Looking for delicious make-ahead lunch recipes? This post has 24 recipes that you can prepare ahead and have ready for your busy days! From sandwiches to hot meals, you’re sure to find an easy make-ahead lunch recipe for your family.
Make-Ahead Lunch Recipes
Sausage Lentil and Rice Skillet Recipe
This one-pan meal is a family favorite even our 2 picky eaters love it. With a simple ingredient list, I hope you’ll love this Sausage, Lentil, and Rice Skillet too. This recipe is great to make ahead and warm up for a quick lunch!
Mediterranean Rice Bowl
Savour the vivid tastes of the Mediterranean with our recipe for Mediterranean Rice Bowl. Rice to the occasion and enjoy the flavor!
Creamy Italian Sausage and Pasta Soup
Add this yummy soup to your make-ahead lunch plans! This is a delicious hearty soup with Italian sausage, vegetables, and pasta. Make a batch over the weekend and warm it up for lunch throughout the week!
Pull Apart Pizza Bread
Pull Apart Pizza Bread comes together in no time and makes a great appetizer, snack, or even meal option! Add your favorite ingredients and have fun with it!
Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
This warming roasted butternut squash soup recipe is made with carrots and roasted garlic. Creamy, satisfying and easy soup, full of nutrients and exquisite fall flavors!
Mac and Cheese Bites
Love mac and cheese? These little bites are perfect to pack into lunches!
Easy Chicken Quesadillas
Make these Easy Mexican Chicken Quesadillas with leftover rotisserie chicken (or home-cooked chicken). This is an easy 20-minute dinner you can make when you get home to work. I also make it ahead and freeze it (or leftovers) as it freezes really well!
Copycat Wendy's Chili in the Crockpot
Copycat Wendy’s chili is so filling and comforting. It is a great copycat recipe to prep for lunches!
Thai Chicken and Rice (One Pan)
This One Pot Thai Chicken and Rice Dish is quick, easy, and full of scrumptious flavor! Perfect weeknight dinner and meal prep idea.
Healthy Italian meatballs (low carb) in tomato sauce
Make these amazing meatballs and pasta sauce ahead and in a few minutes lunch can be ready with cooked pasta noodles. It's satisfying, nutritious and so easy to make.
Easy Deconstructed Sushi Salad Bowl
All your favorite sushi ingredients served as a rice bowl with a soy dressing. So easy, so tasty, and can make ahead.
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Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas - Sandwiches
Chopped Greek Salad Wraps with Chickpeas
These chopped greek salad wraps can be prepped ahead of time and take less than 20 minutes to make. They are packed with flavor and so yummy!
Easy Egg Salad
Hummus Chicken Salad
This hummus chicken salad is a unique twist on classic chicken salad! Instead of using mayonnaise, I used hummus as the binder. This salad is so easy to make, you can throw it together in just 10 minutes.
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich Rolls
Easy-to-make cucumber and cream cheese sandwich rolls are always a hit from young to old! Only three ingredients are needed and they're great to prep in advance!
Chicken Spring Rolls Fresh and Tasty
These Chicken spring rolls are super fresh and full of flavor!
5-Minute Buffalo Chicken Wrap
If you like Buffalo Wings you'll love this wrap!
Turkey Roll Ups
These turkey roll ups are made with turkey, bacon and spinach. An easy lunch you can make in the morning and enjoy later in the day!
Chopped Italian Sandwich
A chopped Italian sub is sure to satisfy even the strongest hunger pangs. This Italian bread sub with deli meats, cheese, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, and more makes a great lunch
Bacon Steak Wraps with Blue Cheese Dressing
Beef wraps make a wonderful lunch recipe. These are amazing served warm, perhaps paired with some fries or potato salad, so if you’re a diehard carnivore you’ll love these bacon steak wraps!
How to Make Pimento Cheese Sandwiches 4 Ways
Make a batch of pimento cheese and have easy pimento sandwiches all week. Go for the classic version or mix it up with a Pimento Cheese BLT!
More Make-Ahead Lunch Recipes
Angel Hair Pasta Salad Recipe – Easy Pasta Salad
This incredible cold pasta salad is a great dish to prepare and eat on all week. You can customize the add-ins, too!
Spicy Tuna Salad
Classic tuna salad gets a kick from sriracha in this Spicy Tuna Salad that you can meal prep in minutes. Pair it together with your favorite greens for a healthy lunch
15 Healthy Adult Lunchables
Enjoy 15 different ideas for these quick and easy Adult Lunchables! You'll find lots of tips for how to make these healthier and budget-friendly tips as well.
Southern Ham Salad
Turn leftover holiday ham into something amazing with this simple recipe. t’s perfect for sandwiches, on crackers, and makes a yummy dip.
Find More Make-Ahead Recipes
- Make-Ahead Breakfasts
- Make-Ahead Lunch Recipes
- Make-Ahead Dinner Recipes
- Make-Ahead Side Dishes
- Make-Ahead Salad Recipes
- Make-Ahead BBQ Side Dishes
- Make-Ahead Christmas Side Dish Recipes
Jamje
Thank you for this!
We struggle with lunch. I have 10 kiddos ranging from 18-NB and the teens are in and out all the time. I used to stop my work and take 30-40min to make a fresh hot lunch everyday but then I get very behind in my afternoon chores and school times.
So for this school year, I’ve prepared 4-5 different options/two weeks and everyone can make their choice for the meal. It’s been a tremendous help and there are homemade convenience foods for the teens to grab at their odd hours.
I’ll be adding this to the rotation.