20 Cold Lunch Ideas for Easy Weekday Meals

Upgrade basic chicken salad with fresh herbs—we like tarragon and basil—plus diced celery and thinly sliced scallions. We serve it tucked into a hot dog bun with bacon, sliced avocado, Little Gem lettuce, and cherry tomatoes.

Make this chilled soup over the weekend and enjoy it for lunch all week long. The base is made with a russet potato, asparagus, and baby spinach, but it gets lots of aromatic flavor from fresh cilantro and ginger, too.

When you want to feel like a kid again, make this all-American classic for lunch. We've amped it up a little with three slices of bread and a double layer of peanut butter and jelly. Now that's something to smile about.

This simple, French-inspired green salad is far from ordinary. The vinaigrette is a classic Dijon and oil emulsion, plus pickled shallots for sharp flavor. It's tossed with mixed greens, thinly sliced watermelon radishes, and carrots.

Full of nutrients, tuna is a great source of protein and tastes delicious combined with mayonnaise in this cold lunch wrap. Best of all, it comes together fast, so you'll be back at your desk long before your lunch break is over.

Nutty pumpernickel bread bookends entirely vegetarian ingredients—creamy Boursin cheese, sliced cucumber, sliced avocado, pea shoots, shredded red cabbage, and carrots—in this lunch sandwich.

Avoid the post-lunch slump with this hearty, healthy salad that's sure to leave you feeling nourished. Roasted sweet potatoes, which you can make in advance, are layered over lettuce along with the usual taco toppings—black beans, jalapeños, crushed tortilla chips, and lime juice.

If you're working from home, enjoy this bright green, open-faced sandwich. Thick slices of rustic bread are topped with a pea, almond, and ricotta spread, plus thinly sliced radishes, fresh mint leaves, and sugar snap peas. Get a taste of spring with every bite.

Orecchiette—which means "little ears"—is the perfect vessel for holding vegetables, chickpeas, and plenty of cheese in this pasta salad. It's hearty and healthy for lunch; make it in advance and serve at room temperature.

Your work-from-home lunch sandwich does not need to be boring. In fact, this one feels incredibly special. Poached shrimp, hard-boiled eggs, sliced cucumbers, and Neufchatel cheese top pumpernickel bread for a stunning open-faced meal.

Bibb lettuce is topped with colorful vegetables such as tomatoes, jalapeño peppers, and shucked corn, and a duo of shrimp and red snapper, in this family-friendly lunch salad that's perfect for serving during summer (or whenever you want a colorful bowl).

Make this recipe in a flash by using precooked brown rice, which is tossed with cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, crumbled feta cheese, parsley, and fresh mint. It's a Mediterranean-inspired lunch salad that will leave you feeling nourished and ready to tackle your afternoon to-do list.

Quinoa—a nutritious superfood—is the grain found in this 30-minute salad. You can make it in advance, so that you can relax during your lunch break instead of standing at the hot stove.

Cottage cheese is a healthy lunch staple. Dress it up with chopped fruits and vegetables, such as fennel, apples, and cucumbers, for a quick midday meal.

This is nothing like tuna salad of days-gone-by. We use good-quality canned tuna mixed with mayonnaise and lemon juice, then fold the mixture into nori sheets with sliced vegetables and avocado. 

In between gazpacho soup and Panzanella salad is this genius, simple lunch salad. Croutons, tomatoes, and bell peppers are tossed with a Dijon and sherry vinegar dressing for a bite that will transport you to a whole new world.

Use precooked lentils in this nutritious salad that comes together in just 30 minutes. We serve the vegetables and salmon over a thick schmear of Greek yogurt, which adds tang and creaminess.

Have leftover grilled steak from dinner? Serve it with a flavorful salad loaded with orange and yellow bell peppers, feta cheese, and cherry tomatoes. We like it dressed in our favorite basic vinaigrette. 

Cool off with this classic tomato and red pepper soup. Our secret ingredient is one-third cup of orange juice, which brightens the base. It's a make-ahead marvel.