cold lunch ideas

A collection of easy cold lunch ideas that includes everything from salads to these delicious buffalo chicken wraps

35 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas

chicken, chicken tenders

buffalo sauce

flour tortillas

blue cheese

lettuce

cheddar cheese

Chop up chicken tenders into small 1-inch or...

Chop up chicken tenders into small 1-inch or smaller pieces and place in a bowl.

Pour Buffalo Sauce over chicken and mix to...

Pour Buffalo Sauce over chicken and mix to coat.

Put 1/4 of the buffalo chicken, blue cheese,...

Put 1/4 of the buffalo chicken, blue cheese, and lettuce into each wrap.

Wrap each tortilla and secure with a toothpick...

Wrap each tortilla and secure with a toothpick if desired.

Enjoy immediately or store up to 3 days...

Enjoy immediately or store up to 3 days in the refrigerator and enjoy cold or with reheating directions above.

Below is the recipe for the Sesame Noodles. The rest of the ideas are in the Notes so you can print them all for easy reference.

20 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas For Kids (that Work at Room Temp!)

fettucini ((or linguine

green beans

soy sauce ((or tamari if gluten-free))

maple syrup ((or honey

sesame oil

ginger

lime juice

Prepare the pasta according to package directions. Add the green beans for the last 6 minutes of cooking. Drain.

In a large bowl, stir together the soy sauce, maple syrup, sesame oil, ginger (if using), and lime juice. Stir in the pasta.

Pack in lunches or store in a container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Serve cold or at room temperature. (This can also be served warm.)

My quick and easy, classic chicken salad recipe made healthier and lighter to make the perfect homemade chicken salad sandwich. The perfect cold lunch for meal prep!

Chicken Salad Recipe

chicken breast (finely chopped (from 2 breasts of rotisserie chicken))

mayonnaise

celery (chopped)

red onion (diced (or scallions

chicken broth (optional)

Dijon

salt

black pepper (to taste)

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over salad, in a wrap, or in a sandwich

Grilled Chicken Chickpea Salad is a fresh and simple high-protein lunch that can be eaten cold on the go at work, the beach, or anywhere else you’re headed this summer.

Grilled Chicken Feta Chickpea Salad

chickpeas

oz grilled chicken

extra virgin olive oil

mini cucumbers (chopped)

tomatoes (sliced)

red onion

lemon

oz feta (crumbled)

tsp kosher salt

oregano

tomatoes

Combine chickpeas, chicken, cucumbers, tomato and red onion with 1/2 the lemon, 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and salt and toss.

Divide on 2 plates and top with feta, dried oregano and remaining lemon juice and olive oil.

Enjoy this healthy salmon salad loaded with omega-3s for lunch. You can use leftover salmon or poach it in the microwave 2 minutes!

Salmon Salad Recipe

salmon fillet

celery

lemon (juice of)

Cook the salmon in the microwave, covered about 2 minutes until cooked through, or use leftover cooked salmon.

Flake with a fork and let it cool.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix well, refrigerate up to 4 days.

Serve over toast, in lettuce cups, on a salad, etc.

So delicious you make eating better easier

Absolutely love this. Salmon is one of my favorite fish so this is perfect. I'm not quite following the serving size though because it says that 0.5 pounds yields 3 servings. But if one serving is 1.5 cups that doesn't quite add up. Has anyone else noticed that?

Very good and very light I will be making this again

Delicious!  Will double/triple the recipe next time so as to have some leftovers left for the next day.

I was skeptical about making this. But it was really great 😃. I used can salmon and it came out fine. With freash it would be fantastic. A very enjoyable light summer 🌞 meal. 👍

Such an easy recipe for leftover salmon and SO GOOD! I added some diced carrots to up the veggie content (and because I had carrots in the fridge, so why not?).  Thank you for this fabulous site.

Really easy and tasty. Substituted red onion for spring onion. Tasted delicious. Great way to use up leftover salmon. Like all of the variation ideas. A good lunch dish too.

I was hesitant to microwave salmon, but this recipe was delicious. I served it over a slice of toast with a side of steamed broccoli. It was plenty for 3 people. I am planning on serving this as a chilled dip with crackers and maybe veggies!

Easy to make and uses ingredients you have on hand.  I used this with left over salmon to add some moisture.  I still have some so will add some garlic powder and capers to it for more flavor.

I tried this recipe with Greek yogurt instead of mayo, it was amazing, my daughter tried it &amp; wanted more. Easy to make.

I love salmon and I love easy and this was both! Dr. just put me on a low carb diet and I am 2 week into ketosis and this is great!!! Love the ease and flavor. I will be making this a lot! I put it on a bed of spinach the first time but will be trying with other salad mixes.

If you can use fresh fish, you should!! So much more delicious than using canned fish. I topped it on toast with some capers.

This was good for something different. Certainly easy.

It was quick to make and great to eat. Thank You!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZkf8KZL1lM

You’ve tried tuna salad and chicken salad, but have you ever eaten salmon salad? You can make this healthy high-protein lunch with leftover salmon or poach it in the microwave in two minutes!

https://www.skinnytaste.com/salmon-salad/

Top 5 cold lunch ideas recipes from across the web

The most viewed cold lunch ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

35 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas

20 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas For Kids (...

Chicken Salad Recipe

Grilled Chicken Feta Chickpea Salad

Salmon Salad Recipe

Top 5 cold lunch ideas recipes from across the web

The most viewed cold lunch ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

35 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas

20 Easy Cold Lunch Ideas For Kids (...

Chicken Salad Recipe

Grilled Chicken Feta Chickpea Salad

Salmon Salad Recipe

The most viewed cold lunch ideas recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine