrilled when I came across this chicken caeser salad sandwich. You can make it ahead, store it in the fridge, then throw it all together! Plus, you can mix it with things such as lettuce, tomatoes, just vary it up. Fantastic!

Ingredients:
2 lbs. Chicken, cooked and shredded
1 cup Caeser dressing
1/2 cup Shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. Parsley flakes
1/2 tsp. Ground black pepper
1/4 cup Celery, chopped

Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge. Serve cold or warmed up, on bread, buns, wraps…get creative!