20 Make-Ahead Hot Lunch Ideas

These make-ahead hot lunch ideas will give your lunchbox plenty of variety!

As much as I love a great sandwich, salad, or pasta salad, nothing beats a hot lunch in the middle of the work day. Sometimes these leave me needing an afternoon coffee to fight the desire for a food-induced nap, but it's totally worth it!

A lot of the recipes in this post are easy for weeknight dinners, too! I'll often make something for dinner that I know will also get me through a few days of work lunches.

All of these recipes are ones that can be reheated in the microwave. My office doesn't have a toaster oven, so anything hot needs to be microwavable or Thermos-ready. I had a Little Mermaid Thermos as a kid, and now I've got a more grown-up 16oz light blue one that I do actually take to work often. Sometimes I really don't have time to wait in line for the microwave if I have a day when I'm running around to lots of meetings. I've been known to show up to a 1pm meeting with a Thermos of chili or soup!

Storage & microwave containers: I use glass containers with snap-on lids if I'm planning to microwave. I find that many plastic containers make food taste plastic-y when used in the microwave. Pyrex with Snapware lids are my favorite.

A few Thermos tips: Pasta does not do well in the Thermos because it will continue to cook. Soups without noodles, chilis, and anything with a meat and lots of sauce will generally do well. Make sure to preheat the Thermos beforehand by letting some boiling water sit in it for 10-15 minutes. Also make sure food added is hot so that it's likely to stay at 140 degrees while in the container. (See tips from USDA - Keeping "Bag" Lunches Safe.)

Salsa Verde Chicken Pasta

This quick and easy one-skillet meal is a great weeknight meal that can be taken as leftovers for lunch. It's a cheesy pasta with a slight kick from the salsa verde. Recipe from The Cookin' Chicks.

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Slow Cooker Spicy Orange Chicken

A twist on a Chinese takeout favorite, this spicy orange chicken is the perfect combination of sweet and spicy and is easy to make in the slow cooker.

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Homemade Chicken Vegetable Lo Mein

This chicken vegetable lo mein is one of the simplest take-out meals to mimic at home, and the flavors will pop with hand-picked ingredients. Recipe from In the Kitch.

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Easy Lasagna Soup

This Easy Lasagna Soup is a hearty, creamy, and comforting soup that has all the flavor of this Italian favorite without all the work. The post for this recipe has storage, freezing, and reheating instructions. Recipe from Maria's Mixing Bowl.

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Bison Stew

This slow cooker bison stew with red wine and mushrooms makes a hearty, low effort weeknight dinner with little prep time. The recipe post includes fridge and freezer storage instructions. Recipe from In the Kitch.

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Red Wine Beef Stew

This rich and hearty beef stew is the ultimate comfort food for a cold day. The beef cooks low and slow in a red wine broth until amazingly tender.

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Mongolian Ground Beef

Saucy, flavorful Mongolian ground beef with that classic hoisin sauce flavor – a recipe everyone in the family will love! Its full of the rich, delicious umami goodness but with easy to make ground beef. Recipe from Feasting Not Fasting.

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Riz Casimir With A Twist

Riz Casmir is a curry dish that originated in Switzerland in the 1950s. Instead of the typical fruit mix, this recipe uses fresh apples. Recipe from Oh Sweet Cultureshock.

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Thai Peanut Noodles

Thai Peanut Noodles is a flavorful and healthy make-ahead dish that can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature. Recipe from Chew Out Loud.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

This slow cooker chicken tikka masala is easy to make ahead! Recipe from Chew Out Loud.

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Kung Pao Chicken

Healthier than our favorite takeaway, this Kung Pao Chicken has deeply satisfying umami flavors, all thanks to a perfectly balanced All-Purpose Chinese Stir Fry Brown Sauce. And it’s ready in under 30 minutes! This can be frozen for up to 2 months. Recipe from Caramel and Spice.

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Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

These are great to make as a game day appetizer, then pack the leftovers for lunch the next day! The blog post with this recipe has a section with detailed prep ahead, storage, freezing, and reheating instructions. Recipe from Budget Delicious.

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Cheesy Instant Pot Taco Pasta

This Instant Pot taco pasta is perfect for an easy dinner to be made any day! It’s mild, cheesy, creamy, and family-friendly. The blog post for this recipe includes instructions for storing, freezing, and reheating. Recipe from Little Sunny Kitchen.

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Pineapple Curry

A flavorful, warm, and cozy pineapple curry with coconut milk and shredded chicken you can make in under an hour. The blog post for this recipe includes detailed storage and reheating instructions. Recipe from The Candid Cooks.

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Mediterranean Rice Cups

This recipe is a simple rice cup recipe that's easy, healthy, unique, and freezes well. This recipe was the grand prize winner in the 2013 Wild Rice Council's Chicken and Wild Rice Recipe Competition. The blog post for this recipe includes instructions for storing, freezing, and reheating. Recipe from Food Meanderings.

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Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie Soup

This creamy chicken pot pie soup with shredded chicken and tender vegetables will remind you of the classic comfort food. It's ready in just 30 minutes, too!

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Chicken and Rice Tray Bake

This is an easy recipe with marinated chicken and fluffy rice. It's also freezer friendly! Recipe from Sweet Caramel Sunday.

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Pork Enchiladas Verde

These restaurant style pork enchiladas verde are made with just 5 ingredients in less than an hour! Recipe from The Candid Cooks.

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Chicken Broccoli Cheddar Hot Pocket

Who doesn’t love a homemade hot pocket recipe? These are great frozen, thawed overnight, and then reheated the next day for lunch. Recipe from Mommy Evolution.

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Slow Cooker Sirloin Roast with Montreal Steak Seasoning

This hands-off pot roast is made in the slow cooker with only a few ingredients. It's a great make ahead/reheat recipe for meal prepping.

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