Healthy cold lunches are a great way to bring your lunch from home. It’s cheaper, better for you and the environment, and they taste great. I have a collection of my favorite healthy cold lunches ideas that are delicious, easy, and portable. You’ll wonder why you ever bought those prepackaged microwavable meals.
Looking for easy no heat lunches? If yes then you are the right place. Here we are giving information about different easy no heat lunch recipes along with the importance of eating healthy food. I hope this article will help you to make awesome and tasty meals for you and your family.
Healthy Cold Lunches
Going out on your lunch break may be fun, but doing it on a daily basis isnât easy on the wallet.
Plus, heating up food in the microwave can make lunch soggy or overcooked. Thatâs what makes cold lunches the perfect solution!
These 30 dishes are clear evidence that just because the food is cold doesnât mean it canât be tasty.
Full of flavor, texture, and color, these are some of the best meals youâll ever have!
Ready to bring excitement to your packed lunch? Letâs get going!
1. Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich
If youâre a fan of the classic Chick-fil-A sandwich, youâll love the first recipe on this list.
This copycat sandwich yields crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside chicken in between two soft buns.
Straightforward as it may be, this sandwich is absolutely spectacular.
Plus, itâs such a mess-free, no utensil-required, grab-and-go meal. Youâre free to eat it whenever your heart desires.
2. Egg Salad
If you think you have already found the best egg salad recipe, think again. This one makes the creamiest, richest sandwich filling you can never ask for.
With just a simple mix of hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and salt, you will have the best tasting, most nostalgic mixture ever.
One bite will bring back all those wonderful childhood memories!
3.Greek Pasta Salad
Greek pasta salad is proof that not all salads are bland and boring.
With a combination of leafy greens, chewy pasta, garden tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumber, olives, and feta cheese in a Greek dressing, this salad is undeniably refreshing and delicious.
Even self-proclaimed salad haters wonât say no to this stunning work of art. Itâs the best summer side dish and is perfect for your next potluck!
4.Turkey Wraps
Roast turkey mixed with veggies and cheese and rolled up in a tender tortilla: thatâs whatâs up!
Turkey sometimes has a reputation for being too dry and flavorless, but in this dish, the humble meat transforms into a scrumptious dish.
Just picture it: savory turkey, salty cheese, crisp veggies, and sweet and tangy mustard sauce served like a burrito. I mean, how can you say no to that?
5. Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Letâs be honest, no one likes having the meal they had for dinner the next day. But no one wants to waste food either!
Thatâs why this chicken salad makes perfect sense.
Give your leftover rotisserie chicken a new purpose by turning it into a delectable salad!
By mixing rotisserie chicken with grapes, almonds, celery, and a creamy dressing, youâll get a completely new dish thatâs sure to delight the palate.
6. Cheese Buns
If youâve never tried making bread your entire life, this next item will make you want to.
These cheese buns are incredibly soft, fluffy, and as you may have guessed, cheesy.
Theyâre a must-try for all cheese lovers out there.
The recipe may seem intimidating at first, but there really is nothing to worry about!
Sure, it will take more time and effort than buying bread at your local bakery.
But if youâre up for the challenge, this cheese bread is definitely worth it.
7. Waldorf Salad
Waldorf salad is a wonderful medley of colorful fruits tossed in a creamy and tangy dressing. Itâs the kind of salad even the kids will love.
The combination of apples, grapes, celery, parsley, and walnuts is already an explosion of flavors.
Add in the dressing made of mayonnaise, yogurt, and lemon juice, and youâll have a ridiculously refreshing summer side.
8. Tomato Gazpacho
Speaking of refreshing, this simple tomato gazpacho is another fantastic way to beat the summer heat. It also gets bonus points for being insanely easy to make.
Spanish chilled tomatoes and vegetable soup are all you need!
This soup comes together in under 15 minutes. You can make a huge batch, refrigerate, and enjoy when a craving strikes!
9. Greek Mason Jar Salad
Greek mason jar salad is essentially Greek salad placed in a mason jar.
It may seem like a gimmick to make this salad look cool, but one look at it, and youâll know it definitely works!
Apart from the look, what makes mason jar salads super fantastic is that you can carry them around wherever you go!
As long as you have a secure lid, your salad will be easy to transport.
Best of all, thereâs no one formula for making this salad. Choose your favorite salad ingredients and dressing, place them in a jar, cover the lid, and voila!
10. Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is another flavor and nutrient-packed cold dish.
Just by looking at all those lovely colors, you can already tell itâs amazing.
Plus, the combo of broccoli, tomatoes, cheese, raisins, and bacon creates a beautiful harmony of flavors and textures.
Then you have the tangy mayo dressing, tying all of them up in one neat bow. Thatâs what I call happiness in a bowl.
Healthy Cold Lunch Ideas
Are you tired of leaving work on your lunch break to spend the whole time looking for something to eat? Are you bored of the same lunches every day? Whatever the reason, youâve stopped in the right place! Here you will find 20 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas for both kids and adults! Whether itâs healthy or hearty youâre searching for â youâll find it here!
WHAT CAN I MAKE FOR LUNCH WITHOUT A MICROWAVE?
If youâd like to skip the microwave or even pack the lunch for kids without a thermos, you can try some great ideas like steak sandwiches, BLT pasta, spinach wrap, or even a classic like a peanut butter and jelly! Weâve rounded up the best options for you with the recipes below! Just select one and enjoy!
WHAT CAN I EAT FOR LUNCH OTHER THAN SANDWICHES?
To switch things up a bit, youâll want to swap out the sandwiches for something new! If youâre looking for a cold lunch, put together a salad â caesar salad, pasta salad, or a chickpea spinach salad. However, if meal prep is your thing, you can quickly put together taco salad bowls or chicken burrito bowls.
HEALTHY COLD LUNCH IDEAS
- Seaweed Salad: Donât let the name throw you off â this seaweed salad is incredibly delicious! Full of nutrients and easy to make â youâll love just how refreshing it tastes! Plus, youâll even learn to make homemade Japanese salad dressing too!
- Steak Sandwich: If itâs a hearty lunch youâre looking for, then stop here! This steak sandwich is loaded with thinly sliced steak, onions, veggies, and mustard! Serve it on toasted bread or enjoy it cold!
- Best Tuna Salad: Is there anything more classic than a Tuna salad? With this recipe, youâll be able to enjoy a healthy and filling meal. So go ahead, grab the tuna, mayo, onion, and celery! Serve it on bread, in a bowl, or even wrap it in lettuce!
- Easy Keto Egg Salad: With just 5 minutes of prep, you can indulge guilt-free salad for lunch. This recipe walks you through step by step, but youâll quickly realize just how simple this is!
- Healthy Spinach Wrap: This is the one to keep around if you like wraps! You can use the spinach wrap for those Mexican dishes â from tacos to burritos and quesadillas. Theyâre homemade, healthier, and better-tasting than the store-bought version!
EASY COLD LUNCH IDEAS FOR WORK
- Crock Pot Pork Shoulder: An easy dump-and-go meal, this slow cooker pork shoulder is full of flavor and falls right apart! Cooked on low with barbeque sauce and spices, itâs perfect to serve on sandwiches or tacos for an easy lunch.
- Cuban Sandwiches: Yes, these sandwiches originated in Cuba! They are loaded with all kinds of meat from roast pork, salami, and ham! Be sure to add in the pickles and cheese to keep it authentic.
- Ultimate Chicken Salad: Full of flavor, color and taste, this chicken salad is a must-try! A dish loaded with chicken, green onion, celery, grapes, all tossed in creamy goodness!
- Chick-Fil-A Crispy Chicken Sandwich Copycat Recipe: Itâs a copycat recipe to try, especially if youâre a fan of Chick-Fil-A. This crisy chicken sandwich is tasty, filling, and easy to make. The trick? Marinate the chicken in pickle juice!
COLD LUNCH IDEAS FOR KIDS
- Dragon Roll Sushi: Have you heard of a dragon roll? It is one of the most popular sushi dishes at a Japanese restaurant. Filled with tempura shrimp and cucumber, and wrapped in nori seaweed and rice, this sushi roll is then topped with an avocado layer. Youâll get all the tips here so that you can make them easily in the comfort of your home!
- Chicken Avocado Roll-Ups: Are you looking for a lunch that is cold, creamy, and delicious? Well, this is it! Chicken avocado salad roll-ups are made with leftover chicken, veggies, avocado, and cheese! All it takes is 20 minutes to make and a few minutes to eat!
- Peanut Butter and Jam Sandwiches: Who doesnât love an excellent old fashioned peanut butter and jam sandwich?! It quickly takes you back to your childhood with every bite! Itâs a simple sandwich thatâs perfect for kids and adults alike!
- Lunch Box Grilled Cheese: Hurry, grab the bread, cheese, butter, and a frying pan! Youâll easily get your cheese cravings satisfied with this recipe! Plus, youâll even get a few tips on perfecting your sandwich!
EASY NO HEAT LUNCHES
- Chicken Caesar Wraps: All it takes is 10 minutes of your time to prep to make this chicken caesar wrap! With a pre-made rotisserie chicken, all you have to do is to shred it, add some dressing, salad, croutons, and wrap it in a tortilla shell! If you want to add in a bit more protein, put some bacon bits in too!
- BLT Pasta Salad: Fresh, colorful, and flavorful! What more could you ask for? With this recipe, youâll be able to enjoy your classic BLT sandwich in pasta form! Itâs creamy, easy to make, and oh so tasty1!
- Meal Prep Taco Salad Lunch Bowls: Make-ahead meals are always a fantastic idea! These taco salad lunch bowls are easy and quick to make! Fill them with beef, lettuce, cheese, and salsa! If you want it hearty, add in some black beans and corn too!
- Meal Prep Chicken Burrito Bowls: Set aside just 1 hour, and you will be able to put together a weekâs worth of lunches! This chicken burrito bowl recipe saves you time and money while providing you with a healthy lunch! So go on, do a little meal prep â itâs worth it!
No Heat Meal Prep Tips
Pasta Salads
Most cold pasta salads have oil in the dressing or sauce. If youâve ever refrigerated something coated with oil before, you know it tends to stiffen up once cold. Meal prepped pasta salads are no different, but donât worry, itâs quick and easy to fix when the lunch bell rings!
- Save a tablespoon or two of dressing and keep it separated in a little dressing container like this inside your meal prep container. Just mix it in when youâre ready to eat. Note: if you build your pasta salad vertically in a jar, this is really not necessary since the dressing is already separate from the pasta.
- Regardless of how you build your pasta salad (vertical vs flat) and whether or not you plan to save some dressing in a container, be sure to toss the pasta in at least a bit of dressing before placing it in a meal prep container. This will keep the pasta from drying out and sticking together.
- When you grab your pasta salad from the fridge in the morning, add an ice cube right in there with the pasta salad. Seriously. As the ice cube slowly melts throughout the morning, it helps revive the pasta salad into a deliciously creamy state. Be sure to remove any remnants of the ice cube before digging in!
- Treat your pasta salad like a pint of ice cream and let it sit on the counter for 15-20 minutes before serving. This will give the oil a chance to get back to a liquid state and actually improves the flavor since itâs easier to taste our food when itâs not so cold. You can also speed this along by popping it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds if you have one handy.
Lunchable Style Bento Boxes
We all remember Lunchables from back in the day, right? It was always exciting to open up your lunch bag and find one because they were FUN to eat. And tasty too, of course. I like to recreate them in an adult version with higher quality meats and cheeses, better crackers, and a bigger focus on protein. Might as well throw in some fruit or veggies too for good measure 
One critical factor for success with these bento boxes is actually keeping some of the ingredients from touchingâŠyou never want your meat and cheese to be rubbing up on one another in their container all week. Instead, use something like these silicone cups to keep them separated!
Salads
Pretty much any salad you find here on PBF can be eaten cold, but it really all comes down to personal preference. Iâll talk more about this in the next section, but eating cooked proteins like grilled chicken or ground beef cold is all about HOW you do it to make sure itâs tasty and not dried out. Because salads are served with dressing, youâre covered on both fronts of flavor and moisture.
Grilled Chicken
I know, I knowâŠa lot of you are probably turning your nose up at the prospect of eating cold grilled chicken, but at least let me make my case. It can be a really delicious experience, if you follow a couple of guidelines:
- First, and most importantly, if your chicken gets dried out when you first cook it, it will be dry and gross later in the week (especially when serving cold). I cannot stress enough how much better your chicken will be if you BRINE it before cooking! Brining is the process of submerging the raw protein in a solution of water, salt, sugar, and spices for several hours. This seasons the meat from the inside out, making for an incredibly flavorful chicken breast. It also changes the chicken on a cellular level, allowing it to retain more moisture. And that means JUICY chicken breast!!
- Sauces and dips are your friends when it comes to serving cold chicken. Something like hummus, tzatziki sauce, ranch dressing, etc. will go a long way in bringing some excitement to cold chicken.
Cold grilled chicken works well in pasta salads and regular salads too!
Other Cold or No Cook Proteins
I wasnât really sure what to call this last miscellaneous category, but donât be fooled because it contains one really important genre of no heat lunchesâŠthe âprotein salads.â Iâm talking about tuna salad, chicken salad, and egg salad. There are a million recipes out there for these American sandwich staples, but Iâm partial to my tuna and chicken salad recipes. What can I say, I like my own food! Anywho, I donât have a recipe for egg salad on the blog (yet), so feel free to venture off into internet land to find your fave version. All of these are great because theyâre really versatile in lunches â serve them between 2 slices of bread, with crackers, in a wrap, or just eat them plain with a fork. Iâm partial to crackers or pitas with a side of red seedless grapes. Just be sure to keep the salad and the vessel separated so you donât end up with a soggy wrap/bread/pita/whatever.