Easy Lunch Recipes and More Under 20 Minutes

You Won’t Believe How Quick You Can Make These Recipes for the Whole Family!

Some days it can feel like your “to do” list is never-ending, from dropping the kids off to school to a busy day of work, to planning for an upcoming birthday party, to playing chauffeur to preparing meals and more.

And while it may be nice to dream of having an hour or even more to yourself to prepare and cook a family dinner, all while listening to the latest on Spotify and enjoying a beverage of choice, the reality is that this is likely a very different situation from where you find yourself most days.

When you’re dealing with quick meal preparation, to ensure you can feed the family before your next to-do task is ready to start, it can help to have some inspiration to fall back on, right?

Well, Wonder® bread has a list of quick and easy recipes for you whether you need to cut down time for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks or yes, even dessert!

Check out these 12 recipes that take no longer than 20 minutes to prepare and that the whole family can enjoy. Don’t forget to print or email yourself your favourite recipes so you have an ongoing recipe book full of inspiration for any day of the week.

Not only do we have some great recipe ideas that will speed up your meal prep and cooking time, but also here are some kid-friendly recipes for under $20

Wonder Meals Under 20 Blog

Breakfast Recipe Ideas in Less than 20 Mins

1. One-Pan Egg Breakfast Cups

Not only is this breakfast recipe quick to make but requires minimal cookware, meaning cleanup is a breeze as well. The kids can take them on the go while you enjoy one in the car or during your first meeting of the day if working from home.

Make each one a little extra special by drawing out a heart, initial or happy face with ketchup before serving. 

One Pan Egg Breakfast Cup

Ingredients

  • Wonder® White English Muffins
  • 12 slices ready-cooked bacon
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 12 large eggs
  • 4 tbsp of melted butter
  • Non-stick cooking spray
  • Salt & cracked black pepper to taste

Find recipe directions here

2. Eggs in a Basket

This quick breakfast recipe is sure to bring smiles to everyone’s face in the morning no matter how busy or hectic the day is shaping up to be. Personalize for everyone at the table (depending on your time of course) with their favourite cookie cutter shape whether that’s a heart, animal or letter. Once again, cleanup is simple with minimal dishware required.

Eggs in a Basket

Ingredients

Find recipe directions here

 

Kids Lunch Recipe Ideas in 20 Mins or Less

3. 9 in 1 Sandwich

This is a fun way to bring together different flavours all for one lunchtime whether you need to pack a lunchbox or are serving these for lunch at home. These bite-sized sandwiches are a great way to bring some fun to lunchtime and fillings can be switched out to suit your little ones’ favs of the month!

9-in-1 Sandwich

Ingredients

Find recipe directions here

4. Apple, PB and Cheddar Melt

This Wonder® recipe is inspired by two favourites-PB ‘n J and a classic grilled cheese sandwich. Perfect for a fall lunch, this sandwich uses ingredients that you probably already have in the refrigerator and pantry making it an easy fallback recipe when you are tight on time.

Peanut Butter, Apple and Cheddar Melt

Ingredients

  • 4 slices of Wonder®White Texas Toast Bread
  • 2 slices (4 oz.) of sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp peanut butter
  • 1 Honey Crisp apple (Fuji or Gala also work)

Find recipe directions here

5. Chicken Salad Toaster Wrap

This is a quick and easy lunch idea that the whole family can enjoy. Add some chips, veggies and dip or fries for a fast meal idea over the weekend or if the kids are still learning from home.

Chicken Salad Toast Wrap

Ingredients

  • Wonder® White 7″ Wraps
  • 2 cups pulled or chopped chicken
  • 1 hard-boiled egg
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 pinch ground black pepper
  • 1 stalk celery chopped
  • 1 tsp honey Black pepper and salt to taste

Find recipe directions here

 

Quick Kid-Friendly Dinner Ideas Under 20 Mins 

Cooking dinner during the week can be hectic depending on what time the kids finish school, what time you’re done working and of course, if there are other activities planned for the evening like tutoring, music lessons or swimming, all on top of homework.

Here are some quick ways to put dinner on the table in under 20 minutes that the whole family can enjoy.

6. English Muffin Pizzas

Even if you’re not pressed for time, this recipe idea can be a great way to have the kids get involved with dinner (giving you time to complete other things on your list) as well as get dinner on the table quick.

English Muffin Pizza

Choose the toppings most enjoyed by your family and let them create their own favourites before putting them into the oven to bake.

Looking for other ways to get the kids to help in the kitchen or spend some more quality time together?

Check out Tips on Getting the Kids in the Kitchen

Ingredients

  • Wonder® White English Muffins separated into halves
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano
  • 1/3 cup tomato sauce
  • 8 oz mozzarella cheese shredded

Optional ingredients: mini pepperoni, sliced black olives, diced green peppers, diced red peppers, mushrooms, onions, or your family’s favourite pizza toppings!

Find recipe directions here

7. WONDERful Crab Cakes

These easy-to-make crab cakes pair perfectly with a warm butternut squash or tomato soup and are great on a cold winter evening.

Crab Cakes

Ingredients

  • 2 slices of Wonder®White Bread, finely crumbled and crusts trimmed
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 lb lump crabmeat, drained
  • 1 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
  • 2 tbsp of butter
  • Lemon wedges to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Find recipe directions here

8. Kid and Freezer-Friendly Enchiladas

While this one is not a quick recipe if made and served on the same night, it is a great recipe to prepare over the weekend or on a slower night to freeze for one of your busier evenings. Serve with some tortilla chips or charred corn and you can make any night Mexican night in less than 20 minutes.

The great thing with this recipe is that depending on how old your kids are, they may be able to get dinner going for you by popping this into the oven before you can.

Kid and Freezer Friendly Enchiladas

Ingredients

  • Wonder®100% Whole Wheat 10″ Wraps
  • 2 cups of shredded chicken
  • 4 oz cream cheese
  • 1 ½ cups of prepared salsa
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
  • 2 green onion chopped (optional)

Find recipe directions here

 

Quick Kids Snack and Dessert Recipes Under 20 Mins

When it comes to snacks or desserts, it’s always great to make something homemade, but let’s face it, finding an hour to bake a cake or decorate cupcakes isn’t a luxury you can always afford.

For the times that you still want to put something fresh out for the kids to enjoy but are tight on time, try these recipes out.

9. Fairy Bread

This one is super quick and very easy to make with minimal clean-up required. Get the kids to decorate their own or prepare them ahead and serve with a glass of milk or juice after school to bring a little whimsy to their afternoon.

Fairy Bread

Ingredients

  • 4 slices of Wonder®White Bread
  • ¼ cup salted butter, softened
  • ¼ cup sprinkles (your choice)

Find recipe directions here

10. Super Snack Bites

If you’re looking for a quick snack idea for any day of the week, give these quick snack bites a try. If the kids don’t like a specific seed or nut you can easily substitute them out for what your little ones will eat.

Super Snack Bites

Ingredients

  • 8 slices Wonder® White Bread or Wonder® 100% Whole Wheat Bread, crusts removed, slices torn into 1 cm pieces
  • 3 tbsp raisins (or your favourite dried fruit)
  • 1 tbsp shredded coconut
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tbsp chocolate chips
  • 3-4 tbsp almond butter (or your favourite nut, seed or alternative butter)
  • Pinch cinnamon (or Pumpkin Spice seasoning)

Find recipe directions here

11. Campfire S’Mores Sandwich

Change up the traditional s’mores with this twist on a campfire favourite. They are quick to make and something the kids can enjoy during movie night on a weekend or while enjoying some time with friends on a summer evening.

S'More Sandwich

Ingredients

  • 8 slices of Wonder®White Texas Toast Bread
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 4 cups mini marshmallows
  • 4 tbsp hazelnut spread
  • 4 graham crackers, crushed
  • ¼ cup cinnamon sugar

Find recipe directions here

Speaking of grilling, check out these other easy-to-make grilled cheese sandwiches or simple hotdog inspiration the kids are sure to melt for!

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