Work lunches can be the highlight of your day if they’re not a repeat episode of bland sandwiches or last night’s leftovers. These work lunches are here to rescue you from the midday slump and give your taste buds something to look forward to. Because if you’re going to be stuck in a cubicle, you might as well treat your lunch break like the oasis it is in the desert of your workday.
Bell Pepper Sandwich
The Bell Pepper Sandwich switches things up by using crunchy bell peppers instead of bread. Stuffed with turkey, cheese, avocado, bacon, and cucumber, it’s ready in just 10 minutes. This colorful and crisp lunch is perfect for a quick bite between meetings or when you’re stuck at your desk. It’s a simple way to add some crunch to your workday and keep things light and mess-free.
Get the Recipe: Bell Pepper Sandwich
Big Mac Salad
If you love the flavor of a Big Mac but want something lighter, the Big Mac Salad is your new favorite. It has all the classic burger elements — lettuce, beef, pickles, onions, and that special sauce — but in a salad. Quick to put together and easy to prep ahead, it’s a smart choice for a busy workday. This salad lets you enjoy those familiar flavors without the extra calories, making your lunch break a bit more enjoyable.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad
Reuben Bowls
Reuben Bowls bring the deli to your desk, minus the bread. Packed with corned beef, sauerkraut, cheese, and a tangy dressing, this bowl is ready in about 30 minutes. It’s a hearty option that keeps you going through your day, adding a flavorful twist on the usual sandwich. This lunch is a great way to break up the routine and enjoy something a bit more special during your workday.
Get the Recipe: Reuben Bowls
Tuna Macaroni Salad
Tuna Macaroni Salad is a comforting classic. With macaroni, creamy dressing, canned tuna, and hard-boiled eggs, it’s ready in about 40 minutes. Just mix everything up, and you’ve got a familiar favorite that’s economical and filling. It’s also easy to prepare in large batches, making it a convenient option to enjoy throughout the week. Bring it to work, and you might just make your desk the new lunch spot.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Macaroni Salad
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats are a light and fun lunch option. Made with pre-cooked bacon, canned chicken, and homemade ranch seasoning, these boats are neatly tucked into cucumber slices. They’re easy to make and even easier to eat, perfect for those days when you need to grab lunch while working.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
Meal Prep Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice
Meal Prep Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice is a solid lunch choice. Ready in just 30 minutes, this dish pairs juicy meatballs with light cauliflower rice, giving you a meal that keeps you energized through a busy day. It’s great for those back-to-back meeting days when you need a quick and filling lunch to keep you going.
Get the Recipe: Meal Prep Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice
Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties bring a little excitement to your lunchtime with a kick of spice. These small but mighty patties are ready in just 30 minutes and are perfect for reheating at the office. Paired with bold lemon dill aioli, they’re more than just another lunch; they’re like a refreshing change that makes lunch something to look forward to.
Get the Recipe: Mini Spicy Canned Salmon Patties
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Garlic Butter Chicken Bites might just be the boost your lunchbox needs. Golden, crispy, and coated in a rich garlic-butter sauce, these chicken bites are anything but ordinary. Ready in about 20 minutes, they’re quick to make and even easier to enjoy. Pack them up for a work lunch that’s a step above the usual. With these, you’ll have something to look forward to during those long meetings.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Butter Chicken Bites
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad turns your lunch break into something special. It’s a lively mix of spicy jalapeños, creamy dressing, tender chicken, and crispy bacon — all the flavors of jalapeño poppers in a salad. Whip this up the night before, and you’ve got a lunch that’s both filling and full of flavor. Perfect for when your desk feels more like a cell than an office, this salad brings a bit of heat and excitement to your day.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad is the answer when you’re tired of the same old lunches. Combining crisp Caesar salad with hearty pasta, it’s ready in just 25 minutes. Perfect for hectic mornings when you need something quick and filling, this salad keeps you full and focused, even when your inbox is overflowing. While you might not be able to control your schedule, at least your lunch is on point.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Canned Chicken Patties
Canned Chicken Patties are the quick, no-stress lunch you need. Made with simple ingredients like canned chicken, garlic powder, and Parmesan, these patties are ready in just 20 minutes. They’re perfect for slipping into sandwiches or pairing with a salad. If you’re looking for something quick and filling to combat the midday slump, these patties are a great choice.
Get the Recipe: Canned Chicken Patties
Broccoli Fritters
Switch up your usual sandwich routine with Broccoli Fritters. Featuring finely chopped broccoli florets and Parmesan cheese, these crispy, cheesy fritters are quick to make and even quicker to reheat. Prepare a batch, store them in the fridge, and reheat at work for a comforting lunch without the stress. Anything that makes broccoli the star of your lunch hour is definitely worth a try.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters
Tuna Egg Salad
Tuna Egg Salad is a straightforward lunch option that’s ready in just 25 minutes. Mixing tuna, eggs, and a handful of veggies, it’s creamy, filling, and great for meal prep. This is the lunch you need when your day is packed with deadlines. Simple and effective, it keeps your energy up without weighing you down.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Egg Salad
Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Quinoa Chickpea Salad adds freshness to your lunch hour with its mix of quinoa, chickpeas, cucumber, and a tangy lemon-garlic dressing. Quick to prepare and packed with nutrients, this salad keeps you motivated throughout the day. It’s a great pick-me-up that turns a routine lunch break into something a bit more enjoyable.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad is a light lunch that won’t weigh you down. It’s a quick mix of crisp cucumbers, sharp onions, and a smooth dill-infused dressing, ready in just 30 minutes. This salad refreshes rather than slows you down, making it perfect for eating at your desk or on the go. Pack this, and you might just forget you’re eating at work.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars
Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars are about to become your new go-to work lunch. Filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives, and feta, all topped with a homemade dressing, these jars are both delicious and practical. They take about 10 minutes to prepare, and you can easily make enough for the whole week. Just grab one on your way out the door, and you’re set.
Get the Recipe: Greek Salad Meal Prep Jars
Avocado Tuna Salad
Liven up your lunch with Avocado Tuna Salad, a refreshing mix of yellowfin tuna, creamy avocado, and a hint of lemon. This salad can be prepped the night before, making it a perfect midday meal for those who need something quick and nutritious. It’s a great way to keep things light while staying energized through the afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tuna Salad
Thai Chicken Salad
Thai Chicken Salad brings a burst of flavor that can turn your lunch break into the highlight of your day. Made with marinated chicken, coconut milk, garlic, cilantro, and fresh veggies like arugula and cucumber, it’s filling and easy to prepare. This salad travels well, making it the perfect lunch to pack when you’re in a rush.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Salad
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins
Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins are versatile enough to make a great lunch, too. Made with eggs, cottage cheese, and whatever herbs you have on hand, these muffins come together in 30 minutes. They’re easy to customize with whatever leftovers you’ve got, making them a practical choice for busy or budget-conscious days.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Breakfast Muffins