20 Easy Lunches You Can Take To The Office—That Won't Make People Hate You
Delicious Dishes That Won't Annoy Your Coworkers
Bringing lunch to work is a great way to save money, but certain meals can make you surprisingly unpopular around the office. After all, we’ve all complained about fishy microwaves or messy sauces that stain the communal dining table. The thing is, you can whip up plenty of delicious options that won't leave your coworkers questioning your judgment—and we’re here to ensure you have a full tummy and a happy room of colleagues!
1. Turkey and Swiss Sandwich
A classic turkey and Swiss sandwich is an excellent choice when you want something filling without any lingering odors or unnecessary attention. All you need to do is layer sliced turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and a little honey mustard between two slices of whole wheat bread for a satisfying meal. It works well with healthy snacks, too, like fruit or a handful of popcorn!
2. Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
Cold pasta salads don’t get enough attention, despite being one of the best things you can pack on a busy morning! They’re simple to make as well. It’s just tossing cooked rotini with shredded chicken, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and a modest amount of basil pesto for a flavorful lunch.
3. Ham and Cheese Croissant
Sometimes we get hungry a little earlier in the day, and that calls for something more akin to brunch. Well, look no further than a buttery croissant filled with sliced ham, mild cheddar, and crisp lettuce! The combo provides plenty of flavor without requiring complicated preparation.
4. Greek Chicken Pita
For something a little more interesting than a sandwich, try stuffing a soft pita with seasoned chicken and fresh vegetables. It’s just as healthy and delicious, but this one has diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and a spoonful of mild tzatziki for a Mediterranean-inspired lunch. Keep the dressing in a separate container, though, to prevent soggy bread.
5. Mini Caprese Sandwiches
We all know the appeal of mini candy bars, but mini food is just as exciting! Fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and basil are all you need to make a simple Italian-inspired lunch taste and feel special. Assemble everything inside small ciabatta rolls, add a drizzle of olive oil, and your coworkers won't have to endure any strong smells or lengthy kitchen prep.
6. Chicken Fried Rice
No one said that office lunches had to be boring! Leftover rice can become an excellent office lunch with a few basic ingredients and minimal effort. Simply combine cooked rice with diced chicken, peas, carrots, and a small splash of low-sodium soy sauce. A quick microwave session is usually enough to reheat a portion you stored overnight, and the mild ingredients won't overwhelm the break room.
7. Roast Beef and Cheddar Roll-Ups
Traditional sandwiches aren't your only option when you have deli meats and cheese on hand. Spread a little cream cheese onto a flour tortilla before adding roast beef, cheddar, and baby spinach, then roll everything tightly and slice it into manageable pieces. You’re left with bite-sized portions that are particularly convenient when you're eating between meetings.
8. Baked Potato With Broccoli and Cheese
Call it crazy, but a baked potato actually makes a satisfying lunch, especially when you've already cooked it! To keep yours healthy, top it with steamed broccoli, shredded cheddar, and a small spoonful of sour cream. It’s a simple meal that’s more substantial than another cold sandwich.
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9. BBQ Chicken Sliders
Leftover shredded chicken gets a lot more exciting when you add a little BBQ sauce and serve it on soft slider buns. Though it sounds messy, it’s really not with the right prep! Prepare two or three small sandwiches with a mild, sweet sauce and a few slices of cucumber for extra crunch. Keeping the filling light prevents sauce from dripping everywhere, so you won’t be blamed for any splashes.
10. Cheese Tortellini With Butter and Herbs
Refrigerated cheese tortellini cooks quickly and requires very little prep to turn it into lunch—it’s basically the ultimate win-win! After boiling the pasta, toss it with a little melted butter, parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese. It’s a mild combination that reheats easily without the lingering aromas you get with heavier garlic sauces or seafood dishes.
11. Turkey and Avocado Bagel
Turkey and avocado in one go? Talk about getting your nutrients! Bagels also make excellent lunchtime alternatives to ordinary sandwich bread because they're sturdy enough to hold more ingredients. Fill a toasted whole wheat bagel with sliced turkey, avocado, lettuce, and a thin layer of mayo for a meal that doesn't feel boring and will actually fuel you at noon.
12. Mild Chicken Quesadilla
Don’t scare yourself away from flavor—you don't need an elaborate Mexican-inspired meal to enjoy something flavorful during lunch. Prepare a quesadilla at home using shredded chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, and a flour tortilla, then slice it into wedges once it's cooled a bit. It tastes good reheated or chilled, so you get the best of both worlds.
13. Couscous With Roasted Vegetables
Couscous is an excellent option for busy mornings; many varieties require need a few minutes of prep. No, really! All you need to do is combine the cooked grains with roasted zucchini, bell peppers, carrots, and a little olive oil for a colorful lunch that's still enjoyable at room temperature. You can add diced chicken or cubed tofu for a bit of protein as well.
14. Mini Turkey Meatballs With Rice
Homemade turkey meatballs are surprisingly convenient when you actually make a batch over the weekend. When you prepare them ahead of time, you can easily pair three or four fully cooked meatballs with brown rice and steamed green beans. It’s a meal that reheats neatly in a covered microwave-safe container, too!
15. Apple and Cheddar Chicken Salad
Not every chicken salad needs onions to taste delicious. No, sometimes you need to think outside the box, and that’s where cooked chicken with diced apples and celery comes in. You can also add a bit of mild cheddar and a little plain Greek yogurt for a refreshing sweet and savory combo.
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16. Vegetable and Cream Cheese Wrap
A colorful wrap is perfect for anyone who wants something fresh without spending an arm and a leg on the ingredients to do it. This simple recipe only needs plain or cream cheese on a large tortilla before adding shredded carrots, baby spinach, and red bell pepper. Roll it tightly and refrigerate it until lunchtime, preferably with a little deli turkey or another protein if you're really hungry!
17. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Soup can absolutely work as an office lunch, provided you choose something mild and transport it in a reliable container. And what better option than the trusty homemade chicken noodle soup? It’s really just shredded chicken, carrots, celery, and egg noodles, offering familiar flavors without any strong aromas. Pack it in a leakproof thermos that keeps it safely hot, and you can chow down any time.
18. Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Shells
If you're craving something more comforting, a small serving of stuffed pasta shells can be an excellent choice. Fill jumbo pasta shells with ricotta, spinach, and a little mozzarella, then bake them with a modest amount of tomato sauce. Preparing those portions ahead of time makes reheating straightforward, so you won’t be in a rush come lunchtime.
19. Chicken and Sweet Potato Bowl
Roasted sweet potatoes offer a delicious alternative to rice when you're preparing lunches for the workweek. Combine cubed sweet potatoes with grilled chicken, steamed green beans, and a little olive oil for a balanced meal that keeps its texture after refrigeration. Everything can be reheated together in a single container, so there's no need to occupy the office kitchen with a bunch of different dishes.
20. Homemade Lunchables
There's no reason adults can't enjoy the convenience of those little lunches from childhood. Go ahead—get creative! Fill a reusable container with whole grain crackers, sliced turkey, cheddar cubes, grapes, and cucumber rounds for a meal that requires absolutely no cooking. You'll have plenty of variety to enjoy throughout your break, and the only thing your coworkers might complain about is not having thought of it themselves.
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