Lunchtime will be a breeze with these make-ahead dishes. Whether you’re looking for pack-and-go salads you can bring along to the office or flavorful bowls for a day of working from home, these lunches will be ready whenever you need them. All of the recipes in this mix of reheatable soups, veggie-packed salads and tasty grain bowls are lower in calories and high in protein and/or fiber to support healthy weight loss if that’s your goal. Recipes like our Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce and Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls are healthy ways to prep ahead and meet your nutritional goals.
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Spinach, Broccoli & Mushroom Quiche
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This quiche is a high-protein dish that works for any meal of the day. You can enjoy it as a hearty breakfast, a light lunch with a side salad, or even a satisfying dinner alongside roasted vegetables. It’s the best way to get your veggies and protein all in one easy dish!
No-Chicken Salad Sandwich
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This no-chicken salad sandwich made with chickpeas is a delicious plant-based alternative to the classic chicken salad. Serve it on whole-grain bread, in a wrap, over a salad or with crackers for an easy lunch.
Loaded Chicken & Broccoli Salad
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
With tender, juicy chicken and crisp, fresh broccoli as the base, this salad delivers a satisfying bite in every forkful. A creamy dressing ties everything together, while mix-ins like crispy bacon, shredded cheese and scallions add layers of flavor.
Beet & White Bean Sandwiches
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
These sandwiches have a vibrant, creamy filling. Pickling the beets in rice vinegar and thyme leads to a tangy, herb-infused flavor. Combining the beets and beans with alfalfa sprouts, red onion and your favorite bread, these sandwiches are a satisfying plant-based lunch.
High-Protein Lemon & Turmeric Chicken Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Turmeric, which is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, gives the soup its vibrant yellow hue. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re sick or simply warming up on a chilly day. We love tender-crisp baby kale, but chopped kale or baby spinach can be used in its place.
Farro & White Bean Salad
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
This Mason jar grain salad is the perfect grab-and-go lunch. This colorful salad layers together farro, bell pepper, beets and arugula, all of which offer fiber and antioxidants that can help lower inflammation in your body. White beans add some plant-based protein to help you stay satisfied throughout the afternoon.
Get Your Greens Quiche
photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle
This crustless quiche is packed with nutrient-rich collard greens and broccoli, making it a delicious way to enjoy more veggies. Paired with nutty Gruyère cheese, the result is a quiche that comes together effortlessly.
Sick Day Chicken Noodle Soup
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
This sick-day chicken noodle soup is packed with tender chicken, warm broth and soft noodles. The combination of ginger and garlic boosts flavor, while the warm broth helps keep you hydrated. Ready in just 20 minutes, this soup is the perfect dish, offering comfort with minimal effort.
Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce
Photographer: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and store them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long.
Tuna, White Bean & Dill Salad
Take canned tuna to new heights by adding creamy cannellini beans, fresh dill and a tangy Dijon dressing.
Salmon Salad–Stuffed Avocado
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Addelyn Evans
Good-quality canned salmon is high in protein and brain-loving omega-3 fatty acids. Mix it with pesto-spiked yogurt and pile it old-school style into a halved avocado for a quick healthy lunch.
Spicy Weight-Loss Cabbage Soup
Based on a popular weight loss plan, this healthy cabbage soup recipe gets tons of flavor and a metabolism-boosting kick from spicy chiles.
Crustless Salmon, Leek & Mushroom Quiche
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek
This crustless salmon, spinach and mushroom quiche is easy to make. Serve it for brunch, lunch or even dinner with a simple side salad. Without a crust, this quiche comes together quickly and is also gluten-free.
Vegan Superfood Grain Bowls
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This nutrient-packed grain bowl recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few convenience-food shortcuts like prewashed baby kale, microwaveable quinoa and precooked beets. Pack these ahead to keep on hand for easy meal-prep lunches or dinners on busy nights.
Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Taco Bowls
Ali Redmond
A bold, smoky marinade elevates roasted cauliflower in this meal-prep version of our popular Chipotle-Lime Cauliflower Tacos. To cut down on prep time for these healthy taco bowls, look for precut cauliflower in the produce department. You can also save time by using microwaveable quinoa pouches (you’ll need one 8-ounce pouch for this recipe) instead of cooking quinoa.
Cumin Chicken & Chickpea Skillet
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
This quick, protein-rich chicken skillet recipe draws flavor inspiration from shawarma with spices like cumin, paprika and pepper. Make a double batch and freeze it for a quick, healthy dinner. Serve with couscous and steamed broccoli.
Meal-Prep Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls
Skip takeout and whip up these equally delicious and easy-to-make burrito bowls at home. They’re great for a fast and easy dinner or a healthy meal to pack for work throughout the week.
Teriyaki Tofu Rice Bowls
With a handful of shortcut ingredients from your grocery store, including precooked rice packets and seasoned baked tofu, you can prepare several high-fiber, high-protein meals in about 15 minutes.
Lemon-Roasted Vegetable Hummus Bowls
Brimming with colorful roasted vegetables, these plant-based meal-prep lunch bowls are high in fiber to keep you full throughout the afternoon.
Stuffed Cabbage Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Like stuffed cabbage? You’ll love this easy cabbage soup. It’s got all of the classic flavors of stuffed cabbage without all the fuss of stuffing.
Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad Bowls
Pasta salad is a classic summer side dish, but adding protein (leftover grilled chicken is perfect here) and extra greens makes it a super-satisfying lunch. Top with a bright and tangy basil vinaigrette just before serving.
