How many times have you planned to bring lunch to work so you don't have to overspend at the restaurant? How many times have you tried to prepare something in the morning before you leave to work but you just couldn’t find enough time to make a decent one to bring to the office? Or worse, how many times have you made the decision to eat healthy but end up having fast food during your lunch just because it’s easier?
We’ve been there and trust us, we know how you feel. At times, easy lunch ideas may not be that easy, considering how much you have to prepare in advance. But we’re here to share with you lunch ideas that are actually really easy to make. You will be surprised with how little effort it will take to prepare these delicious meals for lunch!
Don’t just take our word for it. Check out these 50 (yes, 50!) amazingly easy lunch ideas for work for yourself!
Wraps and sandwiches are our go-to food when it comes to office lunch meals. Not only is it super delicious, but they’re also fun to make because you get to try so many different combinations of ingredients every time you make one.
Just saying that already made our mouths water! This refreshing and healthy sandwich is an excellent energy booster during midday. If you make this sandwich in the morning, remember to wrap it in aluminum foil to keep the ingredients fresh. You can warm it in the microwave whenever you’re ready to eat it.
To make this sandwich, you’ll need:
Whole grain bread or Rye
Mozzarella cheese
Avocado
Spinach
Alfalfa sprouts
Green tomato
This sandwich gives you a little green twist to your traditional grilled cheese sandwich. It’s big enough to fill you throughout after lunch and light enough to not make you feel bloated during those afternoon meetings. Click here to learn how to make this Green Goddess Grilled Cheese sandwich.
The Green Goddess Grilled Cheese (via: thegirlonbloor)
Wraps are a fantastic work lunch. It’s easy to make, delicious, and neat. Even though a runny sandwich is scrumptious, a well-wrapped wrap is always a good option, especially if you’re someone who often grabs lunch at your desk.
This Spinach, Egg White & Zucchini wrap is great for both work and on-the-go lunch. It takes you no more than 10 minutes to prepare it.
Zucchini, cubed or julienned
Egg white
Olive oil
Grape tomatoes, halved
Red onion, thinly sliced
Spinach
Flatbread wraps or tortilla
Hummus
Salt
Pepper
When it comes to wraps, it’s important to roll your wrap snugly but not tightly. Especially if you’re making one with a moist or soggy filling, you want to make sure you place the filling correctly so the juices are not seeping through. Learn how to make this simple wrap here.
Spinach, Egg White & Zucchini Wrap (via: asweetpeachef)
Collard comes from the same family as broccoli and cabbage. It’s dark leafy leaves taste like a combination of kale and cabbage. For some, it does take some getting used to, but these greens are a staple Southern side dish.
Since the leaves are large and thick, collard greens are suitable as wraps. Simply substitute your flatbread with one of these leaves for a greener alternative.
Cucumber, cut into matchsticks
Carrots, peeled and julienned
Shredded purple cabbage
Avocado, sliced
Sauteed tofu (for non-vegetarian, you can use shredded chicken or tuna)
Hummus/Mustard
Switching your flatbread to greens as a wrap is a fresh and healthy alternative. However, because the leaves are often odd-shaped and tend to be thinner than flatbreads, take your time to practice wrapping with leaves. Check out how to make this Collard Wrap here.
Collard Wrap (via: delish)
It’s not uncommon for some to think of veggie sandwiches as boring. No matter what you put in, veggie sandwiches don’t kick as much punch as its meat counterpart. That is until you try this awesome California Veggie Sandwich!
A combination of both pickled and fresh vegetables on a bed of smooth avocado lemon dressing is just heavenly. Every bite is like a party in your mouth where every layer is subtle yet packs a punch in flavor.
This hearty sandwich calls for homemade pickles and dressing that you can prepare beforehand. While it does take a little extra effort for this veggie sandwich, trust us when we say it’s worth every bite!
To make this super sandwich, here are some of the ingredients you need:
Apple cider vinegar, brown sugar salt, and a combination of vegetables for the pickle
Buttermilk, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and olive oil for the dressing
Avocado
Lettuce
Cucumber
Goat cheese
Check out the recipe here and we bet this will be one of your favorite veggie sandwiches ever!
California Veggie Sandwich (via: bonappetit)
While pita isn’t exactly a wrap or a sandwich bread, but we love the little pocket in it because we can put almost anything we want to make it a delicious wholesome meal. A common bread in the Middle East and Mediterranean, pitas are made from wheat. Since it’s baked at high temperatures, the water content in the pita dough turns to steam, puffing the dough and creating that signature pocket we all come to love so much.
If you love pita as much as we do, then you’ll love this Veggie Niçoise Pita. With a little twist from your traditional niçoise salad, this recipe is a vegetarian alternative but still tastes just as great.
Made with fennel, chickpeas, olives, and dill, this pita can be one of your fantastic and easy lunch ideas for work. Click here for the full recipe.
Veggie Niçoise Pitas (via: goodhousekeeping)
Banh Mi is Vietnamese cuisine that has become popular worldwide. Similar to the French baguette, the banh mi is thin and crispy with a very airy texture. A proper banh mi is sliced lengthwise and filled with a variety of ingredients, much like a sub. Plain banh mi is a staple food in Vietnam and thanks to it’s now international status, banh mi is eaten as lunch or dinner in many countries.
This Tofu Banh Mi wrap is the light version of the traditional banh mi. Made with a combination of fried tofu, cucumber, pickled carrots and radishes, this banh mi wrap is tangy and filling, making it a wonderful lunch meal. This recipe calls for 3 teaspoons of Sriracha, so if you don’t like your wraps too spicy, you can reduce the amount.
Here are some of the things you need for this recipe:
Carrots
Canola mayonnaise
Water-packed tofu, drained,
Sesame oil
Cucumber
Cilantro leaves
Learn how to make these Tofu Banh Mi wraps here.
Tofu Banh Mi (via: myrecipes)
There’s nothing quite like the taste of roasted red pepper. Its burnt smoky taste and the hint of spice from the soft flesh of the pepper is enough to make anyone’s mouth water. We love roasted red pepper on almost anything, but our favorite is when it’s in wraps or sandwiches.
This is why this Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Veggie Wrap is one of our favorites. It has everything you need in a wrap - light crunch with the right amount of gooey goodness combined with the delicious creaminess of the dressing.
Ingredients you’ll need:
Spinach or baby kale
Orange bell pepper
Goat cheese
Roasted red pepper hummus
Another great thing about this wrap is how it’s so easy to make yet it tastes simply amazing. If you love roasted red pepper and wraps, then this is one wrap that is perfect for you. Check out the recipe here and get ready to make one for yourself right away!
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Veggie Wrap (via: cookinglight)
We won’t lie. Curry can be a little tricky to handle. Put too little and your food will taste bland. Put too much and you can’t taste anything else but the curry. However, we definitely won’t lie when we say that curried food does taste really good. The spice blend in the curry powder brings out the best aromas and flavors in almost anything it comes in contact with.
If you have never cooked with curry powder before, we strongly recommend you start with the smallest amount. While different brands of curry powder do pack different kinds of punch, always experiment with the least amount first. You can always gradually add more until you’ve read the right amount of kick you’re looking for.
When it comes to curry-flavor lunch, we can’t say no to this Curried Chickpea Salad Wrap. Made with a creamy concoction of Greek yogurt base combined with dijon mustard, spinach, chickpeas, and red onion, this savory wrap is sure to be darling during your lunch hour. Learn how to make one today here.
Curried Chickpea Salad Wrap (via: fannetasticfood)
A tomato and avocado sandwich may be considered “basic” by many sandwich lovers. It may seem like a bland and safe sandwich for those who didn’t feel like being too adventurous with their lunch sandwiches, but this Tomato & Avocado Sandwich is here to change your mind.
Sure it uses regular tomatoes and avocado, but combine chopped shallots into the hummus as the sandwich spread, and boom, you get yourself a sterling tomato-avocado sandwich! You can either mash the avocado as a spread or you can slice them thinly for a little extra texture.
Here’s what you need to make this sandwich:
Ripe avocado
Tomatoes
Shallots, finely chopped
Hummus
Make this surprisingly good Tomato & Avocado Sandwich by clicking here and you’d probably want to bring this to work every day.
Tomato & Avocado Sandwich (via: tasteofhome)
Chickpeas are packed with many health benefits. It’s a great source of fiber for people with diabetes. Other than that, chickpeas are also great for bone health as they’re also full of iron and calcium. Because of this, chickpeas are often favored as an alternative to rice and any other form of fiber.
If you’re looking for something that’s both filling and yet light at the same time, then look no further than this Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich! The creaminess of this sandwich rivals that of an egg sandwich, but you guessed it, there’s no eggs at all in this baby.
To make this incredible sandwich, you’ll need:
Chickpeas, canned or boiled
Ripe avocado
Cilantro or basil
Green or red onions, finely chopped
Lime juice
Click here to make this rich and delectable sandwich today.
If you’re someone who has a busy schedule, these aren’t just easy lunch ideas for adults. You can make any of these sandwiches or wraps for your kids for their school lunch. These recipes are healthy and delicious, they make an excellent meal for growing children too!
Smashed Chickpea & Avocado Salad Sandwich (via: twopeasandtheirpod)
In many parts of Asia, especially in Southeast Asia, rice is a staple food. Other than as the main dish that’s eaten with a wide variety of side dishes, Asians use rice in many other delicacies such as porridges and desserts.
As part of our easy lunch ideas for work, we have many wonderful rice recipes for your lunch meal. These recipes are easy to make and won’t take up much of your time. Some of the recipes may require you to prepare certain things in advance, but other steps are just so easy you wouldn’t mind putting in a little extra effort.
First on our list is a Buddha Bowl. This is a vegetarian meal, but you can add some meat if you like. Buddha Bowl consists of whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa along with plant proteins like tofu, chickpeas, tempeh, or peanuts, all of which are often served cold.
The Buddha Bowl in our list is a hearty meal and enough energy in it to keep you powered throughout the day.
Buddha Bowl ingredients:
Cooked brown rice
Sweet potato
Avocado
Baby spinach
Minced garlic
Diced red onions
Ground ginger
Peanut butter, creamy or chunky
Soy sauce
Toasted sesame oil
Honey
Cilantro, finely chopped
This is a basic recipe for a Buddha Bowl, but you can always be creative by roasting or broiling the vegetables. You can also add some shredded chicken or some fresh salmon. If you have never tried a Buddha bowl before, click here to learn all about it.
Buddha Bowl (via: delish)
We always love Mexican rice recipes. They’re tasty, spicy, tangy, citrusy, and so full of heart. At times, one bowl is not enough! However, if you’re looking for something quick yet filling for your lunch meal, here’s a wonderful Mexican Rice Bowl recipe that you can try.
In this recipe, you can use various types of toppings or plant proteins. You can also either choose to saute the vegetables or use them fresh. Other than vegetables and grains, you also top this Mexican Rice Bowl with cheese and some spices.
Some of the things you need:
Avocado
Pico de gallo
Black beans
Corn
Feta cheese or shredded Mexican cheese
Sour cream
Click here for the full recipe.
Mexican Rice Bowl (via: hildaskitchenblog)
Pesto is a wonderful creamy sauce made from basil leaves, pine nuts, crushed garlic, and hard cheese. It can be the base of many things, but mostly cooked with pasta. Pesto tends to have a high amount of salt, but you can always cut down the amount.
While pesto may be more commonly used with pasta, this recipe uses pesto with rice. This Pesto Green Rice is seasoned with fresh herbs and sprinkled with sliced roasted almonds. You can make this recipe using a rice cooker or even on the stove top. Always follow the instructions on the rice packet to ensure fluffy cooked rice at all times.
You can either make your own pesto or use a store-bought one. You don’t have to use too much pesto in this recipe as you just want to lightly flavor the rice. However, if you prefer something stronger, you can always add a little more.
Click here to learn how to make this Pesto Green Rice.
Pesto Green Rice (via: sweetpeasandsaffron)
Black beans, also known as turtle beans, are full of fiber and protein. They pack several key vitamins that are beneficial for our health. Among black beans benefits are they promote healthy bones, lower blood pressure, and good in managing diabetes.
We love this recipe because it’s both tasty and healthy. You can say this is a power-packed lunch that can keep you full for many hours. To make this salad rice, you’ll need:
Rice, brown or white, cooked according to instructions
Black beans, of course
Bell pepper, red and yellow
Green onions
Olive oil
Apple cider vinegar
Dijon mustard
Ground cumin
Garlic
Once cooked, you can sprinkle roasted sliced almonds or basil leaves.
Black Bean Salad Rice (via: acouplecooks)
Prep bowls are an amazing convenience. You can prepare anything in them, keep them overnight, and just bring them anywhere the next day! Prep bowls are great if you’re looking for easy packed office lunch. Not only can you prepare the ingredients in advance in several prep bowls, but you can also make different meals beforehand.
You’ll love this recipe because this Meal Prep Bowl is like summer in your mouth. It’s refreshing, crunchy, and with a little hint of zesty creaminess. You can use any type of rice, either white, brown, or even quinoa.
To prepare this meal, you’ll need:
Chickpeas, cooked or canned
Quinoa
Cucumber
Cherry tomatoes
Red onions, chopped
Feta cheese
Tahini
Olive oil
Honey
Lemon juice
To keep your meal fresh, you can drizzle the dressing when you’re ready to eat. However, if you prefer a slightly more combined taste, you can stir the dressing into the prep bowl beforehand.
Meal Prep Bowl (via: greenhealthycooking)
This is another fun meal prep bowl to make. We love burrito so this meal prep bowl is a perfect alternative to the traditional wrap. This recipe calls for ground turkey, but you can swap the meat with soy mealmaker if you prefer a vegetarian version. Other than that, while this recipe uses brown rice, we’ve tried it with wild rice, quinoa, and good ol’ white rice.
Here are some of the ingredients you need to make this delicious meal bowl:
Rice
Black beans
Grilled corn
Salsa fresca
Chili powder
Garlic powder
Oregano
Cumin
Paprika
Cilantro
Since this bowl can be prepared the night before or in the morning, you can prepare the meat in advance if you’re adding meat to your Burrito Bowl. We like to prepare everything the night before because the flavors infused better.
Click here for full recipe and step-by-step instruction.
Meal Prep Burrito Bowl (via: freeyourfork)
Wild rice is a type of whole grain grass that’s grown in shallow freshwater. Wild rice is similar to other types of rice even though it’s not a true rice since it’s a species of grass except it has a much stronger flavor. Compared to white rice, wild rice has more protein and fewer calories.
We like wild rice because of its earthy, nutty, and almost smoky taste. You get a similar taste with brown rice, but the taste of wild rice is more pronounced. In this Wild Rice Salad, you’ll find a variety of flavor and texture (and color too!) that will keep you coming back for more.
To make this recipe, you’ll need:
Wild rice
Arugula
Pomegranate
Feta cheese
Dried cranberries
Pecans, toasted and chopped
Green onions
This recipe also shows you how to make the perfect dressing to go with this Wild Rice Salad. You can click here for the full recipe and instruction.
Wild Rice Salad (via: recipetineats)
Risotto is such a wonderful meal. Every bowl of risotto feels like it has everything you need. This luxurious dish is suitable for lunch or dinner. If you want to bring risotto to the office for lunch, you can’t go wrong with this 5-Ingredients Spinach Risotto.
The ingredients are:
Sushi or short-grain brown rice
Parmesan cheese, finely grated
Vegetable or chicken broth
Spinach
This is a basic risotto recipe and it’s good if you’re short on time or if you’re trying to make risotto for the first time. You can click here to learn more about how to make a perfect risotto every time.
5-Ingredient Spinach Risotto (via: thekitchn)
Mango is a rich exotic fruit. It’s sweet and juicy flesh is prized in many parts of the world. Ginger is a type of rhizome and its roots are used in many traditional medicines and cooking. This recipe uses mango and ginger, both ingredients native to Southeast Asia. The sweetness of the mango combined with the pungent taste of ginger makes for a very refreshing Asian-inspired meal bowl.
To make this light yet hearty bowl, you’ll need:
Cooked white rice
Snap peas
Green cabbage, shredded
Cucumber
Carrots
Ripe mango
Pickled ginger
Fresh basil
Toasted peanuts
To bring out the beautiful rich flavors of this rice bowl, this recipe also shows you how to make tamari rice vinegar. Click here for full recipe of this delicious Mango Ginger Rice Bowl.
Mango Ginger Rice Bowl (via: loveandlemons)
Poke, pronounced poh-kay (rhymes with okay), bowls are a native Hawaiian cuisine. Traditionally, it’s a bowl of rice served with diced raw fish, garnished with fresh vegetables and a choice of dressing. Poke bowls are a popular choice among those who like to eat healthy because of its fresh ingredients.
This recipe shows you how to make a vegan poke bowl with tofu. If you would like to try it, you’ll need:
Cooked rice, brown or black
Avocado
Red cabbage
Radish
Cucumber
Rice vinegar
Sesame oil
Garlic
Block organic tofu
You need to prepare the tofu poke at least 10 minutes in advance as it needs to marinate in the sauce, but the rest of the ingredients can be prepared fresh. Click here to the full recipe of this scrumptious poke bowl.
Rice lunches are very hearty and filling. Some of these recipes serve more than 1 person. So if you’re watching your food intake amount, you can always halved the recipe for a smaller portion.
Vegan Poke Bowl + Tofu Poke (via: thesimpleveganista)
What we like most about salads is how you can practically throw anything into the bowl, drizzle some dressing, give it a good toss, and voila! However, it can be quite a bummer to think of different types of salad to make for your packed lunch.
This is why we share with you our top salad favorites for you to try.
Broccoli is one of the most popular ingredients when it comes to salad. It’s a tough vegetable that won’t wilt easily, it holds its crunch for a long time, and it has a wonderful sweet nectary taste that goes well with almost everything.
Here’s a wonderful broccoli salad made with Greek yogurt. You need:
Broccoli
Red cabbage
Red onions
Green onions
Roasted sliced almonds
Sultanas
Greek yogurt
This salad has a myriad of flavors where you get a little tartness from the red cabbage, a bit of tang from the red onions, mild sweetness from the sultanas, and wonderful crunch from the broccoli and almonds.
Click here for full recipe.
Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt (via: asweetpeachef)
We love Mediterranean food and we think they have one of the best tasting salads around. This next recipe in our list is for one of the tastiest chickpea salads we’ve tasted. And since chickpeas are chock full of fiber, this salad can help to keep you full for hours.
To try this salad for yourself, here are what you need:
Chickpea, can
Cucumber
Olives
Bell pepper
Red onion
Feta cheese
Of course no Mediterranean salad will be complete without its vinaigrette. This recipe will show you how to make a smashing lemon-parsley vinaigrette. To see the full recipe and instructions, click here.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad (via: delish)
Not a lot of people like kale. It has an earthy flavor that may be a little too strong for some. Not only that, its leaves are also tough and dry. However, we believe kale is something you can get used to once you have the right recipes for it.
This kale salad in our list is a wonderful combination of mild bitterness, the zing of ginger, and the richness of beets. To make this colorful and tasty salad, you’ll need:
Roasted chickpeas
Kale
Avocado
Grated carrot
Grated red beet
Watermelon radish
Dried cranberries
Roasted pepitas
Sesame seed
To spark up this salad, this recipe also shows you how to make a great Carrot Ginger Dressing. To learn more on how to make this salad, click here.
Kale Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing (via: loveandlemons)
Tabbouleh is a highly refreshing salad made mainly from finely chopped parsley combined with tomatoes, mint, and onions. We can’t resist a good bowl of tabbouleh during lunch because it’s such a refreshing meal to pick us up during slow afternoons.
This Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh is a wonderful packed lunch that won’t take very long for you to prepare. Here are the things you need:
Cauliflower, riced
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber
Green onions
Parsley
Mint leaves
A traditional tabbouleh uses bulgur, which is a type of cereal food made from parboiled groats of different species of wheat. This recipe substitutes bulgur with cauliflower, making this recipe gluten-free and light. Click here for full recipe.
Cauliflower Rice Tabbouleh (via: downshiftology)
Quinoa is super rich in dietary fiber and minerals as well as protein and B vitamins. It’s a great alternative to rice and for many, tastes even better than rice. This Southwest Quinoa Salad is a rich and hearty salad that’s perfect for a healthy lunch. Some people like a warm quinoa salad, but this Southwest Quinoa Salad is best eaten cold.
Here’s what you need to make this flavorful salad:
Cooked quinoa
Black beans
Bell peppers
Corn
Jalapeno
Cilantro
Garlic
Limes
Cumin
You don’t want to miss trying this quinoa salad because it really is like a party in your mouth. There are a variety of flavors all working together to create a wonderful combination. Why not click here to know how to make this salad.
Southwest Quinoa Salad (via: ifoodreal)
Beets have a lot of health benefits such as improved blood flow. They’re packed with potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and manganese. Incorporating beets into salads is one of the easiest ways to increase your beets intake. It’s slightly bitter earthy taste goes really well especially in zesty salads.
This simple beet arugula salad is a beautiful combination full of flavors and colors. Here’s what you also need:
Pecan, but you can also use walnuts or pine nuts
Cheese, any soft cheese would be great such as feta
You can dress this salad with a simple balsamic olive oil dressing to lock in all the flavor and goodness. If you would like to try this salad, click here and make one today!
Beet Salad with Arugula and Feta (via: ifoodreal)
You can’t talk about salad without mentioning Greek salad now can you? This famous salad is mainly made with tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, and feta cheese. The reason this salad is so popular is simply perhaps due to its delicious combination of the right vegetables and light dressing. It’s easy, it’s full of nutrients and antioxidants, and it’s also easy to make.
Here’s how you make a Greek salad:
Romaine lettuce
Cherry tomatoes
Cucumber
Olives
Red onions
Feta/goat cheese
Toss everything in a bowl and lightly drizzle lemon vinaigrette on it. Heaven! You can always get lemon vinaigrette from the store, but if you want to learn how to make it yourself, click on the full recipe here to find out how.
Greek Salad (via: damndelicious)
We never really liked berries in our salad. While we love berries in desserts and on their own, putting them in salad at times feels a little weird. However, one thing we’ve learned when it comes to salad is to never say never. Turns out berries in salads are fantastic! It’s a wonderful ingredient to add in for that extra kick in your salad.
What about if you give this Spinach Salad with Blueberries, Almonds & Halloumi a go:
Diced halloumi
Chopped shallots
Spinach
Slivered almonds
Blueberries
Red wine vinegar
You should really give this salad a go because it really is a perfect lunch salad. The sweet-sour berries combined with the crunchy almonds and saltiness of the cheese makes this salad irresistible. Learn more about how to make this salad here.
Spinach Salad with Blueberries, Almonds & Halloumi (via: eatingwell)
Speaking of berries in salad, here’s another fruity salad that we think you’ll like. We know we tend to think of greens when it comes to salads, but fruit salads can be a highly refreshing change. And we think stone fruits such as peaches and nectarines make the best kind of fruit salad.
For your next packed easy lunch ideas for work, why not try these:
Peaches
Nectarines
Plum
Grapes
Mint leaves
To make this salad even better, you can drizzle a luxurious vanilla honey syrup. Learn all about this salad and how to make the syrup here.
Stone Fruit Salad with Vanilla Honey Syrup (via: downshiftology)
Caesar salad is another famous salad. You can find them in any decent restaurant and they’re a favorite among many people. The combination of romaine lettuce and croutons mixed with olive oil, lemon juice, and olives among other things is tasty no matter how many times you’ve had it.
The last salad recipe in our list is a Caesar salad with a twist. Made with spring greens and pickled shallots, take your Caesar salad to a new level.
Use these ingredients for this salad:
Sourdough bread, torn in chunks as croutons
Romaine lettuce
Spring lettuce
Anchovy fillet
Garlic
Parmesan
Dijon mustard
Egg yolk
Pickled shallots
We love Caesar salad and now we can’t get enough of this Spring Greens Caesar Salad with Pickled Shallots. If you want to try it for yourself, click here for the full recipe.
Spring Greens Caesar Salad with Pickled Shallot (via: countryliving)
If you feel rice might be too heavy for lunch, noodles and pastas are good alternatives. It’s just as filling but chances are it won’t make you feel too stuffed. Most noodles and pastas are made from a variety of flour, so the flavors vary too. Depending on what kind of dish you’re making, choosing the right type of noodle or pasta is very important.
Japchae is made from glass sweet potato noodles and is a famous Korean dish. This dish can be enjoyed warm, room temperature, and even cold. Its versatility is one of the beautiful things about this dish.
If you fancy Korean food, you’ll love this one too. Here are the things you need for this delicious meal:
Glass noodle
Sesame oil
Dried shiitake mushrooms
Soy sauce
Brown sugar
Garlic
Ginger
Large red onion
Carrots
Spinach
This recipe is prepared in a unique way because it won’t exactly list to you the exact measurement of ingredients. To learn how to make this Korean Veggie Japchae, click here.
Korean Veggie Japchae (via: cookingwithoutrecipe)
Soba is a type of noodle made from buckwheat flour and is very famous in Japan. The great thing about soba is it can be served cold or hot. It’s a light meal yet good enough to fill you for many hours.
If you have tried soba before and love it, you should try this Soba with Tofu and Miso-Mustard dressing. To make this delicious meal, you’ll need:
Dried soba noodles
White miso
Braised tofu
Pea shoots
Dijon or Chinese mustard
Scallions
Red radish
Garlic
Lemon juice
Maple syrup
Nori sheets
If this is your first time making soba noodles, you’d want to follow this recipe because it offers a very helpful step by step instruction.
Soba with Tofu and Miso-Mustard Dressing (via: bonappetit)
Pasta salad is one of the best dishes around. It’s hearty, delicious, filling, and all around wonderful. Regardless of the kind of pasta you use, the most important thing is to make sure you cook the pasta right. Soggy pasta salad is definitely a no-no.
If you love pasta salad, then you should try this one by delish. To make this Italian Pasta Salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Fusilli pasta
Mozzarella balls
Baby spinach
Cherry tomatoes
Artichoke hearts
Black olives
You will love how the mozzarella balls mix really well in the pasta and of course with the light drizzle of this recipe’s special dressing. To get the full recipe on this superb Italian Pasta Salad, click here.
Italian Pasta Salad (via: delish)
Here’s another soba noodles recipe. We love this recipe because it’s super simple to make and very light in flavors. It has just the right balance of sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, and cilantro.
If you’re craving for noodles for lunch but not really in the mood of a super fancy dish, try making this Sesame Soba Noodles with these ingredients:
Soba noodles
Rice wine vinegar
Sesame oil
Garlic
Ginger
Green onions
Cilantro leaves
Hard boiled eggs
Compared to the previous soba noodles recipe we shared, we like to enjoy this one warm. Click here to make this recipe for yourself.
Sesame Soba Noodles (via: damndelicious)
This is a perfect noodle lunch that is both healthy and tasty. You can make this in the morning or you can prepare ahead. The flavor combination of soy sauce, honey, and sesame is subtle and yet bold enough for you to keep coming back for more.
To make this wonderful noodle, here’s what you need:
Noodles, any kind of you prefer but we think egg noodles taste best
Vegetables of your choice, but we love snap peas, green beans, and spinach
Soy sauce
Honey
Garlic powder
Chili flakes
Sesame seeds
This noodle is super easy to make and you will love how delicious it is. Learn how to make it here.
Soy Honey Noodle Salad (via: simplydelicious)
Ricotta is a type of Italian whey cheese that is mild and creamy. Its light flavor is suitable for any savory or sweet dishes. Here’s a fantastic recipe for an Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta & Spinach that we love so much. Its zesty and tangy and creamy sauce is just irresistible.
With these simple ingredients, you can whip up this pasta in less than 15 minutes. Let’s take a look at what you need:
Pasta of choice
Whole-milk ricotta
Parmesan cheese, grated
Baby spinach
Garlic
Lemon
Even though this pasta is creamy and thick, it’s light lemon flavor is wonderful on the palette before you know it your plate is clean! Click here to learn how to make this amazing pasta.
Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta & Spinach (via: theclevermeal)
A great thing about pasta is how even though you have little ingredients, it can still turn out great. With the right combination of vegetables, cheeses, and meat, pasta is such a hearty meal that can fill you up for hours.
Here’s an amazing recipe for a Really Quick Broccoli Pasta. You will need:
Pasta
Broccoli
Parmesan
Red pepper flakes
Garlic
Lemon zest
Lemon juice
Mixed dried herbs
We love making this pasta when we’re short on time or if we need something quick and refreshing. We love how the lemon compliments the broccoli in this recipe and with the taste of shredded parmesan. We believe you will love making this too for your office lunch. Click here for full recipe.
Really Quick Broccoli Pasta (via: recipetineats)
Sun dried tomato was all the rage at one point and we can totally understand why. These dried ripe tomatoes are super delicious where the taste of the tomatoes are enhanced due to its curing in the sun. We love using sun dried tomatoes in our cooking and here’s a recipe that you’ll love too.
You need to following ingredients to make this awesome Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta:
Jarred sun dried tomatoes
Parmesan cheese
Cream cheese or ricotta
Basil
Garlic
It’s amazing how something so simple can be so delightfully delicious and takes such little time to make. If you want to make this pasta for your office lunch, click here and try it today.
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta (via: theclevermeal)
Here’s another sesame noodle recipe that we would love to share with you. For us, sesame and noodles go so well like cheese and crackers. Sesame noodles are simple dishes that are enough to keep you filled and energized for the day. If you love sesame noodles like us, then give this recipe a go.
Sesame paste (tahini)
Soy sauce
Rice vinegar
Sriracha
Chinese egg noodles
Edamame
Cucumbers
This recipe uses chicken breast, but if you want to make a vegetarian option, you can substitute the chicken with fried tofu or soy mealmaker. To know how to make this noodle, click here for the full recipe.
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Pasta (via: theclevermeal)
Ah...mac and cheese.
It’s the ultimate comfort food (for us, at least) and there are so many different versions of mac and cheese that you can try. Whether it’s super sinful or highly healthy, any mac and cheese is good for us. If you’re a mac and cheese lover as well, you should try this one.
Macaroni
Milk
Monterey Jack cheese
Flour
Green chilies, diced
Red pepper, crushed
Ground cumin
This savory yet light mac and cheese makes a good packed lunch for the office. Just make sure you make extra because it’s wonderful smell might make your colleagues ask for some. Click here to know how to make this mac and cheese today.
Green Chile Mac and Cheese (via: budgetbytes)
Another great option if you’re looking for easy lunch ideas for work is lentils. These wonderful legumes resemble beans and they’re often red, green, black, or brown. Lentils are beneficial in lowering your cholesterol and can protect you against diabetes.
For your next packed lunch, why not try these recipes using lentils.
This light and crispy salad can be made ahead and it keeps well in the fridge for several days. We love the crunchiness of the celery combined with the light sweetness of the dates.
To make this lentil salad, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Cooked, cold lentils
Celery stalks
Dates, we love using the sweet Medjool dates
Green onions
Slivered almonds, roasted
Parmesan
You don’t really need to dress this salad with anything because the green onions and dates give enough zest to it. However, if you prefer to dress your salad, we recommend something light such as lemon-parsley vinaigrette or just a dash of balsamic vinegar. For the full recipe, you can click here.
Celery Salad with Lentils, Dates, and Almonds (via: feastingathome)
Lentils have a distinct nutty and toasty taste. We like to compliment this taste with something spicy and savoury. If you have not tried spiced lentils before, we recommend you try this amazing recipe that is gluten-free and vegan.
To make this simple lentil recipe, you will need:
Brown lentils
Vegetable broth
Garlic
Tomato sauce
Ground ginger
Ground cumin
Ground turmeric
Smoked paprika
Garam masala
Lemon juice
Cilantro leaves
The spices used in this recipe creates a beautiful balance of spiciness, smokiness, and tanginess. It doesn’t take very long to prepare this dish and you can always make it ahead of time. Remember to heat it up evenly before enjoying it. For the full recipe and complete instructions, you can click here.
Simple Spiced Lentils (via: iheartvegetables)
This recipe will remind you of spring and the sun. Its lightly seasoned lentils and a generous dash of spring vegetables with that hint of mint is a sophisticated combination that will sure to excite your palette. We love snap peas and asparagus for this recipe, but you can use any type of spring vegetables that you like.
To make this easy tossed salad, you’ll need:
Cooked lentils
Spring vegetables
Red or green onions
Garlic
Mint leaves, chopped
Olive oil
As with any tossed salad, make sure you work through the vegetables to ensure everything is covered and coated evenly. For the full recipe and methods, click here.
Lentil Salad with Spring Veggies, Mint, and Yogurt (via: feastingathome)
Wild mushroom is great for hearty dishes. Their nutty and slightly sweet taste compliments both savory and light dishes. Not only that, we feel a tad adventurous when we know we’re eating something with wild mushrooms in it! One of the best combinations of wild mushrooms we’ve tasted is with lentils. Since lentils too have a nutty and smoky taste, we think they’re a match made in heaven!
This bold lentil salad is a hearty meal that will keep you full for many hours throughout the day. Served with blue cheese and balsamic vinegar, we think you will love this dish just as much as we do. To make this dish, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Mixed wild mushrooms
Cooked lentils
Red onions
Garlic
Parsley
Learn how to make this lentil salad here.
Warm Wild Mushroom and Lentil Salad (via: goodhousekeeping)
This is a great alternative if you’re in the mood for some tacos but don’t really feel like having any meat. The lentils are seasoned with oregano to give you that wonderful herb taste while the cucumber pico de gallo is a refreshing topping to make your office lunch a scrumptious affair.
You can make this delightful tacos with these ingredients:
Lentils
Tomato paste
Crushed red pepper
Red onions, chopped
Garlic
Oregano
Plain yogurt
Dill
This taco recipe is perfect not only for lunch but also as brunch. We love how light it is and yet it packs enough fiber to keep us full. You should try and make this lentil tacos by checking out the recipe here.
Greek Lentil Tacos with Cucumber Pico de Gallo (via: thefoodcharlatan)
Lentil soup reminds us of our childhood where our mothers used to make them as comfort food. Full of flavor and oh so creamy, lentil soups is also a good dish if you’re looking for easy lunch ideas.
This soup can be made in advance and kept warm in a thermos so you can enjoy it during lunch at the office. It doesn’t take many ingredients to make this soup, so you’ll need:
Red lentils
Carrots
Sweet or yellow onion
Vegetable broth
Sweet corn
Cumin
Curry powder
Turmeric
Red pepper flakes
This soup can get quite spicy as it’s more of a savory dish. You can always control the heat by reducing the amount of pepper you put in. Learn how to make this delicious lentil soup by checking out the full recipe here.
Instant Pot Red Lentil Soup with Lemon (via: tidbits)
If ever there is a perky salad, we believe this is it! The sweetness and tang of pomegranate combined with the sharp sweetness of green onions topped with crunchy almonds is just too good to resist.
This recipe serves 8 people so you definitely can reduce the amount to make a smaller portion for yourself. However, because this salad can also be eaten cold, you can make the full amount and save the rest for your family. Click here to get to the full recipe.
Lentil Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette (via: aspicyperspetive)
If you’re looking for a superfood for your office lunch so you’ll be energized throughout the day, then your search is over. We really love this lentil soup because not only is it hearty and filling, it’s also comforting and healthy.
Despite the many high fiber vegetables used in this soup, the dish itself is not thick nor heavy. It strikes the right kind of balance for a hearty yet healthy meal. To make this soup, you’ll need:
Brown or green lentils
Carrots
Leeks
Butternut squash
Tuscan kale
Vegetable stock
Thyme
Oregano
Ground pepper
Garlic
Click here for full recipe and method.
Superfood Butternut Squash Lentil Soup (via: acouplecooks)
Lentil curry goes very well with pita, flatbread, naan, or even toasted focaccia. When we’re in the mood for something heavy and savory, we almost always resort to red lentil curry. Here’s a great recipe that we love to share with you.
It is a little extravagant, but we promise you it’ll be worth it and you will want to keep making this red lentil curry. To make this, here are some of the things you need:
Minced turmeric
Serrano peppers
Red chili powder
Garam masala
Curry powder
Garlic
Ginger
Red lentils
Vegetable broth
Coconut milk
Cilantro
You can make this curry in advance and keep it refrigerated so it remains fresh for your office packed lunch the next day. If you have never made lentil curry before, here is the full recipe for you to learn step by step.
Vegan Red Lentil Curry (via: rainbowplantlife)
Finally on our list of easy lunch ideas, we love to share you with another favorite of ours, the Easy Greek Red Lentil Soup. As we mentioned before, we love Mediterranean dishes and their red lentil soup is no exception. The combination of red onions, tomatoes, cumin, and lemon really awakens the taste buds.
Red lentil
Vegetable broth
Garlic
Large onion
Carrots, chopped
Cumin
Rosemary
Bay leaves
Red pepper flakes
Crushed tomatoes
This soup can awaken all your senses with its zesty tangy creamy taste. Topped with crumbled feta cheese and chopped cilantro leaves, we can’t get enough of this Easy Greek Red Lentil Soup! Click here to make your very own today.
Easy Greek Red Lentil Soup (via: themediterraneandish)
So there you have it. An amazing list of 50 easy lunch ideas for work that you can try! Many of these recipes use everyday ingredients that you already have in your kitchen. While some might be a little more adventurous and fancy, we believe you will pick up the way to prepare these lunch ideas in no time!
Happy trying and happy healthy eating!
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