1Bow Tie Pasta Salad
Will Dickey
Make a big batch of this bow tie pasta salad at the beginning of the week and enjoy it for the subsequent afternoons to come! The colorful ingredients—peas, cubed ham, cheese, red bell pepper, and green onions—soak up the creamy dressing as the days go on, so it’s ideal for making ahead of time.
Get the Bow Tie Pasta Salad recipe.
2Fig Bars
Antonis Achilleos
It isn’t a packed lunch without a tasty treat at the end! This homemade version of the popular prepackaged snack is sweet and satisfying, thanks to a tender wheat-blend dough and an easy dried fig filling.
Get the Fig Bars recipe.
SHOP BAKING PANS
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3Homemade Potato Chips
C.W. Newell
Instead of pairing your sandwich with a bag of prepackaged chips, consider making your own at home to take the otherwise simple meal to new heights. They feature thinly sliced potatoes fried until crunchy and golden, then tossed in a spicy-sweet seasoning that you’ll want to eat by the spoonful.
Get Ree’s Homemade Potato Chips recipe.
4Antipasto Skewers
C.W. Newell
Craving a salad without the inevitable sogginess? These antipasto skewers are just the thing! Each easy-to-assemble skewer features salami, cheese, and pickled veggies for a balanced and flavorful bite. Best of all, you can drizzle on the balsamic glaze right before you eat them so the skewers remain fresh.
Get the Antipasto Skewers recipe.
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5Peanut Noodles
Caitlin Bensel
Enjoy these sweet and salty peanut noodles when they’re fresh and hot for dinner, and then pack the chilled leftovers for lunch the next day! The al-dente, peanut-infused noodles pair perfectly with shredded coleslaw mix, thawed edamame, and sliced green onion for added color and flavor.
Get the Peanut Noodles recipe.
SHOP MIXING BOWLS
6Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken
Will Dickey
Making a big batch of this BBQ chicken at the start of the week will keep your family happy for days! You can use the saucy, smoky chicken in different ways, like as a filling for sandwiches and wraps or as a topping for salads.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken recipe.
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7Turkey Meatballs
Antonis Achilleos
These healthy, lean meatballs are still packed with moisture and lots of flavor. You can stuff them in a pita pocket with tzatziki, lettuce, and tomato for a quick and easy weekday lunch.
Get the Turkey Meatballs recipe.
8Harvest Bowls
Danielle Daly
Spending money at popular fast-casual spots for lunch can quickly add up, but this homemade recipe is an easy swap. It’s just like the build-your-own bowls will tons of veggies, chicken, and mix-ins over wild rice and greens.
Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.
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9Waldorf Salad
Will Dickey
This salad might remind you of an elegant sit-down lunch, but it’s just as easy to pack up on the go. In fact, it would make a perfect picnic lunch when served in crisp lettuce cups.
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
10Cobb Chicken Salad
Beatriz da Costa
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11Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls
Antonis Achilleos
Quick sheet pan salmon with a flavorful spicy-sweet marinade is the perfect topping for these healthy rice bowls. The heat from the sriracha is cooled by adding slices of cucumber and avocado.
Get the Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls recipe.
12Breakfast Burritos to Go
Hector Manuel Sanchez
Don’t be fooled by the name, these sausage and egg burritos can be served for brunch, lunch, or anything in between. Once you wrap them up in foil, you can store them in the refrigerator for two days and simply warm them up to reheat.
Get Ree’s Breakfast Burritos to Go recipe.
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13Tomato Sandwich 
Caitlin Bensel
This recipe is as simple as it gets! The star of the sandwich is the juicy, seasonal tomatoes but the herby garlic aioli is just as good.
Get the Tomato Sandwich recipe.
14Gorditas 
Danielle Daly
Like a mix between a taco and a pita pocket, gorditas are homemade corn tortillas stuffed with flavorful pulled pork. Of course, you can also switch up the fillings with leftover steak, chicken, or anything else you have handy.
Get the Gorditas recipe.
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15Chef’s Salad on a Stick
Caitlin Bensel
Making salad on a stick will ensure that you never have soggy greens again! The skewers are filled with all the classic ingredients of a Chef’s salad and the ranch dressing can be kept on the side for dipping.
Get the Chef’s Salad on a Stick recipe.
SHOP SKEWERS
16Italian Sandwich
Caitlin Bensel
Not only is this sandwich stacked high with sliced deli meats and cheese, but it’s also great for making ahead. Build the sandwich the day before, wrap tightly with plastic wrap or foil, and stash in the refrigerator overnight.
Get the Italian Sandwich recipe.
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17Chicken Pasta Salad
Caitlin Bensel
This deli lunch mash-up combines the best of pasta salad with the flavors of chicken salad. It’s creamy, flavorful, and perfect for an office meal or picnic.
Get the Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.
18Spinach Quiche
Will Dickey
Quiche is a great lunch idea because it tastes just as good at room temperature as it does warm. Pack a slice of quiche with a side salad for a meal that’s way better than store-bought!
Get the Spinach Quiche recipe.
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19Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Caitlin Bensel
Everyone will be asking where you got this creative salad idea. It’s got cheesy, crunchy goodness of croutons and parmesan tossed with hearty chicken and noodles.
Get the Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
20Ham Sandwiches with Arugula and Pesto Mayo
Ryan Dausch
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Dining and Cooking