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15 Recipes To Up Your Lunch Game

Brighten up your workday with these (mostly) quick and filling suggestions.
By Cessi Treñas
15 Recipes To Up Your Lunch Game

Photo, Erik Putz.

Hey, working lunches don’t have to be terrible—not when you have something delicious to look forward to, at least.

Here are 15 quick and easy lunch recipes you can (mostly) prep the night before or pull together relatively quickly.

Freekeh, Tomato, Cucumber And Halloumi Salad

Freekeh, tomato, cucumber and halloumi salad

This tasty grain salad comes together in just 20 minutes. Bonus tip: Pack the cooked freekah and halloumi in a separate container so you can reheat them before adding the veggies and the dressing. Get our freekeh, tomato, cucumber and halloumi salad recipe.

Sesame-Ginger Tofu Soba Noodle Salad

Salad with soba noodles, tofu, carrots, cucumber in an orange bowl on an orange table.

Filling, flavourful and surprisingly easy to make (just 25 minutes of prep!), this healthy soba salad makes a great working lunch companion. Get our sesame-ginger tofu soba noodle salad recipe.

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Fig and Radicchio Salad

A bowl of fig and radicchio salad, set on a table with a sparkling beverage and a bowl of figs

Looking for a quick lunch recipe to prep before heading to work? This fresh, fruity salad is just the thing. Four ingredients and 15 minutes is all you need. Just remember to pack the salad dressing separately! Get our fig and radicchio salad recipe.

Superfood Sandwich

A superfood sandwich with avocado, lettuce, beets, and hummus layered between two slices of grainy bread

Loaded up with our favourite superfoods, this vitamin-packed lunch will turn your coworkers green with envy. Get our superfood sandwich recipe.

Five-Spice Tofu and Mushroom Bánh Mì

Woman holding three banh mi sandwiches that are partially open in a trayProduced by Sun Ngô; Photography by Christie Vu’o’ng; Recipe by Sara Lee and Rod Dyquiangco.

Take your sandwich game to a new level with this plant-based bánh mì. Just prep the fixings ahead of time and assemble your sammie before you head out the door. Get our five-spice tofu and mushroom bánh mì recipe.

Green Goddess Egg Salad Sandwich

Green goddess egg salad sandwich

Who doesn’t love a green goddess moment? Wrap each egg salad sandwich in parchment paper to take on the go. Get our green goddess egg salad sandwich recipe.

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Chicken and Mango Rice Rolls with Satay Peanut Sauce

Chicken and mango rice rolls with satay peanut sauce on a plate

The perfect mix of sweet and savory, these flavourful rice paper rolls might just be the best part of your workday. Even better: they only take 35 minutes to make! Get our chicken and mango rice rolls with peanut sauce recipe.

White Bean, Chorizo And Hearty Greens Stew

A bean stew in a white bowl on a table

Like many stews, this dish gets better with a few days in the fridge. Make it for dinner one night, and have the leftovers for a cozy lunch. Get our white bean, chorizo and hearty greens stew recipe.

Wolfe Salad Recipe

A bowl of Wolfe Salad containing quinoa, tomatoes, carrots, and fresh greens

When a dish gets the Mandy's Salads seal of approval, you just know it's going to be good. This lunch recipe—complete with fresh greens, quinoa, and a rich tamari dressing—remains a staple in the homes of Mandy’s Salads co-founders, Rebecca and Mandy Wolfe. Make it ahead of time and tote the dressing separately. Get our Wolfe salad recipe.

Greek Chicken Salad

A plate of greek chicken salad with a fork and spoon at the side

Level up this classic meal-in-a-bowl salad with hearty chicken, an ultra-fresh vinaigrette, cherry tomatoes, feta, olives and mini cucumbers. Get our Greek chicken salad recipe.

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Old-School Pad Gaprao

a plate filled with ground beef, rice and a fried egg.

Using only a garlic-chili paste (which you can prep beforehand), fish sauce and no extra veggies, this pad gaprao recipe comes together pretty quickly. For an easier takeaway lunch, skip the fried egg—but if you're working from home, it's a must! Get this old-school pad gaprao recipe.

Roasted Chickpea Salad

Roasted Chickpea Salad recipe

Full of flavour and easy to make, this is a salad you'll want over and over. Get our roasted chickpea salad recipe.

Sesame-Ginger-Beet Quinoa Bowl

Chatelaine dinner plan: Monday's recipe, Sesame, ginger and beet grain bowl

Who says a quick desk lunch can't be a hearty one? Add some colour to your workday with this filling quinoa bowl. Get our sesame-ginger-beet quinoa bowl recipe.

Apple, Camembert And Arugula Sandwich

A light sandwich you can whip up easily with just seven ingredients—perfect for a quick fix between meetings. Get our apple, camembert and arugula sandwich recipe.

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Apple, camembert and arugula sandwich with mayonnaise; dijon mustard; and honey on toasted French bread on a white plate next to a glass of beer on a red table

Thai Sweet Potato Red Curry Soup

Creamy soup: Thai sweet potato red curry soupPhoto, Roberto Caruso.

Is the thought of spending lunch by your work desk getting you down? Trust us: a comforting bowl of this colourful soup will instantly make you feel better. Prep it the night before, it tastes even better the next day. Get our Thai sweet potato red curry soup recipe.

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