Bringing your lunch to work for a week is a wonderful way to save money and fuel up on major flavor. These inviting dishes may inspire you to start packing a brown bag, even a few days out of the week. Take a look!
I Want More! Get our newsletter by tapping the button below. Instant Subscribe By signing up, I agree to the Terms & to receive emails from POPSUGAR.
A Greek-inspired salad of chickpeas, farro, greens, olives, and feta will inspire lunch-envy from your co-workers.
Cashew cream adds lush texture to wild-mushroom soup.
This salad really does have everything! Kale, mint, raisins, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and other scrumptious ingredients work together to turn your meal into a beautiful orchestra of flavors.
A big batch of slow-cooker beans and quinoa yields enough for a whole week of lunches. (Hot sauce, scallions, and cheddar ensure you won't be sick of it by Friday.)
If you love caesar salad but need a change of pace, then look no further. Kale adds a bit of bite to enliven an otherwise classic caesar. Just make sure to pack the croutons separately so they don't get soggy.
A rainbow in a bowl, this citrus quinoa dish incorporates plenty of fresh produce. Prepare to make your co-workers jealous when you bust this out at lunch.
It's classic and comforting — and you can wrap a turkey club in foil to go. Plus, it doesn't hurt that the smoky turkey and bacon complement the buttery flavors of the avocado and cheddar cheese perfectly.
Corn kernels, black beans, and confetti-like diced bell peppers, radishes, and red onion combine into a hearty, salsa-like salad.
Instead of beef, chicken, or turkey, this loaded chili is bulked up with quinoa for a vegetarian-friendly recipe.
If you like pad thai, then you'll love this Thai-influenced quinoa recipe. It contains all of the best elements of the classic dish, such as peanuts, cilantro, and bean sprouts, with a fun twist: it substitutes quinoa for rice noodles.
Gruyère, mushrooms, and caramelized onions add umami oomph to a kale and wild rice casserole. Reheat a leftover slice for a lovely lunch.
Adding steak to a heaping pile of greens and noodles is a delicious way to use up leftover beef. Follow this recipe and toss the noodles in the dressing the night before. That way, it's easy packing the next morning.
Add this quinoa mason jar salad with sweet potatoes and a Thai-style dressing to your lunch rotation.
Pack a hunk of bread alongside this slow-cooker white bean recipe for mopping up its brothy sauce.
If you love the rich nutty flavor of peanut noodles, try this spicy tahini soba noodle salad; sesame-based tahini has a similarly rich flavor to peanut butter.
This zesty marinated chickpea salad is basically two recipes in one. It's great as a stand-alone salad, but it can also be combined with roasted bell peppers and olives between bread for a memorable sandwich.
Nothing says work lunch more than a turkey sandwich. We love this version that combines layers of turkey meat with watercress, manchego, and pear butter.
If you can't find millet, substitute brown rice in this satisfying millet, lentil, and pomegranate salad.
The ingredient list of this chicken salad with kale calls for a variety of colors and textures — think crunchy cucumber, creamy avocado, leafy kale, and comforting quinoa with a lemon-flavored dressing that will easily make your co-workers jealous.
If you've yet to get on board with the mason jar salad trend, this roasted sweet potato and quinoa option is a great place to start.
Make use of cherries when they're in season with a quinoa salad with cherries and feta. The juicy-salty combo mixes with parsley, shallot, and almonds for a brown-bag lunch like you've never tried.
Plenty of vegetables — caramelized onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and sun-dried tomatoes — bulk up this crave-worthy Mediterranean quiche.
Instead of getting a takeout chopped salad, whip up this homemade take that packs chickpeas, turkey, mozzarella, bulgur, cucumbers, and more into each bite.
A hearty farro salad is guaranteed to give you the energy needed for a long day at work. The citrus vinaigrette dressing and fruit add a lively spring to this salad's step.
Bold and saucy, barbecue black-eyed peas make for a solid lunch when paired with millet, brown rice, or quinoa.
This zoodle, quinoa, pea, and feta salad is so fresh and so green.
For a sturdier spin on classic tabbouleh, use quinoa instead of bulgur.
Forgo the sandwich altogether and wrap a Cobb salad instead. Just grab some flatbread and you'll be on your way to some bacon, chicken, blue cheese, egg, and avocado goodness in no time!
If you bring this quinoa salad for lunch, be sure to pack the arugula separately and add it before eating, lest it wilt.
This vegan chili is a year-round option thanks to canned pumpkin.
With its piquant flavors and toothsome texture, sun-dried tomato pasta salad is sure to rise you out of a midday slump.
This edamame- and carrot-packed spicy peanut soba noodle salad will keep you full all afternoon long.
Pop this chicken spaghetti casserole into the oven for dinner and look forward to enjoying what's left for lunch the following day.
Keep your croutons crunchy and your lettuce wilt-free by packing this chicken and kale caesar for lunch at the office.
Antipasto elements, including olives, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes, enliven pasta salad.
While your office probably doesn't have a stovetop or oven, chances are there's a functioning microwave. Make a pot of spicy tomato soup and reheat it at work. (Swap crumbled Cheez-Its for the grilled cheese croutons since leftover grilled cheese isn't great.)
Step away from the chips and guac! This zesty guacamole mason jar salad offers a satisfyingly tangy crunch with every single bite.
Low effort to make (it's a straightforward, set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe) and great as leftovers, this hearty chili is a no-brainer inclusion to this list.
If your ideal salad is a mix of savory and sweet, this grilled beet and apple salad offers the ideal fruity twist on traditional greens.
More fibrous leafy vegetables like brussels sprouts and kale hold up well overnight, even when dressed, like this salad with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and a maple-mustard vinaigrette.
Like all pasta salads, this Mediterranean orzo-based version tastes better after the ingredients have a few hours (at least) to mingle.
Treat yourself to a slice of caramelized shallot and mushroom quiche.
You'll look forward to lunch all day when this marinated white bean salad is packed in your work bag.
For a lighter take on cobb salad, try this fresh recipe. Craving something a bit heartier? Go classic.
This sesame-ginger soba noodle salad is full of Southeast Asian flavor.
