50+ Brown-Bag Lunches That Aren't a Sandwich

Adding steak to a heaping pile of greens and noodles is a delicious way to use up leftover beef. Follow this recipe and toss the noodles in the dressing the night before. That way, it's easy to pack the next morning.

Instead of beef, chicken, or turkey, this loaded chili is bulked up with quinoa for a vegetarian-friendly recipe.

Packed with vegetables, this tomato, scallion, and roasted bell pepper pasta salad is meal-worthy.

Satisfy your soul with a slice of this cheesy frittata.

For a sturdier spin on classic tabbouleh, use quinoa instead of bulgur.

Instead of getting a takeout chopped salad, whip up this homemade take that packs chickpeas, turkey, mozzarella, bulgur, cucumbers, and more into each bite.

Cashew cream adds lush texture to wild-mushroom soup.

It doesn't get much more summery than this tomato salad with chickpeas, avocado, and cucumber.

Like all Summer rolls, this recipe has the best texture on the day it's made but is also still solid the next day and is a great change-up from your typical lunch routine.

Make use of cherries when they're in season with a quinoa salad with cherries and feta. The juicy-salty combo mixes with parsley, shallot, and almonds for a brown-bag lunch like you've never tried.

Plenty of vegetables — caramelized onions, bell peppers, zucchini, and sun-dried tomatoes — bulk up this crave-worthy Mediterranean quiche.

A bacon, mushroom, and spinach frittata serves double-duty: cook it up for dinner one night and enjoy leftover slices for lunch on the following days.

A Greek-inspired salad of chickpeas, farro, greens, olives, and feta will inspire lunch-envy from your co-workers.

Bold and saucy, barbecue black-eyed peas make for a solid lunch when paired with millet, brown rice, or quinoa.

Pretend you're on a picnic while tucking into lemon-almond roast chicken salad with some crackers.

To ensure this raw beet salad with quinoa, carrots, edamame, and spinach doesn't wilt before you tuck in at lunchtime, pack the spinach separately and toss it in right before eating.

A big batch of slow-cooker beans and quinoa yields enough for a whole week of lunches. (Hot sauce, scallions, and cheddar ensure you won't be sick of it by Friday.)

For a lighter take on cobb salad, try this fresh recipe. Craving something a bit heartier? Go classic.

This edamame- and carrot-packed spicy peanut soba noodle salad will keep you full all afternoon long.

For maximum freshness, pack the chicken and dressing separately for this hearty salad; toss everything together at lunchtime.

Pack Creamy Coleslaw Recipe into disposable cups for a great grab-and-go option.

If you love the rich, nutty flavor of peanut noodles, try this spicy tahini soba noodle salad; sesame-based tahini has a similarly rich flavor to peanut butter.

Keep your croutons crunchy and your lettuce wilt-free by packing this chicken and kale caesar for lunch at the office.

We recommend packing this avocado-tuna salad with cucumber noodles with one major caveat: be polite to your neighbors by not eating it at your desk (unless you have an office to yourself).

If you like pad thai, then you'll love this Thai-influenced quinoa recipe. It contains all of the best elements of the classic dish, such as peanuts, cilantro, and bean sprouts, with a fun twist: it substitutes quinoa for rice noodles.

Corn kernels, black beans, and confetti-like diced bell peppers, radishes, and red onion combine into a hearty, salsa-like salad.

If you've yet to get on board with the mason jar salad trend, this roasted sweet potato and quinoa option is a great place to start.

Eating Crock Pot Baked Beans will make you feel like you're camping, not eating lunch at your desk.

If you can't find millet, substitute brown rice in this satisfying millet, lentil, and pomegranate salad.

You'll look forward to lunch all day when this marinated white bean salad is packed in your work bag.

Toss a few miniature frittatas into your lunch bag for a satisfying break in the day.

This lemon-parsley bean salad is brimming with Mediterranean flavor.

Add this quinoa mason jar salad with sweet potatoes and a Thai-style dressing to your lunch rotation.

Antipasto elements, including olives, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes, enliven pasta salad.

Treat yourself to a slice of caramelized shallot and mushroom quiche.

This vegan chili is a year-round option thanks to canned pumpkin.

Like all pasta salads, this Mediterranean orzo-based version tastes better after the ingredients have a few hours (at least) to mingle.

Step away from the chips and guac! This zesty guacamole mason jar salad offers a satisfyingly tangy crunch with every single bite.

Bean salads like this Chickpea Salad with Avocado will keep you full for hours.

Made with freezer staples like frozen brown rice, quinoa, and kale, this quinoa salad is quite easy to pull together.

This zoodle, quinoa, pea, and feta salad is so fresh and so green.

While your office probably doesn't have a stovetop or oven, chances are there's a functioning microwave. Make a pot of spicy tomato soup and reheat it at work. (Swap crumbled Cheez-Its for the grilled cheese croutons since leftover grilled cheese isn't great.)

Gruyère, mushrooms, and caramelized onions add umami oomph to a kale and wild rice casserole. Reheat a leftover slice for a lovely lunch.

Pack a hunk of bread alongside this slow-cooker white bean recipe for mopping up its brothy sauce.

This salad really does have everything! Kale, mint, raisins, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and other scrumptious ingredients work together to turn your meal into a beautiful orchestra of flavors.

Make this zesty marinated chickpea salad on Sunday night and eat it for lunch all week long.

Broccoli slaw transforms from side dish to full-fledged meal when quinoa is added to the mix.

You'll have no problem eating your vegetables when these tropical mango spring rolls are what's for lunch.

A hearty farro salad is guaranteed to give you the energy needed for a long day at work. The citrus vinaigrette dressing and fruit add a lively spring to this salad's step.

Low effort to make (it's a straightforward, set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe) and great as leftovers, this hearty chili is a no-brainer inclusion to this list.

The ingredient list of this chicken salad with kale calls for a variety of colors and textures — think crunchy cucumber, creamy avocado, leafy kale, and comforting quinoa with a lemon-flavored dressing that will easily make your co-workers jealous.

Like all frittatas, this kale and caramelized onion recipe is great as leftovers as it can be served hot or at room temperature.

A rainbow in a bowl, this citrus quinoa dish incorporates plenty of fresh produce. Prepare to make your co-workers jealous when you bust this out at lunch.

Some lentil soups are lackluster, but not this curry-powder-enhanced vegan iteration.

This sesame-ginger soba noodle salad is full of Southeast Asian flavor.

If your ideal salad is a mix of savory and sweet, this grilled beet and apple salad offers the ideal fruity twist on traditional greens.

Sun-dried tomato pasta salad is sure to rise you out of a midday slump.