Say goodbye to sad desk lunches and hello to meals that will actually make you look forward to your lunch break. These 20 work lunch ideas are anything but ordinary. They’re easy, filling, and packed with flavor, so you can ditch the same old boring sandwiches and leftovers. So, let’s make lunch the highlight of your workday — because, honestly, we all need something to look forward to at work.
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
These Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats are a great lunch choice that’s anything but ordinary. They mix chicken salad made with canned chicken, bacon, and cheese that is scooped into hollowed-out cucumber halves. This combo is perfect for a meal that’s both light and keeps you full. They’re ready in 30 minutes and easy to make, so your lunch prep will always be a breeze.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
Bell Pepper Sandwich
The Bell Pepper Sandwich is perfect for a fast and fresh lunch. It takes 10 minutes to make and uses bell peppers instead of bread. It’s filled with deli turkey, cucumber, mashed avocado, cheese, cream cheese, Everything Bagel Seasoning, stone-ground mustard, and crispy bacon. It’s a great way to switch up your lunch game, showing that quick can still be fresh and fun.
Get the Recipe: Bell Pepper Sandwich
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
When you’re looking for something quick and refreshing, Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is a great go-to. Ready in 30 minutes, it’s a mix of cucumbers and red onions sliced thinly, then mixed with creamy dill dressing. It’s perfect for busy days, giving you a refreshing meal that keeps you going.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Meal Prep Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice
Meal Prep Meatballs with Cauliflower Rice are always a must-try for work lunches. This recipe features homemade ground beef meatballs made with shredded mozzarella, fresh parsley, coconut aminos, herbs, and spices served atop steamed cauliflower rice. They take 30 minutes to make and give you a week’s worth of simple and delicious meals. It’s a stress-free recipe that you’ll look forward to enjoying every day.
Get the Recipe: Meal Prep Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites are perfect for adding new flavors to your lunch without spending too much time. Cut chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, coat in flour and salt and then fry until cooked on both sides. Once that’s done, toss them in a garlic butter sauce until everything is coated evenly. They’re ready in 20 minutes and are a great way to make your lunch break exciting with little effort.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
If you like a bit of kick in your lunch, Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad is the answer. It’s a flavorful lunch option that puts a fun spin on traditional jalapeño poppers. It mixes jalapeños, chicken, green onions and bacon with a creamy sauce for a light yet delicious meal. Prep it ahead of time and include it in your lunch menu for weekdays when you’re in a hurry.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Big Mac Salad
Big Mac Salad turns a classic burger into an easy-to-make salad. It’s quick to put together and great for meal prep. Enjoy the familiar flavors — ground beef, bacon, lettuce, pickles, and a homemade Big Mac sauce — without the buns. It’s an awesome choice for lunch that you’ll be sure to look forward to.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad
Thai Chicken Salad
This Thai Chicken Salad is nothing but ordinary. Chicken slices are marinated in a mixture made of coconut milk, garlic, cilantro, ginger, coconut aminos, chile pepper, lemongrass, and turmeric. The chicken slices are grilled and then tossed with cucumbers, arugula, green onions, and a tangy homemade dressing. If you are looking for a power-packed salad that’s flavorful and easy to make, you will love this one.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Salad
Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Spice up your work lunch with something a little bit spicy. Combine canned salmon, ground pork rinds, eggs, mayo, red pepper flakes, and cayenne. Form the mixture into patties, pan-fry until perfectly golden and crispy, and serve with lemon dill aioli. They’re filling, flavorful, and ready in 30 minutes, so you will always look forward to lunch.
Get the Recipe: Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins bring something new to work lunches. They’re ready in 30 minutes, customizable, high in protein, surprisingly filling, and delicious. The combination of egg, bacon, and cottage cheese makes this recipe a great lunch option, not just for breakfast. They’re convenient to store and enjoy during your break.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins
Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars
Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars make your lunch fresh and exciting. They only take 10 minutes to prepare and are full of fresh ingredients like cucumber, tomatoes, green pepper, olives, and feta cheese, tossed in a vinaigrette dressing. This is the perfect choice when you need something quick and ready to go.
Get the Recipe: Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars
Broccoli Fritters
Broccoli Fritters are ready in 35 minutes and a great way to get your greens on a work day. Made with broccoli, Parmesan cheese, eggs, and spices, these fritters are pan-fried, yielding a crispy outside and a soft inside. Enjoy them with Greek yogurt or sour cream for a complete meal.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters
Canned Chicken Patties
Canned Chicken Patties are the ultimate quick fix for busy workdays. Ready in just 20 minutes, mix canned chicken, egg, sunflower seed meal, and Parmesan, form them into patties, and pan-fry until the outside is perfectly crispy. Serve them on their own, with a side of veggies or rice, or as a sandwich. They’re super easy to make, ready in no time, and will surely make your lunch something to look forward to.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties
Bacon Tomato Avocado Cucumber Boats
Anything with bacon makes for a great lunch. These Bacon Tomato Avocado Cucumber Boats are crunchy, refreshing, filling and ready in just 10 minutes. Fresh cucumbers are stuffed with softened cream cheese and mashed avocado, then topped off with crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a sprinkle of Everything Bagel Seasoning. It’s a nutritious and delicious lunch that’s anything but boring.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Tomato Avocado Cucumber Boats
Zucchini Bites
Zucchini Bites are an excellent choice for adding something light yet packed with flavor to your lunchbox. They’re ready in just 30 minutes and combine shredded zucchini, Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, and Italian seasoning. You’ll form them into bites, bake them until golden, and serve them with your favorite dip. These bites are great for those days when you want something nutritious that doesn’t compromise on taste.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bites
Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers
Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers will make your lunchtime fun because they’re easy, convenient, and flavorful. Combine ground chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, egg and other spices and form them into balls. Bake them in the oven until fully cooked, and then serve with the homemade ranch dressing. They store well in the fridge, so you can make them ahead of time and have a ready-made lunch on busy weekdays.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Poppers
Spicy Tuna Cucumber Boats
Spicy Tuna Cucumber Boats are a quick, refreshing lunch option that will keep your workdays exciting. Ready in 10 minutes, fresh, crisp cucumbers are cut and de-seeded, then stuffed with softened cream cheese and spoonfuls of tuna. Topped with Everything Bagel Seasoning, coconut aminos, and a dash of hot sauce, these boats are a perfect way to spice up your lunchtime.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Tuna Cucumber Boats
Keto Chicken Nuggets
Keto Chicken Nuggets are a fun spin on a classic favorite. Mix canned chicken, cheese, sunflower seed meal, pork rinds, and egg, form them into nuggets and bake. This crispy and juicy lunch recipe is ready in just 30 minutes and perfect for anyone looking for a light but filling lunch option.
Get the Recipe: Keto Chicken Nuggets
Avocado Tuna Salad
Avocado Tuna Salad is the perfect choice for a fresh, protein-packed lunch that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. You’ll combine packed tuna, avocado, celery, lemon, fresh dill, salt, and pepper, chill for a few hours, and have a delicious meal ready to go! It’s easy to whip up and can be prepped in just 5 minutes, so you can make it even on the busiest of mornings. Thanks to its healthy fats and protein, this salad is a great way to keep yourself full and focused throughout the workday.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tuna Salad
Meatza
Meatza is a creative and protein-rich alternative to traditional pizza. It features a meat-based crust made with a combination of ground pork and spices and is entirely flourless. It’s ready in 40 minutes and can be topped with any of your favorite pizza toppings. This dish is a great way to enjoy the same pizza flavors but in a fun and new way. It’s a smart choice for a delicious and filling work lunch.
Get the Recipe: Meatza
Leave a Reply