Easy Cold Lunch Ideas - The Short Order Cook

No more boring lunch boxes! These yummy recipes for Easy Cold Lunch Ideas will have you looking forward to your midday meal. All are simple to make, great for packing for school or work, & 100% delish.

4 photos of lunch recipes that can be served cold

Whether you want a cold sandwich, healthy salad, hearty leftovers, or all the above - this list of lunches that are no-cook or don't require reheating is the best. Great for on the go or in the summer when it's too hot to cook.

I am including some of my favorites here that I brought with me all the time when I had an office job. There are low-carb & gluten-free options plus all the classics including pasta, chicken, vegetarian choices too

Here is what you will find here on the blog to keep you filled up and focused during your busy day. All the best lunch ideas that can be served cold & aren't just sandwiches & salads - though I have those too!

4 different salad and sandwich lunches ready to eat that don't need to be reheated and are good to eat cold.

Jump to:

Green Salads
Other Salads
Sandwiches
Cold Leftovers
Desserts too - Bonus!
Final Notes & More Ideas
More Lunch Recipes

Green Salads

For a healthy lunch that is more than the same old boring salad, try these flavor-packed favorites. Many include homemade dressings or try my recipe for Ranch without Mayo or add your favorite store-bought.

Many are great as is or add leftovers like chicken, steak, seafood, hard-boiled eggs, canned beans, or tofu to boost the protein them.

Arugula Salad with Leftover Chicken

Fall in love with this simple arugula salad with leftover chicken. The quick & easy meal idea is loaded with diced chicken, nuts, avocado, & cheese. The best way to use any extra pieces of breast or thigh meat chicken you have - BBQ, grilled, baked, rotisserie, smoked, fried, or pulled.

Arugula Salad with Leftover Chicken

Arugula Salad with Leftover grilled BBQ Chicken, cheese, nuts, and avocado.

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

The best Mediterranean chopped salad is packed with garbanzo beans for protein and a bunch of fresh vegetables. Loaded with Greek & Italian produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, & olives plus a homemade Italian vinaigrette dressing recipe. Great for lunch, dinner, side, or appetizer. It is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthy, & tasty for everyone to enjoy.

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Overhead image of plated salad ready to eat with fork.

Asian Avocado Peanut Coleslaw

If you want an easy peanutty coleslaw recipe, this Asian avocado peanut coleslaw is the best. This chopped slaw recipe is bursting with fresh vegetables that are dressed in a homemade Asian-inspired dressing that is salty, sweet, and spicy. This slaw is vegan and gluten-free and sure to be one that everyone loves.

Asian Avocado Peanut Slaw

Bowl with cabbage avocado peanuts and asian coleslaw dressing.

Spinach Blueberry Salad

A colorful salad of fresh spinach, ripe blueberries, sharp parmesan, & crunchy pecans is a lovely spring recipe. It's fresh, nutty, sweet, & savory in every delicious bite.

Spinach Blueberry Salad

Butternut Squash, Apple, and Kale Salad

Butternut squash, apple, and kale make the perfect Fall salad. The crunchy pecans, crisp apples, sweet raisins, and roasted butternut squash make the most amazing Autumn harvest salad recipe.

Butternut Squash Apple & Kale Salad

Butternut Squash Apple pecan and Kale Salad on a platter.

Other Salads

Lettuce isn't your thing or you want something more exciting, all these salad recipes will hit the spot. These hearty salad recipes with or without protein are winners. I personally love a cold pasta salad for lunch and you will too when you try these.

Summer Pesto Pasta Salad

This simple yet flavorful pesto pasta salad is a summer favorite. The cold tri-color rotini salad with a pesto dressing, tomatoes, & olives is great for a light lunch or a side dish. Using mostly inexpensive pantry staples, this budget-friendly recipe is the best. With Italian & American flavors, serve with BBQ, roasts, grilled chicken, seafood, sandwiches, & soup to complete your meal.

Pesto Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

This easy recipe for a fresh, tasty, & simple Mediterranean Orzo Salad is fantastic. The healthy vegetables & lemon vinaigrette are the best. The quick 30-minute side or main dish salad is vegan & vegetarian approved - or add feta & salami for a heartier option. Great make-ahead idea for lunch, dinner, picnics, & potlucks.

Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Cucumber Shrimp Salad

This cool, crunchy, & creamy cucumber shrimp salad is the best protein-packed lunch. This simple seafood recipe is light, healthy, & tasty. The quick & easy diced cucumbers with shrimp & a dill sour cream dressing is a shellfish lover's dream. The gluten-free & low-carb recipe is a great make-ahead meal planning meal since it stores well for days.

Creamy Cucumber Shrimp Salad

Ready to eat cucumber shrimp salad in a serving bowl dressed with a sour cream mayo dill dressing & topped with chives.

Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.

Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheddar

Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) overhead featured

Cold Rice Salad

The best spring or summer salad of rice and fresh fava beans. The cold rice salad It is tossed with lemon vinaigrette & topped with scallions and lemon zest for a bright pop of flavor.

Cold Italian Rice Salad with Fava Beans

Rice and Fava Beans Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Antipasto Rice Salad

Antipasto rice salad is a light lunch or hearty side dish that is packed with so many yummy things. Rice paired with Italian-American ingredients like salami, mozzarella, and olives are mixed with a homemade dressing for a tasty gluten-free alternative to pasta salad.

Antipasto Rice Salad

6 photos of easy cold lunch recipe ideas for work, home, or school

Sandwiches

Beyond PB&J, these sandwiches are gourmet with hearty ingredients. A great way to pack a lunch that won't disappoint later.

Yummy to eat at home on a relaxing weekend when you don't feel like cooking. Don't forget to serve with one of my easy to make - Pickle Made from Leftover Pickle Juice.

Mortadella Sandwich

This recipe for a classic Italian mortadella sandwich is one of my favorites. The comforting salty cold cuts with vegetables is the best. The perfect quick & easy lunch - great for picnics, work, or school.

Mortadella Sandwich

Flank Steak & Gorgonzola Sandwich

The best summer sandwich recipe. This grilled flank steak & gorgonzola sandwich is easy to make with gourmet taste.

Flank Steak & Gorgonzola Sandwich

Two large sourdough rolls with grilled flank steak gorgonzola cheese lettuce and tomato for a sandwich.

Poor Man's Lobster Roll

This easy Poor Man's Lobster Roll recipe is the best take on the traditional Maine sandwich but at half the price. One bite of this rich & creamy seafood sandwich & you will be transported to New England. This 15-minute recipe saves money while still tasting gourmet.

Poor Man's Lobster Roll

An inexpensive poor man's Maine lobster roll made with shrimp & chive mayo dressing in a brioche bun.

Caprese Sliders

These oven-baked Caprese sliders on Hawaiian rolls are a yummy appetizer, small bite, snack, or meal. Fresh tomatoes, pesto, & mozzarella combine for an easy Italian sandwich recipe. The perfect vegetarian recipe for parties, holidays, & game day.

Caprese Sliders

Cold Leftovers

All of these are great dinner recipes that make for the best leftovers the next day. They do not need reheating & taste just as good served room temperature or cold.

Make these for dinner and double the recipe. This are all great meal planning ideas to prep & pack for the busy work week.

Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl

This island-favorite, Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl, is so easy to make at home. The rice bowl recipe with avocado & spicy poke is healthy & yummy. A combination of Japanese flavors and ingredients found in Hawaii makes this fusion recipe sweet, salty, creamy, comforting, & spicy. Sushi-grade raw fish cubed is easy to prep & enjoy with this no-fuss 30-minute recipe.

Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl

Hawaiian Salmon Rice Poke Bowl with avocado and cucumber.

Broccoli Cheese Quiche (frozen pie crust recipe)

This easy recipe for broccoli cheese quiche using a frozen pie crust is so good you will want it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Broccoli Cheese Quiche

Naked Chicken Wings

For the best crispy & juicy naked chicken wings, try this easy deep-fryer recipe. The crunchy party appetizer has no breading or gluten. Great for lunch, dinner, game day, or snacks. Seasoned drummettes & flats have tons of flavor - serve with wing dust, spices, sauces, condiments, & dips.

Naked Chicken Wings

Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

For the crispiest fried buttermilk chicken tenders, this Southern recipe is the best. Juicy on the inside & crunchy on the outside every time. A family favorite for dinner, lunch, or as a party appetizer. In less than 30 minutes this homemade version is ready - and so much better than frozen or fast food!

Fried Buttermilk Chicken Strips

Stack of buttermilk marinade chicken tenders battered and fried.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

For juicy, sauced, & seasoned grilled bbq chicken breasts, this summer easy recipe is the best. The crispy crust & tender meat is ready in 30 minutes. Only 3 ingredients for a sweet, spicy, & bold cookout chicken recipe.

Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts

Plated grilled boneless skinless chicken breasts with bbq sauce on top & served on the side.

Pesto Tuna Pasta

Only 6 ingredients & 20 minutes. This quick and easy Italian meal of pesto tuna pasta is amazing. Great for dinner, lunch, or as a side dish. Serve it warm or cold - the perfect fancy but cheap seafood pasta dish.

Pesto Tuna Pasta

Sheet Pan Tomato Basil Gnocchi

This 30-minute Sheet Pan Tomato Basil Gnocchi recipe is easy & literally bursting with flavor. The best quick weeknight dinner or lazy Sunday Supper. This simple Italian-inspired recipe is a hearty vegan/vegetarian summer meal everyone will love.

Sheet Pan Tomato Basil Gnocchi

Desserts too - Bonus!

Ok, let's balance out our meal with something sweet to go with all these savory recipes. Enjoy these family favorite desserts that make a great lunchbox snack too.

Cherry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

The best chewy Cherry White Chocolate Chip Cookies are fun, fruity, & pretty. Loaded with red sweet maraschino cherries, tons of rich white chocolate, & a yummy pink cookie dough for a colorful dessert or snack everyone will fall in love with. The easy recipe is great for Valentine's Day & holidays.

Cherry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

This fun & easy recipe for sugar cookies with sprinkles is a colorful dessert everyone loves. The soft & chewy cookies are loaded with nonpareils for a crunchy rainbow treat. The simple sprinkle cookie recipe is the best for birthday parties, Christmas, Easter, holidays, pride month, & celebrations.

Sprinkle Sugar Cookies

Rolo Stuffed Ritz Crackers

Only 2 ingredients for this sweet & salty easy 10-minute recipe. The dessert or snack is crunchy, gooey, & chocolatey all in one yummy bite. Great for parties, holidays, & potlucks.

Rolo Ritz Crackers

Ritz cracker sandwiches stuffed with Rolo chocolate caramel candies.

M&M Rice Krispies Treats

For gooey and chewy Rice Krispies treats with M&M candies, this easy recipe is the best. This recipe has colorful chocolate candies and extra marshmallow for a sweet snack or dessert everyone loves.

M&M Rice Krispies Treats

Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix

For an easy recipe for red velvet brownies, uses a store-bought cake mix. These yummy moist, fudgy, & rich brownies are packed with white chocolate chips. They look & taste gourmet but only take 5 minutes & 5 ingredients to mix up. Great for Valentine's Day, Christmas, parties, & potlucks.

Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix

Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies

Muddy buddies (puppy chow) meet the classic snickerdoodle cookie flavors of cinnamon and sugar.

Snickerdoodle Muddy Buddies

Final Notes & More Ideas

I hope you enjoyed this list of lunches that are great served & enjoyed cold. They are great whether at home, school, work, or traveling on the go. Here are a few more ideas -

Host a Family Pizza Night at Home & enjoy leftovers the next day.
Make a big batch of your favorite chicken salad to freeze for later.
This list of Leftover Ham Recipes includes a few cold recipes.

More Lunch Recipes

Here are some additional recipe roundups for midday meals - hot & cold. You are sure to find a few new favorites that will part of your regular rotation.

EASY SLOW COOKER SOUP RECIPES
EASY TUBE PASTA RECIPES
30-MINUTE LOW-CARB CHICKEN RECIPES