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18 Healthy Make Ahead Lunch Bowls

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By: 35 Comments
Posted: 5/12/19 Updated: 8/25/20

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18 healthy lunch bowl recipes to keep your lunch exciting! Healthy lunch recipes to fuel you all afternoon long, including rice bowls, vegetarian, chicken and beef bowl options.

Stuck in a lunch rut? Let's get you out of it! You guys are loving these healthy meal prep lunch ideas, and today I'm rounding up some healthy make ahead lunch bowl ideas for us all that would make perrrfect work lunches!

collage image with meal prep lunch bowl recipes

Lunch bowls are one of my favorite ways to meal prep. They are a full meal in one bowl, they are portable and convenient to eat at work, and they keep you full all afternoon long.

Making your own homemade lunch bowl is a great way to save money and stick to a healthy diet!

Tips to keep your lunch bowls fresh

  • keep your dressing or sauce separate 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 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
  • avocado- add it fresh

Healthy lunch recipes

This post has a huge variety of healthy lunch recipes in 'lunch bowl' form. There is something for everyone's diet including vegetarian bowl recipes, beef bowl recipes and chicken bowl recipes. There are also some low carb bowl recipes in there!

These healthy lunch recipes are heavy on the veggies. The biggest benefit to preparing your lunches ahead is that you are setting yourself up for eating healthy through the week and I think we can all agree that veggies = healthy!

Looking for more information on meal prep? Check out this post I wrote on How To Meal Prep.

Ready? Alright...let's go! It's make ahead lunch bowl time!

Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

Vegetarian bowls

These vegetarian bowl recipes have a few things in common: healthy, 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
overhead shot of glass meal prep containers filled with vegan sushi bowls
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!
Check out this recipe
hand pouring jar of dressing onto the southwestern wild rice and sweet potato salad
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.
Check out this recipe
Close up shot of mason jars filled with thai chickpea mason jar salad on wood tray
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
cauliflower cashew meal prep
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.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of glass meal prep container filled with buddha bowls
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.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of two glass meal prep containers filled with spicy tofu noodles
Vegan Portobello Fajita Meal Prep Bowls
Portobello fajita vegan meal prep with delicious roasted portobellos, bell peppers and onions, black beans, and seasoned quinoa!
Check out this recipe
plastic container filled with vegan portobello fajita bowls
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
close up shot of bowl of cauliflower fried rice

Chicken bowls

These chicken bowl recipe ideas are perfect for a balanced lunch, and check out all the delicious flavors! Isn't chicken so versatile?!

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
A large white bowl filled with kale chicken pasta salad with wood tongs in the background
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.
overhead shot of caprese chicken salad meal prep bowls on gray counter
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!
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of four glass meal prep containers filled with thai chicken lunch bowls
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
overhead shot of Indian chicken in a large skillet
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.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of four glass meal prep containers filled with southwestern chopped chicken salad
(Make Ahead) Chicken Fajita Lunch Bowls
Make these chicken fajita lunch bowls for healthy lunches through the week! Inspired by a Mexican bean salad, this recipe combines bell peppers, baked chicken breast and rice with a delicious fajita-vinaigrette.
Check out this recipe
Meal prep containers filled with chicken fajita lunch bowls
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.
Check out this recipe
overhead shot of firecracker chicken meal prep bowl in glass container

Beef bowls

Just like chicken, beef is an incredibly versatile protein. These beef bowl recipe ideas 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
overhead shot of glass meal prep containers filled with sesame ginger beef and zucchini noodles
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
close up shot of mongolian beef and broccoli
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
overhead shot of satay beef with green beans in four glass meal prep containers

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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Reader Interactions

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Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

  1. Carla says

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to try these looks delicious

    Reply

    • 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!

      Reply

  2. Sarkari Job says

    Healthy foods make your body fit and healthy, I love to eat this.!

    Reply

  3. Marion says

    Hi Denise,

    I've been following each one of these recipes (I'm on week 16), that's actually the first time I try meal prepping and the results are incredible! Theses recipes are healthy, it's a very good way to save money and to discover new foods, it's time saving and I can tell I'm in better shape.. your post is a GREAT find, thank you so much!

    Marion

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Wow, that's amazing Marion! So happy to hear you've been enjoying this post!

      Reply

  4. Dragana says

    Are these considered as clean eating? Do they follow the guidelines for clean eating?

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Hi Dragana, I can't speak for all of the recipes in this round-up, but I believe my recipes largely fall under 'clean eating' as I use very few processed ingredients.

      Reply

  5. Kelly Lee says

    Is there a simple way of printing each series of recipes or does one need to go into each recipe separately ? very time consuming

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Hi Kelly! This is a round up of my favorite recipes from around the web, so you have to go to the recipe developer's site and click to print. Sorry for the inconvenience.

      Reply

  6. Ann Mccallum says

    I want the lunch suggestions please

    Reply

  7. Karman says

    I need help bringing prepared lunches to work. I also am on a health kick so check and check. These all look good! Thanks so much!

    Reply

  8. Ingrid says

    Love ur lunch ideas...all super doopper yummy

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Thanks Ingrid!

      Reply

  9. Pat says

    Lunch bowls look amazing. I would like to print them and make for my daughter who has pancreatitis.

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Hi Pat! You can print them from each page that they are on 😀 Hope you enjoy some of them!

      Reply

  10. Danielle N. Pope says

    Greetings Denise,
    I would like to use your web link on lunch bowls in my e-book. If this is OK, would you send me a permission contract? Please let me know.

    Thanks so much.
    Danielle N. Pope

    Reply

  11. JENNIFER says

    I JUST FOUND THIS BLOG AND I'M SO EXCITED TO TRY THE RECIPES!!! THEY ALL LOOK SO PRETTY AND DELISH!

    Reply

  12. Allison - Celebrating Sweets says

    I'm using several of these ideas for meals this week. Off to the store! Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

    Reply

    • Denise says

      I'm so glad you got some lunch ideas, Allison! I find packing work lunches to be such a challenge!

      Reply

  13. Catherine says

    Dear Denise, all these lunch bowls look wonderful! What a great idea...I would love to try them all. xo, Catherine

    Reply

  14. Kelly says

    Love this round-up, Denise! All of these lunch bowls are gorgeous and I seriously wish I could have one of each for lunch! Thank you so much for including mine!! <3

    Reply

  15. Michelle | A Latte Food says

    I love your round-ups! All of these look amazing!

    Reply

  16. Kristine | Kristine's Kitchen says

    This round up is the BEST, Denise! Now I have no excuse for packing a boring work lunch. I'd take one of these bowls over my usual pb&j any day! 😉

    Reply

  17. Izzy @ She Likes Food says

    Now if I could just get someone to come over and make me one of these lunch bowls everyday, haha! Bowls like these are my favorites ever and I would happily eat any one of these for lunch everyday! Thanks for including one of mine!

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Meee tooo! Thanks so much Izzy! I'm going to try your salad soon!

      Reply

  18. lindsay says

    GORGEOUS lunches too! sign me up! pinning. Thanks friend

    Reply

    • Denise says

      Thanks, Lindsay! Your salad looks SO good, I definitely have to try it!

      Reply

  19. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    A colleague came to work with something like this one day last week, and I was so jealous.
    Now I have some recipes to rival his!
    These bowls are all so colourful, Denise, and we all know that means super healthy. 🙂

    Reply

    • Denise says

      I am hooked on lunch bowls! Thanks, Helen!

      Reply

  20. Liz @ Floating Kitchen says

    Well, you know how much I love food in bowls! I'm totally giddy over this round-up. Is that weird? 🙂

    Reply

    • Denise says

      HA! Food in bowls is the BEST 😉 Thanks so much, Liz!

      Reply

  21. marcie says

    What a great round-up, Denise! These are all so healthy and hearty, not to mention pretty! There are so many I need to try. 🙂

    Reply

    • Denise says

      I was loving all the bright colors 🙂 Thanks, Marcie!

      Reply

    • Zaheer says

      Any time You couldn't have been more right

      Reply