10 Delicious Make-Ahead Work Lunch Recipes to Try This Month

You are not alone if you are trying to eat healthier in 2023. One of the biggest challenges for many people is avoiding the temptation to head out for lunch when you are at work. Restaurant meals are typically laden with calories and fat, quickly throwing you off of your healthy eating goals.

However, you do not have to throw in the towel just because you struggle with your lunchtime meals. Here are 10 make-ahead lunch recipes that you can prepare at home and take with you to work. Not only will this make healthier eating easier but it will also likely save you money.

Slow Cooker Greek Shredded Chicken Gyros with Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

Level up your office lunches with this slow cooker recipe that produces delicious Greek shredded chicken gyros with homemade tzatziki sauce. The recipe includes lean chicken breasts, garlic, onion, olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon. You can make a big batch of this chicken at the start of the week and nosh on it for days. Simply stuff the chicken into pita bread and top with the homemade tzatziki sauce along with lettuce and tomato. This light lunch will fill you up without weighing you down all day.

Cashew Chicken Rotini Salad

Pasta salads make great make-ahead lunches. This cashew chicken rotini salad is a fresh take on a traditional pasta salad. The ingredients in this tasty salad include your choice of spiral or rotini pasta, cooked chicken cubes, pineapple tidbits, sliced celery, green onions, dried cranberries, cashews, and red and green grapes all tossed with a dressing made with ranch and mayonnaise. This salad will hold in the fridge for a few days. Because it is best enjoyed cold, you do not even need a microwave to heat it up.

Spinach Quiche

Need a quick meal to heat up every day at work this week? Consider making this spinach quiche on Sunday and enjoying it for your lunch over the following days. This quiche could not be easier to prepare as it uses a store-bought crust. The filling consists of frozen spinach, yellow onion, red bell pepper, garlic, eggs, cheddar cheese, parmesan cheese, sour cream, and more. This quiche makes a great lunch when you do not have a lot of time but need to fuel up with a protein-packed meal.

Beef Stew with Carrots and Potatoes

For something hearty for your lunchtime routine, this beef stew with carrots and potatoes makes great leftovers. In fact, the recipe may even taste better in the days ahead as the flavors really meld together. This stew is the perfect lunch for a cold winter day. Pair with some crusty bread for dipping and you have yourself a comforting lunch. The addition of all of the vegetables also translates to a nutrient packed meal to help to keep you healthy during cold and flu season.

Easy Quinoa Salad

This easy quinoa salad is as flavorful as it is colorful. The refreshing salad uses quinoa as the base for a heart-healthy grain that is also high in fiber. The quinoa is mixed with spinach, tomatoes, green onion, avocado, and cucumber. A light dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, pure maple syrup, and golden balsamic vinegar brings it all together. If you are going to eat this salad throughout the week, save the avocado and the dressing to top with just prior to consuming each day.

Chicken Salad Mason Jar Salads with Creamy No-Mayo Dressing

Mason jar salads are all the rage these days and it is easy to see why when you try this chicken salad with creamy no-mayo dressing. The salad includes a vibrant mix of romaine lettuce, celery, chicken breast, grapes, apples, toasted pecans, and a creamy poppy seed dressing. You will love the homemade dressing prepared using Greek yogurt, honey, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar. When stored properly, you can expect this salad to last up to three days in your refrigerator.

Easy Chicken Burrito Bowls

You will not even miss your Mexican takeout when you prepare a batch of these easy chicken burrito bowls to take to work. These bowls are brimming with seared chicken, fresh vegetables, and rice. All of the goodness is topped with a creamy cilantro ranch dressing to deliver a zesty flavor. This base recipe is extremely versatile. For instance, feel free to make it vegetarian by using tofu instead of chicken.

Vegetarian Chili

Like the beef stew, this vegetarian chili is the ideal choice for those cold days when you are craving a bowl of comfort. The chili is loaded with carrots, celery, garlic, onions, chili spices, beans, and tomatoes. You can count on this recipe to stay fresh in the fridge for four days, making it a great make-ahead meal. Customize your bowl of chili each day by topping it with options such as sliced avocado, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese, crushed tortilla chips, or a lime wedge.

Gnocchi Caprese Salad

While this gnocchi caprese salad is more of a summer dish, you can certainly enjoy it at any time of the year. The dish comes together with gnocchi, fresh basil, marinated mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and a balsamic reduction. Using store-bought gnocchi makes it a cinch to prepare this recipe in no time at all. Be sure to save the balsamic reduction to top just prior to eating so that your salad does not get soggy sitting in the fridge.

Chicken Fried Rice

Resist the urge to order Chinese takeout while working on a deadline by keeping this homemade chicken fried rice on hand. Nearly anything goes with this customizable Asian favorite. Feel free to swap the chicken for ham or shrimp. You can also change up the vegetables to suit your liking. You will see the best results if you chill the rice before frying it.

Lunch does not have to be a bore or a chore when you have these 10 make-ahead recipes in your meal rotation.

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