25 Lunch Ideas for Packing a Better Brown Bag Lunch

By Mary Shannon Wells

Lunch can be a difficult task to tackle during the week. Meal prepping is a great tool, but it doesn’t always pan out if your Sunday schedule fills up. It’s also easy to get in the habit of eating lunch out with coworkers, which can rack up the calories (and the bills). With these packed lunch ideas, mealtime is no longer a worry. These brown bag lunch recipes are healthy, easy to make, and portable. It can be hard to eat light and fill up, but these recipes have plenty of protein to keep you full (without feeling like you need an afternoon nap after eating). Whether you crave soups you can heat up at the office, easy salads you can put together in a flash, or all-in-one bowl recipes, let these lunch ideas be your healthy guide. Leave that sad turkey sandwich and bag of salad behind—these recipes will upgrade your midday needs.

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Smoky White Bean Soup

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Smoky White Bean Soup

This comforting, healthy soup recipe is also a one-pot dish that’s ready in 25 minutes, so there’s nothing negative about this recipe.

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Almond-Chicken Wrap

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Almond-Chicken Wrap 

This light take on chicken salad is healthy, and serving it in a wrap is portable, so it’s your match made in brown-bag-lunch heaven.

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Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad 

Colorful, healthy, and so tasty, this shrimp salad can go to work for lunch or be served at home for a dressy luncheon.

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Black-Eyed Pea Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Black-Eyed Pea Fritter Sandwiches with Slaw 

Falafel goes Southern with this recipe that’s perfect for eating on the go. You’ll want to use the Dijon mustard-yogurt sauce on everything after you try it.

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Burrito Bowls

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Burrito Bowls

Customize your toppings for these healthy burrito bowls and never get bored with lunch again.

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Pea Pesto Flatbread

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Pea Pesto Flatbread

Instead of getting a greasy slice of cheese, try this fresh flatbread for a healthy upgrade.

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Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken 

Candied pecans provide a hint of sweetness to this filling salad. Pack the dressing in a separate container and drizzle it on just before you eat.

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Ranch Turkey Burgers

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Ranch Turkey Burgers

Trying to eat healthy but need a burger fix? Here’s your too-good-for-words recipe.

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Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Hearty Beef and Freezer Veggie Soup

For a cozy meal, there’s nothing quite like a warm bowl of beef soup, but it takes hours to simmer or slow cook to perfection. Not so with this recipe! It’s the most delicious shortcut we’ve ever found.

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Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Cuban Black Bean-and-Yellow Rice Bowls

These colorful, meatless bowls are packed with filling, good-for-you ingredients. You’ll have the most flavorful lunchbox in the work refrigerator.

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Garlic Shrimp and Herbed Couscous Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp and Herbed Couscous Salad

You’ll add this light, bright recipe to your weekly roundup. Serve it alone or over a bed of lightly dressed salad greens.

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Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes

Sara Tane

Recipe: Copycat Starbucks Bistro Boxes

Whether you need a light lunch idea or snacks for those long afternoons, these healthful boxes are great for meal-prepping at the start of the week.

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Easy Artichoke Pasta Toss

Grace Elkus

Recipe: Easy Artichoke Pasta Toss

If you don’t want to wait for the office microwave, this easy (and we mean so easy) pasta can be served at room temperature. Add grilled or rotisserie chicken for a protein boost.

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Farro Bowl with Curry-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food styling: Karen Rankin

Recipe: Farro Bowl with Curry-Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts

If you think meatless means less flavor, let this hearty recipe prove you wrong.

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Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Greek Meatballs with Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce and Rice

Serve the meatballs over rice or make meatball pitas with cucumber-yogurt sauce for two healthy, Mediterranean lunch options.

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Chicken, White Bean, and Spinach Salad

Photo: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chicken, White Bean, and Spinach Salad

Slow cookers and meal prep go hand-in-hand. Prepare the beans, chicken, and dressing on Sunday in the slow cooker, and assemble individual salads each day until your ingredients run out.

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Vidalia Onion Soup

Southern Living

Recipe: Vidalia Onion Soup

Instead of going out for lunch, make this quick, savory soup. Don’t forget a piece of crusty bread for dipping!

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Ham Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Ham Salad

Served over a bed of greens, on a buttery croissant, or with crackers, ham salad is a Southern dish made for lunchtime.

 

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Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mini Quiches

Make these quiches up to two days ahead and have them ready to go in the refrigerator. They’re served at room temperature, so no office microwave required, and individual servings make portion control easy.

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Soba Noodle-and-Shrimp Bowls

Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Soba Noodle-and-Shrimp Bowls

These noodle bowls have tons of Asian flavor without tons of calories. They’re served chilled or at room temperature, so they’re perfect for work.

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Poached Salmon Salad with Pickled Snap Peas

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Poached Salmon Salad with Pickled Snap Peas

Calling all green goddess-dressing lovers—here’s a springy recipe for you to try. Thank us later!

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Turkey Quesadillas

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Turkey Quesadillas

These healthy quesadillas will keep you from going to the Mexican restaurant next door during lunch hour. Filled with turkey, caramelized onions and peppers, pepper Jack cheese, and guacamole, these quesadillas will be a home run.

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Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad

Stephen DeVries

Recipe: Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad

This Southwest salad, topped with homemade tortilla strips, is anything but boring. The tangy lime vinaigrette is a new salad dressing staple for us.

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Gulf Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Gulf Crab Cakes with Lemon Butter

Make these crab cakes for dinner and take the leftovers to work the next day with a side green salad for a fancy midweek treat.

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Chicken and Charred Succotash Salad

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken and Charred Succotash Salad   

This colorful salad can be served hot or cold. It’s the best combo a lunch can be—filling and healthy.

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