Looking for lunch box ideas for work that aren’t the same sandwich every day? Think green pasta, chicken wraps and little snack boxes with cheese and fruit.
These photos give you plenty to choose from, plus a packing idea for keeping your containers organized.
You can keep things simple or add a few different sides. Start with a lunch you actually look forward to eating, then work around it.
Keep perishable foods chilled during your commute and refrigerate them when you arrive.
Work lunches worth saving
skewers and snack boxes
We’re starting off strong with this colorful spread. There are chicken-and-pepper skewers with sweet potato and broccoli, plus a quinoa salad box with pita and hummus.
I love the smaller combinations too. Cucumber sandwiches sit beside apple slices while another box pairs eggs with berries and nuts.
Pick the combination that suits your lunch break.
green pasta and tomatoes
If you are looking for something simple to pack, this one is for you. The short pasta is coated in green sauce with whole cherry tomatoes and chunks of white cheese tucked throughout.
Try pesto and mozzarella for your own version. You don’t need lots of separate sides to follow this idea.
pinwheels and carrot sticks
How cute are these little pinwheels? The sliced wraps show layers of deli meat and leafy greens, with grapes and baby carrots filling the spaces beside them.
The little bowl of hummus is my favorite addition. Keep your dip in a covered container when you pack it.
chicken salad in a jar
This salad jar may just be one of my favorites here. I love all the visible layers of chickpeas, greens, colorful vegetables and browned chicken.
There’s pale dressing drizzled throughout the jar. For your work version, you could bring it separately and add it when you tip the salad into a bowl.
pulled pork burrito bowl
Don’t want to wrap everything in a tortilla? No problem!
This pulled pork bowl has separate portions of rice, black beans and corn, with shredded cheese piled over the pork.
Try adding a little salsa at lunchtime if you want to follow the extras shown beside the container. A lime wedge would be a lovely addition too.
cheese crackers and pears
I love this little cheese-and-fruit box. The pear slices, green and dark grapes, round crackers and mixed cheeses give you lots of different bites.
Don’t forget a small pot of nuts and dried fruit if you want to keep the same mix.
salmon and avocado rice bowl
The orange and green combination is so pretty in this bowl. Salmon cubes, avocado, cucumber, edamame and shredded carrot sit over white rice, with seaweed strips in the middle.
Read also: 20 High Protein Meal Prep Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The salmon appears raw here. For a work-lunch variation, I’d choose cooked salmon and keep the sesame seeds and drizzle of sauce.
chicken and lettuce wraps
If you love a big salad but want something handheld, save this one. These wraps are filled with chicken, chopped lettuce, creamy dressing and little browned crouton pieces.
I especially love how you can see the filling in every cut half. Try a Caesar-style dressing for your own version.
macaroni soup and vegetables
Want something other than a cold lunch? This red soup with elbow macaroni is a lovely starting point.
Carrot sticks, celery, cherry tomatoes and a pale dip sit alongside it.
For work, pack your soup in a leakproof container suitable for reheating. Bring the vegetables separately, just like this.
vegetable-filled flatbread
I am obsessed with all the vegetables in this flatbread. Red pepper, zucchini, onion and mushrooms sit over leafy greens and a pale spread, with white cheese crumbled on top.
Follow the rolled version in the background if you’d rather pack it as a wrap.
glazed chicken and rice
If you’re looking for a lunch built around a few familiar foods, go with this chicken, rice and vegetable combination. The glossy chicken sits beside broccoli, carrots and red pepper.
Use a sauce you already enjoy for your version.
egg-filled lettuce boats
How cute are these lettuce boats? The large leaves hold an egg mixture with red pieces and chopped greens throughout.
Try your favorite egg salad in the same shape. I’d pack the filling and leaves separately, then spoon it in when it’s time to eat.
noodles and purple cabbage
This is another pretty jar idea, but it’s a little different from the chicken salad above. There’s orange-colored sauce at the bottom, followed by edamame, purple cabbage, noodles and golden crumb-coated pieces.
Read also: 20 Make Ahead Dinners to Inspire Your Weekly Meal Plan
The greens tucked at the top are such a nice finishing touch. You could use breaded tofu for your own version of that top layer.
chickpeas quinoa and greens
Don’t want to build your lunch around meat? No problem there! Take inspiration from this bowl of quinoa, browned chickpeas and wilted greens.
I love the generous drizzle over all three sections. Choose your favorite dressing and add a little chopped green onion to follow the look.
basil and cheese baguette
This sandwich may just tempt you back to bread after all those bowls. The cut baguette shows a green spread, thick white cheese, red filling and whole basil leaves.
Try pesto, mozzarella and roasted red peppers for a similar combination. I’d keep those big basil leaves rather than chopping them.
yellow rice and chicken
There’s so much color in these lunch boxes! Bright yellow rice sits beside browned chicken pieces and a cucumber, tomato and red onion salad.
Read also: 20 College Meals to Inspire Your Next Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner
The pale sauce runs across the different sections. If you plan to reheat the rice and chicken, pack your salad separately.
loaded chicken salad
If you are looking for a salad with lots of different toppings, then this one is for you. There’s sliced chicken, avocado, egg, tomatoes and bacon over the lettuce.
I love the blue cheese crumbles scattered throughout. Keep those if you enjoy a stronger cheese, or try a milder one in your own box.
stacked lunch containers
Got your lunch picked out but still deciding how to carry everything? This photo is a packing idea rather than another meal.
The gray bag has two zippered sections with small containers arranged inside.
Try separate containers for your main, fruit and dip. Leave room for ice packs if you’re carrying perishable food.
layered taco salad jars
I love these taco-style salad jars. Beans, corn, red onion, tomatoes and cooked ground meat sit beneath a generous layer of lettuce.
Shredded cheese and broken tortilla chips finish the top.
For your own lunch, bring the chips in a separate little container and sprinkle them on when you’re ready to eat.
green pasta and bright slaw
Last but definitely not least, we have this colorful pasta box. The spirals are coated in green sauce and mixed with orange and green vegetable strips.
I love the bright shredded salad in the little side cup. Try a beet-and-carrot slaw if you want a similarly colorful side for your own pasta lunch.