No microwave? No problem. These cold lunch ideas are designed to be eaten straight from the lunch bag – think pasta salads, grain bowls, wraps, snack plates, and hearty sandwiches. They’re great for school lunches, job sites without a kitchen, or even at-home days when you don’t want to dirty a dish. These meals are all about convenience without sacrificing nutrition or taste.
Pinwheels
These tasty Pinwheels are made with tortillas, meat, cheese, and fresh veggies – perfect as a quick lunch on the go!
Tuna Pasta Salad
This Tuna Pasta Salad is the perfect fresh, hearty and filling salad. And it’s easy to make with canned tuna, veggies and a simple creamy dressing.
Orzo Salad
Greek Chickpea Salad
This Greek Chickpea Salad is a fresh and healthy vegetarian dish, full of veggies and plant-based protein – perfect as a main or side.
Chef’s Salad with Egg
This Chef’s Salad with Egg is a filling protein packed meal with hard boiled eggs, avocado, bacon, veggies, and a simple ranch dressing.
White Bean Salad with Tomatoes
This White Bean Salad with Tomatoes is a fresh, veggie-packed, protein-rich salad – healthy and vegetarian!
Italian Chopped Salad
Bruschetta Chicken Salad
Chicken Salad
This Chicken Salad recipe is a simple and healthy option, made with fresh poached chicken and a creamy low-fat Greek yogurt dressing.
Easy Classic Italian Pasta Salad
This Easy Classic Italian Pasta Salad is a quick and flavorful meal packed with olives, artichokes, arugula, tomatoes, roasted peppers, mozzarella, and Parmesan.
Easy Homemade Hummus
This Easy Homemade Hummus Recipe is a quick, healthy snack or appetizer made with simple, wholesome ingredients.
Halloumi Salad
This Halloumi Salad is loaded with fresh veggies, healthy protein, and fats, making it a tasty vegetarian lunch.
Easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
This Easy Mediterranean Chickpea Salad is a great make-ahead lunch for busy days and works perfectly as a healthy side or main dish.
These lunch recipes are perfect for those who do have access to a microwave or toaster oven. They include soups and other warm, hearty dishes that hold up beautifully when reheated. Ideal for work-from-home parents, older kids, or anyone who loves a cozy meal in the middle of the day and has access to a microwave at work or school. Most can be prepped ahead or batch cooked and frozen in portions, so lunch is always ready to go.
Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup
This Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup is an easy recipe with basic ingredients – creamy, smooth, and ready in 20 minutes.
Easy Homemade Ramen Bowls
These Easy Homemade Ramen Bowls are the perfect quick lunch for busy days, made with plenty of veggies, noodles, and a savoury broth.
Mexican Tortilla Soup
Savour a healthy and flavourful Mexican Tortilla Soup that’s easy to prepare and can be made vegan – ideal for lunch or dinner.
Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowls
These Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowls are the perfect healthy lunch or dinner recipe that’s great for meal prep. Make it vegetarian or vegan.
Easy Chicken Shawarma
This easy Chicken Shawarma recipe is the best sheet pan chicken for a quick meal made with a simple yogurt chicken shawarma marinade.
Easy Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas
Power Bowl
A nutritious meal-prep lunch featuring seasoned roasted cauliflower, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, fresh kale, and tahini dressing.
Easy Healthy Turkey Veggie Meatballs
These Easy Turkey Veggie Meatballs are a healthy twist on the classic – made with lean ground turkey and loaded with veggies, they’re low in fat and calories but full of protein and flavour.
Protein Pasta
This Protein Pasta recipe is a fast and simple meal featuring a homemade, high-protein sauce — packing over 30 grams of protein per serving!
Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls
These Easy Korean Beef Rice Bowls are a flavourful and healthy weeknight meal, perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner!
Easy Baked Feta Pasta
This Easy Baked Feta Pasta is a delicious vegetarian dish made with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and spinach for a flavourful meal.