40 Healthy Lunch Recipes + Meal Prep Tips

Having a healthy, delicious lunch to enjoy, throughout the week, doesn’t mean you have to spend your entire Sunday meal prepping. And I’m here to prove it! I’ve rounded up 40 healthy lunch recipes, perfect for bringing along to work or school. All of these healthy lunch ideas are quick, easy and tasty! You’ll find gorgeous salads, yummy sandwiches, and bowls of goodness to power you through your week.

Breakfast may get credited as the most important meal of the day, but lunch is a close runner-up. It’s also the fuel needed to power through the day. We don’t want to succumb to the dreaded afternoon slump, do we? This collection of healthy lunch recipes will keep you on your ‘A’ game!

These healthy lunch ideas are super easy to meal prep and will have you looking forward to your lunch. No more hitting up the vending machine! Spending 30 minutes to an hour on the weekend, meal prepping these lunch ideas, is going to make a huge difference through the week.

Benefits Of Meal Prepping Healthy Lunch Recipes 

• saving money (no more buying your lunch!)
• eating healthier (no impulsive choices when you are overly hungry)
• reduce stress (lunch is just waiting for you in the fridge!)

Tips For Meal Prepping For Lunch

1. Start small. You DO NOT have to meal prep all your meals in order to feel the benefits. Get started by prepping 1 to 2 meals for the week. Maybe cook a large pot of soup on Sunday to enjoy for Monday and Tuesday and then on Tuesday evening make up a few Mason jar salads to get you through the next couple of days.
2. Plan it. When you first begin meal prepping, you have to make it part of  your routine. It’s a good idea to schedule time dedicated to your meal prep. Set a reminder in your phone or write it on your calendar. At first, you might feel like it’s a chore, but once you get going, you’ll see how AWESOME it is to have your healthy lunch ideas prepped for the week!
3. Find your favorite go-to recipes. After meal prepping a few different recipes, you’ll most likely find your go-to recipes you love and that you know work. You may even have them memorized! This makes meal prep super easy!

Healthy Lunch Recipes FAQ

How long do meal prepped lunch recipes last? This will depend on whether you choose freezer-friendly meals or not. All of the healthy lunch recipe ideas in this post will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. If you want recipes that will keep longer, check out this collection of freezer-friendly meals from Pinch of Yum. And this crockpot freezer meal roundup from Fit Foodie Finds has tons of good stuff.

Which meal prep containers should I use? Amazon offers a wide variety of different meal prep container options. I personally like these glass meal prep containers or these are great too. If you really want plastic meal prep containers, these are a good choice and BPA free. I also keep pint Mason jars on hand for Mason jar salads. The 1/2 pint jars are great for homemade sauces and dressings.

How long does meal prepping take? The length of time meal prep takes is going to depend on what you are planning to fix. I keep my meal prep very simple and typically choose one salad type meal and one hands-off soup or casserole.

How do you find motivation to meal prep? The more you get in the habit of meal prepping, the easier it becomes. Once you make it part of your weekly routine, it really doesn’t take much motivation at all. And if you do need motivation, just think of how easy, breezy your week will be with healthy lunch recipes ready to go!

So let’s get to it! Healthy Lunch Recipes!

Sandwiches/Wraps

Tuna Salad | Tuna salad is perfect for this healthy lunch recipes roundup. It’s so easy to prep ahead of time. This is my favorite classic tuna salad recipe! Flaky tuna is mixed with boiled eggs, crisp celery, onions, sweet pickles, and a creamy mayo dressing. Perfect for sandwiches or creamy tuna melts with some potato chips on the side!

Mexican Chopped Tuna Salad | This Mexican inspired tuna salad is packed with tons of fresh veggies, tuna fish, and a creamy taco-flavored dressing. It’s a delicious, light meal served in tortilla wraps, lettuce wraps or with tortilla chips! Of all of the healthy lunch recipes, this just might be my favorite! You could also use rotisserie chicken instead of the tuna.

Avocado Tuna Salad | Skip the mayo and try this Easy Avocado Tuna Salad! It’s super flavorful, easy to make and a much healthier alternative to your favorite classic tuna salad recipe!

Curried Egg Salad | Classic egg salad gets a kick of flavor from one of my favorite antioxidant-rich seasonings, curry! This Curried Egg Salad is an easy, creamy, tasty lunch that’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or crackers. It includes minimal ingredients, can be ready in about 10 minutes, and is a great recipe to make ahead for the week!

Cottage Cheese Tuna Salad | This Cottage Cheese Tuna Salad is the BEST and a family favorite we make on the regular! It’s an easy, tasty mix of tuna, cottage cheese, avocado, corn, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, black olives, and Dijon.

Chickpea Avocado Wraps | Insanely delicious Chickpea Avocado Tacos/Wraps. Hearty, healthy, and ready in less than 20 minutes with no heat required. The perfect plant-based, gluten-free lunch or dinner!

Skinny Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad | This Skinny Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad is made with dried cranberries, celery, almonds, chicken and Greek yogurt. It’s an easy, healthy version of classic chicken salad. Creamy, cool, and crunchy! This quick + easy recipe is full of fabulous flavor and it’s sure to please a crowd!

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burritos | Healthy Sweet Potato and Black Bean Vegan Burritos stuffed with sweet potato, black beans, avocado and brown rice. They’re gluten-free, vegan and make a fabulous breakfast, lunch or dinner that’s ready in under 30 minutes!

Italian Chicken Wraps | Easy Low Carb Italian Chicken Wraps with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and Italian dressing all wrapped up in soft tortillas.

Skinny Egg Salad | Egg salad is the comfort food of sandwiches and my version is made healthier by using Greek yogurt or you can use a healthy mayo. It turned out so creamy dreamy delicious. No matter how you serve this skinny egg salad – as an appetizer with crackers, over greens, as a sandwich spread or wrap-style; it’s always a picnic favorite.

Arugula Pesto Chicken Salad | Easy homemade arugula pesto adds big flavor to this family favorite chicken salad. Layer Arugula Pesto Chicken Salad on sandwich rolls or stuff it in a pita with greens and sliced tomato for a delicious lunch.

Pimento Cheese BLT Sandwiches | 5-Ingredient pimiento cheese BLT sandwiches are crisp, fresh, flavorful, and so delicious. If you love sandwiches, this is a must try!

Waldorf Tuna Salad Pitas | Delicious Waldorf Tuna Salad Pitas that are light and fresh, full of flavor and only take about 10 minutes to make!

Soups/Chilis

Healthy Taco Soup | This healthy taco soup is beyond delicious and so quick and easy to make. It will be one of those go-to hearty soup recipes you make again and again!

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup| Enjoy this creamy, flavorful Healthy Roasted Tomato Basil Soup without the guilt! There is no cream, sugar, or any unnecessary additives in this wonderful bowl of deliciousness!

Classic Award-Winning Chili | If you’re a chili fan, you’re in the right place. This no bean beef chili recipe is the best I’ve ever had. In fact, this is an award-winning chili recipe! And there’s really nothing like a good bowl of chili, especially as the weather cools down.

Butternut Squash Soup | This soup recipe is a spin-off of the Panera Bread Autumn Squash Soup and it’s sure to be a new favorite this season! If you’re a fan of Autumn Squash Soup from Panera Bread, you’re going to LOVE this super easy-to-make, naturally gluten-free and vegan, flavorful version!

Copycat Panera Bread Chicken Noodle Soup | Loaded with good-for-you ingredients and full of flavor and comfort. This copycat Panera Bread chicken noodle soup is always a crowd pleaser!

Creamy Pumpkin Chicken Tortilla Soup | Delight your tastebuds with this hearty comforting Creamy Pumpkin Chicken Tortilla Soup! This easy 20-minute tortilla soup is quite the flavor explosion- whipped up with guilt-free delicious ingredients.

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili | Easy Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili is a gluten-free, hearty and healthy crock pot recipe. You’d never guess it’s low-fat, too!

Vegan Quinoa Chili | A mouthwatering blend of flavors in the best ever vegan quinoa chili – the perfect bowl of comfort and yumminess that you can enjoy guilt-free!

Easy Spinach Tomato White Bean Soup | Hearty and incredibly tasty, yet, quick and easy- this spinach tomato cannellini bean soup is packed with good-for-you ingredients. It’s completely vegan friendly and so warm and comforting!

Easy 30-Minute Chili | Serve with cornbread or tortilla chips, wrap your hands around the bowl and let the chili deliciousness warm you from the inside out!

 

Salads

Easy Pasta Salad | This Easy Pasta Salad recipe is quick and easy to make, and it tastes AMAZING! If you’re looking for the PERFECT dish to bring to a pot luck dinner, this is the one! It is a recipe you’ll make again and again, always a crowd-pleaser!

Pesto Pasta Salad | You only need 5 ingredients and 15 minutes to make this easy pesto pasta salad!

Healthy Harvest Cobb Salad | This hearty fall/winter Healthy Harvest Cobb Salad features roasted butternut squash and crunchy pecans that adds seasonal freshness to the traditional Cobb salad ingredients and the delicious honey mustard dressing really ties the whole thing together.

BLT Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados | These BLT Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados are lunchtime gold! They are super easy to throw together, satisfying and pretty darn great for you too!

Southwest Jalapeño Pesto Pasta Salad | This Southwest Jalapeño Pesto Pasta Salad is the perfect cold pasta salad for potlucks, parties, or a quick and easy meal. It can be made in advance and your friends and family will love this pasta salad recipe!

Healthy Greek Chickpea Salad | This Healthy Greek Chickpea Salad is the perfect lunch, side dish, or even snack! It’s fresh, crisp, and has a great balance of healthy fats, carbs and protein!

Strawberry Apple Chicken Salad | A quick and tasty Strawberry Apple Chicken Salad, filled with plump juicy strawberries, sweet apple slices, crunchy almonds and topped off with the most wonderful poppy seed dressing you’ve ever tasted!

Blueberry Spinach Salad | This Heart Healthy Blueberry Spinach Salad is a light and refreshing salad completely loaded with good stuff: sweet apple slices, blueberries, feta cheese, walnuts, fibrous heart healthy spinach and tossed in a flavorful balsamic vinegar.

Greek Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados | Greek Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados make for a quick, fresh, light meal that involves no cooking.

Blueberry Pecan Quinoa Salad | This Blueberry Pecan Quinoa Salad is a wholesome, filling salad tossed in a sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette, creating the perfect blend of flavors!

Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad | This Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad has all of the goodness you remember from the classic cobb salad, but is made healthier with organic, all-natural, lighter ingredients. And I’ve kicked the flavor up a notch by using a creamy avocado dressing.

Copycat Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad | Fuji Apple Chicken Salad- my favorite sandwich shop meal recreated and even tastier than the original!!

Bowls

Keto Low Carb Pizza Meal Prep Bowls | Faith Food Fitness | Perfect for both kids and adults to pack for lunches! Gluten free, healthy and paleo and whole30 compliant!

Cilantro Lime Chicken With Cauliflower Rice |Fit Foodie Finds | Get your meal prep on with this healthy meal prep cilantro lime chicken served next to a delicious cauliflower rice! This meal prep recipe is low-carb, high-protein, and about to be a staple in your routine.

Sweet Potato Taco Bowls | Chelsea’s Messy Apron | These amazing & meatless sweet potato taco bowls are easy to make and packed with bold flavors.

Turkey Spinach Pinwheels | Damn Delicious | These turkey spinach and cheese pinwheels are simple delicious meal prep idea, and they’re especially fun for kids! No more overpriced snacks and lunches!!!

Healthy Fajita Chicken Burrito Bowls | Homemade fajita chicken burritos are way more nutritious and so easy!