Find easy thermos lunches for kids (and parents) that work for sending hot lunches to school, daycare, or a day out of the house. Find reheating tips, storage info, and the best kids thermos options, too.
Make it easier to send leftovers and easy hot meals as lunch with these thermos lunch options. These recipes are easy to make—and then easy to reheat and pack in a thermos. Some basic options that are great for thermos lunches include mac and cheese, chili, scrambled eggs, pasta, pizza bites, burritos, rice and beans, and rice-based dishes.
You can send almost any hot food your kids like in a thermos. A thermos will typically keep food hot for 4-6 hours, so it’s an easy option for kids lunches.
Keep reading for the easy hot lunch options, plus safety tips and storage info.
(You may also like hot lunch ideas and my go-to preschool snacks.)
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Best Kids Thermos
I have used the 8- and 12-ounce thermoses from Lunchbots for years and find them to be affordable and reliable.
You can also go with the OmieBox Bento Box, which has a thermos component so you can pack hot foods and cold foods together in the same kids lunchbox.
Find my full list of kids thermos options, too.
Tips for Food Safety
Always read the manufacturer’s instructions for your thermos, but in general you should also:
- Rinse the inside of the thermos with boiling water. Discard water.
- Meanwhile, warm up the food until very hot.
- Add the hot food to the warm thermos Seal.
- Pack the thermos in an insulated lunch bag, away from ice packs.
- Enjoy within 4-6 hours, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Quick Pasta with Peas
It’s rich in vegetarian protein, it’s very fast, and it’s easy for little kids to eat—and for grown-ups to enjoy, too.
With just a few ingredients, you can make a satisfying vegetarian meal to share with the kids. This Pasta with Peas is fast, simple, and so yummy
Mac and Cheese with Peas
It comes together quickly, you’re not actually making anything from scratch, and it’s a complete and satisfying meal. Hip, hip, hooray!
Vegetarian Bean Chili
Loaded with kid-friendly vegetables including sweet potato and corn, as well as plant-based protein from beans, this makes enough for 2 dinners—so you can stash enough in the freezer for a future meal that’s all ready to go!
When serving this to a little one, I like to drain off much of the broth. This makes it a little easier (and less messy) for them to eat. If your family likes spice, add in a dash or two of cayenne pepper.
Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos
With just 5 simple and nutritious ingredients, you can make these Vegetarian Rice and Bean Burritos for family dinner. They’re great to make ahead, too!
You can make and serve these at the same time, or prep them ahead of time and warm up quickly for an easy meal. You can vary the beans in these simple burritos. Serve them with salsa and/or sour cream.
Vegan Tomato Soup
Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this super creamy soup is one of our favorite healthy comfort foods. Bonus: It’s perfect to share with babies and toddlers too, and it freezes really well!
Taste the soup after pureeing and add a little more salt if needed. The sweet potato adds creaminess without dairy—and so much flavor!
Quick Pastina Soup
I love how fast this soup for kids cooks up, how easy it is to adjust (sometimes I omit the onion and use more carrot, for example), and how much it helps us all feel satisfied and nourished.
With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can make this cozy Pastina Soup to share with the kids in under 30 minutes. Look for little star “pastina” pasta in the pasta aisle.
4-Ingredient Chicken Meatballs
They use super simple ingredients, are easy to mix together, and are a wonderfully easy-to-eat texture for little kids.
With just four simple and affordable ingredients, you can make tender Baked Chicken Meatballs to share with the kids. Bonus: You can tuck a veggie into the mix, and they are perfect to batch-cook and stash in the freezer!
How to Make Eggs in the Microwave
Learn how to make eggs in the microwave (so you don’t even need to dirty a pan!) in less than 1 minute. These fluffy scrambled eggs are perfect for busy mornings!
You can season the cooked egg with a little salt, butter or cheese if you’d like, but it’s very good as is. See the Note about the heat setting when cooking in a microwave.
Easy Cheesy Rice (with Veggies!)
I love this approach to Cheesy Rice because the 4 flavor variations make it easy for kids (and adults!) to eat, the veggies are soft, and there’s just enough cheese for it to be creamy and yummy.
This Cheesy Rice recipe has four options to add in veggies and has been a staple of my family’s diet for a few years now. It’s SO easy and versatile—and stores wonderfully in the fridge. And it’s downright delish!
Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese
This recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes, uses 2 veggies in the mix, and has a seriously easy cooking method.
With two veggies right in the sauce, this Hidden Veggie Mac and Cheese is a favorite kids dinner. (Try having the kids make it with you and watch the veggies disappear!)
Frequently Asked Questions
These ideas are a great place to start! They are easy to make, and pack very well for your kids lunches. Easy options include pasta, mac and cheese, pizza bites, scrambled eggs, soup, chili, and more.
Warm the inside of the thermos according to package directions. This is typically done by rinsing the thermos with very hot or boiling water. Add the hot food and seal the thermos. Pack in an insulated lunch bag.
Here are the best kids thermos options—chosen for durability, affordability, and ease of use.
