50 Cold Lunch Ideas

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Here are my favorite cold lunch ideas to put together when I need something quick and easy. I included the best of the best lunch recipes that make my meal prep easier and keep me enjoying what I eat.

Cold Lunch Ideas collage (fruit salad with greens, buffalo blue salad, and buffalo chicken wrap)
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My Favorite Easy Lunch Ideas

I am constantly looking for easy cold lunch ideas to make. Life is busy with my two kids, and I just need something I can put together easily to eat every day that doesn’t need to be heated up.

My husband and I mostly work from home now. It’s nice we get to eat lunch together, but we’re constantly looking in the fridge for something to eat. The same old lunches got boring very quickly. I needed enough easy recipes to choose from that I could enjoy over and over again.

I just had to share all of my favorite lunch recipes that can be served cold. I find cold lunches make it ideal for packing up to head to work. I chose these recipes because they are perfect for adults, but my kids also love to pack a bunch of these for school too!

These are truly the recipes that have made my meal prep easier. They are simple recipes that can be put together either the night before or something cold I can whip together in just minutes during lunchtime.

How can I bring lunch to work without a refrigerator?

I use a thermal isolated lunch bag with a quality ice pack to keep my food cold until lunchtime. If I need to stack foods, I place an extra ice pack on top to keep both layers nice and cold.

Easy Cold Lunch Ideas

3 Buffalo chicken wraps stacked on top of each other cut in half on a white plate

Buffalo Chicken Wrap

4.42 from 67 votes
This is one of my favorite lunches to have every week. I love using leftover chicken tenders or rotisserie chicken so I can whip it up in minutes. Plus, I love the buffalo sauce and blue cheese combo!
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overhead shot of egg salad in a bowl seasoned with black pepper and paprika.

Egg Salad

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I love a recipe that can be prepped for the week and eaten in different ways. I’ve enjoyed this egg salad on a sandwich, croissant roll, with crackers, and with celery sticks and it just tastes so fantastic!
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Ham and cheese roll-ups displayed on cutting board

Ham and Cheese Roll Ups

4.62 from 13 votes
My kids and I love these. I love them because they are easy to put together, and my kids love them because they taste amazing! They pack really nicely in those Bentgo lunch boxes for school lunches too.
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Finished burrito bowl in a white bowl with rice, seasoned chicken, black beans, corn, avocado, pico de gallo, lime wedges and avocado sauce.

Chicken Burrito Bowl (High Protein!)

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My chicken burrito bowl is the perfect meal for a family dinner or for simple meal prep that can be enjoyed for days. I love serving these bowls with crispy chips, spicy salsa, and my tasty avocado sauce or avocado crema. Best of all, this recipe is highly customizable with any toppings or ingredients of choice.
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Prepared caesar salad with parmesan cheese and seasoned chicken on top.

Easy Chicken Caesar Salad

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Chicken Caesar salad comes together easily and quickly with a mixture of fresh ingredients and store-bought shortcuts! Topped with a zesty homemade Caesar dressing.
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Southwest Chicken Wraps cut in half on a white plate and leaned on top of each other

Easy Southwest Chicken Wrap

4.61 from 74 votes
This wrap has a ton of veggies in it, but is so savory and filling. I’ve used leftover diced and shredded chicken for this cold lunch and it all works great. Just keep the filling separate from the tortillas until up to a day before you will eat it.
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A beautiful bowl full of delicious Bacon Lettuce Tomato Pasta Salad.

BLT Pasta Salad

5 from 1 vote
I consider an easy lunch something I can prep once and eat multiple days in a row with no extra prep and this one is a favorite of mine. It’s all of the best flavors of a BLT sandwich in pasta salad format and when I say this salad is creamy, savory, and filling, I mean it!
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Fresh broccoli salad tossed together in bowl with fork

Broccoli Salad

4.69 from 44 votes
This broccoli salad has become a regular for my husband’s lunches. He loves the crunch it brings and I love putting it together for him because it’s nice and easy to make. Truth is I put extra bacon bits in there because he loves the flavor.
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Burger bowl with burger sauce drizzled on top. Bowl is surrounded by small bowls of halved tomatoes and chopped purple onion.

Easy Burger Bowls

5 from 1 vote
I love a good burger, but they don't taste so great cold for lunch, so I love switching it up and making this burger bowl. It has all the ingredients I love in a burger, but I can actually enjoy it cold.
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Serving spoons lift the salad above the serving bowl to show the detail of the salad.

Easy Artichoke Salad

5 from 1 vote
My artichoke salad combines marinated artichokes, canned chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty homemade vinaigrette to create a tasty side dish in 10 minutes. Enjoy it as is, or add protein for a light lunch!
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serving mozzarella and tomato salad with fresh basil leaves

Caprese Salad

5 from 1 vote
This is my absolute favorite lunch recipe for the summer. The balsamic glaze complements the cheese and tomatoes. I find myself eating this at least once a week!
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A bowl of chicken salad with a plate of croissants in the background.

5 Ingredient Chicken Salad

5 from 4 votes
I love a good chicken salad, and this one is my favorite because it is so easy to put together. It’s just five ingredients! I add it to a croissant or sandwich, eat it with pita bread, or stick it in a wrap for an easy lunch.
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Creamy macaroni salad in a serving bowl with a wooden serving spoon lifting a portion above the bowl.

Easy Macaroni Recipe

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I love making a batch of macaroni salad and enjoying it for lunch throughout the week. It's great to eat on its own or as a side to one of these other cold lunches.
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Tortellini Pasta Salad in a bowl

Pesto Tortellini Salad

I absolutely love basil so pesto is among my lunches on the regular. This recipe pairs pesto with tortellini for a rich and savory meal that’s bold and filling.
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Club sandwiches cut into quarters so you can see inside them.

Club Sandwich

I love a good old classic sandwich with simple ingredients to make an easy lunch.I just grab turkey at the deli and cook up some extra bacon to last a few days to make this nice and quick!
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apple peanut butter and jelly wrap being rolled up in the wrap.

Apple Peanut Butter Sandwich Wrap

Peanut butter and jelly is a go-to lunch for my kids, but I can only make it so many times before they get sick of it. Enter this apple peanut butter wrap! It adds a nice new texture and flavor while they still get to enjoy their love of peanut butter.
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Cheeseburger Pinwheels

I love making this recipe when I have leftover ground beef. It’s a great change up from tacos and there’s just something about nacho cheese that makes everything better. Plus, it packs nicely in my lunch box for work!
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stack of caesar wraps

Easy Chicken Caesar Wrap

4.20 from 5 votes
I love a good chicken Caesar salad, but sometimes it leaves me a bit too hungry afterward. Instead, I turn them into these delicious wraps by using leftover cubed chicken. Leftover rotisserie chicken has worked great too.
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Summer Pasta Salad in a blue bowl

Italian Pasta Salad

4.55 from 35 votes
This pasta salad recipe may seem simple, but it is my absolute favorite. It’s easy to put together and the Italian dressing adds an acidic flavor that screams summer pasta salad. I love to add pepperoni when we have leftovers from our pizza nights.
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Strawberry salad with chicken in a bowl with sliced avocado.

Chicken Strawberry Salad

While this recipe makes enough for just one after my husband saw me eat it for lunch one time, I have to make enough for both of us now each time. The strawberries with the dressing keep the salad sweet while the chicken adds a savory touch.
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Ham salad in a bowl surrounded by crackers. A hand is scooping up ham salad with a cracker.

Ham Salad

4.50 from 2 votes
I love to use up leftover ham from the holidays and put together this ham salad recipe for lunch the next day. It's been great on everything from croissants to bread and even as just a dip for crackers.
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Roast beef sandwich cut in half and stacked on top of each other.

Cold Roast Beef Sandwich

I love when a sandwich can be made so easily. I literally whip this cold sandwich up in 2 minutes for my husband and myself when I'm running late for work in the morning.
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Turkey bacon wrap close up with a bottle of ranch in the background.

Turkey Bacon Ranch Wrap

I love this lunch recipe because of how versatile it is. I’ve used deli turkey,leftover turkey from Thanksgiving, and even chicken and it all tastes amazing with it. I love it with tomato tortillas, but regular tortillas work great too.I’ve even added a couple of tomatoes into the wrap instead.
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Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad in a bowl

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

4.56 from 9 votes
I love a good cold pasta salad for lunch. I make almost a full box of pasta salad and I have enough to last me and the kids a few days. This one is super creamy and I say everything tastes better with bacon.
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Chicken taco salad inside a mason jar with a tortilla chip sticking out of the top.

Mason Jar Chicken Taco Salad

I not only love the flavors in this lunch, but also the presentation inside a mason jar. It looks so pretty! And, it tastes so good that you would never know it uses canned chicken (I’ve substituted leftover rotisserie chicken too).
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Tri tip beef sandwich with fresh toppings.

Tri Tip Sandwich

5 from 1 vote
While some may argue they never have leftover steak, I personally make extra to enjoy it the next day for this recipe. It includes simple ingredients, but the flavors blend flawlessly and it’s a nice filling cold sandwich for lunch.
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Pimento Cheese

I love making this pimento cheese when I want something a little lighter for lunch. It’s spicy and works well with just about any cracker or bread. Plus, it keeps in the fridge for a week so I can enjoy it throughout the week on days I just don’t want to make anything else.
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Pizza roll ups on a wired rack next to them served on a plate with fruits and vegetables.

Ham and Cheese Pizza Roll Ups

This is my son’s favorite lunch! He is pizza obsessed, and this helps keep things interesting than his typical go-to with cheese pizza. Plus, this recipe is so much better cold than a typical pizza slice.
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Close up of sandwich cut in half to see the inside.

Mortadella, Burrata and Pesto Focaccia Sandwich

I love a good sandwich recipe that comes together in minutes, which is why I am obsessed with this one. It’s high end ingredients you stack on bread for a delicious lunch.
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Yogurt parfait topped with berries in a mason jar.

Easy Yogurt Parfait

I will never look over yogurt when I want a light cold lunch. It’s insanely easy to put together and I love using Greek yogurt that’s high in protein when I’m counting macros too.
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BLT Chicken Salad

My favorite hack for making lunch easier to buy a full rotisserie chicken and chop it up into a few different recipes and this is one of them. It’s been so easy to prep for the week and I eat it with crackers, on a sandwich, or my favorite,on a croissant.
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Slice of tuna pinwheel held in a hand

Tuna Pinwheels

4.15 from 7 votes
My family loves an easy way to use tuna and this fits that perfectly. Cucumbers may sound like an interesting choice, but it complements the tuna and the dill so it’s an all around meaty and rich flavor.
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close of white salad bowl full of quinoa salad

Quinoa Chickpea Salad

4.57 from 23 votes
I try to keep things a little healthier sometimes and that’s where this quinoa salad comes in. The chickpeas even add some good protein, but I’ve added leftover chicken when I have extra.
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Italian Pinwheels

I love a good pinwheel recipe because they pack so nicely in lunch boxes and I love the protein mix in this one. I just toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and let it refrigerate overnight and make them into little pinwheels the next morning!
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A turkey bacon avocado sandwich on a white plate.

Turkey Avocado Sandwich

5 from 1 vote
When I have a few slices of bacon left over, my mind immediately goes to this recipe. It’s filling and super flavorful and who doesn’t love a good sandwich for lunch?!
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Protein snack packs in meal prep containers for lunch.

Protein Snack Packs

This is one of my daughter’s favorite lunches for school. She’s a snacker and this pack makes her feel like her entire lunch is all snacks. I like to switch up the deli meat depending on what we have and even switch around the vegetables to clear out the fridge for the week.
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Close up of a italian sub slider with pin in top to keep it together.

Italian Sliders

This is my favorite easy lunch recipe to grab everything from the deli. Everything is ready to go and I just stack it on the sandwich!
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Pesto Chicken Wrap stacked on top of each other on a white plate

Pesto Chicken Wrap

4.54 from 30 votes
I always meal prep a ton of chicken and this chicken wrap has been a go-to way I love to use it. It’s creamy, savory, and super flavorful. And, it only takes a few minutes to put together!
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large bowl of BBQ chicken salad

BBQ Chicken Pasta Salad

4.48 from 23 votes
Okay, this pasta salad is fantastic. It uses chicken with BBQ sauce and ranch to add a ton of flavor. It tastes best when eaten cold, so I prep it the night before and my husband and I enjoy it a few days straight for lunch.
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Cucumber Sandwiches

My husband and my kids have been loving this cucumber sandwich. And, I love it because it’s really easy for me to pack in their lunches every week!
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Caprese pasta salad in a clear bowl with serving spoon inside it to serve cold for lunch.

Caprese Pasta Salad

I am a huge fan of anything with caprese flavors and this pasta salad is no different. I love adding fresh tomatoes and mozzarella balls with basil to add a ton of flavor easily to pasta.
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Chicken avocado wrap stacked on top of each other.

Chicken Avocado Wrap

I love avocados, but they are so tricky to get the timing right! Since I always have chicken prepped for the week, I love to make this lunch when I notice my avocados are ripe. Sometimes I even use half an avocado for breakfast and make one wrap with the other half so it doesn’t get wasted.
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Easy lunch idea of berry salad served in a black bowl.

Berry Salad

It’s not often I can get my kids to eat salad, but they love this recipe with the fresh berries inside! I love it too and also love how easy it has been to prep. It keeps well in the fridge for a few days too!
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Cucumber and Cream Cheese Rolls served on white plate.

Cucumber and Cream Cheese Roll Ups

I love buying Lavash bread when I’m counting macros for high protein and this lunch recipe has always been a great way to use them up and get a good amount of protein in for lunch. I’ve also used regular tortillas and it works great too! They're such a cheap option when it comes to lunch.
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Orzo Pesto Salad

Orzo is always overlooked when it comes to making lunch, but it’s just as versatile as pasta. I just add store bought pesto with these other easy ingredients to make one of my favorite lunches!
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Halloumi wrap inside aluminum foil.

Easy Halloumi Wrap

I was introduced to halloumi cheese a few years back and when I say it’s delicious, I mean it. It has a mellow flavor and tastes somewhat between mozzarella and feta. This wrap has been the perfect way for me to get some in for lunch in an easy way.
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Quinoa salad with apples served in a wooden bowl as a easy lunch idea.

Apple, Quinoa, and Almond Kale Salad

When I’m trying to eat a little healthier, quinoa is a go-to grain for me. This quinoa lunch has been incredible to add to the routine because it’s easy and flavorful. It doesn’t taste like I’m eating healthy!
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an easy lunch with caprese pasta salad in a white bowl.

Caprese Pasta Salad

Remember that orzo pesto salad I mentioned a few recipes up? Well, I love this pasta salad version just as much, if even not more. It only has 4 ingredients too!
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BBQ chicken wrap cut in half and stacked on top of each other served on a lunch plate with grape tomatoes.

BBQ Chicken Wrap

I love switching between the avocado chicken wrap and this one when I have an avocado to use up. It’s a nice change of flavors, and it gets a good amount of veggies into my lunch. Plus, this wrap is super filling!
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Buffalo blue salad served for lunch on a white plate.

Buffalo Blue Salad

My husband is from Buffalo, so Buffalo sauce is a regular around here. This lunch recipe is incredibly easy when I already have cooked chicken in the fridge and I love to add blue cheese to it to taste like a buffalo wing salad.
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Tahini Pasta

I could eat pasta every day and this recipe helps mix up the taste. It’s creamy, nutty, and full of flavor, and best of all, it’s delicious when you eat it cold.
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Greek orzo salad in a white bowl.

Greek Orzo Salad

My husband says this is his favorite way to use orzo for lunch. I think it’s because it has cucumbers and tomatoes in there together, which are two of his favorites!
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Avocado and Brie Sandwich

I am a huge brie lover so when I came across this sandwich, I was thrilled. It’s incredibly easy to put together and I finally have a reason to eat more brie without just crackers.
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Black Bean and Corn Salad

I can’t deny that I’ve eaten this recipe by the spoonful. It’s so good that I just can’t help it! I will have to say, it’s delicious with some tortilla chips too.
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Close up of cranberry turkey sandwich with two slices stacked on top of each other.

Cranberry Turkey Sandwich

Have I been buying more cranberry sauce all year round to pretend it’s the day after Thanksgiving just to make this sandwich? You bet! I love how easy it is to make, and I will even use deli turkey when I don’t have fresh leftovers from the holiday.
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Welcome to Everyday Family Cooking. I’m Samantha, a stay-at-home-mom of 2. I’m here to make cooking easier for your whole family and help you find new recipes to put in your regular rotation!

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11 Comments

  1. Paula says:

    5 stars
    Our fav lunch is buffalo wraps, so happy to have found this recipe!

    Reply
  2. Scarlet says:

    5 stars
    My husband loved these buffalo chicken wraps. So tasty!

    Reply
  3. Lauren says:

    These are such great ideas! I wonder, do you happen to have a full list of the dishes? Just a master list we could print and hang to for ideas, then we can go find your recipe?

    I can go down each list and take my own but I wondered if maybe you had one already.

    Thank you!

    Reply
    1. everydayfamily says:

      I do not have one, but that is a great idea, Lauren!

  4. Kathy says:

    35 easy cold lunch ideas…I’m only seeing one for Buffalo chicken wraps. Where are the other 34 ??

    Reply
    1. everydayfamily says:

      Hi Kathy, all of the other recipe ideas are listed about the buffalo chicken wrap. If you click on the “get the recipe” button for each recipe, it will take you to that exact recipe you are looking for.

  5. Pauline says:

    Thank you so much for creating this post! So many of these recipes sound delicious and that’s pretty rare for me. We’re heading out on an 18-day road trip in June and we’re taking our pop-up camper, so these meal ideas were a huge help. Thanks again!

    Reply
  6. HoneyWeight says:

    Your list of cold lunch ideas is a lifesaver for busy mornings! I’ve already tried a couple of these recipes, and they’re not only easy to make but also super tasty. Thanks for making meal prep so much simpler! 💪🥪👌

    Reply
    1. Erica says:

      I’m so glad to hear these have been a lifesaver for you, they have for me too! I love hearing that you are enjoying the recipes and they are making meal prep so easy for you. I hope you continue to enjoy the recipes! Thanks for all your feedback.

  7. Nikol says:

    I just came across your recipes and must say they look and sound delicious! Can’t wait to try several of these! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Sam says:

      Hi Nikol, I hope you find several recipes you love!