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15 Cold Lunch Ideas to Grab and Go for Work
Pack one of these pasta salads, sandwiches or toasts!
On scorching hot summer days, the last thing you want to do is devour a hot, heavy meal midday. Skip chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes, and reach for something a little more light and refreshing. With a fridge full of make-ahead pasta salad recipes studded with crunchy veggies, piled-high sandwiches, and yummy wraps, a cold lunch has never tasted better.
These cold lunch ideas are perfect to enjoy at home, but also easy to pack in a lunchbox or big ol' cooler for a meal on the go. Wrap up a few Italian sandwiches alongside a set of beach snacks or whip up something packed with fresh summer veggies. Of course, summer salads always make a great quick lunch idea but they don't all have to be about the leafy greens. Assemble the chickpea salad for a meatless option that's super filling or give the Mediterranean couscous salad a spin. For something protein packed, mix up a big bowl of egg salad or chicken salad to pile on bread or scoop up with crunchy crackers. And if you love a good pasta salad, you're in store for tons of delicious options. Think: packed lunch ideas like tuna noodle-inspired pasta salad and chicken salad pasta salad with grapes and almonds. There's even a salad dip ready to be scooped up for a vibrant, fresh lunch! Cold lunches don't have to be boring and these recipes are the ultimate proof!
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
It's everything you love about classic Caesar salad, but a little more hearty! Packed with chicken, parmesan, crunchy croutons and shell pasta, it's good to the last bite.
Get the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Avocado Toast
Breakfast, brunch, or lunch, there's never a bad time for avocado toast! Whip some up for a tasty midday meal. This recipe shows you how to make it three different ways.
Get the Avocado Toast recipe.
Couscous Salad
Taste the rainbow with this Mediterranean-inspired salad. Cucumber and toasted walnuts add delightful crunch, and the lemony dressing combined with a duo of herbs gives this salad so much freshness!
Get the Couscous Salad recipe.
Italian Sandwich
Piled high with four types of meat, provolone, and crunchy veggies, and drizzled with a zippy Italian dressing, this sandwich is the ultimate lunchbox treat. Assemble it the day before you devour it so all of the flavors have a chance to marinate!
Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.
Chicken Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is a sweet and savory, filled with red grapes, tender chicken, sliced almonds, and lots of herbs. The dressing has mayo for creaminess and a little Greek yogurt and Dijon mustard for tang. Fresh lemon juice and zest brighten the whole dish up!
Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.
Tea Sandwiches
A spread of these pretty, petite sandwiches is the perfect lunch for a hot summer day. Make one variety for yourself or try all three for a lovely lunch for guests!
Get the Tea Sandwiches recipe.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Crisp bacon, ripe tomatoes, creamy ranch dressing—what's not to love?! This salad is perfect for a Saturday potluck, but it's equally wonderful to serve for a delicious lunch any day of the week.
Get the Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe.
Chickpea Salad
Make this chickpea salad at the beginning of the week and munch on it all week long! Because there's lemon juice in the dressing, the avocado doesn't brown too much, so it's perfect to make ahead.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Transform canned tuna into a fresh, flavorful salad that everyone will want seconds of. Think of this recipe as tuna noodle casserole, but for lunch. There's green peas, noodles, and even a sprinkling of crushed potato chips overtop, but the lemony, herby dressing adds a burst of bright flavor.
Get the Tuna Pasta Salad recipe.
Green Goddess Chicken Salad Dip
This vibrant salad dip is loaded with chicken, so it's plenty filling for lunch. There's also crunchy cucumber, cabbage, and who can forget the bright green dressing? The best part is that it's ready to scoop up in just 20 minutes!
Chicken Salad
There are a million ways to make chicken salad, but this is the way Ree Drummond likes it: studded with sweet grapes, crunchy celery, slivered almonds and fresh dill. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, scoop it up with crackers, or spread it on toasted bread for an epic sandwich!
Get the Chicken Salad recipe.
Egg Salad
This fresh and vibrant recipe will make an egg salad fan out of just about anyone. Pile it on bread, scoop it up with crackers or enjoy it by the spoonful!
Get the Egg Salad recipe.
Southwestern Pasta Salad
This salad is all about the add-ins. Think sweet corn kernels, filling pinto beans, juicy tomatoes, and, maybe the best of all: avocado! The creamy, South-of-the-border dressing takes it to the next level.
Get the Southwestern Pasta Salad recipe.
Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo
This is a far cry from the soggy lunchbox ham sandwiches from your childhood. Sandwiched between focaccia is honey ham, pickled red onion, peppery arugula, tomato slices, and creamy pesto mayonnaise!
Get Ree's Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
These spicy wraps are perfect for lunch. They're filled with tender buffalo chicken, crunchy veggies, creamy ranch dressing and blue cheese. Use a rotisserie chicken to make this recipe super easy!
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Wraps recipe.
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