It's Lunch Week at The Kitchn — what are you eating for lunch today? If you need a little extra inspiration for your workday lunches, we have it for you here. Soups, salads, sandwiches — all from your own home kitchen.
Who needs to go out for lunch when you have broccoli & feta pasta salad in your lunchbox, or a simple farmer's lunch sandwich of fresh greens and cheese? With the right container, soup can be the perfect nourishment at work, and we have Tuscan stew, wild rice and mushroom soup, and an indulgent baked potato soup. There are little rolls stuffed with cabbage and pork, and a big salad of tortellini and fresh spring vegetables. Take your pick, and don't skip lunch!
SANDWICHES
• 1 Bánh Mì with Lemongrass Tofu - A refreshing, filling vegetarian sandwich — make the components ahead and assemble at lunchtime.
• 2 Chicken Cordon Bleu-Croque Monsieur - A big sandwich to rival anything from a gourmet sandwich shop!
• 3 Fresh Vegetable Sandwich - Inspiration for a sandwich loaded up with all the fresh vegetables you have on hand.
• 4 BBQ Cabbage and Sausage Stuffed Sandwiches - Little rolls stuffed with sausage and cabbage — the perfect portable lunch.
• 5 Farmer's Lunch Sandwich - A simple, classic sandwich — so easy to make and enjoy.
SALADS
• 6 Rice and Mixed Greens Salad with Dates, Cashews, and Chickpeas - A big, hearty green salad that will fill you up.
• 7 Tortellini and Spring Vegetable Salad - Salad and pasta — together!
• 8 Roasted Eggplant Salad with Smoked Almonds and Goat Cheese - A salad to eat warm.
• 9 Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad - A simple and satisfying pasta salad.
• 10 Kale Salad with Apricots, Avocado and Parmesan - A favorite lunch salad.
SOUPS
• 11 Tuscan Bread and Tomato Soup (Ribollita) - This soup makes wonderful leftovers — it gets better and better.
• 12 Minnesota Wild Rice and Mushroom Soup - So flavorful!
• 13 Hearty Chicken Minestrone - A classic chicken soup.
• 14 Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Onion and Cheddar - Everyone's favorite.
• 15 Black Bean, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Chili - A lighter twist on chili.
What's your favorite lunch these days?
Related: 5 Quick and Delicious Lunches Under 400 Calories
(Images: See linked recipes for full image credits)
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I love a simple salad like this bresaola and arugula salad along with a slice of quiche or a bowl of delicious soup like this pappa al pomodoro . And of course, you can't beat a yummy panini- I make many variations depending on what's leftover in the fridge.
On weekends, I like to relish lunch or brunch with friends and good, solid food. Monday to Friday, though, I want something simple and make-ahead, but I've found salads to be tiring on that front. I've started making freezer burritos, with a different meat and vegetable each week. They're easy to reheat and delicious.
I opened this post just as I was taking a break from prepping lunches for the week. I had a bag of sweet potatoes to use, so I chopped and roasted half of them with a chopped red bell pepper. After cooling a bit, half of that mixture will be tossed with a bunch of greens for today's salad. I'm also making a curried sweet potato soup with the remainder in the bag. I'm happy to have the new sandwich ideas in this post--thanks. (I was sure I had a big knob of ginger--must've accidentally tossed it! Improvising now that I have everything else prepped.)
Great, toothsome lunch recipes and menus.
My only concern: for the sake of your hapless co-workers, please be careful with the broccoli-feta salad. Refrigerate and eat it downwind of your lunch mates. Seriously.
Yay for lunch week! I had leftovers from Sunday dinner today, but I usually do a salad. This week I'll do a hard-cooked egg, arugula, shaved veggies (carrots & fennel) with a shallot vinaigrette. Any ideas for greens-based (versus grain-based) salads are welcome!
Cold soup! It's a gorgeous week in NY so I made a batch of this chilled avocado and corn soup. http://www.loveumadly.com/2012/03/healthy-lunch-idea-chilled-soup/
This is sort of a combination sandwich and salad! I just made this faux bacon - I'm not sure what to call it!! Almost like latbreads, maybe, or crackers. It's a crispy pastry dough, very smoky, a little salty, with streaks of smoked gouda. Really tasty! We ate it with a salad of romaine, baby spinach and tomatoes, lightly dressed with olive oil and balsamic. Better than the best BLT!
Would a broccoli-feta salad be stinky? It's feta! I'd be much more concerned about taking in anything with cabbage. Or if the salad was made with a stinky cheese.
i love these healthy, hearty soups! i recently/accidentally made an awesome seafood stew that works great as lunch leftovers.