Looking for cold lunch meal prep ideas that go beyond the same sandwich? Pasta salad jars, colorful noodle bowls and little pinwheel wraps give you plenty to choose from.
I especially love the snack boxes with a few different things tucked into each compartment.
You can keep it simple or try a new combination. Use these pictures as lunch inspiration rather than complete recipes.
Keep perishable lunches refrigerated or packed with ice packs until you’re ready to eat.
Cold lunches worth saving for your next meal prep
chicken and bow-tie salad jars
We’re starting off strong with these chicken and bow-tie pasta jars. I love how you can see the cucumber, pasta and lettuce in separate layers, with dressing at the bottom.
The croutons sit right on top here. For your own packed version, try keeping them in a separate little container until lunch.
mix-and-match hummus boxes
Don’t want one big salad? No problem!
These boxes give you a little of everything, from chickpeas and olives to grapes, cheese and crackers.
I’d choose the mini pita and cucumber combination. Add a small cup of hummus like the ones here to give your vegetables something to dip into.
orzo and chickpea salad
This orzo salad may just be one of my favorites here. The chickpeas, cucumber chunks and halved tomatoes look so good together, especially with those white cheese crumbles.
Try portioning a similar mix into individual containers rather than packing the whole serving bowl. Keep the little olive slices if you love them.
cheese and deli pinwheels
How cute are these little spirals? The orange cheese, pale deli slices and lettuce make such neat layers inside the tortillas.
If you want to try this style, roll your chosen fillings into a wrap and slice it into pinwheels. Pack them cut-side up to show off the centers.
noodles with edamame and cucumber
I love how everything sits side by side in these noodle boxes. There are sauced noodles, bright green edamame, cucumber chunks and golden-brown bites in each container.
To make your own version, you could use cooked tofu or chicken for those bites. Finish with a sprinkle of black and white sesame seeds like the ones shown.
chickpea salad with grapes
I love this simple lunch box combination. The chopped chickpea salad has cucumber, red pepper and purple onion, with grapes and almonds tucked into their own sections.
You don’t have to turn every ingredient into one big salad. Keeping the fruit on the side is a lovely option here.
chicken and egg salad boxes
Want a leafy salad with plenty on top? These boxes have shredded chicken, halved eggs, tomato pieces and red onion over greens.
The little piles of bacon pieces are a nice extra touch.
Follow the separate dressing-cup idea if you’d rather toss everything together when you’re ready to eat.
lettuce-wrapped salad rolls
Don’t want a tortilla around your filling? Try taking inspiration from these lettuce rolls instead.
The cut ends show a creamy filling with little red pieces and small carrot pieces inside.
You could use your favorite tuna or chicken salad for your own version. I’d pack the rolls snugly so they don’t unfold.
quinoa and black bean lunch box
This is a fun way to give your salad a couple of little sides. Quinoa, black beans, corn and colorful chopped vegetables fill the main compartment.
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The crackers and oat-studded square make this feel like a pick-and-choose lunch. Try a favorite snack bar on the side if you want a similar setup.
colorful sesame noodle salad
I am obsessed with all the color in this noodle salad. There’s purple cabbage, orange carrot, green edamame and thin red strips mixed through the noodles.
The lime wedges and scattered sesame seeds are worth borrowing for your own bowl. Pack a wedge separately if you want to squeeze it over lunch later.
tortellini with tomatoes and mozzarella
Calling all stuffed-pasta fans, this one looks so good! The tortellini sits among little mozzarella balls, tomatoes and basil leaves, with a green herb coating throughout.
For your own version, try tossing cooked, cooled tortellini with pesto before adding the other ingredients. Those little red onion pieces are an option too.
chicken and spinach wraps
If you’re looking for a wrap with more than deli slices inside, take a look at this one. The cut halves show chicken pieces, spinach, crumbly white cheese and dark red tomato pieces.
I’d try feta and sun-dried tomatoes to build a similar combination. Keep the spinach tucked inside rather than piling it around the edges.
lunch boxes with yogurt on the side
Can’t decide between wraps, a dip box or a little salad? This picture gives you all three, plus a few more combinations.
Each box has a yogurt cup tucked into its own space.
The hummus, pita, pepper and snap pea box is my favorite. You could borrow that pairing without copying every lunch shown.
layered taco salad jars
Look at all those layers! Beans, corn, red onion and tomatoes sit below browned ground meat and a generous pile of lettuce.
Shredded cheese and broken chips finish the jars.
For a similar cold lunch, use fully cooked, chilled meat. I’d carry the chips separately and add them after tipping the salad into a bowl.
chopped chicken and cabbage salad
This is another colorful salad, but the chopped cabbage gives it a different look from the leafy boxes above. I love the carrot strips and edamame scattered among the chicken pieces.
The peanuts on top are the detail I’d keep. Add them just before eating if you prefer them separate from the dressing.
egg and avocado snack box
You don’t need a mixed salad to put together a lovely lunch box. This one has egg halves, avocado, cucumber rounds, orange fruit wedges and pale cheese slices arranged side by side.
Read also: 20 Meal Ideas to Inspire Your High Protein Low Carb Recipes
The almonds have their own little insert at the top. You could use the same setup for a lunch made from a few favorite foods.
cucumber ribbon rolls
How adorable are these little cucumber rolls? Thin green ribbons wrap around the pale filling, with black and white sesame seeds scattered over the outside.
For your own take, you could pair cucumber ribbons with a cooked fish filling and a spread of your choice. Pack the rolls upright in a small container to help hold their shape.
antipasto-style pasta salad
If you love a pasta salad with lots of extras, this one is for you. Twisted pasta is mixed with salami, pepperoni, black olives, tomatoes and pale cheese pieces.
I especially love the little pepper rings throughout. Try adding a few to your own pasta salad if you want to follow this combination.
lentils with chopped vegetables
Don’t want pasta as your salad base? No problem there!
This bowl is full of lentils with finely chopped carrot, celery, red onion and herbs.
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The white cheese pieces look lovely dotted through the mix. You could add feta to a similar lentil salad or leave it out if you prefer.
creamy pasta and chickpea boxes
Last but definitely not least, we have these creamy pasta salad boxes. I love the red and yellow tomatoes among the lettuce and pasta twists.
Golden chickpeas and thin cheese shavings cover the top.
If you’re prepping a similar lunch ahead, try holding back the dressing and tossing it through when you’re ready to eat.