These Lunch Ideas Will Get You Excited for That Afternoon Break (2024)

This pasta salad is packed to the brim with crunchy veggies and hearty ham and cheese. If that weren't enough, the dressing is lemony, mustardy, and perfectly creamy.

Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.

SHOP LUNCH BOXES

This over-the-top sandwich is big enough for the whole family! It piles on layers of salami, pepperoni, ham, and mortadella, along with cheese, veggies, olives, and banana peppers. It's sure to rival any deli.

Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.

You don't need to spend time making homemade crust for this variation on a sausage quiche, Instead, the edges get nice and golden after a quick bake in the oven. Best of all, you can prep this ahead and serve at room temperature!

Get the Crustless Quiche recipe.

This fun weekday salad is so easy to toss together, but if you want to get a head start on chopping, you can prep all of the vegetables (except the avocado) and store in air tight containers. Then, shake up the zesty jalapeño dressing in a jar on the side.

Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.

Shrimp and grits are cozy and comforting, but they only take 20 minutes to make! Just be sure to use quick cook grits that are faster to make than the stone-ground variety.

Get Ree's Shrimp and Grits recipe.

SHOP COOKWARE

Sometimes, simple is best—as is the case with this tomato sandwich. The thick slices of heirloom tomatoes are paired with garlic aioli and basil for a delightfully easy sandwich.

Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.

This deli salad mash-up combines chicken salad and pasta salad into one crowd-pleasing dish! You can pack it in a lunchbox or bring it to a picnic in the park.

Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.

Making empanadas at home might sound intimidating, but using rotisserie chicken and store-bought empanada wrappers keeps things easy. Plus, they're great for grabbing on the go!

Get the Chicken Empanadas recipe.

This crisp, refreshing apple-based salad will make you feel like you're at an elegant afternoon lunch. Luckily, it's much more affordable to make at home and it only takes 15 minutes to whip up!

Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.

Prep a big batch of this succulent pulled pork over the weekend and you'll be blessed with tasty lunches throughout the week! Try piling some onto pretzel buns for a hearty sandwich.

Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

SHOP SLOW COOKERS

Use any mix of frozen veggies and your favorite flavor or tortellini to make this 15-minute soup customized to your liking. It also makes it easy to switch up from week to week.

Get the Creamy Tortellini Soup recipe.

You've likely seen avocado toast on the menu of many lunch joints these days. But making it at home is surprisingly easy. You can even get creative with the toppings like eggs and bacon or pico de gallo.

Get the Avocado Toast recipe.

This recipe is everything you love about spicy, saucy buffalo chicken (including the ranch dressing) all wrapped up into a tasty flour tortilla! It uses rotisserie chicken to make it even easier!

Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Wraps recipe.

Hearty lentils make this vegetarian soup so satisfying. It's delicious on its own but could also be paired with a crusty bread or half sandwich to make it even more filling.

Get the Instant Pot Lentil Soup recipe.

Swap out your typical sandwich bread in favor of something a little more exciting—like focaccia bread! It's perfect for this Italian-inspired ham sandwich.

Get Ree's Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Peso Mayo recipe.

SHOP FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS

Grain bowls are the ultimate lunch food—they're easy to prep ahead, they never get soggy, and they're totally customizable! Try this one made with Tex-Mex beans, veggies, and plenty of fun toppings.

Get Ree's Tex-Mex Grain Bowls recipe.

Keep the dressing and pita chips on the side to ensure this salad stays crisp until lunch. Then, just before eating, toss it altogether—and lunch is served!

Get Ree's Greek Salad with Chicken recipe.

Throw all the ingredients for this smoky split pea soup in the slow cooker the night before and you’ll have a tasty soup that's ready to eat the next day. It's so easy!

Get the Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe.

The flavorful lime-cilantro sauce in these chicken quesadillas gives the classic dish a new twist. Serve any extra sauce on the side with the cheesy triangles for dipping.

Get Ree's Lime Chicken Quesadillas recipe.

Both the quinoa and BBQ chicken can be prepped at the beginning of the week. Keep them in separate food storage containers until you're ready to build your bowls.

Get Ree's Instant Pot BBQ Chicken Grain Bowls recipe.

SHOP INSTANT POTS