I Just Can't Bear One More Boring Salad, So I'm Reaching For These Healthy Packable Lunches Instead
Once you try these, you may never go back to picking up takeout.
No matter where we work (whether that's at home or out of an office), it's a well-known reality that trying to eat healthier at lunch time can be... tricky. We know healthy doesn’t have to mean boring, but it’s almost too easy to fall into a rut when you’re packing or making your lunch 5+ days a week. Don’t even get us started on how easy it is to ditch that healthy habit and start hitting the takeout spots. Sound familiar? We’ve got you. Whether you’re looking for salads or wraps, grain bowls or sandwiches, we’ve got a ton of healthy recipes here for you. Bonus: You’ll save a ton of $$$ on takeout and delivery (win win!). Check out our 78 healthy packed lunches for ideas—once you start bringing these, you might never go back to boring, expensive lunches again.
We know health looks different to different people, so we’ve included options for a variety of diets here, like low-carb, vegan, pescatarian, and gluten-free. Looking for something low-carb? Try our low-carb turkey gyro bowls, our reuben bowls, or our Philly cheesesteak lettuce wraps. They’re full of flavor, but skip the bread and tortillas. (Hot tip: If you are cool with bread and tortillas, these recipes are killer all wrapped up too!) Craving a plant-based lunch? Check out our vegan crunchwraps, our warm tahini ramen noodles, our veggie burgers, or our caramelized tofu lettuce cups. They're great whether you're ditching meat for life or just for lunch. Love a rice bowl? Us too. Get inspired by the flavors of our copycat Chipotle burrito bowls, our halal cart-style cauliflower bowls, our goddess bowls, or our hot honey chicken & rice bowls. Swap in healthier, nutty brown rice when you can, and then swap in and out your favorite toppings 'til you find your perfect bowl. Craving a good old fashioned salad? Try our BBQ chicken salad, our crispy chili-lime chickpea salad, our taco salad, or our Caribbean Cobb salad. They’ll help you feel full, and will keep you going 'til dinnertime.
Speaking of getting through 'til dinner, check out our healthy snacks for work. They're just the pick-me-up to get you through whatever your work day throws at you. Need something to carry it all in? Check out our top lunch containers too.
Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl
In this vegan recipe, spiced cauliflower joins forces with a bright and fresh tomato salad, crunchy toppings, and a homemade vegan halal cart-style sauce. You won't miss the meat!
Get the Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl 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.
Turkey Lavash Wraps
Filled with a zingy arugula-dill salad, sliced turkey, roasted red peppers, and crunchy cucumbers, and sealed with a creamy goat cheese spread, this wrap is exactly the kind of colorful meal we crave to brighten up our weekdays. Make a few, then wrap 'em in foil, and you'll be set for lunch all week.
Get the Turkey Lavash Wraps recipe.
Tofu Nuggets
Soggy baked tofu nuggets are a thing of the past with this one-ingredient upgrade. These bite-sized beauties get irresistibly crispy in the oven, making them the perfect vehicle for a dunk in ranch dressing or curry ketchup. Once the herby dredging is complete, the breaded bites are baked until they’re golden brown and delicious. These bites are perfect if you're looking for an easy, nostalgic vegetarian dinner, or want a game-day meal that will keep your guests coming back for more.
Get the Tofu Nuggets recipe.
Copycat Panera Frontega Chicken Panini
We love 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 to create a sandwich that’s crispy-crunchy on the outside, and soft and warm in the middle. Lunchtime heaven.
Crispy Chili-Lime Chickpea Salad
Spicy, creamy, and crunchy—this satisfying chickpea salad hits all the notes. It’s like cowboy caviar took a trip to Baja California!
Grilled Chicken Salad
This grilled chicken salad—filled with cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocado—is the healthy summer dinner we tend to make again and again. If you're vegetarian, try subbing in hard-boiled eggs for the chicken!
Get the Grilled Chicken Salad recipe.
Turkey Chili
Beef chili may come to mind when you think of the classic, cozy meal, but turkey chili deserves its chance to shine. This easy recipe is full of warm spices and double the amount of beans for a thick, meaty chili that’s every bit as filling as the classic.
Get the Turkey Chili 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’re guaranteed a saucy, crowd-pleasing lunch.
Get the Sesame Tofu & Broccoli recipe.
Butternut Squash Steaks
Tired of cauliflower steaks? Turn to butternut squash instead! It's a great plant-based ingredient because its texture is quite meaty yet tender, and it works with a variety of seasonings and recipes. Though available all year, this squash has a particularly sweet, mellow flavor during the fall and winter months that make these extra delicious.
Get the Butternut Squash Steaks recipe.
Stuffed Peppers
The bell pepper is an excellent vessel for stuffing ground beef (or turkey or chicken!), rice, and, of course, cheese. It's strong enough to hold its shape in the oven, and the flavor is subtle enough to go well with just about anything. This is our favorite recipe but the customization options are endless.
Get the Stuffed Peppers 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.
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 lunch. 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.
Pinwheel Sandwiches
Pinwheel sandwiches are here with their totally retro swirls, ready to be packed into lunchboxes or eaten as an afternoon snack. To make them, you'll layer flour tortillas with ranch-flavored mayonnaise, sliced cheese, deli meats, and lettuce. All that's left to do is roll them up tightly and slice. Simple!
Get the Pinwheel Sandwiches recipe.
Harvest Bowls
With sliced grilled chicken, roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, a kale and Parmesan salad, all on top of brown rice, these grain bowls are filling, healthy without being boring, and filled with plenty of seasonal fall produce.
Get the Harvest Bowls 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.
Black Bean Tostadas
With only 5 ingredients, these black bean tostadas are the easiest and fastest meal to throw together. You can always add on additional toppings like corn salsa, avocado ranch, or endless crunchy veggies like radishes or pickled red onions, but here we keep things simple.
Get the Black Bean Tostadas 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.
Ultimate Veggie Sandwich
There's something so special and refreshing about a sandwich that is absolutely packed to the gills with veggies. The miso eggplant in here makes this one extra special.
Get the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich recipe.
Peanut Chicken Protein Bowls
We've created countless bowls that we love, but when we're craving a chicken dinner (or packed lunch), then we turn to this peanut chicken bowl. With a homemade peanut dressing, sliced chicken, sweet potato, spinach, and avocado, this healthy dinner is one we love to meal prep at the beginning of the week, then assemble and feast on all week long.
Get the Peanut Chicken Protein Bowl recipe.
