30 make-ahead lunchbox meals for work that taste great cold, no microwave or reheating needed
Bringing a packed lunch to work doesn’t have to mean bland or repetitive food. With a few practical, fresh, and balanced recipes, you can prepare complete meals that don’t need to be reheated and still taste great at lunchtime.
Rice salads, cold pasta dishes, tortillas, quiches, hearty sandwiches, and dishes featuring vegetables, tuna, eggs, or chicken are great options for adding variety to your weekly menu. In addition to being economical, these recipes help you better organize your daily routine and ensure a light, delicious, homemade meal even when you’re away from home.
10 cold soup recipes for the perfect appetizer
Cold soups are perfect for packed lunches that don't need to be heated, especially in the summer.
Cool off at the start of your meal with Spain’s famous cold soup: gazpacho! With juicy tomatoes, a touch of olive oil, and a little garlic to bring out the flavors, you have a fresh and tasty starter. Feel free to serve this gazpacho in small glasses...
Do you love Spanish gazpacho? You will adore Salmorejo! Hailing from Cordoba (southern Spain), this thick and frothy cold tomato soup will tantalize your taste buds as an appetizer or starter. An extra-easy recipe that requires no cooking and only a...
To cool off at the start of a meal, nothing beats a good chilled soup! Today, cucumber takes center stage, paired with mint and fromage blanc for an extra-refreshing and flavorful result. As for difficulty, it couldn't be simpler. Just put all the...
To enjoy soups even when it's hot, prepare them cold! Today, we offer you our quick and easy pea soup recipe. This no-cook recipe is perfect for serving in small glasses as an appetizer or as a refreshing starter for a meal.
A refreshing cold soup to start your meal on hot summer days—everyone loves it! Easy and quick to make, this recipe is accessible to all. Today, we suggest blending tomatoes and watermelon with a hint of olive oil. Serve it to your guests as an...
A cold soup to enjoy on hot days! And for a change from traditional Spanish tomato gazpacho, try this radish and goat cheese combination :-) Easy to make, this no-cook recipe is also very quick. Just put all the ingredients in a blender, blend, and...
Don't let the name fool you: ajoblanco doesn't taste like garlic . This cold soup from southern Spain features raw almonds. Its delicate flavor and silky texture make it one of the most refreshing dishes of summer. A relative of gazpacho and...
Introducing a summer vegetable : the tomato. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could enjoy this health-boosting powerhouse all year round? Well, we can! Here's an ultra-easy recipe to make in a large batch, so you can stock up for winter. Just thaw it...
When temperatures rise, gazpacho quickly becomes a must-have. But this time, we’re giving it a seasonal twist with an ingredient (which, admittedly, you wouldn’t necessarily expect in a cold soup): strawberries ! Paired with tomatoes, they add a...
Want to get away from it all? Take your taste buds on a trip to southern Spain with our new video recipe: Andalusian Gazpacho!!
20 recipes for hearty salads, sandwiches, and more
Discover easy recipes for salads, sandwiches, quiches, pies, and other options that are perfect for taking to work. These are tasty ideas that don't need to be reheated and make lunchtime much easier.
This cowpea salad with tuna is a traditional Portuguese recipe that is fresh, nutritious and very easy to prepare. Along with the main ingredients, it includes hard-boiled eggs , tomato, onion, olives and a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing....
Rice salad is the perfect recipe to take on a picnic! Very easy to make, it will be just as simple to slip it into a Tupperware to take anywhere with you. A perfect idea to keep in mind when you're short on inspiration for your packed lunches at...
For an ultra-easy, waste-conscious recipe, try our homemade pasta salad! Perfect for picnics or packed in a Tupperware container for a lunch break at work, it will give your leftover pasta a new lease on life! Vary the ingredients according to the...
Looking for something fresh for lunch? We're sharing our secret recipe for a successful picnic: Lebanese tabbouleh! An explosion of flavors guaranteed ;-) Thanks to flat-leaf parsley and mint, your taste buds will be tingling. Add juicy tomatoes, olive...
You never have enough easy and healthy recipes in your cookbook, right? Especially when you’re looking to make something that will provide several meals . So we suggest using your couscous in a couscous salad recipe ! With seasonal vegetables and...
This potato salad combines simple, flavorful ingredients such as feta cheese , eggs, cherry tomatoes, olives, and fresh parsley. Dressed with olive oil and vinegar, this colorful, light recipe is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. It’s perfect...
Easy to make, this quiche combines the perfect blend of tuna and tomato and is sure to delight you at dinner. It’s quick to prepare, since we don’t always have time to cook. A slice of this quiche served with a mixed salad makes a perfectly balanced...
When we think of Japanese culinary culture, we obviously think of sushi , ramen and even the famous Okonomiyaki omelette... But what we particularly adore is the onigiri ! This little triangle of rice is the ideal snack for an on-the-go lunch,...
As you know, here at Ptitchef, we love quiches when the summer heat starts to set in! Quiche is the perfect dish to take along on a picnic , bring for lunch at work , serve at an appetizer party with friends, or simply enjoy as a meal with a green...
Everyone knows tortilla, this spanish omelet with potatoes. But when you don't have time to peel, cut and cook potatoes, one ingredient can replace them : potato crisps ! One easy recipe, and quick, which will improve a simple breakfast omelet !
As you know, here at Ptitchef, we love quiches when the summer heat starts to set in! Quiche is the perfect dish to take along on a picnic , bring for lunch at work , serve at an appetizer party with friends, or simply enjoy as a meal with a green...
Got some tortillas lying around and don't know what to do with them? Turn them into delicious, easy, budget-friendly quiches ! With just a few eggs, milk, a little mozzarella and bacon, you can make crispy, irresistibly delicious mini-quiches....
Picnic season is about to begin, and what could be better than delicious wraps for a meal to go? This simple and healthy recipe with cooked salmon ( in the microwave , to save time), carrot and lettuce will be perfect for a lunch on the go! Thanks to...
Not just for burgers, burger buns are perfect for cold sandwiches, adding an extra soft touch! This recipe combines lemon-marinated chicken, coleslaw, tomatoes, and basil. Enjoy your meal!
A recipe in spring colors that will bring sunshine to your table! Your sandwich cake will be a hit at any buffet! It’s a kind of surprise loaf that you can simply decorate like a cake. It’s exactly the kind of simple, effective recipe we love at...
If you want a tasty, gluten-free , low carb dinner idea, this zucchini sandwich is the perfect choice. Instead of traditional bread, it uses fresh zucchini thinly sliced and baked with grated mozzarella (or scamorza) for a flavorful, low-carb...
No puff pastry on hand and a sudden craving for quiche ? We've got the perfect solution: use a tortilla as the base! Yes, the one you have left over from your fajita party! It's ultra-convenient, light, and perfect when you need a quick fix. Just...
Lovers of Middle Eastern cuisine are bound to know falafel . These little vegetarian balls, made from chickpeas , are packed with flavor and are usually deep-fried. But today, we’ve decided to make a healthier version that’s just as delicious,...
Farro and tuna salad is a fresh, balanced dish that's perfect for any occasion. Great as a light lunch, a meal to take to work or a quick dinner, it's an ideal choice for those who want to eat healthy without sacrificing taste. In our version,...
Creamy pasta with zucchini , cherry tomatoes , Philadelphia and lemon is one of those pasta dishes that wins you over with its aroma alone: fresh, velvety, colorful and full of delicate yet vibrant flavors. Zucchini add sweetness and...
How to Bring Lunch to Work
Bringing homemade meals to work is a great way to eat better, save money, and avoid the lunch-time rush. To ensure your packed lunch arrives tasty and safe, the secret lies in choosing the right container, proper storage, and taking a few small precautions when packing it.
Cold salads (such as rice, pasta, couscous, chickpea, or black-eyed pea salads) are among the most practical options. Ideally, transport them in airtight containers and, whenever possible, pack the dressing separately so you can mix it in just before eating. This way, the ingredients stay fresh and don’t get soggy. To make the meal more complete, it’s a good idea to include a source of protein, such as tuna, hard-boiled eggs, shredded chicken, cheese, chickpeas, or lentils.
Sandwiches, wraps, and stuffed breads are also perfect for a microwave-free lunch. To keep them from getting too soggy, a good tip is to place dry paper towels between the bread and creamier fillings, such as mayonnaise, fresh cheese, pâtés, or sauces. Another option is to pack the fillings separately and assemble the sandwich at work. Wraps and pressed sandwiches usually hold up well during transport, especially when wrapped in parchment paper or stored in special containers.
Quiches, Spanish tortillas, savory pies, and omelets are excellent choices because they can be eaten cold or at room temperature. Simply cut them into individual slices and store them in tightly sealed containers. They pair very well with a simple salad, raw vegetables, cherry tomatoes, or fruit. They’re also great options to prepare in advance and have ready for several days of the week.
As for cold soups, such as gazpacho, salmorejo, cold cucumber soup, or ajoblanco, they should be transported in airtight bottles or containers, preferably well-chilled. To maintain texture, accompaniments such as croutons, hard-boiled eggs, seeds, fresh herbs, or diced vegetables should be kept separate and added only at the time of serving. This way, the soup stays fresh and is more enjoyable to eat.
Dishes like falafel, baked fritters, onigiri, stuffed vegetables, or grain-based dishes also work very well in cold lunch boxes. They can be served with simple sauces, such as herb-flavored yogurt, hummus, vinaigrette, or tahini, always carried in small containers to prevent the meal from getting soggy.
To transport everything safely, it’s best to use a cooler bag, especially when the recipe includes eggs, tuna, chicken, fish, cheese, yogurt, or mayonnaise. If there’s a refrigerator at work, the lunchbox should be stored there as soon as you arrive. It’s also a good idea to keep crunchy ingredients, greens, and sauces separate until it’s time to eat, ensuring a fresher, more appealing, and more appetizing meal.
With these simple precautions, you can bring varied, balanced, and flavorful meals to work without having to reheat anything. From hearty salads to substantial sandwiches, from quiches to cold soups, there are plenty of practical ideas for turning your everyday packed lunch into a homemade, economical, and delicious meal.
Mirella Mendonça
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