Quick Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work
Erik bernstein
Not going to lie, there are days when it feels like the only good thing about work is lunchtime. It's a time to decompress, take a walk outside, laugh with your coworkers… and wait in a loooong takeout line? We don't think so. If you think the only alternative is packing leftovers or a sad sandwich, think again. We're here to tell you that you CAN pack a lunch for work without killing yourself to cook it the night before (or even in the morning). From bowls to wraps, salads to soups, we've got something in here for everyone. These 53 work lunches are so quick, easy, and tasty, you might never order lunch in again!
The thing with packed lunches is they have to be just as or more exciting than your local delivery spot or cafeteria. One of our favorite ways to achieve this is to take recipes we know and love and jazz them up in a way no average salad or burrito place ever would. Check out our Philadelphia rolls (with everything bagel seasoning), our Caribbean Cobb salad, or our steak grain bowls (with chewy farro and chimichurri) to see what we mean.
Struggling with a chronic takeout habit? We've got you too. Try one of our copycat recipes, like our Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme, our copycat Chipotle chicken, or our copycat PF Chang's chicken lettuce wraps, or our Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana, or go for something inspired by some of your delivery faves, like our General Tso's chicken, our ahi poke bowls, or our honey walnut shrimp. The best part? You can add or sub in your favorite ingredients without ever having to speak to a cashier.
Want more easy meal inspiration? Check out our favorite breakfast meal prep ideas, our top easy weeknight dinners, and our favorite no-bake desserts too.
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Buddha Bowls
The beauty about this bowl is that it's infinitely adaptable. You can roast just about any veggie, use any number of toppings, and it'll taste amazing in this recipe. The only thing we might insist you must keep on the bowl is the incredible peanut dressing. It's insanely addictive and one of our favorite sauces EVER.
Get the Buddha Bowls recipe.
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Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This lunch-friendly recipe uses canned chickpeas, meaning it comes together in less than 30 minutes. ๐ Our lemon-parsley vinaigrette here is perfectly tart and fresh with a hint of spice, and you're going to want to put it on everything.
Get the Mediterranean Chickpea Salad recipe.
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Copycat Wendy's Chili
Fun fact: Apparently one of the reasons chili was put on the original Wendy's menu was to help eliminate food waste by using the leftover burger patties. We're glad they did, because this copycat chili is delicious.
Get the Copycat Wendy's Chili recipe.
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Steak Grain Bowls
These bowls come full of all the greens, protein, carbs you need to get through your day, but in a really exciting way: A double-purpose chimichurri acts as a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for the bowls. Yum!
Get the Steak Grain Bowls recipe.
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Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches
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Chinese Chicken Mandarin Salad
This recipe was semi-inspired by the Chinese Chicken Salad at The Cheesecake Factory, with one main difference: They use wonton strips and crispy rice noodles, whereas we sub in a block of broken up ramen (yep, the cheap, dried stuff) to act as crunchy croutons.
Get the Crunchy Mandarin Orange-Chicken Salad recipe.
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Chicken Salad Sandwich
There's definitely more than one way to make a chicken salad sandwich, but this is our favorite—green apple, red onion, and celery add crunch, while mustard, mayo, and red wine vinegar add creaminess with the perfect amount of tang.
Get the Chicken Salad Sandwich recipe.
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Ham Sandwich
You're probably thinking, I don't need a ham sandwich recipe, but trust us, this one is worth following a recipe for. Making your own herb mayo—by mixing in a few fresh herbs and some olive oil—makes this sandwich stand above the rest.
Get the Ham Sandwich recipe.
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Caribbean Cobb Salad
A bit brighter than the traditional Cobb salad, this version combines fresh mango, creamy coconut dressing, and spiced salmon to create a punchy, spicy, filling meal. Crushed plantain chips and sweet bell pepper add a satisfying crunch. Feel free to swap out chicken, shrimp, or whatever protein you're in the mood for come lunchtime.
Get the Caribbean Cobb Salad recipe.
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Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps
In our attempt to copy the fan favorite, we flavored ground chicken with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sriracha, and sesame oil. A quick reheat, and it's like going to P.F. Chang's without leaving your desk.
Get the Copycat Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe.
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Tuna Macaroni Salad
If you love tuna salad and macaroni salad for lunch, the only logical thing to do is bring the two together in a generous serving of spicy tuna mac. This recipe calls for quick-pickling red onion, shredded carrots, and chopped pickles while the pasta cooks so you get nicely tart and crunchy elements in every bite.
Get the Tuna Macaroni Salad recipe.
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Chirashi Bowls
Chirashizushi (ใกใใๅฏฟๅธ) translates to "scattered sushi" and is a style of sushi that entails exactly what the name suggests: pieces of sashimi over sushi rice. Chirashizushi—or chirashi bowls—is probably the simplest way to enjoy what you love about sushi without having to learn how to roll maki.
Get the Chirashi Bowls recipe.
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General Tso's Chicken
This dish of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and savory sauce is a Chinese-American classic. Though the typical preparation calls for deep-frying, we went for the easier stir-fry route for less mess from frying while still retaining all of the crispiness you're used to. Take it for lunch and skip takeout!
Get the General Tso's Chicken recipe.
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Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad
Cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, olives, avocado, and grilled chicken combine to make a salad you'll actually look forward to eating for lunch. Hot tip: Don't dress it beforehand. Instead throw all the dressing ingredients into a jar, give it a good shake at lunchtime, and you can dress this at your desk.
Get the Grilled Chicken Salad recipe.
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Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps
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Reuben Bowls
Skip the carbs and make this easy one-skillet recipe with cabbage, corned beef, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. It has everything you love about the classic Reuben sandwich, without the bread.
Get the Reuben Bowl recipe.
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Panera Autumn Squash Soup
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Lamb Gyro
Pronounced YEE-roh or ZHEE-roh (it rhymes with hero), these flatbread sandwiches are packed with delicious spiced lamb, crunchy fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and a tangy herb-and-cucumber yogurt tzatziki sauce. If you pack one for lunch, you'll look forward to it all morning long.
Get the Lamb Gyro recipe.
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Ultimate Veggie Sandwich
There's something so special and refreshing about a sandwich that is absolutely packed to the gills with veggies. Between two slices of bread you will find NINE different vegetables packed together in harmony here. ๐
Get the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich recipe.
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Classic Tuna Melt
Tuna lovers! Meet your ultimate sandwich. With just the right amount of crunch, melty cheddar cheese, and a couple good slices of tomato, you might even convert a tuna hater.
Get the Best-Ever Tuna Melt recipe.
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Chicken Satay
Satay, considered to be a national dish of Indonesia, is a popular Southeast Asian street food that usually involves a marinated meat being skewered and grilled, then served with a simple saucy dip. Our peanut sauce is the ultimate wingman here, containing all the fragrant notes of lemongrass, coconut, fish sauce, and fresh lime zest.
Get the Chicken Satay recipe.
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Tofu Stir-Fry
For best results, use extra-firm tofu that has been frozen so it can absorb flavors more readily, and simmer the tofu in salted water briefly to make it hardier and less likely to crumble when jostled in the pan. Otherwise, the sky's the limit, so add your favorite veggies (or use leftovers from dinner ๐).
Get the Tofu Stir-Fry recipe.
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Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
If you're like most fans of the Olive Garden, you can see just how much love and flavor they put into this hearty soup. Like some of our favorite other comfort foods like fettuccine Alfredo and chicken Parm, this soup will have you feeling like you're getting a big hug from your nonna (which we could all use sometimes in the middle of a hard work day).
Get the Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana recipe.
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Kimbap
Kimbap—or Korean rice rolls—are less of a recipe and more of a formula, but no matter how you do it, you'll love it as a light and savory lunch with with lots of flavors and perfect crunch.
Get the Kimbap recipe.
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Philadelphia Roll
Philadelphia rolls are essentially a bagel and lox turned into epically delicious sushi, and we're all about it. The classic combo of smoked salmon and cream cheese is boosted with crunchy cucumber and pickled red onions. We topped the roll with everything bagel seasoning too—it might not be traditional, but it definitely is delicious.
Get the Philadelphia Roll recipe.
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Baked Orange Chicken
This is just as delicious and savory-sweet as the original without the added effort or calories of deep frying. Serve along fluffy white rice and some delicious broccoli or bok choy for a fantastic, healthier lunchtime meal.
Get the Baked Orange Chicken recipe.
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Ahi Poke Bowls
This is our favorite combo of ingredients, but you can feel free to swap in your favorites or whatever you've got in the fridge. The key is to aim for color and variety, but the world really is your oyster... er, tuna!
Get the Ahi Poke Bowls recipe.
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Greek Salmon Salad
Whenever we're craving a salad for lunch, it usually mean we want something super fresh and crisp with lots of flavor. This gorgeous salad is hearty enough to be dinner. While the salmon is cooking, you can get all of your veggie chopping done too, and it'll all come together in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Greek Salmon Salad recipe.
Source: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/g3034/quick-work-lunch-ideas/
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