25 Make Ahead Lunches

Pack lunch all week in one cooking session. Twenty-five make-ahead lunch recipes.

Salmon Rice Bowl

Flaky salmon over seasoned rice with spicy mayo and avocado — the viral meal-prep bowl format that took over lunch Reels.

30 min2 servings

lunchinstagram-viralhigh-protein

Easy

Onigiri

Hand-shaped rice balls wrapped in nori with savory fillings like salted salmon or umeboshi plum. The ultimate Japanese portable snack — simple, satisfying, and endlessly customizable.

35 min6 servings

lunchmeal-prepkid-friendly

Hard

Char Siu Bao

Fluffy steamed buns filled with sweet, sticky char siu pork. A dim sum favorite — pillowy soft dough wrapped around savory barbecue pork.

1h 5m8 servings

lunchcomfort-foodmeal-prep

Easy

Kartoffelsalat

Southern German warm potato salad with a tangy vinegar-mustard dressing and crispy bacon. The essential accompaniment to Wiener Schnitzel and every Bavarian Brotzeit.

45 min6 servings

lunchcomfort-foodbudget

Hard

Pork Pie

Hand-raised hot water crust pastry filled with seasoned pork and a jellied stock. A Melton Mowbray classic — perfect for picnics and pub lunches.

2h 15m8 servings

lunchcomfort-foodmeal-prep

Easy

Coronation Chicken

Poached chicken in a creamy curry-mayonnaise sauce with apricots and almonds. Created for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation — still a British buffet staple.

45 min6 servings

lunchmeal-prepcomfort-food

Medium

Cornish Pasty

Golden half-moon pastries filled with beef, potato, swede, and onion — the portable lunch of Cornish miners, still perfect today.

1h 15m6 servings

lunchcomfort-foodmeal-prep

Easy

French Lentil Salad

Earthy Puy lentils tossed with a sharp Dijon vinaigrette, crisp vegetables, and fresh herbs. A satisfying salad that improves as it sits — perfect for meal prep.

40 min6 servings

lunchhealthyvegetarian

Medium

Homemade Kimbap

Seaweed rice rolls filled with seasoned vegetables, egg, pickled radish, and bulgogi or spam. Korea's perfect portable lunch — colorful, balanced, and fun to make.

1h4 servings

lunchmeal-prepkid-friendly

Easy

Turkey Avocado Wrap

Fresh and filling turkey avocado wraps with crispy vegetables and a zesty sauce. A better-than-Subway lunch you can make in 5 minutes. Perfect for meal prep.

5 min2 servings

lunchquickhealthy

Frequently Asked Questions

What lunch keeps 5 days in the fridge?

Grain bowls with separate dressing, wraps with sauce on the side, and hard-boiled eggs last 5 days.