85 Quick Work Lunch Ideas To Shake Up Your Routine
The thing about a packed lunch, though we love them, is that they've really gotta be just as or more exciting than your local delivery spot or cafeteria, or else your eyes will surely stray. Lunch is 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 80 work lunches are so quick, easy, and tasty, you might never order lunch in again!
One of our favorite surefire 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. When you make your lunch at home, you can put whatever ingredients you want in them, without having to speak to anyone or incur an up-charge. Take all the bowls on this list, like our peanut chicken protein bowls, our steak grain bowls (with chewy farro and chimichurri), our halal cart-style cauliflower bowls, or our hummus bowls with spiced lamb—they're easy to make, and even simpler to customize. Use the dressing from, say, our Big Mac salad in our chicken Caesar pasta salad or the meat from our Thai-inspired basil beef bowls in our hot honey chicken bowls. You might just discover a new lunch favorite.
Speaking of Big Macs, are you 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 burrito bowls, our Panera green goddess Cobb salad, our copycat PF Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps, or our CPK Italian chopped salad. 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.
Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles
Who can resist rice noodles bathed in an abundance of sweet and creamy peanut sauce? Not us! In this recipe, the prep actually takes longer than the cooking, so feel free to make some elements ahead. With all them behind you, the dish comes together in a snap.
Get the Creamy Peanut-Lime Chicken With Noodles recipe.
Taco Salad
When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying summer meal. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Gnocchi Antipasto Salad
Featuring crispy potato gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, fresh mozzarella, and salami, this salad is a medley of everything you love about antipasto, made extra-hearty for lunchtime.
Get the Gnocchi Antipasto Salad recipe.
Chicken Fried Rice
This dish started as way to use leftover rice that has dried out some and may not be great on its own, but is still perfectly edible. The addition of oil and soy sauce and veggies and meat spruce up the rice for a delicious meal.
Get the Chicken Fried Rice recipe.
Tuscan Chicken Wraps
We just can’t get enough Tuscan chicken. This time, it’s in wrap form and is quite possibly the easiest and most flavorful lunch you can make. It’s got chopped rotisserie chicken, creamy mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and plenty of fresh spinach, but the real secret to what makes this wrap so delicious is in the sauce.
Get the Tuscan Chicken Wraps recipe.
Summer Roll Bowls
Love a Vietnamese summer roll but don’t want to fuss with the wrapper? Meet your new favorite easy meal. In it, rice noodles, shrimp, avocado, thinly sliced veggies, and a plethora of greens are tossed together in a tangy nước chấm dressing for a refreshing dinner twist.
Get the Summer Roll Bowls recipe.
Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu)
Inspired by the popular Japanese onigirazu, this is like a cross between sushi and a sandwich. We filled ours with spicy salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, carrot, and avocado—then wrapped it in nori to make it extra portable. Serve it with plenty of the sriracha-soy mayo on the side!
Get the Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu) recipe.
Chicken & Broccoli
This fast and easy one-pot chicken and broccoli recipe is coated in a sweet and savory sauce with plenty of ginger and garlic for a weeknight dinner that beats take-out. This dish comes together in 20 minutes with minimal prep work too. Win win!
Get the Chicken & Broccoli recipe.
Crispy Sheet-Pan Black Bean Tacos
Tacos always bring party vibes, but when they’re baked until crisp and rimmed with crunchy cheesy frico, it’s an all-out fiesta. Featuring refried black beans stuffed inside a crunchy corn tortilla, this irresistible cross between a taco and a sheet-pan quesadilla will make any weekday feel like a celebration.
Get the Crispy Sheet-Pan Black Bean Tacos recipe.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are here with their totally retro swirls, ready to be packed into lunchboxes, piled onto game day spreads, or just eaten as an afternoon snack. As long as you stick with the basic formula and amounts, the sky's the limit on what you can fill 'em with too.
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowls
This bowl is a homemade take on a New York street food favorite. Picture succulent halal chicken, marinated to perfection in a harmonious blend of spices, fragrant oregano, and zesty lime juice: an explosion of flavors that dance on your taste buds and leave you craving for more.
Get the Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowls recipe.
BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken
BBQ sauce and chicken go together like peanut butter and jelly: an undeniable classic combo that hits the mark every single time. This easy sheet-pan dinner comes complete with juicy chicken, loads of sweet–smoky flavor, and plenty of vegetables to round out the meal.
Get the BBQ Sheet-Pan Chicken recipe.
Turkey Lavash Wraps
This wrap is hearty enough to keep you full until dinner, but not so heavy you require a post-lunch nap. Filled with a zingy arugula-dill salad, sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, and crunchy cucumbers, and sealed with a creamy goat cheese spread, it's exactly the kind of colorful lunch we crave to brighten up our weekdays.
Get the Turkey Lavash Wraps recipe.
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. 😍
Get the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich recipe.
Egg Roll Bowls
If you're a fan of crispy savory egg rolls, then you might consider this unwrapped version your dream lunch. Without the need to wrap or fry, this veggie-packed meal comes together in well under an hour. Garnish with crispy raw scallions, toasted sesame seeds, and plenty of sriracha or chili oil.
Get the Egg Roll Bowls recipe.
Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls
The beauty about these grain bowls 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 butter dressing.
Get the Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls recipe.
Sesame Tofu & Broccoli
In this vegetarian version of a Chinese-American favorite, oven-baked tofu gets tossed in a savory, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce along with crisp-tender broccoli, then topped with toasty sesame seeds and scallions. With a side of white rice, you’ll be on your way to a saucy, delicious meal.
Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
This wrap is just as easy to customize as it is to make. Feel free to adjust the spices to add more or less heat, swap out the slaw for lettuce, the blue cheese sauce with ranch dressing, use cauliflower or tofu instead of meat, or try Greek yogurt in place of mayonnaise.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Wrap recipe.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Tired of your same old Caesar salad? Add chicken and penne pasta to transform it into the BBQ side dish of your dreams.
Get the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Sheet-Pan Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a classic late-night snack or easy dinner, but when we need to pack a ton of lunches, we bring out the sheet pan. This hack makes cooking quesadillas for a crowd easier than ever.
Get the Sheet-Pan Quesadillas recipe.
Chicken Salad
We believe that good chicken salad is all about the technique, and less about the actual ingredients. The delicious lunch and picnic staple expertly combines well-seasoned chicken, a rich mayo dressing, plenty of fresh celery, and a touch of acid, but feel free to switch up your mix-ins if you like.
Get the Chicken Salad recipe.
Stuffed Peppers
Here at Delish, we’re big fans of stuffed peppers—strong enough to hold their shape, peppers are large enough to hold a decent amount of filling while taking to a variety of flavors. While we love to experiment with countless variations, this classic recipe is hard to beat.
Get the Stuffed Peppers recipe.
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
While we’re all about switching things up, when we want a tried-and-true perfect meal, we always go back to the Chipotle chicken burrito bowl. It’s classic, reliable, and, best of all, completely customizable depending on our mood. No corn salsa? Extra guac? At home, you can have it all!
Get the Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
Goddess Bowls
A good sauce changes everything, and this green goddess dressing is one of our favorites yet. The veggies here are interchangeable, but in the spirit of goddess dressing, we think green is the way to go. Roasted asparagus, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are all good choices.
Get the Goddess Bowls recipe.
Cowboy Caviar Couscous Salad
Whether you’re meal prepping lunch for the week, joining a summer potluck, or just want to enjoy an easy meal, you can’t go wrong with a pasta salad. This couscous-filled one draws inspiration from one of Texas’s most iconic dishes: cowboy caviar.
Get the Cowboy Caviar Couscous Salad recipe.
Club Sandwich
With ham, turkey, bacon and three slices of bread, the club sandwich is the quite possibly best sandwich of all time. It has three layers that are absolutely packed with flavor. And though it's a deli and diner classic, this mile-high sandwich is the perfect lunch to brighten up any workday.
Get the Club Sandwich recipe.
Spinach-Artichoke Flatbread
Spinach and artichoke is one of our favorite flavor combinations, whether we’re enjoying them as a classic baked dip or paired together in a bite-size app. For this recipe, we’re turning it into an easy yet elegant lunch in the form of a flatbread pizza.
Get the Spinach-Artichoke Flatbread recipe.
Blackened Shrimp Bowls
Filled with whole grains, protein, and fresh veg, these are the perfect bowls if you're looking for an easy, healthy lunch or satisfying weeknight dinner to enjoy all summer long.
Get the Blackened Shrimp Bowls recipe.
Garlic Bread Pizza
Looking for a fun, easy twist on homemade pizza? Skip the dough and use frozen garlic bread instead. Crusts will never be thrown out again.
Get the Garlic Bread Pizza recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
This Buffalo chicken salad is the best way to eat your Buffalo chicken wings, covered in a homemade ranch dressing, with all of your favorite sides. Bonus, no saucy orange fingers!
Get the Buffalo Chicken Salad recipe.
Antipasto Chickpea Salad
This versatile chickpea salad is a great summer side but can easily be a full meal on its own! Adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to your red wine vinaigrette makes it creamier in both taste and body—consider it your secret weapon in making a classic dressing just that much better.
Get the Antipasto Chickpea Salad recipe.
Chicken Caesar Wraps
A chicken Caesar salad is a timeless classic, only made better (and more portable!) in a wrap. Our best tips for greatness: Make your own croutons, but use store-bought Caesar dressing.
Get the Chicken Caesar Wraps recipe.
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.
Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb
For this recipe, creamy hummus is topped with spiced ground lamb, onions, and fresh herbs. It's served with whole wheat pita to scoop up the hummus and toppings (though feel free to skip if you're avoiding bread), and pickled veggies to cut through the richness and add a bright pop of flavor.
Get the Hummus Bowl With Spiced Lamb recipe.
Big Mac Crunchwrap
If you can't decide between a Mcdonald's Big Mac or a Taco Bell Crunchwrap, this one's for you. It features two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed… large flour tortilla. It's everything you love about both fast food treats, all in one!
Get the Big Mac Crunchwrap recipe.
Chickpea Florentine Flatbread
If you love cream of spinach dip, chickpea anything, creamy white pizza, and lots of melty cheeses, you’re going to love this spin on a traditional flatbread. Spoiler: It’s vegetarian, unlike typical Florentine-style recipes that use chicken, like the crowd-favorite chicken Florentine pasta.
Get the Chickpea Florentine Flatbread recipe.
Copycat Panera Frontega Chicken Panini
We love a hot panini of any kind, but this homemade version of our favorite Panera Bread panini is extra-special. Smoky shredded chicken, melty mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes are pressed between focaccia—it's lunchtime heaven.
Get the Copycat Panera Frontega Chicken Panini recipe.
BBQ Chicken Salad
Juicy grilled BBQ chicken sits alongside festive South-of-the-border-inspired toppings like black beans, corn, cheese, and tortilla strips. Put that on top of some crunchy romaine and drizzle it with BBQ sauce and ranch dressing, and you’ve got yourself a hearty lunch you’ll look forward to eating again and again.
Get the BBQ Chicken Salad recipe.
Fish Taco Bowls
Crispy fish and a creamy, spicy cabbage slaw are the base of these veggie-packed takes on everyone’s favorite taco. The sweetness from the diced mango and creaminess from cool avocado blends perfectly with the drizzle of a spicy crema, making this summer salad an instant lunchtime staple.
Get the Fish Taco Bowls recipe.
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 😉).
Get the Tofu Stir-Fry recipe.
Crab Stuffed Avocados
Fresh jumbo lump crab gets tossed with tomato, jalapeño, mango, and cilantro, then dressed with a combo of lime and sour cream before being stuffed into a halved avocado and served with plantain chips. Paired with a leafy green salad, this makes the perfect weekday lunch.
Get the Crab Stuffed Avocados recipe.
Hot Honey Chicken & Rice Bowls
Hot honey lovers, these bowls are a must make. Best part? YOU control the spice, so you can make these as hot or as family-friendly as you like.
Get the Hot Honey Chicken & Rice Bowls recipe.
TikTok Green Goddess Salad
This is an ingenious chopped salad that is filled to the brim with green veggies, starting with a cabbage base and bumped even further with spinach and basil in the dressing. The whole thing comes together in minutes and ends up resembling a chunky guacamole. Eating a salad with chips?! BRILLIANT.
Get the TikTok Green Goddess Salad recipe.
Big Mac Salad
Got a craving for a Big Mac, but avoiding the drive-thru? This salad is for you—it's got everything you love, minus the bun!
Get the Big Mac Salad recipe.
Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches
Although these shortcut falafel aren’t as crispy as the classic fried variety, they develop a nice golden crust and contain all the key spices. A zippy roasted pepper salad is the perfect foil inside a pita pocket, and creamy tahini sauce (aka tarator sauce) ties it all together.
Get the Roasted Vegetable Baked Falafel Sandwiches recipe.
Sopes
One of the greatest pleasures of Mexican street food are sopes: round bundles of masa lightly fried and piled with refried beans, shredded chicken, salsa roja or salsa verde, and cotija cheese. These little antojitos, or snacks, can be eaten for lunch during the day, or make for perfect anytime party apps too.
Get the Sopes recipe.
Mini Mushroom Pasta Bakes
For these pasta bakes, you get the best of all worlds from a creamy, cheesy sauce reminiscent of your favorite oven-baked mac and cheese, plus crispy, savory bread crumbs and hearty, almost meaty mushrooms.
Get the Mini Mushroom Pasta Bakes recipe.
Panera Thai Chicken Salad
If you were shocked and dismayed when Panera Bread discontinued their Thai Chicken Salad, today’s your lucky day. Featuring chicken breast, blistered vegetables, and that iconic peanut sauce drizzle, our copycat version of this beloved Panera classic allows you to enjoy it at home any time you like.
Get the Panera Thai Chicken Salad recipe.
Beef & Broccoli Ramen
Ramen noodles are king in the weeknight dinner hack department, and this take on classic beef and broccoli might be our favorite. Thinly sliced steak and tender broccoli join those unmistakable noodles in a savory ginger soy sauce for an all-in-one dinner that’s sure to become a lunchtime classic.
Get the Beef & Broccoli Ramen recipe.
Rainbow Collard Wraps
Here, colorful bunches of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, yellow bell peppers, sliced avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and crimson red sauerkraut are rolled into big collard green leaves like a burrito. They can be made up to 1 day ahead of time, so consider tomorrow’s lunch sorted.
Get the Rainbow Collard Wraps recipe.
Chicken-Avocado Caprese Salad
To make this heartier version of a Caprese, we just adding grilled balsamic chicken, creamy avocado, and a little romaine for crunch. The result is a simple salad that is still refreshing and light, but also satisfying enough to be lunch.
Get the Chicken-Avocado Caprese Salad recipe.
Miso Salmon & Farro Bowls
Take your Monday night dinner into a Tuesday afternoon grain bowl with this recipe featuring some new faves, miso and farro. Miso has toasty, savory, and slightly sweet notes that pair well with hearty fish like salmon, while the dense, chewy grains have a more interesting texture than average rice or quinoa.
Get the Miso Salmon & Farro Bowls recipe.
CPK Italian Chopped Salad
CPK may be famous for their BBQ Chicken Pizza, but this is the unsung hero on their menu. An exuberant jumble of lettuce, chickpeas, turkey, salami, tomatoes, cheese, and an Italian mustard-herb vinaigrette, this is one salad that might actually tempt us to put down the pizza.
Get the CPK Italian Chopped Salad recipe.
Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls
Our take on the super-simple Thai dish pad krapow is the perfect protein-packed meal prep that’ll keep you excited to eat all week. Accompany it with a runny fried egg for even more protein!
Get the Thai-Inspired Basil Beef Bowls recipe.
Sushi Bowls
Not ready to make your own California roll or shrimp tempura roll at home quite yet but craving the classic sushi flavors? A homemade sushi bowl is a great place to start. You can practice making restaurant-worthy sushi rice, source quality fish, and discover what ingredients, flavors, and textures make your perfect sushi bowl.
Get the Sushi Bowls recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Wraps
Packed with all your favorite components from the classic sandwich—tender skirt steak, onions, peppers, and melty cheese—you won't even miss the hoagie in these low-carb wraps. They're shareable, customizable, and just as perfect as an app as they are an easy lunch or weeknight dinner.
Get the Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Meal prepping doesn’t need to be complicated, and these chicken shawarma bowls prove that. The longest step in the recipe is to let the chicken marinate, which allows you time to cut all your veggies. Win!
Get the Chicken Shawarma Bowls recipe.
Chicken & Artichoke Pasta Salad
In search of a quick and easy lunch or picnic side that doesn’t compromise on flavor? Welcome to the party! Juicy marinated artichokes, briny Castelvetrano olives, and creamy cannellini beans dance with crisp arugula and crunchy pistachios in a zingy lemon vinaigrette to create the ultimate summer side. No mayo, no problem!
Get the Chicken & Artichoke Pasta Salad recipe.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
This time around, pasta salad gets a Mediterranean twist, showcasing some of our favorite flavors from that corner of the globe. And the best part—although pasta salad is usually thought of as a side, the added protein from the chickpeas will make this easy to turn into a lunch main.
Get the Mediterranean Pasta Salad recipe.
Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls
We think gyros are one of the best sandwiches. With tender spiced meat, crunchy fresh veggies, tzatziki, and chewy pita, it's not hard to see why this Greek dish is so globally beloved. Inspired by this popular sandwich, we created this healthy but hearty bowl that's perfect for meal-prepping.
Get the Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls recipe.
Salmon Quinoa Bowls
This salmon recipe is not only a simple, quick dinner (ready in 20 minutes!), but it’s a texture lover’s paradise. Quinoa is the base for our bowl, setting the stage for tender, buttery salmon, fresh arugula, thin slices of cucumber, and a homemade creamy dill and yogurt dressing.
Get the Salmon Quinoa Bowls recipe.
Copycat Panera Bread Green Goddess Cobb Salad With Chicken
Panera’s Cobb salad is like no other, thanks to their creamy and bright green goddess dressing. The rest of the salad has all of your classic Cobb toppings, like hard-boiled eggs and crispy bacon, but feel free to switch things up if you like.
Get the Copycat Panera Bread Green Goddess Cobb Salad With Chicken recipe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Crunchwrap Supreme
This traditional copycat Crunchwrap has all the main components of the iconic Taco Bell offering: seasoned ground beef, nacho cheese sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, and, most importantly, a crunchy tostada shell!
Get the Crunchwrap Supreme recipe.
Caribbean Cobb Salad
A bit brighter than the traditional Cobb salad, this version combines fresh mango, creamy coconut dressing, spiced salmon, and crunchy plantain chips to create a punchy, spicy, filling meal. Feel free to swap out chicken, shrimp, or whatever protein you’re in the mood for come lunchtime.
Get the Caribbean Cobb Salad recipe.
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.
Ham & Cheese Sandwich
This ham sandwich is great for many reasons. It's got a beautiful golden crust (thanks mayo!), a quick and simple honey mustard sauce, and briny pickles for crunch. Make it with leftover spiral ham and you've got yourself a prize-winning lunch.
Get the Ham & Cheese Sandwich recipe.
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.
Chirashi Bowls
Chirashizushi (ちらし寿司) 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.
Grilled Chicken Salad
This grilled chicken salad—filled with cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado—is the healthy lunch you'll want to make again and again. 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.
Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps
Pretty much anything goes well with a kick from cumin, a little tang from lime juice, and fresh herby zing from cilantro, including these simple, low-carb lettuce wraps featuring quick-cooking shrimp.
Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps recipe.
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.
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 Classic Tuna Melt recipe.
Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
Sometimes lettuce wraps can be a little… lackluster. Not these! We keep it simple, taking inspiration from Buffalo wing staples—like blue cheese dressing and crunchy carrot and celery sticks—and replace them with sliced celery and fresh crumbled blue cheese.
Get the Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Tuscan Tortellini Salad
This easy tortellini salad will make you look forward to lunch. Feel free to swap the sun-dried tomatoes here for fresh cherry tomatoes, use kale instead of spinach or bacon instead of salami, or replace the Parmesan with Pecorino or mozzarella.
Get the Tuscan Tortellini Salad recipe.
Chicken Caesar Salad
With a rich, tangy dressing, tender, roasted chicken thighs, crunchy croutons, and a snowfall of freshly grated Parm, this chicken Caesar salad tastes more voluptuous than virtuous.
Get the Chicken Caesar Salad recipe.
Curried Chicken Salad
Traditional chicken salad is great—but stir in some curry powder, toasted cashews, and cilantro and you have one of the most satisfying lunches EVER.
Get the Curried Chicken Salad recipe.
Chicken Pasta Salad
There's nothing worse than a pasta salad with mushy noodles. Learn how to cook pasta (it's trickier than you think!) and get your fusilli perfectly al dente for this dish.
Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.
Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian chili is still every bit as warm, comforting, and filling as a classic beef chili. Three types of beans do the heavy lifting in the chili and "beef" it up. It's filled with warm spices, and a jalapeño adds a little extra heat. Pack it on a cold day with a slice of homemade cornbread.
Get the Vegetarian Chili recipe.
Avocado Chicken Salad
We love this salad served on top of greens as much as we love it between two slices of sourdough bread. If you can't find a good ripe mango, pineapple would be delicious as well!
Get the Avocado Chicken Salad recipe.
Cobb Egg Salad
Egg salad is wonderful as is. But add bacon, blue cheese, avocado, and tomatoes, and you've got a lunch that you'll be dreaming about for days. The red wine vinegar–yogurt dressing is amazing and works well in regular Cobb salad, too.
Get the Cobb Egg Salad recipe.
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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