40+ healthy and cheap lunch ideas for work (2023)

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Upgrade your work lunch with these delicious Caesar Salad Cups. This Caesar salad recipe gets a healthy makeover thanks to homemade Greek yogurt dressing.

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Cook delicious, filling, fiber-rich lunches for a week with just 5 simple ingredients and 20 minutes. In this Southwest Macaroni Salad, we use black bean pasta to boost the fiber to an impressive 14 grams per serving. Paired with seasoned chicken strips and a tasty corn salad—shortcut ingredients you'd often find at your local grocery store—this meal prep lunch is one you'll look forward to.

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In about 10 minutes, you can make a week's worth of lunch with 4 simple ingredients from your local supermarket. To minimize prep, we use a blend of pre-cut fresh vegetables and frozen quinoa (which microwaves in less than 5 minutes). These crunchy chopped salad bowls are high in fiber but low in calories, making them perfect for anyone following a low-calorie diet.

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This chickpea salad is a vegetarian version of a classic chicken salad and can also be eaten. Let's be clear: it doesn't taste like chicken, but it's a delicious (and fiber-rich) vegetarian alternative! Plus, it's easy to carry, perfect for picnics, and is sure to brighten up your dreary table lunch.

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Curries don't need to be prepared for hours. Using our Skillet Meal Prep Chicken (see attached recipe) and some cooked whole grains, you can whip up these Skillet Meal Prep Bowls in just a few minutes! Store them in the fridge for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight or a healthy weeknight lunch.

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Avocado makes an exceptionally creamy and healthy dressing for this chicken salad. A little pickled jalapeno hot sauce enhances this lunchtime classic. Serve on a slice of whole-wheat toast for an open-faced sandwich or in a salad bowl for a low-carb lunch.

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This wrap is stuffed with chicken breast fillet and couscous with a slice of lemon and a healthy dose of fresh herbs. Save leftovers to pack for an easy lunch. Serve with: Mixed green leaf salad and a glass of toasted white wine.

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Take canned tuna to new heights by adding cannellini beans, red onion and dill, tossing it with a lemon pepper Dijon dressing and serving it over a canned beet spinach salad.

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Make your own cup of instant soup at home with this vegetarian ramen recipe. Pack several jars at once to take to work as an easy weekday lunch.

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Quinoa and chickpeas fill this vegetarian cereal bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these Mediterranean dishes and store them in lidded containers to keep in the fridge all week for an easy, healthy, on-the-go lunch.

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This copycat version of store-bought frozen burritos is perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch to keep in the freezer for a healthy, boxed lunch or quick camping meal.

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This tasty burrito bowl features grilled chicken topped with a tasty chipotle glaze. Loading it with veggies and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrients for a healthier dinner.

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This single-serving Cobb Salad recipe swaps out the chicken for bacon, making it a great lunch protein source. If you prefer a different salad dressing, feel free to substitute our Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.

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The ingredients in this vegan grain bowl recipe can be prepared ahead of time to make an easy lunch for work. The tangy citrus sauce tastes refreshing with the sweet caramel of roasted leafy greens.

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Enjoy this refreshing bento box idea on your lunch break, which combines cucumber salad, hummus, pita bread and more for a satisfying work lunch.

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A Mexican-style pie is like a burrito, except the "shell" is a hollow roll instead of a tortilla. Here it's loaded with spiced black bean puree and a quick guacamole. Take this vegetarian version to the next level (and add some calcium) by melting Monterey Jack cheese on the side of the bean sandwich. Serve with: Grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice.

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A healthy green goddess dressing is made with avocado, buttermilk and herbs in this Cucumber, Tomato, Swiss Cheese and Chickpea Salad recipe. The added sauce is delicious with grilled vegetables.

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Stay light and fresh when you're in the mood for pizza - these easy salad wraps have all the flavor with less carbs and calories.

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This sweet twist on a classic tuna salad sandwich makes a healthy, high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.

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Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and choose this grain bowl. Start with a brown rice base and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious, easy meal.

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This cold macaroni salad with peanut butter, pea pods, chicken and bell peppers is easy to make and grab for lunch.

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Looking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This hearty homemade chicken salad served in an avocado instead of bread is ideal. Also, this recipe is enough for ready-made lunches for the week! If you have leftover cooked chicken, skip Step 1 and use about 2 1/2 cups shredded chicken in Step 2.

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Who says bento boxes are just for kids? Packed with clean, hearty foods, this healthy bento-style lunch is perfect for taking to work.

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Crispy carrots, cucumbers and spring onions make a colorful addition to this vegetarian egg salad recipe. Stuff with crunchy crackers and tomatoes for a light, healthy lunch.

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In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, avocado is mashed into a healthy paste.

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Toss leftover cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick, healthy lunch.

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A simple citrus twist inspired by Cuban mojo completes these vegan rice bowls, perfect for lunch or dinner.

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It only takes 5 minutes to make this hearty whole wheat sandwich with the classic apple cheddar combo that your kids will love.

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This kid-friendly recipe keeps each taco element separate so your child can decide to eat them separately or have fun building their own mini tacos with their favorite toppings. Plus, it's perfect to pack in a bento box for a healthy school lunch.

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This hearty cauliflower soup recipe gets its great flavor from two smoky ingredients: paprika and gouda. A generous serving of crispy croutons fills you up.

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Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe makes the perfect veggie topping for a wrap on the go. Or double the recipe and use hummus for a healthy snack with sliced ​​veggies.

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Tomato, cucumber, red onion and arugula with feta cheese in this quick salad. Served with a whole-wheat pita and prepared hummus, it makes a hearty yet healthy lunch.

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These tuna wraps were inspired by spicy tuna sushi rolls. We love the spicy watercress flavor, but other greens like arugula, romaine, escarole or even radish sprouts would work great in the stuffing. If you want to play with sushi inspiration, mix some wasabi into soy sauce for dipping and serve with pickled ginger. Serve with sliced ​​cucumbers and grated red onions mixed with rice vinegar, a little olive oil and a pinch of salt.

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This delicious kid-friendly twist on a classic BLT includes turkey. The added protein makes it a healthy and filling lunch for school or work.

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Hummus, sprouts and avocado on sprouted whole wheat bread in this healthy vegan lunch idea. Look for sprouted bread in the freezer section of the grocery store.

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All the flavor, color and fun of an egg roll without all the work! This healthy salad recipe is bursting with rainbow colors with generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains, all topped with peanut sauce for the ultimate healthy salad.

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Whole wheat tortillas add a savory twist to this quick grilled chicken breast recipe that combines all the elements of a classic sandwich into a single wrap. Serve with additional napkins.

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This quick lunch recipe is packed with heart-healthy omega-3s from canned sockeye salmon. If you're taking this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita before eating.

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Cooked Peeled Shrimp are perfect for quick and healthy meals; here we use them in place of chicken in our Simplified Cobb Salad.

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For a healthy version of the Creamy Chicken Salad, we substituted half the mayonnaise for basil pesto. Serve over vegetables or make a sandwich for a healthy lunch.

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Pack the classic Cobb salad "upside down" in a jar for a healthy lunch that won't get soggy from sitting in the fridge all morning. Or, pack your bags the night before for an easy to-go lunch in the morning.

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Fresh corn, tomato and lettuce fill these hearty turkey burritos. This wrap is ideal for picnics or when you need dinner on the go. Add some feta cheese or shredded cheddar cheese for another layer of flavor. Serve with carrot sticks, sliced ​​bell peppers or other crunchy vegetables and your favorite creamy sauce.

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Using kale leaves instead of bread to wrap the stuffing makes this healthy chicken lunch recipe low in calories (and less carbs!). If you can't find kale lacinato (also known as Tuscan kale), try kale for your wrap.

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Photo credit: Jacob Fox

With sliced ​​veggies, a whole wheat tortilla and baby spinach, these bagels make the perfect healthy lunch for your kids to take to school.

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This easy grain bowl has a lot to love: sweet potatoes, protein-rich chickpeas, creamy avocado, and homemade tahini sauce. Prepare the entire recipe over the weekend and pack it in individual containers for a ready-to-serve lunch all week long.

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