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15+ 3-Step, Make-Ahead Lunch Recipes

Introduction

Make your week a bit easier by prepping these delicious lunches ahead of time! With only three steps to prepare them, each dish is simple to make and packed with flavor. From cozy soups to hearty grain bowls to colorful salads, there’s no shortage of tasty dishes that will make a perfect midday meal. Try options like our Stuffed Cabbage Soup and our Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad for a healthy lunch you can grab and go!

Lunch Recipes

Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers

This creamy yet light vegan salad is full of bright, herby goodness. On its own, it’s great to serve alongside a sandwich or veggie burger in place of potato salad or coleslaw. You can also make it into a light lunch by adding a handful of arugula to enjoy it as a green salad. Double the recipe and refrigerate to have on hand throughout the week.

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Stuffed Cabbage Soup

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.

Broccoli-Cranberry Salad

This easy broccoli salad is tossed in a creamy dressing and spiked with sweet cranberries, Cheddar cheese and toasty walnuts. This easy side is great for lunch—add shredded chicken to make it a main dish.

Walnut Pesto Pasta Salad

Fresh tomatoes and roasted red peppers add a pop of bright color and juiciness here, but any of your favorite pasta-salad veggies, like blanched broccoli and fresh bell peppers, would be delicious too.

Falafel Tabbouleh Bowls with Tzatziki

Meal-prepping a week’s worth of lunches doesn’t need to take hours in the kitchen. These meal-prep bowls can be prepared in just 10 minutes and only require 4 ingredients–greens, falafel, tabbouleh and tzatziki. We love going to our local specialty grocery store for fast shortcut ingredients like these. The high-fiber falafel and tabbouleh will help to keep you feeling satisfied all afternoon.

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.

Cucumber Pasta Salad

This light and tangy cucumber pasta salad is fresh and bright. The orecchiette pasta holds the dressing for flavor in every bite, but you can use another small pasta shape if you like. This easy salad is perfect for a warm day or to serve as a lunch dish for…

Buffalo-Style Bistro Lunch Box

These tailgate-inspired lunch bowls can be assembled in about 15 minutes using just a handful of ingredients, like pregrilled chicken and spicy Buffalo-flavored hummus. We’re packing these up with crunchy veggie sticks and blue cheese so you can savor all the game-day flavors, but for a fraction of the calories.

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas

This healthy high-fiber salad comes together in just 10 minutes. Serve it right away or pack it in individual servings for four super-satisfying high-fiber lunches for the week ahead. To cut down on prep time, we’re using preshredded Brussels sprouts from the produce department and store-bought roasted chickpeas. Look for roasted chickpea snacks with the healthy snacks or nuts at your grocery store.

Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing

Prep four days’ worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can’t find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Avocado-Buttermilk Dressing

This herb-loaded green goddess-inspired dressing gets a color boost from creamy avocado. Make a double batch of this healthy salad dressing to keep on hand for salads throughout the week.

Chopped Rainbow Salad Bowls with Peanut Sauce

Make good use of crunchy and colorful seasonal produce in these meal-prep-friendly vegetable bowls. With just 30 minutes of prep, you get four healthy lunches that are ready to grab-and-go. We use bulgur, which cooks faster and is higher in fiber than brown rice, but you could swap in quinoa (or any hearty whole grain). Feel free to add chopped cooked chicken, shrimp or tofu for extra protein.

Quinoa Deli Salad

This healthy version of a deli salad combines hearty quinoa and chickpeas with small amounts of ham and mozzarella, so you get all of the flavor without overdoing it on the sodium. This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day.

Zucchini Noodle Bowls with Chicken Sausage & Pesto

Cut down on prep time for this meal-prep zoodle recipe by using premade zucchini noodles from the produce section. Canned beans and precooked chicken sausage heat in about 5 minutes and add protein, while store-bought refrigerated pesto serves as a fast and flavorful topping.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these 15+ 3-Step, Make-Ahead Lunch Recipes are perfect for busy individuals who want to prep healthy and delicious lunches in advance. With minimal ingredients and effort, you can create a variety of meals that are packed with flavor and nutrients. Try out these recipes and see how they can simplify your meal prep routine!

FAQs

Q: Can I customize these recipes to fit my dietary needs?

A: Yes, absolutely! Feel free to swap out ingredients and make adjustments to suit your dietary needs and preferences.

Q: How long do these make-ahead lunches keep?

A: The shelf life of these make-ahead lunches will depend on the ingredients used and how they are stored. Generally, they can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.

Q: Can I freeze these make-ahead lunches?

A: Yes, many of these recipes can be frozen for later use. Simply portion them out into individual containers, label and date them, and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Q: How do I reheat these make-ahead lunches?

A: Reheating instructions will vary depending on the recipe. Generally, you can reheat them in the microwave or oven until they are hot and steaming.