We’re talking all about meal prep lunches today!
With 2020 being complete crazy, who else needs some lunch inspo? I mean, I just need a moment to step out of the kitchen and eat a delicious lunch…
So!
I’m always on the fence about meal prepping entire lunches for the week. I talk about this a TON in my book coming out next year – and it includes so many helpful meal prep tips and plans. However, the same theme remains: I hate to meal prep for five full days and the eat the same thing for lunch.
However! Not everyone is like me. Take Eddie for example, ha. We make his lunches on Sunday for four days. These recipes are some examples of what we make – because he wants more of a “meal” for lunch (i.e. not a salad or a sandwich, in Eddie speak) and he always wants to make it and pack it up. For all of these below, you can fully make them and stick them in a container, with the except of one salad.
While I prefer to make batches of soup and freeze half, then do two or three lunches (so the other two days have variety), most of these will make at least four servings!
15 Meal Prep Lunches
Fire Roasted Minestrone. My favorite way to prep this for lunches is to make a batch, freeze half, then use it for lunches for the week. I find that this is so much better than eating it for dinner, then using it for lunches. I get meal boredom easily. Then use the frozen batch for dinner in few weeks!
Greek Orzo Salad in a Jar. I adore this meal so much. It’s one that gets better as it sits! It’s also very customizable – you can use different beans or grains too.
Salsa Chicken Quinoa. This meal is incredible as leftovers. It’s one that you can add toppings to, or easy alone, and it will still be delish.
Smoky Butternut Kale Salad. Kale salads are one salad I actually still enjoy a day or so after they are made. The kale is so hearty and chewy that it can hold up in the fridge. I do suggest waiting to dress these until it’s time to eat!
Ginger Sweet Potato Soup. I LOVE this for lunch because it’s light yet satisfying at the same time. The ginger is refreshing and it is such a good lunch soup.
Baja Grain Bowls. I put the base of these together all the time for lunches. It is wonderful. If you have the time or work from home, you can top it with more ingredients like yogurt or avocado. Or, you can throw those things in the corner of the container and mix it all up together when it’s time to eat!
Sheet Pan Smoked Turkey Sausage and Peppers. This is easily one our most made meals for lunch, ever! Sometimes I’ll make a batch of brown jasmine rice and portion it out with this.
Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwiches. This chickpea salad gets better as it sits. You can totally prep it ahead of time and make an actual sandwich on bread or toast. It lasts – and the salad doesn’t get too wet or soggy.
Easy Turkey Chili. I have lots of chili recipes but this is my favorite. It comes together SO super fast, is very flavorful and is perfect for portioning out for lunch. It’s a smaller batch than most chilis (it serves 4), so it’s great for the week.
Grilled Vegetable Orzo with Smashed Feta Vinaigrette. Perhaps my favorite meal of the entire bunch! This one is loaded with flavor and you can use whatever veggies you like. Also, if you want to roast instead of grill, go for it!
Maple Sheet Pan Smoked Sausage with Brussels and Squash. Another favorite that is so flavorful and SO good for lunch! Again, if you want to pair it with brown rice or something similar, go for it.
Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls. They only part I don’t add in until the last minute is the avocado and the dressing. And if you’re in a pinch, just skip the avo slices and add a few dollops of guac.
Turkey Taco Stuffed Peppers. These are SO GOOD for leftovers! Now I do suggest heating them with a little but of melted cheese and topping with guac, but they are excellent for lunches, and also really good over a bed of lettuce!
Squash Pasta with Brown Butter and Goat Cheese. While I usually use summer squash for this, I’ve made it multiple times in the winter with zucchini since it’s readily available. It’s delish and reheats so well.
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas. This is one that Eddie loves to take to work. You can bring tortillas with it, or even eat it with tortilla chips. You can also serve it with brown rice.
Korean Beef Bowls. Okay, so technically this is 16, but I couldn’t pass it up! This is SUPER simple, tastes better as it sits and is so easy to prep ahead. I make it with quinoa often too!
