6 Lunch Meal Prep Ideas That Aren't Chicken & Rice

Let's be honest with each other — meal-prepping sometimes sucks. Social media cooks peddle overnight oats as the ultimate breakfast meal prep food and food blogs tout their chicken and rice bowls as the perfect lunch meal prep options. Frankly, I am a chicken and rice fan. My freezer is never without a few packs of teriyaki chicken and jasmine rice from Trader Joe's. However, chicken and rice for lunch at the end of the week just doesn't hit the spot. Plus, there are so many fun options for lunch outside of a standard ham sandwich, salad, or chicken and rice bowl. Whether you are meal prepping for the whole week ahead, or merely crafting something yummy the night before your long day away from home, these lunch meal prep ideas are easy, scrumptious, and satisfying. 

1. Pesto Chicken Salad

A tried and true lunch classic is, of course, chicken salad. If you want to shake it up from the typical mayo-centric dressing, I highly suggest this pesto-based recipe. You can make a big batch to pair with crackers or even individually wrap buns or croissants to make a sandwich every day while away from your own kitchen. I even like to add this onto a bed of lettuce for a double salad, if you will. Additionally, feel free to switch your protein for canned tuna or salmon with this dressing as well as you lunch meal prep. 

2. Chicken Loaded Potato

I bet you never thought of meal-prepping a whole loaded baked potato. You totally can, and it stays delicious all week long. Customize with your preferred protein and amount of cheese. The cheese and bacon bits will easily melt if you have a microwave handy wherever you have lunch. TikTok user @stayfitmom_krista is the queen of the meal preps in her signature glass round bowls and offers myriad recipes that are worth trying out, including these KFC-style bowls, biscuits and gravy, and cornbread casserole.

3. Couscous Salad

Now, dear reader, I would not recommend things I don't make and eat myself. This recipe is one I have in my fridge right now. I am the biggest fan of couscous, farro, and all other small pasta and grains that make a good cold salad. If you're short for time when meal-prepping, you can mix in a store-bought vinaigrette with your couscous. I also like to add fresh feta on top when it's served. 

4. Miso Soup With Noodles

Get your mason jars ready for this simple, effective, and mouth-watering soup recipe. Begin your recipe by making your soup base at the bottom of the jar. You can even simplify by only using chicken bouillon for a chicken noodle soup broth. Then, you'll add your thin rice noodles, otherwise labeled as vermicelli noodles available at your local grocery store, Asian market, or online. Add in your preferred fresh or frozen veggies, and you're done! On the day of eating, you can add water to your soup before you put it in the microwave, or you can add boiled water directly to your glass and let it sit for a few minutes. I mean, it is soup season, so we have to have our lunches reflect that, right?

5. Caesar Pasta Salad

You may have seen chicken Caesar wraps taking over TikTok this summer, and for good reason because those sandwiches absolutely rock. This fall, elevate the chicken Caesar flavors with a literal pasta salad. Add your lettuce of choice to the bottom of a container, then top with cooked and cooled pasta. Separately, store your Caesar dressing, parmesan cheese, and croutons to add on top when you're ready for eating. This is definitely going to be my go-to once all of my couscous salad is gone. And yes, this pairs perfectly with a Diet Coke. 

6. Adult Lunchables

Meal prep doesn't have to be hard. Meal prep can simply be your favorite little snacks to graze on throughout the afternoon. A mini charcuterie board with meats, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and veggies is the ideal hot girl on-the-go lunch.