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.
Refresh yourself at the start of the meal with the famous cold soup from Spain: gazpacho! Juicy tomatoes, a hint of olive oil, and a bit of garlic to enhance it all, and you have a fresh and tasty starter. Feel free to serve this gazpacho in small...
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 at appetizer time. An extra easy recipe, no cooking required, and it only needs a few...
To refresh yourself at the start of the meal, nothing beats a good cold soup! Today, cucumber takes center stage, paired with mint and yogurt for an extra fresh and flavorful result. As for difficulty, it couldn't be simpler. Just put all your...
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 propose 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 to change from the traditional Spanish tomato gazpacho, opt for this radish + goat cheese blend :-) Easy to make, this no-cook recipe will also be very quick. Just put all the ingredients in a blender, mix, and...
Don't let the name fool you: ajoblanco does not taste like garlic ("ajo" means "garlic" in Spanish). This cold soup from the south of Spain is made with raw almonds. Its delicate flavor and silky texture make it one of the most refreshing dishes of...
Introducing a vegetable of the summer season: the tomato . How nice it would be if we could benefit from this health bomb all year round... but wait. We can! We offer you this super-easy recipe that you can prepare so that you can stock up for...
When temperatures rise, the 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.
Simple, generous and packed with flavor, this cowpea salad (also known as black-eyed pea salad ) is a classic of Portuguese cuisine. Made with tender beans, tuna, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes and olives, it’s a complete meal that is both satisfying...
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 and waste-free recipe, try our homemade pasta salad! Perfect for picnics or packed in a Tupperware for a lunch break at work, it will give a second life to your leftover pasta! Vary the ingredients according to the seasons to recreate...
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 on fire. Add juicy tomatoes,...
You never have enough easy and healthy recipes in your cookbook, right? Especially when we are looking to do something that will make us several meals . So for that we suggest you use your semolina in a couscous salad! With seasonal vegetables...
This potato salad is a fresh and colorful dish made with feta cheese , eggs, cherry tomatoes, olives and fresh parsley. Simply dressed with olive oil and vinegar, it delivers the perfect balance of flavor and freshness while showcasing classic...
Easy to make, this quiche combining the perfect blend of tuna and tomato will delight you for dinner. Quick to prepare, as we don't always have time to cook, a slice of this quiche accompanied by a mixed salad will make a perfect balanced meal. If...
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,...
We all love quiches when the summer heat is on its way! The quiche is the absolutely perfect dish to take away on a picnic, for lunch break , for an aperitif with friends or as a dish accompanied by a salad. Today we offer you a vegetarian quiche...
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 !
We all love quiches when the summer heat is on its way! The quiche is the absolutely perfect dish to take away on a picnic, for lunch break , for an aperitif with friends or as a dish accompanied by a salad. Today we offer you a vegetarian quiche...
Got some tortillas lying around and don't know what to do with them? Turn them into delicious, easy and economical quiches ! With just a few eggs, milk, a little mozzarella and bacon, you can make crunchy, ultra-gourmet mini-quiches. Perfect for...
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 salad 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 spring-colored recipe that will bring sunshine to your plates! At a buffet, your sandwich cake will be a hit! A kind of surprise bread that you can decorate like a cake. It's clearly the kind of simple and effective recipe we love at Ptitchef:...
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) cheese for a flavorful,...
No puff pastry on hand and a sudden craving for quiche ? We've got the perfect solution: a tortilla as a base! Yes, the one you have left over from your fajita party! It's ultra-convenient, light and a great way to get by. Just add a simple filling...
Lovers of Middle Eastern cuisine are bound to know falafel . These little vegetarian balls full of flavor made from ultra-fragrant chickpeas are generally prepared in deep frying. But today, we decided to tackle a healthy but equally delicious...
Farro and tuna salad is a fresh, balanced dish that is perfect for any occasion. Great as a light lunch, meal to take to work or quick dinner, it is an ideal choice for those who want to eat healthy without sacrificing taste. In our version,...
Creamy pasta with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and lemon is a fresh, colorful first course that’s perfect for summer. Zucchini bring sweetness and lightness, fresh cherry tomatoes add a juicy Mediterranean touch, and cream cheese creates a...
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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