33 healthy make ahead lunch bowls to keep your meal prep exciting! Healthy lunch recipes to fuel you all afternoon long, including rice bowls, vegetarian, chicken and beef options.
Stuck in a lunch rut? Let's get you out of it! If you loved our healthy meal prep lunch ideas, then these make ahead lunch bowls are sure to shake up your meal prep with new flavors and inspiration!
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Loaded with veggies, protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs - these make ahead lunch bowls are portable and convenient to eat at work or on the go! Best of all, they are absolutely delicious and sure to keep hunger at bay all afternoon long.
Save money, reduce stress, and stick to a healthy routine by adding these make ahead lunch bowls into your meal prep rotation!
reasons you'll love these recipes
- there is something for everyone - from vegetarian bowls, to low carb, gluten-free, chicken, beef and more
- they are filled with wholesome ingredients to set you up for a successful week of healthy eating
- these make ahead lunch bowls are SO quick and easy to prepare!
Tips to keep your lunch bowls fresh
- store your dressing or sauce separately in condiment containers until just before you serve (unless the recipe states otherwise).
- keep leafy greens away from wet ingredients - mason jars are great for layering!
- store in a 2 cup glass meal prep container (keeps your food from absorbing flavors)
- store no longer than 4 days - chicken, rice, and most vegetables start to decline drastically after 4 days
- add toppings such as avocado and cilantro when ready to enjoy, for optimal freshness
Chicken bowls
These chicken lunch bowl recipe ideas are perfect for a balanced and filling lunch. From pasta salad to butter chicken, stir-fries and more!
Kale Chicken Pasta Salad
This kale chicken pasta salad is made with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. A healthy meal that works great for meal prep, or an easy weeknight dinner!
Check out this recipe
Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Cashew chicken stir fry is a simple yet flavorful weeknight meal that works great for reheat meal prep lunches! Made with a hoisin sesame sauce and served with broccoli and rice.
Check out this recipe
Greek Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
Greek chicken meal prep bowls with seasoned chicken, greek salad, tzatziki and optional pita bread. A delicious lunch with low carb option.
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Caprese Chicken Salad Meal Prep Bowls
Caprese chicken salad meal prep bowls are fresh, summery and delicious. With baked chicken, fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, quinoa and basil leaves all drizzled in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Thai Chicken Lunch Bowls (Meal Prep)
Thai chicken lunch bowls have roasted vegetables and chicken served over rice with a tangy homemade peanut sauce. Easy to prep and keeps well for four days!
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Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad (Meal Prep)
This southwestern chopped chicken salad is going to be your new favorite work lunch! Prep ahead on the weekend and when you're ready to serve, drizzle with ranch and sprinkle with tortilla strips.
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Honey Sesame Chicken Lunch Bowls
These Honey Sesame Chicken Lunch Bowls have chicken breast, broccoli and asparagus tossed in a sweet and savory honey sesame stir fry sauce. Perfect for healthy meal prep lunches!
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Moroccan Couscous Meal Prep Bowls
These Moroccan inspired meal prep bowls are full of warm spices and deep flavor. With spiced chicken thighs, roasted cauliflower and green beans served over lemony pearl couscous, it's an easy meal to prep on the weekend.
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Healthier Firecracker Chicken Meal Prep Bowls
Healthier firecracker chicken meal prep bowls are sweet and spicy! Lightened up compared to classic recipes, but still super flavorful. Gluten-free and ready in 35 minutes.
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Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
EASY slow cooker butter chicken is made with healthy ingredients, and can be assembled and frozen for meal prep! Made with tender chicken thighs, and a creamy coconut tomato curry sauce, it's dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb, and delicious!
Check out this recipe
Satay Chicken Lunch Bowls
These satay chicken meal prep lunch bowls can be prepped on the weekend and enjoyed throughout the week for a tasty, low carb lunch. You’re going to want to drizzle that peanut sauce on everything!
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Maple Ginger Chicken Meal Prep Lunch Bowls
Maple ginger chicken meal prep lunch bowls are made ahead on the weekend so you have four delicious lunches waiting for you!
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Low Carb Indian Chicken Skillet
This low carb Indian chicken skillet has incredible flavor with spiced cauliflower rice, chicken thighs and green beans. Easy to prep ahead for grab and go lunches.
Check out this recipe
Vegetarian bowls
These vegetarian lunch bowl recipes have a few things in common: plant based, delicious, portable, and packed with all the good stuff! Keep the dressing separate until just before serving.
Vegan Sushi Meal Prep
This vegan sushi bowl meal prep has all the flavors of sushi without the rolling! Made with cucumber, carrots, radish, edamame, rice and a sriracha mayo dressing.
Check out this recipe
Falafel Salad Bowls (Meal Prep)
Falafel salad bowls are made with crispy baked falafels, fresh veggies, and a drizzle of creamy tahini maple dressing. A nutrient-dense vegan meal prep recipe!
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Coconut Chickpea Curry
This coconut chickpea curry has a flavorful Indian-inspired curry sauce, and is delicious served over rice with a side of naan. Made with vegan ingredients, it's simple and quick to prepare.
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Cold Sesame Noodles with Spiralized Vegetables
These cold sesame noodle meal prep bowls are the perfect vegan prep ahead lunch: spiralized vegetables tossed with chickpeas and whole wheat spaghetti in a spicy almond butter sauce.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Slow Cooker Tikka Masala
This vegan slow cooker tikka masala is PERFECT for meal prep! It makes an easy freezer crockpot meal, and leftovers keep (and can be frozen) for healthy plant-based lunches.
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Thai Chickpea Mason Jar Salad
Thai chickpea mason jar salad has a tangy peanut dressing, quinoa, zucchini, carrots and cabbage and is topped with honey roasted peanuts! Ready in under 25 minutes.
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Buddha Bowl Recipe
This Buddha bowl recipe is full of healthy plant-based ingredients and works great for meal prep! Customize it using your favorite veggies and don't forget to drizzle with the delicious tahini sauce.
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Farro Arugula Salad (Meal Prep)
This farro arugula salad is a delicious vegetarian meal prep recipe! With snap peas, feta cheese, egg and a tangy vinaigrette, it is filling and delicious!
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Vegan Spring Roll Bowls (Meal Prep)
This vegan spring roll bowl meal prep makes four lunch portions that you can enjoy through the week! With crumbled tofu, crunchy veggies, and a tangy peanut sauce.
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Southwestern Wild Rice and Sweet Potato Salad
Wild rice and sweet potato salad is loaded with healthy veggies and tossed in a chili lime vinaigrette. Gluten-free, vegan-friendly, and perfect for lunch or a side salad!
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Chopped Chickpea Salad (Make Ahead)
This chopped chickpea salad has bulgur wheat, crunchy veggies, feta cheese, and a delicious honey lemon vinaigrette is a delicious vegetarian salad that tastes even better on day 2!
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Cauliflower Cashew Lunch Bowls
Make these cauliflower cashew lunch bowls ahead of time and have work lunches ready for the week! Roasted cauliflower, toasted cashews, barley and chickpeas are all tossed in a delicious honey-ginger vinaigrette!
Check out this recipe
Spicy Tofu Noodles Meal Prep
These spicy tofu noodle meal prep bowls are made with a sweet, savory and spicy sauce, whole-wheat spaghetti, zucchini noodles, and tofu! Make it ahead and enjoy for lunch through the week.
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Vegan Portobello Fajita Meal Prep Bowls
Portobello fajita vegan meal prep with delicious roasted portobellos, bell peppers and onions, black beans, and seasoned quinoa!
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Perfect Cauliflower Fried Rice (with cashews!)
Cauliflower fried rice is flavored with ginger, soy sauce and sesame oil, and cooks up in one pan! Lighter, yet filling, it has soft scrambled eggs, chicken and cashews.
Check out this recipe
Beef + Pork bowls
Just like chicken, beef and pork are incredibly versatile protein sources. These make ahead lunch bowls are diverse in flavor and would be incredible for lunch!
Sesame Ginger Beef + Zucchini Noodles
Sesame ginger beef and zucchini noodles is a delicious lower carb lunch option that is perfect for meal prep! Not only is it fast to make, but tastes delicious and only 4 g net carbs.
Check out this recipe
Baked Meatball Meal Prep with Spaghetti Squash
This baked meatball meal prep with spaghetti squash is a lower carb lunch option! Save time and reduce your dishes by baking the meatballs right in your meal prep containers.
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Egg Roll in a Bowl (30 min, low carb)
Egg roll in a bowl tastes just like your favorite take out and comes together quickly using a single pan. With only 7 g net carbs, this recipe has slaw, ground pork, and a delicious sauce.
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Healthier Mongolian Beef Meal Prep
These Mongolian beef meal prep bowls are perfect if you are craving take out, but want to keep things healthier. With tender strips of flank steak served in a deliciously sticky sauce.
Check out this recipe
BBQ Meatloaf Meal Prep Bowls
BBQ Meatloaf Meal Prep Bowls are an easy lunch idea that you are going to be so excited to eat! With cajun mashed sweet potatoes, steamed green beans and mini BBQ meatloaves.
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Low Carb Meatloaf & Cauliflower Mash
Low carb meatloaf and cauliflower mash meal prep is healthy comfort food. Makes five delicious servings perfect for a low carb lunch.
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Low Carb Satay Beef Meal Prep Bowls
With a creamy Thai peanut sauce that serves as both a marinade and dipping sauce, this satay beef meal prep recipe is not short on flavor! Serve it up with cauliflower rice and green beans for a delicious low carb lunch option.
Check out this recipe
Sue says
Thanks for the recipes! We’ve enjoyed many of them already and are looking forward to trying more. I’d really like to make the capers chicken salad, but there doesn’t seem to be a link to a recipe. Could that be corrected please?
Denise Bustard says
Hi Sue, thank you for pointing that out. I'm not sure what is going on but seems like a technical issue. Here is the recipe: https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/caprese-chicken-salad-meal-prep-bowls/
Kathy The FUN Baker says
Hi Denise,
These 33 Make Ahead Lunch Bowls look AmaZing!! (Just saw them on A Cedar Spoon.) Though I am retired & don't really pack lunches anymore I can't wait to try them!! I know my hubby & I will enjoy them. Thank you for sharing your Best recipes with us!!! Happy Easter!!!
Ben says
Thank you for your comment, Kathy. I can say that these are also great as a quick stay-at-home lunch. I look forward to hearing your thoughts once you try them.
Carla says
Can’t wait to try these looks delicious
Jasmine @ Sweet Peas & Saffron says
Hi Carla, we hope you enjoy! Be sure to come back and leave a rating and review once you try these recipes!