This week I was looking for something quick, easy, and savoury to add to the lunchbox, and these chickpea pesto rolls turned out to be such a win. They’re simple to make, full of flavour, and both of my two really enjoyed them — which always feels like a small victory.
An Easy Way to Introduce Chickpeas
Chickpeas can sometimes be a bit tricky for little ones. The texture is different and the flavour is new, so they’re not always an instant favourite. I’ve found that blending them into pesto and rolling them up like this makes them much more easy to eat.
Perfect for Busy Days and Days Out
I love having these rolls with a warm bowl of my 4 ingredient sweet potato soup for lunch at home, but they’re also great when we’re heading out for the day. I’ll often pack a few bits like this if we’re going on a road trip or even just out for a long day.
They’re easy for the kids to hold, not too messy, and filling enough to keep everyone going. I usually add a healthier treat, a flask of hot chocolate, and lots of water.
When you’re out and about it’s so easy to grab food on the go, but having a few things packed helps us eat well and saves a bit of money too. We recently went on a short road trip to visit friends, and being organised with food made everything feel much calmer.
Little Road Trip Tips
Along with snacks, I like to have a few simple ideas ready to keep everyone entertained. Some of our favourites are:
- The alphabet game — finding words outside the car from A to Z ( it’s a bit like eye-spy but you have a letter to guide you)
- Story chains — each person adds a sentence to the story (this usually ends up very silly)
- Taking turns choosing a few songs each (and often singing along to it!)
If it’s a longer journey, we try to stop somewhere safe, stretch our legs, and enjoy our snacks properly. Even a short break can make a big difference.
Why You’ll Love These Chickpea Pesto Rolls
Great for prepping ahead
Make them in advance for an easy grab-and-go option during the week.
Easy to make
These rolls come together quickly with simple ingredients and minimal prep — perfect for busy days when you still want something homemade.
Perfect for lunchboxes
They’re handheld, mess-free, and taste just as good cold or at room temperature, which makes them ideal for school or work lunches.
Kid-approved
Flavourful without being overpowering, these rolls are a hit with little eaters — always a win when packing lunches.
Looking for more lunchbox recipe inspiration? Check out my 5 easy lunch box recipes! I’d love to hear your road trip tips and tricks in the comments — always looking for new ideas. If you try these, don’t forget to tag @littleloucooks with your bakes.
Important note: Please be mindful of nuts in pesto, depending on the type you use. Sesame is also an allergen, so always check labels and adapt as needed.
Chickpea pesto rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 packet ready rolled puff pastry 375g approx
- 1 tin cooked chickpeas drained well (240g)
- **3 tablespoons pesto shop bought or make your own
- 75 g grated cheddar and mozzarella mix
- 1 egg beaten
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds – optional beware sesame is an allergen too
- Note: Most shop-bought pesto contains nuts. If your school has a NO NUT policy don’t send pesto to school. Nut-free homemade pesto is a safe alternative.
- Tip: Leave pastry out of the fridge for 20 minutes so it’s easier to unroll.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C fan. Line a large baking tray.
- Blend chickpeas and pesto (smooth or chunky).
- Unroll pastry and cut lengthways into two strips. Brush one side of each strip with egg.
- Spoon chickpea mixture down the centre, sprinkle with cheese, then fold over like a sausage roll and seal.
- Cut each roll into 4 pieces, place on tray, brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using.
- Bake for ~40 minutes until golden. If the filling is oozing out at the sides push it back in the flat of a knife.
- Cool on a wire rack. Eat hot or cold
- Storage: Store up to 3 days in fridge or freeze unbaked rolls for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen with egg wash for 40 minutes.
