10 Protein-Packed Lunches Ready to Eat on the Go

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
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updated Jul 19, 2023
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Credit: Maria Siriano

Lunchtime can be tricky if you’re trying to eat more protein — especially if you often eat on the run. There’s no need to restrict yourself to protein bars, though. Plan ahead and you can have grab-and-go options ready that are much more tasty.

Here, for instance, are seven wholesome, protein-packed recipes that travel well. Many can even be eaten one-handed if you’re in a rush. All are sure to become favorites!

Ready to Eat on the Go Lunches

1 / 10
Chickpea and Cheddar Quesadillas
To make these quesadillas desk-lunch-friendly, we ditched the wedge cut for a technique that keeps the chickpeas and cheese nestled in a closed tortilla.
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2 / 10
Crisp Tuna-Cabbage Salad

Nothing says “take me with you” like the most classic of carry-along foods: the sandwich. And while some find time in a fridge makes them too mushy, this one stays crisp, thanks to the addition of some crunchy cabbage.

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3 / 10
Turkey Wraps with Honey Mustard Dip

Don’t underestimate the power of simplicity. These turkey wraps are classic and delicious. The honey mustard dip is definitely worth bringing along.

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4 / 10
Scrambled Chickpea and Spinach Pitas

These vegan sandwiches freeze exceptionally well. Make a double batch and tuck half in the freezer for later.

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5 / 10
Spiced Lentil, Sweet Potato & Kale Whole Wheat Pockets

Another easy trick for making food portable: Form it into a savory hand pie! This recipe calls for making whole-wheat dough, but you can easily swap in store-bought pizza dough to save time.

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6 / 10
Chilled Black Bean, Feta & Cucumber Salad

Making this hearty salad the morning of, or the night before — just make sure there’s time for the lime and vinegar dressing to work its way in and make everything delicious. It packs easily into any kind of container, but put it in a Mason jar for extra style points.

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7 / 10
3-Cheese Frittata Cups
These cups are just the thing for protein-packed lunches, satisfying after-school snacks, or wholesome suppers served with a simple green salad.
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8 / 10
Smoky Quinoa Taco Bowls with Fried Eggs
This vegetarian taco bowl features nutty, protein-packed quinoa as its base, which is cooked with aromatics and chipotle in adobo sauce to give it a rich and smoky flavor.
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9 / 10
Greek Chicken Grain Bowls
These Greek chicken grain bowls are inspired by classic Greek salad and lemon-herb chicken, and topped with a tangy, 3-ingredient feta sauce.
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10 / 10
Spicy Salmon Black Bean Salad
A quick and easy gluten-free recipe for black bean salad with hot smoked salmon, tomatoes, and avocado in a cumin-lime dressing.
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Healthy Living
Lunch
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