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40 Easy Lunch Ideas for Work (Make-Ahead & Packable)

Packing lunch saves money, but only if you don't have to think about it every night. Here are 40 work lunches that travel well, plus 6 full recipes and a simple formula for days you don't want a recipe.

The build-a-lunch formula

• Protein: chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, eggs, beans, lentils, chickpeas or cottage cheese
• Fiber-rich carb: whole-grain wrap, pita, crackers, brown rice, quinoa or whole-wheat pasta
• Vegetables: at least a cup, raw or roasted
• Flavor: hummus, tzatziki, salsa, pesto, feta, olives or a simple vinaigrette

40 lunch ideas for work

No-Cook Lunch Boxes

No stove, no microwave, no problem. These snack-style boxes come together in 5 to 10 minutes and travel well in a divided container with an ice pack. They're perfect for the busiest days of the week.

• Mediterranean Snack Box (10 min)
• Turkey & Cheese Protein Box (5 min)
• Egg & Veggie Bistro Box (5 min)
• Tuna Salad Snack Plate (10 min)
• Cottage Cheese Power Box (5 min)
• Caprese Pasta-Free Box (5 min)
• Chicken Salad Lettuce Boats (10 min)
• Hummus & Veggie Bento (10 min)

Wraps & Sandwiches

Wraps and sandwiches are the classic work lunch. The trick is keeping them from getting soggy: pat wet ingredients dry, pack sauces on the side, and wrap tightly in parchment or foil.

• Greek Chicken Wrap (10 min)
• Turkey Hummus Wrap (5 min)
• Chickpea Smash Sandwich (10 min)
• Salmon Salad Pita (10 min)
• Egg Salad Lettuce Wrap (10 min)
• Caprese Pesto Sandwich (5 min)
• Black Bean & Corn Burrito Wrap (10 min)
• Tuna & White Bean Wrap (10 min)

Salads & Jar Lunches

Jar and container salads are made to be packed ahead. Dressing goes on the bottom, sturdy ingredients in the middle, and greens on top. Shake into a bowl at lunch.

• Chickpea Greek Salad (10 min)
• Cobb Salad in a Jar (10 min)
• Lemon Quinoa Salad (5 min)
• Asian Peanut Noodle Jar (15 min)
• Southwest Chicken Salad (10 min)
• Tuna Niçoise Box (15 min)
• Lentil & Feta Salad (10 min)
• Kale Caesar with Chickpeas (10 min)

Grain & Protein Bowls

Bowls are the most flexible lunch: a grain, a protein, vegetables and a sauce. Cook grains once on Sunday and build bowls all week.

• Chicken Burrito Bowl (10 min)
• Greek Chicken Grain Bowl (10 min)
• Teriyaki Salmon Rice Bowl (20 min)
• Turkey Taco Bowl (15 min)
• Falafel Hummus Bowl (15 min)
• Egg Fried Rice Bowl (15 min)
• Shrimp & Orzo Lemon Bowl (20 min)
• Sweet Potato & Black Bean Bowl (30 min)

Make-Ahead Batch Lunches

Cook once, eat twice (or four times). Each of these recipes makes 4 lunches. Use two during the week and freeze or eat the rest.

• Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup (35 min)
• Lentil Vegetable Soup (35 min)
• Turkey Chili (40 min)
• Mediterranean Pasta Salad (20 min)
• Chicken & Veggie Sheet-Pan Meal Prep (35 min)
• Minestrone Soup (35 min)
• Egg Muffin Cups (25 min)
• Turkey Meatballs & Marinara (35 min)

6 work lunch recipes to start with

Packing and food safety

• Use an insulated bag with an ice pack; cold foods should stay at 40°F or below.
• Cool cooked food before packing and refrigerate it within 2 hours.
• Keep dressings and crackers separate until lunch so nothing gets soggy.
• Reheat soups, chili and rice bowls until steaming hot all the way through.

More: Cold lunch ideas for work (no microwave) · High-protein breakfast ideas