Cheap lunch ideas for work
Buying lunch out quickly adds up. Get inspired by these cheap yet tasty lunches for work, from veggie olive wraps and chilli chicken noodles to sweet potato & feta tortilla
If you have a busy lifestyle, it can be tricky to find time to prep lunch, which can often lead us to buying pre-packaged meal deals and ultra-processed food. But it doesn't take long to make your own, will save you money and is far healthier too, so we've rounded up our ideas for packed lunch inspiration.
Below we share a collection of low-cost, transportable lunches which turn lunch breaks into a satisfying experience, from veggie olive wraps and walnut pasta to chilli chicken and peanut noodles and sweet potato, spinach & feta tortilla. These innovative packed lunches make use of cheap, accessible ingredients, such as pasta, chickpeas and rice. They're filling, packed with veg and are super simple to prepare.
For more lunch ideas, see our round-up of healthy lunch recipes, healthy vegetarian lunch recipes and low-calorie lunch recipes.
For more budget recipes, see our guide to the best cheap lunch ideas. Check out our main budget hub for all your cost-cutting needs, where we guide you through the likes of budget desserts, budget comfort food and meals you can make with canned veg.
Cheap lunch ideas for work
1. Veggie olive wraps with mustard vinaigrette
Lunch will be the envy of your colleagues with these homemade wraps, packed full of fresh, crunchy veg. The ingredients keep costs low, showcasing cheap veg such as carrots, cabbage and spring onions. Not a fan of olives? Spread the wrap with a nut butter like peanut, almond or cashew instead before adding the filling. Simple and healthy, not to mention ready in just 10 minutes, this wrap is ideal for a low-calorie lunch option to eat al-desko.
Find more cheap vegan recipes.
2. Charred broccoli, lemon & walnut pasta
Combine a few simple storecupboard ingredients to create this verdant 20-minute veggie lunch. Full of texture and flavour, it's healthy too, being low in fat and calories. If you fancy jazzing it up further, or you're stuck on what to do with any leftovers, mix with any Med-style storecupboard ingredients you have to hand – pitted olives, capers, anchovies, and sundried tomatoes would work well.
See more healthy vegetarian lunches.
3. Chilli chicken with peanut noodles
Peanut butter offers nutty richness in these easy, speedy noodles, ready in just 25 minutes. Topped with plenty of crunchy green veg and tamari-flavoured chicken thighs, this is a simple lunch which still offers lots of flavour to perk you up midday. It's low-calorie too, coming in under 500 calories.
Find more easy noodle recipes.
4. Charred cauliflower, lemon & caper orzo
Rustle up this easy orzo and cauliflower dinner in just 25 minutes, and save the second portion for your lunchbox the following day. It's both zingy and refreshing, thanks to a subtle combination of capers and lemon juice. This lunch is a healthy option, too and is low in calories and fat. Try it for a solid rotational lunch which will please meat-eaters and veggies alike.
Try more budget vegetarian recipes.
5. Roasted cauli-broc bowl with tahini hummus
Reboot your lunch repertoire with this colourful quinoa bowl, thrown together in just 10 minutes. It cuts corners by using ready-to-eat quinoa, combined with cheap seasonal veg such as cauliflower, broccoli, beetroot and spinach. These are then coated in a delicious and simple dressing, mixing tahini with hummus and lemon juice. It's vegan, healthy and gluten-free, and you'll be left pleasantly full, rather than in a food coma.
Check out more healthy vegan lunches.
6. Sweet potato, spinach & feta tortilla
Bored of sandwiches for lunch? If you fancy changing your lunch game up without the hassle, this may be the answer to your prayers. Make this vegetarian tortilla the night before for a quick and easy lunch to take to work. It looks impressive, but it's simple to make and uses just four ingredients: sweet potatoes, baby spinach, eggs and feta. It makes a beautifully rustic, gluten-free lunch which doesn't break the bank.
Try out more of our gluten-free lunches.
7. Tortellini with pesto & broccoli
Turn a few simple ingredients – pasta, pesto, tomatoes and broccoli – into a tasty lunchbox which sings with Mediterranean flavours. The beauty of this lunch is speed: 5 minutes prep and 5 minutes to cook.
Find more pasta salad recipes.
8. Butternut squash salad
Get a whopping 4 of your 5-a-day with this low-salt, gluten-free veggie salad. Salads are as much about different textures as flavour, and this recipe provides both – cranberries add bursts of sweetness, and the pumpkin seeds provide soft crunch. Salads should be filling too, and this recipe does just that, owing to butternut squash, wild and brown rice and lentils.
Try more vegetarian salads.
9. Bean & barley soup
Reheat this veggie bean soup for a comforting lunchtime meal. Canned chickpeas are cheap, and super nutritious, being high in fibre, calcium and magnesium. Combined with creamy butter beans, chopped tomatoes, garlic and onion, it makes a winning lunch made using storecupboard staples.
Find more exciting ways with chickpeas.
10. Vegan jambalaya
Vegan jambalaya is a solid recipe to add to your rotation. It's made almost entirely of storecupboard staples, such as chopped tomatoes, butter beans and basmati rice and is lifted with everyday spices, making it a thrifty and nutritious option. It's packed with all five of your 5-a-day, as well as iron, vitamin C and fibre.
Try more healthy vegan recipes.
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