Welcome to our collection of 50 gluten-free cold lunch recipes for kids! Packed with vibrant flavors, and essential nutrients, these lunches are perfect for school, picnics, or any on-the-go meal. From tasty wraps and colorful salads to fun finger foods and bento box inspirations, you’ll find a variety of options that are easy to prepare and sure to keep your kids happy and full.
How To Keep Your Lunch Cold
Don’t have access to a fridge to keep these cold lunch ideas chilled? We have you covered with 5 creative ways to keep food cold when away from home!
- DIY Ice Packs: Fill resealable sandwich bags with water and freeze overnight before placing in your lunch box.
- Frozen Fruit: Freeze frozen fruit such as peaches, grapes, blueberries, raspberries or strawberries. These fruits will gradually thaw while keeping other foods in the lunch box cold. By the time lunch rolls around, you will also have an edible treat. This is my family’s favorite way to keep lunches cold!
- Chilled Dinks: Freeze a small water bottle or juice box then pack in the lunchbox. This serves as an ice pack then a chilled beverage at lunch.
- Thermos: Insulated jars or thermoses are not only for hot foods, but they also work great to keep cold foods cold. Pre-chill these containers in the freezer before packing for best results.
As a mom who wants my kids to have variety at lunch, I have also learned to only pack the amount of perishable food that I know my kids will eat. This amount will look different for everyone so having conversations with your kids can help determine how much to pack. Foods that can help fill gaps in a lunchbox while remaining shelf stable include dried fruit, granola bars, nuts and seeds, popcorn, jerky, gluten-free pretzels or crackers.
Chicken Pinwheels are little bites of deliciousness that are packed with flavors that will impress your guests. Tender chicken rolled up with creamy Boursin cheese, tangy cream cheese, and a hint of zesty ranch dressing mix – it’s a flavor explosion you won’t want to miss!
Our Cucumber Sushi Rolls feature the rich flavors of canned salmon and the creamy goodness of cream cheese. This delightful twist on traditional sushi combines the ease of canned salmon paired with sushi rice and cream cheese, wrapped in cucumber rather than nori seaweed. Perfect for a light lunch, a snack, or as an impressive appetizer for your next gathering.
These Fresh Spring Rolls are perfect when you're looking for a light lunch, a fun appetizer, or just a delicious way to beat the heat. Bursting with a medley of vibrant vegetables, tender vermicelli noodles, and crispy tofu strips, all wrapped up in delicate rice wrappers and served with a zesty peanut sauce.
This Soba Noodle Salad is perfect when you're craving a light meal that's cooling and refreshing. It's loaded with fresh veggies and chewy noodles that are coated in a delicious umami-filled dressing. Plus, it's done in just 20 minutes!
Looking for ideas to put on your toast? These four toppings for toast will spice up your breakfast (or lunch!), are quick and easy, and kids enjoy them too! Go beyond just toast with butter and try these fun & tasty topping ideas.
Our avocado toast is perfect for kids. We’ve included 3 different ideas that even toddlers love including avocado toast with scrambled eggs, fried eggs, avocado cheese toast, and the kid-favorite – avocado toast with bacon, lettuce, and tomato! Gluten-Free.
Our gluten-free pasta salad is simple to make and features simple ingredients kids love. Made with an easy mayo-based dressing this pasta salad is also dairy-free.
Our salmon buddha bowl recipe uses frozen salmon baked with brown sugar and tamari glaze, which perfectly complements the rice and veggies in our kid-friendly buddha bowl. Gluten-free.
Homemade protein bars taste so much better than store-bought and they save you money too. Made with toasted coconut flakes, dates, vanilla, and chocolate these protein bars for kids will become a favorite. Wrap individually to easily pack in a lunch or grab for snack time. Gluten-free.
Our gluten-free salmon cakes can be made with canned or fresh salmon, blended with gluten-free breadcrumbs, mayo, celery, and seasonings. Serves as is with your favorite dipping sauce or on a salad, sandwich, or in a wrap. Dairy-free.
Gluten-free chicken meatballs are made with gluten-free breadcrumbs and get lots of flavor from minced onions, garlic, and fresh basil. Pair with marinara and gluten-free pasta, toss in bbq sauce or serve on toothpicks as an appetizer.
Our gluten free crab cake recipe is the best around! Made with lump crab meat, chopped celery, and gluten-free bread crumbs, this recipe is simple to make and makes a great lunch, appetizer, or dinner meal. Dairy-Free.
Our gluten-free granola bars are free from oats. These cereal bars are made with Chex cereal, toasted coconut chips, peanut butter, honey, and chocolate chips. These are made in the microwave and are a kid favorite!
Learn how to make taco bowl shells in your oven using flour or corn tortillas. Our healthy taco salad bowls save calories compared to the store-bought variety.
Veggie Mac and Cheese is going to be your new go-to kid-friendly mac & cheese with veggies recipe! Our version has a nutrition boost from riced cauliflower and broccoli without losing the cheesy flavor kids love. It’s kid-approved! Gluten-free.
Air Fryer Salmon Patties are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Made with canned salmon and packed with flavor. Kids love dipping them in their favorite sauce!
Whip up a fuss-free dinner with our Chicken Tostada Recipe —easy, fun, and good for you! Packed with ground chicken and refried beans, these tostadas put a tasty spin on regular tacos. Feeling wild? Swap chicken for beef or pork, or switch up refried for black beans. Spruce up the table with taco toppings, a heap of refried beans, and, of course, tostada shells—a must on my grocery list and forever in my pantry.
This flavorful beet green pesto recipe shines with the addition of fresh garlic and shredded parmesan cheese. It is the perfect use for beet greens that avoids waste.
Healthy Mini Corn Dogs are wrapped with a cornmeal crust and then baked in the oven for a simple and delicious healthy homemade corn dog recipe your family will love. Gluten-free.
Flatbread Pizza is the go-to option for anyone seeking a quick and enjoyable dinner recipe. These personal-sized pizzas can be effortlessly prepared in less than 10 minutes, making them the ultimate choice for a laid-back and delicious meal.
Our yogurt parfait cups is perfect for breakfast, packed in a lunchbox, or served as an after-school snack. Vanilla yogurt is layered with fresh fruit cut into adorable heart shapes that takes almost no time at all to prep.
Our homemade gluten-free spaghetti O’s recipe is the next best thing for kids! They don’t have to miss out on this kid favorite dish as all the flavors have been transformed into a gluten-free version that is just as tasty.
Looking for a tasty and healthy snack that’s easy to make? These Pumpkin Protein Balls are perfect for you! Packed with oats, pumpkin, and peanut butter, they are delicious and a nutritious high-protein after-school snack for kids.
Our salmon sushi roll is not your ordinary sushi – they’re designed with kids in mind. We’re turning the rice inside out, making it the outer layer to create a unique and appetizing lunch or dinner. Our star ingredient? Canned salmon, packed with flavor and easy to use.
Learn to make Tuna Sushi Rolls using canned tuna for a simple, kid-friendly meal like those from a sushi restaurant. Create sushi at home with no special equipment in easy steps. This sushi recipe is gluten-free and very customizable. Made by layering sushi rice, tuna, cucumbers, and avocado, wrap in nori (edible seaweed), and add a spicy kick with sriracha sauce.
Homemade taquitos in the air fryer are quick and easy and taste amazing. Made with corn tortillas, cream cheese, adobo seasoning, and leftover chicken. Perfect for meals, entertaining, or as an after-school snack.
Our homemade gluten free chicken nuggets will quickly become a favorite lunch. Made with ground chicken and seasonings, coated with gluten free Bisquick then baked into baked chicken nuggets just like McDonalds.
Peanut butter overnight oats are an amazing grab-and-go, protein-packed breakfast filled with fiber. These overnight oats for kids or toddlers are easy for grab and go breakfasts or for busy mornings!
Homemade gluten free uncrustables are really easy to make. Swap out traditional pb&j for ham and cheese. Can be made with gluten-free bread. Make in bulk then freeze in individual ziplock bags to make packing lunchboxes a breeze.
Oatmeal to go is DIY instant oatmeal packets that are quick and easy to make. You get full control over the flavors (along with the sugar content), and only need hot water to turn into a hot breakfast perfect for on-the-go, lunch boxes, or add milk and refrigerate for overnight oats. Gluten-free.
Looking for a high-protein, low-fat breakfast smoothie? You’ll be surprised by how quickly this Peanut Butter Powder Smoothie comes together – and how delicious the flavors of Greek yogurt and peanut butter powder blended with banana and flavorings taste! Make it a high-fiber smoothie by adding a tablespoon of flaxseed.
Indulge in the world of Mexican cuisine with this effortless shrimp ceviche recipe, a delicious dish that demands no cooking whatsoever. This refreshing Mexican ceviche bursts with the zesty goodness of lime and lemon juice, infusing the shrimp with a tangy zest that’s nothing short of sensational. The medley of avocado, ripe tomatoes, and cilantro adds a burst of color and flavor, making every bite better than the one before.
Looking for a delicious summer sandwich for kids that’s bursting with flavor? Look no further than the muffuletta! This classic sandwich hails from New Orleans and features a combination of cured meats, cheese, and tangy olive salad all piled high onto bread. Perfect for a picnic or a lazy day at the beach, this sandwich is easy to make and is always a crowd-pleaser.
This Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwich recipe is easy to make and perfect for lunch! It's vegan, gluten free, dairy free, and full of flavor.
Healthy Chicken Salad with Grapes, Apples and Tarragon-Yogurt Dressing
This Healthy Chicken Salad with Grapes is bursting with delicious flavors and textures! Juicy grapes, crisp apples and crunchy pecans, all topped off with a you’d-never-guess-it’s-healthy Greek yogurt dressing (secret ingredient alert!). Absolutely fabulous as a weekday sandwich or at a casual picnic, but also special enough for a bridal shower, Mother’s Day tea or ladies’ lunch. It’s so versatile … and we’ve got lots of tips and serving ideas, too!
Delicious vegan Mexican chopped salad with avocado dressing makes the perfect lunch salad or an easy side dish to any Mexican feast. This gluten free salad is packed with fresh veggies, dietary fiber and plant-based protein.
This quinoa chickpea salad is tossed in a lemon mustard dressing and topped with sweet dates and tangy feta. This is a delicious gluten-free salad recipe that you can serve for lunch or dinner! Serve as a naturally vegetarian salad and or top with your favorite protein.
This easy and creamy Avocado Egg Salad provides a delicious twist on regular Egg Salad! Made with a simple mayonnaise mixture, hard-boiled eggs, and cubed avocado, it can be enjoyed in just 20 minutes alongside your favorite crackers, spread over toast, or as a filling!
Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a sweet and savory recipe featuring dried cranberries, crunchy pecans, green onions and diced chicken in a flavorful dressing.
Packed with fall flavor, this curried quinoa apple salad recipe makes one tasty lunch! You'll love the creamy curry dressing paired with crunchy sweet apples, chewy golden raisins and fluffy quinoa. Perfect for a meal prep lunch or to bring along to a picnic or potluck.
This easy Egg Salad Recipe is perfect with crackers, lettuce wraps, or straight from the bowl, and makes the best egg salad sandwiches! Made with hard-boiled eggs and a few other simple ingredients, it’s the perfect quick and easy, protein-packed recipe.
This chicken salad is very healthy and herbaceous with a dairy free dressing. A great summer salad.
My Vegan Power Salad with Lemon Dill Dressing is a raw, protein packed, ultra simple, seasonless bowl full of plant-based goodness that can be on your table in less than 20 minutes! Chick peas, green lentils, broccoli, orange pepper, red onion, garlic stuffed olives and an abundance of fresh dill combine with a zingy, lemon based dressing to create a powerhouse vegan salad brimming with clean, lean protein, fiber and vitamins.
This Italian Chopped Salad is packed with color and flavor! It’s easy to make and versatile, just the thing for serving for no-cook dinners, backyard parties, or potlucks and picnics.
This delicious Mango Chicken Salad is quick and easy to make using lots of pantry/refrigerator items. Even most of the fresh ingredients can easily be substituted with frozen veg/fruit.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and a zesty lemon dressing makes for a refreshing healthy side dish to any meal.
Mediterranean Salmon Salad with canned salmon, avocado, red onion, sun-dried tomatoes, and dill is a creamy, wildly flavorful protein-rich meal. Eat it as is or serve it up as a green salad on top of spring greens or sandwich for an amazing meal.
This smoked turkey salad makes a perfect lunch and is a healthy alternative to to any sandwich! Low carb, keto, and Whole30 approved, this flavorful salad makes an amazing lunch and packs easily for trips and hiking adventures!
This avocado roll recipe is quick, easy, and delicious. In less than 15 minutes, you’ll have velvety slices of ripe, creamy avocado nestled within perfectly seasoned sushi rice, all bundled up in seaweed.
Easy Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls with Peanut Sauce: Satisfying, colorful and versatile snack loaded with veggies and dipped in delicious peanut sauce with ginger and garlic. Perfect healthy mess-free portable snack or appetizer everybody will love! Naturally gluten-free, raw and low carb.
Veggie Garbanzo Beans Salad, an easy and quick to make, plant-based salad with basic ingredients.
If you enjoyed any of the recipes make sure to leave a comment below! Then follow me on social media and tag #createkidsclub if you make the recipe. I love seeing what you come up with!
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