Skip to Content Instagram Twitter YouTube Email Link SMS X Search Clock Right Arrow Arrow Down Hamburger Menu Shop Tasty Merch Caret down Caret up Caret left Caret right Thumbs up Speech Audio on Replay Plus Minus

23 Wholesome Work Lunches You Can Pack In The Morning

Salad is great, but there are other options.

When it comes to work lunches, it seems the only thing people bring are salads — which, don't get me wrong, are great — but sometimes you want a little something more.

So we rounded up our favorite make-ahead lunch recipes that are definitely not salads. Check out some of our favorite bowls, wraps, and sandwiches.

Advertisement

Advertisement

1. Pesto Turkey Pinwheels

tasty.co

These delicious turkey wraps are rolled up with pesto, tomatoes, baby spinach, and Provolone cheese. Slice into pieces to show off the fillings and for easy eating.

Recipe: Pesto Turkey Pinwheels

2. Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Mushrooms

tasty.co

Pack the tofu filling, lettuce cups, and crispy rice noodles separately, then warm the filling and assemble just before eating. If you're not a fan of tofu, ground chicken, turkey, or pork would taste great here, too!

Recipe: Tofu Lettuce Wraps with Mushrooms

Advertisement

Advertisement

3. Chickpea Salad Sandwich

tasty.co

While we love this flavorful mashed chickpea mixture on bread with our favorite sandwich fixings, it's also great over a bed of greens or with crackers and veggies.

Recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich

4. Turkey Taco Bowls

tasty.co

These loaded turkey taco bowls are full of protein, vegetables, and flavor from taco seasoning and salsa. `Feel free to swap in your preferred ground meat or meatless alternative for the turkey!

Recipe: Turkey Taco Bowls

Advertisement

Advertisement

5. Garlic Chicken and Veggie Pasta

tasty.co

This all-in-one meal is easy to prep and pack for the week. As long as you keep the ratios the same, you can experiment with different veggies and noodle shapes to mix it up a bit.

Recipe: Garlic Chicken and Veggie Pasta

6. Crunchy Avocado Tuna Wraps

tasty.co

Wrap up tuna, avocado, and veggies in whole wheat tortillas for a filling and easy lunch. The "dressing" is mixed in with the tuna salad, and the lettuce keeps the tortillas from getting soggy.

Recipe: Crunchy Tuna Avocado Wraps

Advertisement

Advertisement

7. Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

tasty.co

This only requires one pan and minimal prep — and store-bought pesto does all the heavy lifting. 

Recipe: Meal-Prep Pesto Chicken & Veggies

8. Freezer Prep Breakfast Burritos

tasty.co

These may be dubbed as breakfast burritos — but they're delicious enough to devour any time of day. 

Recipe: Freezer Prep Breakfast Burritos

Advertisement

Advertisement

9. Portobello Fajita Bowls

tasty.co

This vegetarian version is perfect for a Meatless Monday option. If you're not a mushroom fan, swap in tofu, soyrizo, or extra veggies. 

Recipe: Portobello Fajita Bowls

10. Chickpea Shawarma Sandwiches

Pro tip: Pack the chickpea filling, sauce, and pitas separately to prevent them from getting soggy.

Recipe: Chickpea Shawarma Sandwiches

Advertisement

Advertisement

11. Southwestern Cream Cheese Chicken Wraps

letsdishrecipes.com

Feel free to use a store-bought rotisserie chicken to make these wraps a breeze to meal prep. 

Recipe: Southwestern Cream Cheese Chicken Wraps

12. Onigirazu (Rice Sandwich)

Rie McClenny/BuzzFeed

These simple rice sandwiches call for fresh shiso leaves, but you can leave them out or use your favorite herb instead.

Recipe: Onigirazu (Rice Sandwich)

Advertisement

Advertisement

13. Hoisin Chicken Lettuce Wraps

chefsavvy.com

Hold off on assembling these wraps until you're just about to eat — otherwise the lettuce may get soggy before lunch comes around.

Recipe: Hoisin Chicken Lettuce Wraps

14. Chicken Burrito Bowl

Taylor Miller/BuzzFeed

This wholesome work lunch has everything you need in it: Veggies, protein, and some brown rice to keep you energized until work is over. 

Recipe: Chicken Burrito Bowl

Advertisement

Advertisement

15. Lemon Herb Mediterranean Pasta Salad

This recipe uses a homemade lemon herb dressing, but feel free to use your favorite store-bought dressing to save yourself some time.

Recipe: Lemon Herb Mediterranean Pasta Salad

16. Italian Chicken Wrap

Chicken, roasted red peppers, spinach, and provolone cheese give these pinwheel sandwiches a ton of flavor without a ton of work.

Recipe: Italian Chicken Wrap

Advertisement

Advertisement

17. Cold Sesame Noodles With Crunchy Vegetables

thewanderlustkitchen.com!&utm_campaign=20170108_m136901568_RSS+Feed+for+http://thewanderlustkitchen_com/feed&utm_term=Read+More

Load these cold sesame noodles up with chicken or shrimp to make this lunch even heartier. 

Recipe: Cold Sesame Noodles With Crunchy Vegetables

18. Veggie Nori Wraps

thisrawsomeveganlife.com

A simple dipping sauce made with tahini and miso takes these veggie-loaded nori wraps from good to great. 

Recipe: Veggie Nori Wraps

Advertisement

Advertisement

19. One-Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies

Make a big batch of these veggies on Sunday, then eat them over rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice all throughout the week.

Recipe: One-Pan Italian Sausage and Veggies

20. Lemony Broccoli, Chickpea, and Avocado Pita Sandwiches

These pita sandwiches are spread with smashed avocado, but if you're worried about it turning brown you can easily substitute it for hummus.

Recipe: Lemony Broccoli, Chickpea, and Avocado Pita Sandwiches

Advertisement

Advertisement

21. Vegetarian Greek Pitas

hurrythefoodup.com

These pitas call for feta cheese, but you can leave it out if you're looking for a vegan option. 

Recipe: Vegetarian Greek Pitas

22. Muffuletta Sandwiches

freshtart.com

This muffuletta uses a homemade giardiniera to give it a ton of flavor — which is not as hard to make as it sounds — but you can use your favorite store-bought variety instead (which is found in the pickle section of most grocery stores). 

Recipe: Muffuletta Sandwiches

23. Pesto Quinoa With White Beans

Rachel Gaewski/BuzzFeed

This hearty quinoa salad is tossed in a homemade pesto made with fresh arugula to give it a pop of peppery flavor. 

Recipe: Pesto Quinoa With White Beans

Need easy dinner ideas?

These meals will make your weeknights way simpler. (And tastier!)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending Recipes

Advertisement

Advertisement

Latest Tasty Guides

TikTokers Are Claiming Adding Salt To Your Water Hydrates You Better — Here's What An Expert Says You Need To Know
23 Healthy And Easy Breakfasts Your Kids Will Love
15 New And Easy Back-To-School Meals That’ll Become Part Of Your Weeknight Rotation Forever

Advertisement

Advertisement

Here's What You Should Eat For Breakfast This Weekend
People Are Sharing Subtle Things In A Kitchen That Instantly Indicate The Person Cooking Knows *Exactly* What They're Doing
15 Tried And True Recipes You'll Make Again And Again

Advertisement

Advertisement

People Are Sharing How They’ve Shifted Their Grocery Shopping And Cooking Habits To Be More Budget-Friendly, And I’ll 100% Be Trying All Of These
How To Turn Any Cake Into A Funfetti Cake
Starbucks Just Dropped Their New Fall Food And Drink Menu — Here's My Honest Review Of Everything As A Former Starbucks Barista

Advertisement

Advertisement

Need easy dinner ideas?

These meals will make your weeknights way simpler. (And tastier!)

Advertisement

Advertisement

Share on Pinterest Share on Pinterest Pinterest Pinterest Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share on Email Share on Email More More