Lunchables without the scary ingredients! Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables that are vegan, allergy-free, & grain-free too! This healthy, kid-loved, and mom-approved make-ahead lunch recipe will make the school year a bit more fun!
It’s embarrassing, but I’ve been “jumping out of my skin” excited to share these gluten-free pizza lunchables with you! This one had nothing to do with the pizza bagels, but came from me thinking back to some of the other classic childhood lunches I used to love. When it came to Lunchables, the only one that would do was the pizza ones! Rounds of cold pizza crust, cold sweet tomato sauce, bland cheese, (slimy pepperoni, if you got the pepperoni ones), and of course that iconic plastic red stick you used to spread the sauce on the crusts, all in those plastic compartmentalized trays!
Literally, it was such a treat to know I had a pizza lunchable to bring to school! The coveted gold; the envy of your peers. And probably one of the worst things you could put in your body. Lunchables were profiled in the book, Salt Sugar Fat, about just how horrible and unhealthy they are. Would you like to see the ingredient list?
Ingredients: PIZZA CRUST – WHEAT FLOUR (ENRICHED BLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR [FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID], WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR), WATER, SUGAR, GLYCERIN, SOYBEAN OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: YEAST, VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, MONO- & DIGLYCERIDES, SALT, XANTHAN GUM, CALCIUM PROPIONATE, SORBIC ACID, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, ENZYME. CONTAINS: WHEAT. PIZZA SAUCE – WATER, TOMATO PASTE, SUGAR, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF MODIFIED FOOD STARCH, GARLIC POWDER, SALT, ONION POWDER, SPICE, CITRIC ACID, DRIED BASIL, SEA SALT, POTASSIUM SORBATE ADDED AS A PRESERVATIVE, XANTHAN GUM, NATURAL FLAVOR. PEPPERONI MADE WITH PORK, CHICKEN AND BEEF – BHA, BHT AND CITRIC ACID ADDED TO HELP PROTECT FLAVOR – PORK, MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, BEEF, SALT, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF PORK STOCK, SPICES (INCLUDING MUSTARD), DEXTROSE, LACTIC ACID STARTER CULTURE, OLEORESIN OF PAPRIKA, FLAVORING, SODIUM ASCORBATE, SODIUM NITRITE, BHA, BHT, CITRIC ACID. PASTEURIZED PREPARED MOZZARELLA CHEESE PRODUCT – PASTEURIZED PART-SKIM MILK, WATER, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SALT, CHEESE CULTURE, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SODIUM CITRATE, MILKFAT, SORBIC ACID AS A PRESERVATIVE, ENZYMES, WITH CELLULOSE POWDER TO PREVENT CAKING.
I feel like that is just a condensed horror story written on the back of a snazzy marketing ploy aimed at malleable children and their time-strapped, impatient parents. I definitely don’t think they’re as popular as they used to be; I think parents have caught on with the scaries. BUT, there is not denying that pizza Lunchables were a fantastic school lunch concept. I’m not sure why cold “not-cooked” pizza is so appealing, but it is…ask any kid (young or old!)
So, of course, leave it to me to remake pizza Lunchables so they’re gluten-free, vegan, allergy-free, AND grain-free! Super easy grain-free cassava flour pizza crusts, little homemade sauce packets, my eggplant bacon (as pepperoni), and some vegan mozzarella! Plus, I had to throw in a little dessert too! Now pizza Lunchables are something to be proud of and to eat 7 days (a lot) a week. These Lunchables are also not JUST for the little dears, but college students, moms, dads, even grandparents 😉
The only thing I wish these Lunchables had were those iconic plastic red “sauce spreading” sticks. I guess you can save the environment by using not only a reusable take-away container, but also a normal metal spreading knife. I did, however, use tiny little plastic bags to put the sauce it! Obviously, you can’t go out and buy a squeeze bag you would find in a classic Lunchable, but these tiny bags I always have on hand! For spices and now sauce. I find mine in the craft section of the store, by the way!
Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables
Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables (Vegan, Allergy-Free, Grain-Free)
Lunchables without the scary ingredients! Homemade Gluten-Free Pizza Lunchables that are vegan, allergy-free, & grain-free too! This healthy, kid-loved, and mom-approved make-ahead lunch recipe will make the school year a bit more fun!
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Total Time: 20 mins
- Yield: 3 1x
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- Pizza Crusts:
- 1 Cup Cassava Flour
- 1 TB Coconut Flour
- 1 Tsp Baking Powder
- 2 Tsp Olive Oil
- 3/4 Cup Water
- Pizza Sauce:
- 1 Cup Plain Unsalted Tomato Sauce
- ½ Tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 Tsp Onion Powder
- 1 Tsp Dried Parsley
- 1 Tsp Dried Basil
- ¼ Tsp Black Pepper
- Additional:
- Vegan Shredded Mozzarella*
- Eggplant Bacon/Pepperoni
- A Fun Treat
Instructions
- Preheat the over to 400°F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all pizza crust ingredients, mix together, and knead with your hands.
- Divide the pizza dough into 6 balls, roll them out flat and form 6 crusts.
- Bake the 6 crusts on a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet in the oven for 8 minutes, flip and bake another 5 minutes. Remove and let cool.
- Mix together the sauce ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons of sauce into each small plastic baggie (2 baggies per Lunchable).
- Place about 2 tablespoons of “mozzerella” in the small containers and about 6 small eggplant bacon slices into another small container.
- Assemble 3 Lunchable containers each with 2 crusts, 2 packets of sauce, 1 container of cheese, one container of eggplant bacon, a spreader, and sweet treat, (don’t forget a napkin!)
Notes
*Daiya or So Delicious shredded “mozzarella” are my go-tos!
**Plastic baggies for sauce.
***These are kind of the containers I used.
****Mini containers to use.
*****A little spreader to use.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
And that, my gluten-free friends, is how we make HOMEMADE PIZZA LUNCHABLES! They are “meal-preppable” too! You can easily make a bunch of crusts and freeze them, the eggplant bacon (pepperoni…but I still call them bacon) are made-ahead, the vegan cheese is store-bought, and the sauce can be made ahead (you can also use your favorite store-bought sauce if you really want). I really hope this recipe have you as excited as I am! I’ve loved making these old childhood “back-to-school” classic favorites so much! They will continue to come, regardless of maintaining it as a series!
So tell me:
+ What was your favorite Lunchable as a kid?
+ If you have no idea what Lunchable are, what was your favorite “store-bought” special lunch you begged your parents for?
Other 2017 “Back-To-School” Remakes:
Classic Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes
Classic Gluten-Free Chocolate Cupcakes
Homemade Gluten-Free + Allergy-Free Uncrustables
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Kim~madeinaday says
What a great idea redoing lunchables! Who knew they were that awful. Looks yummy! sharing on twitter.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I think we all knew, we just turned a blind eye 😉
Mel says
Hey lovely! I have just shared all over the place 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you!
Miriam says
I grew up in a household where most of the food was homemade.
My favourite school lunch was an egg-salad sandwich :). Smelly (after being packed for a while), but so tasty anyway.
Where I live, it’s common practice to either bring one’s own sandwiches to school, or buy a veggie baguette sandwich.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
All about smelly lunches! I’d bring brussels sprouts 😉
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day says
I love these lunchables you made! They look 100% times better than those store-bought processed ones.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Nice and FRESH 😉
Uma says
This is great idea for kids lunch box. Looks delicious.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure is! Thanks!
Jasmine says
These bring me back to my childhood and look just the same! I love this 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, they made me smile 🙂 Thanks!
Lisa Ehrman says
Great Lunchable recipe for GF Pizza 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sure, thanks!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Looking at labels can be horrifying, but these look good.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea! But important to do!
Katja says
Sounds delicious! My kids will have to try 🙂 Thanks a lot!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
They will enjoy!
Becca McLelland says
Um, this looks delicious enough for me to eat it! I can’t eat dairy, but have never tried vegan cheese. Is it tasty?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Obviously that’s going to depend on the brand you buy.
Jazz says
This is such a cute idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you!
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
I just adore your version! So much healthier for the kids!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Thank you!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says
Super creative! I have never had a lunchable, they were after my time, but anything healthy you can make that keeps things exciting is always a good thing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, well you and the kids need to try “Lunchables” now!
Shannon says
This is such a cute/great idea! My mom would only get us Lunchables on very rare occasions and looking back I am extremely thankful because I couldn’t imagine eating those! BUT I am loving this healthy, homemade take on them. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, yes! A rare gem, but they were so good!! Now I can indulge the craving in a much more acceptable way 😉
Nichole says
I love that you took a classic lunch that all kids love and made it healthy! Now parents and kiddos can all be happy! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Smiles all around!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
Great lunch option for the kiddies!! Thanks for sharing!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
A fun and healthy option! Thanks!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
Hehe these are so cute! Such a fun lunch.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thank you!
Linnea | (Chick)peas & Understanding says
What a cute little lunch box! Eggplant pepperoni sounds like a fun idea! xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Super yummy and healthy!
Megan says
Helpful ideas for lunch inspirations.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Glad you think so!
Kristen Chidsey says
Rebecca this is SO fun! I know Tate and Layla would love this as their lunch!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! They will be the king and queen of the lunchroom 😉
Felicia @ The Starving Chef says
I would have adored these when I was a kid! So easy to customize to your child’s preferences.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Guaranteed to please!
Kelly says
My kiddos would go crazy for these! I will never buy the Lunchables form the grocery store, but THESE I can get down with! Great recipe!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes you can and they will be so happy 😀
Lauren says
Wow looks good! Thanks for sharing!
Lauren
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Lol, alright, thanks.
Tanvi Rastogi says
I had not heard of lunchables before today. But such a great idea for a healthy and clean option.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
An American classic 🙂
Linda from Veganosity says
I have never bought a lunchable. It’s good to see that you came up with a healthy version of one of the most unhealthy processed foods.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes, and no need to ever buy one!
Corey | The Nostalgia Diaries says
My daughter would love to have a lunch she put together like this – and I love how healthy and unprocessed it is!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! They are so fun to “assemble” come lunchtime!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
Confession: I didn’t have lunchables as a kid. I think my mom let us get them one time and that was it. I was always so jealous. But now that I’ve read the ingredient list I’m glad she was so strict about it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, right! They have some scary “ingredients”!
Liz says
Yeah, I was never a fan of those overly processed lunch boxes—but I would treat my kids on occasion! What a great idea to make your own delicious, healthy version!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, I think most parents were weary about it, but gave it once in awhile 😉