Lunch Ideas for Kids

Forget waiting in the drive-thru lane! You can make a better burger at home with quality ingredients in no time.

Use this recipe to make stuffing or simply serve it alongside weeknight dinners.

Our trick to getting this beloved sandwich just right? Slather the bread with a combination of butter and mayonnaise. The former imparts rich buttery flavor, while the latter ensures an uber-crisp exterior and perfect golden-brown crust. Serve with bowls of Creamy Tomato Soup.

We like to think of this recipe as an Italian grandma's take on classic chicken noodle soup.

Put holiday leftovers to good use with this kid-friendly recipe, adapted from Lucinda Scala Quinn's "Mad Hungry" cookbook. For an easy on-the-go meal or quick lunch down the line, prepare and freeze an extra batch.

Whip up our easy beef chili in advance, and you can get this giant pan of nachos on the table in just 20 minutes. It's all about layering the meat with tortilla chips, cheese, and beans.

With a candy-bar-inspired top and a crumbly cookie base, each of these rich squares packs a double dose of that perfect pairing: chocolate and peanut butter.

Homemade chicken noodle soup in under an hour! This classic soup delivers hearty flavor for lunch or dinner. Save the leftover thighs for another meal. 

Chill your sorbet container before running the ice cream maker so when you transfer the sorbet to the freezer, it won't start melting.

Marinating the chicken in buttermilk makes the meat moist and flavorful. Chicken breasts cook faster than other parts, so fry them separately in the last batch.

What to do with that unfinished can of pumpkin puree? Use it as a rich and creamy way to take a grilled cheese from good to gourmet.

Indulge in a slice of rich chocolate cake made with buttermilk, butter, and plenty of cocoa powder. It's topped with a super easy buttercream recipe that uses marshmallow cream for the base, plus two kinds of chocolate—cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate chips.

Salmon can be used in lieu of char.

Here's what every mom needs: a trick to turn vegetables into something kids love. Add orange juice and a touch of sugar to a pan of carrots while they cook, and -- poof -- you've glazed them with flavor.

Broccoli roasts on a lower rack while the potatoes are baking here. The charred florets are then teamed with a rich cheese sauce atop the fluffy spuds.

Thick slices of herb-flecked meatloaf make an excellent sandwich filling for kids and adults alike. Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Aaronson, culinary director of Martha & Marley Spoon.

Inspired by classic clam chowder, this delicious creamy chicken soup is packed with red potatoes, peas, and corn.

This variation on a classic is topped with apple and bacon slices for the ultimate sweet and savory combination.

Broccoli with pan-fried potatoes is an accompaniment that goes with everything, from broiled steak to scrambled eggs.

These sandwiches were cooked on a grill, but a skillet would work just as well.

Native Buckeyes pledge allegiance to this dog. Pile on the all-beef chili, heady with chocolate, cinnamon, and other spices, with abandon. The finishing touches are fundamental: yellow mustard, diced sweet onion, and lots of shredded cheddar cheese. Unless you're a pro at eating one, you may want to grab a knife and fork -- or a bib.

Make this simple salad in just minutes, and take it to work with a slice or two of bread or a pita.

We've done this deviled eggs with reduced-fat mayonnaise to take down the richness a bit and make them a great appetizer or snack.

Unfrosted, these carrot-filled cupcakes are perfect for breakfast on the run or a lunch-box treat.