Planning and prepping your own packed lunch is a great budget-friendly habit, but even with the best of intentions it can be difficult to maintain.
If you’re in need of fresh inspiration, or simply ideas for where to start if you’re new to making packed lunches, these recipes have you covered. Set aside a bit of time on Sunday and weekday evenings to get them ready, and you’ll be in for a treat come lunchtime.
The Batch Lady’s Chicken Noodle Soup Jars
Make shop-bought instant noodles a thing of the past with this easy homemade alternative. All you need to do is add hot water and you’ve got a warming, delicious lunch ready in a matter of minutes.
Cinnamon-spiced Aubergines with Feta Cheese, Olives and Herbed Bulgur Wheat
Herbed bulgur, roasted aubergines, sharp feta cheese and pops of sweetness from the pomegranate seeds make this an epic lunchbox salad. Simply throw the lot into two roasting tins, chuck in the oven for 25 minutes, then portion it up for the week ahead. Simple!
Chipotle Chicken Bowl
Perfectly designed for prepping in advance and storing in the fridge, this salad of chicken, quinoa and greens packs a punch.
Pasta with Feta, Peppers and Hazelnuts
This tasty Mediterranean-inspired salad brings together crumbly feta, sweet peppers and crunchy hazelnuts. Just as good hot as it is cold.
Spiced Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
Who says packed lunches have to be cold? This versatile, flavour-packed winter warmer can be stored in the fridge for up to five days – and made vegan if you leave off the bacon garnish.
Italian Tuna Salad
This healthy salad can be thrown together and into your lunchbox in minutes. Keep the dressing separate in a jar, then give it a shake and drizzle over when you’re ready to eat.
Vegan Poke Lunchbox
Recreate a lunch takeaway staple with this fresh and filling plant-based recipe, featuring marinated tofu, edamame, and diced avocado.
Cauliflower Biryani Salad
Full of wholesome veggies, this vegan-friendly salad is packed with flavour. Quinoa and greens, roasted spiced cauliflower and a zingy carrot garnish, this salad is best served at room temperature. Keep the dressing in a separate jar, then toss through before eating.
Quiche Lorraine
It’s a classic for a reason… make a tasty quiche and it’ll last the week, portioned up and served with a simple green salad. Delicious!
Sesame Chicken Salad with Cucumber Noodles
Team zingy-sweet chicken with spiralised cucumber noodles for a tasty low-carb dish that’s easy to adapt to what you’ve got at home. “This is the perfect way to use up leftover chicken or serve instead with a little fish or sliced seared beef”, say the Hemsley sisters.
Read Melissa Hemsley’s tips for making healthy working lunches.
