If you’re tired of the same old song and dance that comes with making your child a PB&J sandwich every morning – and your child is equally as bored – it’s time to switch things up. Put your slow cooker to use this school year for more than dinners and freezer meals, and whip up a batch of something your kid loves on the weekend to provide them with a hot food meal option all week long. All you need to do in the morning is reheat the food (not in a plastic container, though!) and pack it in an insulated lunch container that’ll keep it warm until their lunch hour.
Check out some of our favorite slow cooker meals that’ll fill your kiddo up just enough so they’re ready for an afternoon of learning.
Related: Slow Cooker Hacks For Busy Moms Who Simply Can't Spend All Damn Day in the Kitchen
Turkey Chili With Butternut Squash
Keep them full until they hop off the bus in the afternoon with this turkey chili.
Macaroni and Cheese
You’ll never make Kraft for the kids again once you’ve tried this creamy slow cooker macaroni and cheese.
Vegetable Beef Soup
You can make huge batches of this vegetable beef soup for lunches, dinners, and freezer meals.
Ground Turkey Fried Rice
This healthy spin on fried rice makes for a great lunchbox meal.
Chicken and Dumplings Soup
Mmm! This chicken and dumplings soup recipe looks divine.
Chicken Noodle Soup
This slow cooker chicken noodle soup recipe is seamless and tasty.
Chicken Carnitas
This slow cooker chicken carnitas recipe is perfect for a build-your-own-taco lunch – just include a couple of tortillas and small containers with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and whatever else they like on their tacos.
Honey Sesame Chicken
Skip the takeout and whip up this honey sesame chicken with a side of your kid’s favorite rice for dinner, then pack the leftovers in their lunch bag.
Orange Chicken
Your kid will come home with a licked-clean lunch container if you’re packing up this slow cooker orange chicken.
Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Soup
If chicken parm is a family favorite, try mixing things up a bit with Foxes Love Lemons’ recipe for chicken parmesan soup.
Lo Mein
Whether you add chicken or beef or keep it veggie, this lo mein is bound to be a hit in your kids’ lunchtime lineups.
Breakfast Casserole
Who doesn’t like breakfast for lunch? This slow cooker breakfast casserole can be made on Sunday night to reheat on hectic mornings or for their lunch boxes.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta
A small portion of this hearty chicken parmesan pasta will ensure they’re full, but still have enough energy to spend the afternoon learning.
Chicken Corn Chowder
This hearty chicken corn chowder is the perfect remedy for a freezing Fall day spent learning.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey, garlic, and soy sauce are the dynamic trio that make Just a Taste’s honey garlic chicken your new solution to packing boring old turkey sandwiches.
Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup
This tomato tortellini soup is packed with parmesan and basil flavor.
Slow Cooker Beef With Broccoli
This slow cooker beef with broccoli is best served with a side of rice, so a two-piece insulated lunch container is a must!
Pulled Pork
Pulled pork becomes a much more manageable meal when the meal is slow-cooked right in the slow cooker. Your kids can eat it as is or build a sandwich if you pack them a bun.
Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
Your kids are going to ask for this cheesy pasta dish in their lunch box day after day!
Slow Cooker Southwestern Quinoa
Although we generally associate slow cooker meals with heartier fare, this Southwestern quinoa is a light and bright recipe for a lunch that’ll still leave your kiddos full and satisfied.
Sweet Barbecue Tacos
This sweet barbecue recipe is as easy as it gets. Pair it with tortillas, and your kids can pick their favorite taco toppings to pack into their lunch bag.
Chicken Teriyaki
You’ll forget your favorite takeout’s phone number after trying this slow cooker chicken teriyaki from Cooking Classy, which makes for a perfect lunch box meal.
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Pasta
Make this slow cooker barbecue chicken pasta in a big batch over the weekend, and you’ll likely have enough for a family dinner and a few lunch box meals.
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs With Spaghetti
These tender turkey meatballs make for a tasty spaghetti lunch.
Taco Soup
You could throw in some ground turkey, beef, or shredded chicken to this meatless taco soup recipe to add some protein to your child’s lunch.
Chicken Minestrone
Soup is a yummy way for your kids to enjoy their veggies, and minestrone is a classic! Try this chicken version for a surefire hit.
Asian Sloppy Joes
These tangy Asian sloppy joes can be served with a bun on the side so your kiddo can build their sandwich later to avoid it getting soggy in transit.