Healthy, kid-friendly, and ready in just minutes – these DIY Turkey Lunchables make packing lunches feel like a breeze! Homemade Turkey Lunchables are perfect for school lunches, road trips, and busy summer days on the go!

3 colorful kids lunch boxes full of ingredients to make lunchables plus different sides sitting on a marble counter.

One day last week, I found myself with a child who suddenly decided to protest all sandwiches of all varieties (ham, cheese, turkey, peanut butter, you name it). Unfortunately, this also happened the same week I decided to buy that giant double pack of turkey lunchmeat from Costco.

Naturally, I was determined to not let my giant haul of turkey go to waste. We had to find some different ways to prepare it, and fast! And that’s when it hit me – a mini version of a turkey sandwich, aka turkey Lunchables!

Simple and oh-so kid-friendly, these turkey Lunchables are actually quite fun to customize with your favorite sides and dips (and whatever needs to be used up in your fridge over the next week).

Don’t Miss: if your kid loves lunchables, then be sure to not miss our popular DIY Pizza Lunchable!

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Let’s Pack Some Lunches –>

A white counter with a cutting board and a lunch container for turkey lunchables.
A wooden cutting board and a kids lunchbox being prepped for turkey lunchables.
Wooden cutting board on a white countertop with a homemade kids lunchable on topp.
Colorful kids lunch box with lots of different sections that are filled in with turkey, cheese, crackers, veggies and fruits.
  1. Cut the veggies and fruit, and add to the lunch box. Add in the crackers and the treat.
  2. Cut the cheese into squares or a shape of choice. Add to the lunch box.
  3. Cut the turkey into slices, squares or a shape of choice. Add to the lunch box.
  4. Securely place the lid on the lunch box and place into a kids lunch bag along with a frozen ice pack.

Turkey Lunchable Variations

There’s a lot of variety with these easy turkey Lunchables. Here are a few ideas to mix it up!

  • Swap out turkey for another deli meat, like ham, roast beef, or even pepperoni slices.
  • Serve with pretzels or tortilla chips instead of crackers for the ultimate crunch.
  • Include a healthy fat, such as guacamole or your favorite nut butter for dipping veggies or fruits.
  • Spread a little hummus on a tortilla and top with turkey and cheese for a homemade roll-up.
  • Include a small container of their favorite condiment (ie. ranch, ketchup, bbq sauce or even marinara).

What to Pack with Turkey Lunchables

So many foods pair well with these Turkey Lunchables. Here are several favorites:

  • blueberries
  • apple slices
  • carrot sticks
  • sliced cucumbers
  • half of a banana
  • raspberries
  • mandarin oranges
  • snap peas
  • cherry tomatoes
  • crunchy roasted chickpeas
  • hummus for dipping
  • nut and dried fruit trail mix
4 colorful kids lunch boxes lined up with turkey lunchables, fruit, veggies and sides.

Get the recipe: 5-Minute Turkey Lunchable (kid-fave:)

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Healthy, kid-friendly, and ready in just minutes – these DIY Turkey Lunchables make packing lunches feel like a breeze! Homemade Turkey Lunchables are perfect for school lunches, road trips, and busy summer days on the go!
Yield: 1 lunch box
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: school lunch
Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients 

  • 2-3 pieces deli turkey
  • 1 slice cheese
  • 10 crakcers
  • 1/2 cup fruit of choice, chopped if needed
  • 1/4 cup veggies of choice, chopped if needed
  • 1-2 treats

Instructions 

  • On a wooden cutting board, cut the veggies and fruit, and add them to the lunch box. Add in the crackers and the treat.
  • Cut the cheese into squares or a shape of choice. Add to the lunch box.
  • Cut the turkey into slices, squares, or a shape of choice. Add to the lunch box.
  • Securely place the lid on the lunch box and place it into a kid's lunch bag along with a frozen ice pack.
    A spread of a kids lunch box and opened with homemade turkey and cheese lunchables with a napkin, juice and lunchables made and half eaten on a white counter.

Notes

Expert Tips

  • Lunchables store best in containers that keep the ingredients separate until you’re ready to eat, similar to a bento-style lunchbox. It’s a good idea to use smaller containers with a lid within the lunchbox, especially for dips or sauces.
  • If you’ve got picky eaters, allow them to assemble their own lunchable creations, such as using a dipping sauce or eating the Lunchable components separately.
  • Include older kids in packing their own lunchables for school lunches or trips. This is a great way to encourage independence in the kitchen and model healthy eating habits.
  • No smaller containers to divide up your lunchable ingredients? No problem! Just use cupcake liners to create dividers in a seal-able container.
  • Hate all the food scraps? Then you can just cut the turkey or cheese into squares which alleviates the cut out food scraps. Or you can use them with your dog for dog treats (which is what we do).

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).