30 Easy Packed Lunch Ideas To Satiate Your Midday Hunger
Homemade potato chips are made with love!
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Taking a break for a relaxing lunch with friends is a real treat, but let's face it—most days are packed with back-to-back appointments and errands, leaving little time to spare. But that's no reason to skip lunch! In fact, it's even more of a reason to have a nourishing meal on hand to keep you energized for whatever the day brings. If you agree, you'll love this collection of the best packed lunch ideas. These recipes are not only quick and easy to prepare but also portable and delicious. Think budget-friendly options like simple sandwiches and colorful salads—perfect for quick work lunches or healthy lunch options that travel well.
First things first, you're going to want to some food storage or meal prep containers to make packing and transporting your lunch easier. (Ree Drummond even has her own food storage set at Walmart!) Once you’re set up, check out the packed lunch recipes ahead. Choose from cold lunch ideas like make-ahead Italian sandwiches and bow tie pasta salad or try a hearty meal in a bowl. Many of these recipes can double as fun picnic food ideas and they'd even make the perfect addition to your camping trip menu. Of course, your kids will appreciate them for school lunches, too. No matter where you plan to enjoy these packed lunch ideas, don't forget to pack a sweet treat for your dessert!
Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Make a big batch of this bow tie pasta salad at the beginning of the week and enjoy it for the subsequent afternoons to come! The colorful ingredients—peas, cubed ham, cheese, red bell pepper, and green onions—soak up the creamy dressing as the days go on, so it's ideal for making ahead of time.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
Fig Bars
It isn't a packed lunch without a tasty treat at the end! This homemade version of the popular prepackaged snack is sweet and satisfying, thanks to a tender wheat-blend dough and an easy dried fig filling.
Get the Fig Bars recipe.
Homemade Potato Chips
Instead of pairing your sandwich with a bag of prepackaged chips, consider making your own at home to take the otherwise simple meal to new heights. They feature thinly sliced potatoes fried until crunchy and golden, then tossed in a spicy-sweet seasoning that you'll want to eat by the spoonful.
Get Ree's Homemade Potato Chips recipe.
Antipasto Skewers
Craving a salad without the inevitable sogginess? These antipasto skewers are just the thing! Each easy-to-assemble skewer features salami, cheese, and pickled veggies for a balanced and flavorful bite. Best of all, you can drizzle on the balsamic glaze right before you eat them so the skewers remain fresh.
Get the Antipasto Skewers recipe.
Peanut Noodles
Enjoy these sweet and salty peanut noodles when they're fresh and hot for dinner, and then pack the chilled leftovers for lunch the next day! The al-dente, peanut-infused noodles pair perfectly with shredded coleslaw mix, thawed edamame, and sliced green onion for added color and flavor.
Get the Peanut Noodles recipe.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Making a big batch of this BBQ chicken at the start of the week will keep your family happy for days! You can use the saucy, smoky chicken in different ways, like as a filling for sandwiches and wraps or as a topping for salads.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
Turkey Meatballs
These healthy, lean meatballs are still packed with moisture and lots of flavor. You can stuff them in a pita pocket with tzatziki, lettuce, and tomato for a quick and easy weekday lunch.
Get the Turkey Meatballs recipe.
Harvest Bowls
Spending money at popular fast-casual spots for lunch can quickly add up, but this homemade recipe is an easy swap. It's just like the build-your-own bowls will tons of veggies, chicken, and mix-ins over wild rice and greens.
Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.
Waldorf Salad
This salad might remind you of an elegant sit-down lunch, but it's just as easy to pack up on the go. In fact, it would make a perfect picnic lunch when served in crisp lettuce cups.
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
Cobb Chicken Salad
This recipe combines two popular salads—creamy chicken salad and hearty Cobb salad—on one tasty sandwich with sourdough bread. There's even bacon, avocado, and blue cheese.
Get Ree's Cobb Chicken Salad recipe.
Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls
Quick sheet pan salmon with a flavorful spicy-sweet marinade is the perfect topping for these healthy rice bowls. The heat from the sriracha is cooled by adding slices of cucumber and avocado.
Get the Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls recipe.
Breakfast Burritos to Go
Don't be fooled by the name, these sausage and egg burritos can be served for brunch, lunch, or anything in between. Once you wrap them up in foil, you can store them in the refrigerator for two days and simply warm them up to reheat.
Get Ree's Breakfast Burritos to Go recipe.
Tomato Sandwich
This recipe is as simple as it gets! The star of the sandwich is the juicy, seasonal tomatoes but the herby garlic aioli is just as good.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
Gorditas
Like a mix between a taco and a pita pocket, gorditas are homemade corn tortillas stuffed with flavorful pulled pork. Of course, you can also switch up the fillings with leftover steak, chicken, or anything else you have handy.
Get the Gorditas recipe.
Chef's Salad on a Stick
Making salad on a stick will ensure that you never have soggy greens again! The skewers are filled with all the classic ingredients of a Chef's salad and the ranch dressing can be kept on the side for dipping.
Get the Chef's Salad on a Stick recipe.
Italian Sandwich
Not only is this sandwich stacked high with sliced deli meats and cheese, but it's also great for making ahead. Build the sandwich the day before, wrap tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and stash in the refrigerator overnight.
Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.
Chicken Pasta Salad
This deli lunch mash-up combines the best of pasta salad with the flavors of chicken salad. It's creamy, flavorful, and perfect for an office meal or picnic.
Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.
Spinach Quiche
Quiche is a great lunch idea because it tastes just as good at room temperature as it does warm. Pack a slice of quiche with a side salad for a meal that's way better than store-bought!
Get the Spinach Quiche recipe.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Everyone will be asking where you got this creative salad idea. It's got cheesy, crunchy goodness of croutons and parmesan tossed with hearty chicken and noodles.
Get the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo
Swap your typical sliced bread sandwich for something a little more exciting, like this ham sandwich served on focaccia bread. Even the mayo gets an upgrade with the addition of pesto.
Get Ree's Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Cauliflower Soup
Easy Foil Packet Recipes for a Grill or Campfire
The Pioneer Woman’s Favorite Sandwich
