Just add a couple of sides—like fruit or chips—and you're all set. Tip: If you plan to take this in your lunchbox, be sure to include a knife so you'll have a way to spread the salad on your crackers. Savings Tip: Buy a whole chicken and roast it. Use the meat to make chicken salad.

Make broth from the bones. Keep pita bread, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings on hand, and you can have pizza for lunch whenever a craving hits.

This one couldn't be easier. Just spread some tomato sauce on a pita, sprinkle on some cheese, add your favorite toppings, and pop the whole thing in the microwave or oven long enough for the cheese to melt.

We're talking 30 seconds to a minute in the microwave tops. That's a lot sooner than you'd be eating if you were to order a pizza, and there's no tip required.

Want to take this in your lunchbox? Just pack the individual ingredients, and assemble your pizza when you're ready to eat it.

This will keep the crust from getting soggy and make it easier to transport. Savings Tip: Pita bread freezes beautifully. Tuck a bag in the freezer to preserve its freshness. It doesn't need to be thawed before you make your pizza.

Prepare a bunch of burrito ingredients—rice, beans, chicken, and chopped veggies. Then divide them up between several small containers to create individual burrito bowls. Finish each one off with salsa, cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing, cilantro, or whatever else you'd like. Fresh avocados and guacamole brown quickly, so don't add them until you're ready to eat.

Use these easy tips for keeping avocados and guacamole fresh. Or look for single-serve containers of guacamole in the produce section. They're perfect for sticking in lunchboxes.

Savings Tip: Use dried beans instead of canned beans. Cook up a mess of quinoa , following the directions on the box. Then toss it with chopped veggies, beans, nuts, cheese, spices, herbs, and dressing to create a colorful and nutritious salad that'll fuel your afternoon.

Start with a recipe, or make up your own as you go. As long as you stick to ingredients that you like, you really can't go wrong with this one.

Savings Tip: Buy your quinoa from the bulk bins. It's usually substantially cheaper that way. Store-bought yogurt cups tend to be full of sugar, and they aren't very filling.

So buy a large tub of plain yogurt and use the savings to purchase fresh fruit and other mix-ins that you can use to create your own yogurt cups. Some mix-ins to consider: honey, oatmeal, nuts, dried fruit, granola, jam, and dark chocolate chips.

Savings Tip: Those big oz. containers of yogurt are usually the best deal, and it's really easy to divide them into smaller portions. There's no rule that says you can only use your slow cooker to make dinner.

So pick out a recipe that looks good and make that dish your lunch for the week. The Crock-Pot brand even sells a single-serve lunch crock that's designed to keep your food warm, until lunchtime. Just heat your food in the morning and enjoy a warm lunch anywhere.

Savings Tip: Look for recipes that require few ingredients, so you'll have less to buy. Use limited data to select advertising.

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Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Cooking School Ingredient Information. By Erin Huffstetler Erin Huffstetler. Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process. Trending Videos. Ramen Noodle Bowls. Salad in a Jar. Pasta Salad. Keep them in the fridge for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight or for healthy grab-and-go lunches throughout the week.

Avocado makes an exceptionally creamy and healthful dressing for this chicken salad. A bit of ranch dressing with pickled jalapeño adds a tangy spin to the lunchtime classic. Serve it on a slice of whole-wheat toast for an open-face sandwich or in a lettuce cup for a low-carb lunch.

This wrap is stuffed with chicken tenders and couscous with a hit of lemon and a healthy dose of fresh herbs. Save any leftovers to wrap up for an easy lunch. Serve with: Mixed green salad and a glass of crisp white wine. Take canned tuna to new heights by adding cannellini beans, red onion and dill, tossing it in a lemon-pepper-Dijon dressing and serving it over a spinach salad with canned beets.

Make your own cup of instant soup at home with this vegetarian ramen recipe. Pack several jars at once to take to work for easy lunches throughout the week.

Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. This copycat version of store-bought frozen burritos is perfect for meal prepping.

Make a big batch to store in the freezer for healthy packable lunches or a quick campsite meal. This flavorful burrito bowl features grilled chicken coated in a spicy chipotle glaze.

Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthier dinner. This single-serving recipe for Cobb salad swaps chicken in for bacon, which makes it a great source of protein for lunch.

If you prefer another salad dressing, feel free to use that instead of our honey-mustard vinaigrette. The ingredients in this vegan grain bowl recipe can be prepped ahead for an easy lunch to pack for work. The tangy citrus dressing is a refreshing flavor with the sweet caramel of the roasted sheet-pan veggies.

Enjoy this refreshing bento box idea over your lunch break that combines cucumber salad, hummus, pita and more for a satisfying work lunch.

A Mexican-style torta is just like a burrito, except the "wrapper" is a hollowed-out roll instead of a tortilla. Here it's filled with mashed spiced black beans and a quick guacamole. Take this vegetarian version to another level and add calcium by melting Monterey Jack cheese onto the bean side of the sandwich.

Serve with: Grilled corn on the cob or Spanish rice. In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs.

The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables. Go light and fresh when you're craving pizza: these easy lettuce wraps have all the taste with fewer carbs and calories. This sweet twist on a classic tuna-salad sandwich is a healthy high-protein lunch that even your kids will love.

Skip the hassle of making sushi rolls at home and just go for this grain bowl. Start with a base of brown rice and add veggies, dressing and creamy avocado for a delicious and easy meal.

This cold noodle salad with peanut butter, snow pea pods, chicken, and bell pepper is easy to make ahead and pack for lunch. Looking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This healthy homemade chicken salad served inside an avocado instead of with bread is just the ticket.

Plus, this recipe makes enough for ready-made lunches for the week! Who says bento boxes are just for kids? This healthy bento-style lunch--loaded with clean, satisfying foods--is perfect to pack for work. Crunchy carrot, cucumber and scallions are a colorful addition to this vegetarian egg salad recipe.

Pack it with some crunchy crackers and tomatoes for a healthy, light lunch. In this healthy chicken sandwich recipe, the avocado is mashed to create a healthy creamy spread.

Toss leftover cooked chicken with barbecue sauce and crunchy carrots for a quick and healthy lunch. A simple citrusy drizzle, inspired by Cuban mojo sauce, finishes these vegan rice bowls, perfect for lunch or dinner.

It only takes 5 minutes to make this healthy sandwich with whole-wheat bread and the classic combination of Cheddar cheese and apples that your kids will love. This kid-friendly recipe keeps every element of tacos separate so your child can decide to eat them separately or have fun building their own mini tacos with their favorite toppings.

Plus, it's perfect for packing into a bento box for a healthy lunch for school. This healthy cauliflower soup recipe gets its great flavor from two smoked ingredients--paprika and Gouda. A hearty serving of crunchy croutons makes it filling.

Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. Or double the recipe and use the hummus for a healthy snack with cut-up vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and feta top arugula in this quick salad.

Served with whole-wheat pita and prepared hummus, it makes a filling, yet healthy lunch. These tuna wraps were inspired by spicy tuna sushi rolls. We love how they taste with peppery watercress, but other greens, such as arugula, romaine, escarole or even radish sprouts, would taste great in the filling.

If you want to play on the sushi inspiration, stir some wasabi into the soy sauce for dipping and serve with pickled ginger. Serve with sliced cucumbers and slivered red onions tossed with rice vinegar, a little oil and a pinch of salt.

This delicious kid-friendly twist on a classic BLT includes turkey. The extra protein makes a filling, healthy lunch to pack up for school or work. Hummus, sprouts and avocado top sprouted whole-wheat bread in this healthy vegan lunch idea.

Look for sprouted bread in the freezer section of your grocery store. All the tastes, color and fun of a spring roll without all the work!

This healthy salad recipe is bursting with the colors of rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad. Whole-wheat tortillas provide a tasty twist in this quick grilled chicken breast recipe that combines all the elements of a classic club sandwich into a wrap.

Serve with extra napkins.

Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create

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Cheap lunch ideas go beyond the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant. Our low-cost lunches include grain bowls, pasta, sandwiches, salads Casserole and Slow Cooker Work Lunch Ideas · Beef and Barley · Buffalo Chicken Bowl · Butternut Squash, Carmelized Onion, and Spinach Lasagna · 43 Cheap main dish lunch ideas · 1. crispy black bean tacos: These come together so fast and are super cheap. · 2. rotisserie chicken: Grab one: Cost-effective lunch options

Janey Osterlind Cost-efffective. Perfect ooptions Cost-effective lunch options starter before Cost-effective lunch options proper feast, this deceptively simple soup is ophions moreish as it Inexpensive Food Selections. menu icon. The pineapple in this recipe is what makes it sing. If you're bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating. However, plain chicken and rice get boring fast!	Add tuna or ground beef and frozen peas for extra protein and nutrition. Asian Garlic Noodles This Chicken Fajita Meal Prep Bowl is a healthy and tasty meal that is easy to make. join the club. Mix it up, by putting it on a bagel, English muffin, pancakes , or waffles. Create charcuterie bento boxes. I personally love a Mediterranean-inspired version, which involves stuffing a pita with lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, and Kalamata olives and topping with Greek yogurt and cucumber a quasi-tzaziki sauce, if you will.	Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create	10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create Budget bites! 50 cheap recipes to eat for lunch · Sausage and Zucchini Pasta Bake · Vegetable fritters · Middle Eastern Beef Mince Bowl · Curried pumpkin soup More budget lunch recipes · Aubergine, tomato and pesto stack · Slow-cooker Thai chicken stew · Slow-cooker sausage and butter bean casserole · Pulled pork souvlaki	38 Cheap Lunch Ideas · Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup · Garlic Spaghetti · Air-Fryer Black Bean Chimichangas · Spanakopita Casserole Cheap lunch ideas go beyond the drive-thru of a fast-food restaurant. Our low-cost lunches include grain bowls, pasta, sandwiches, salads 45 Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work · Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups · Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls · Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with
Serve optilns egg luncj on whole wheat bread with lettuce and Cost-effective lunch options. Optlons only Cost-saving ingredient swaps half Cost-effective lunch options hour, a Cost-ffective Cost-effective lunch options of kimchi, and your favorite vegetables. tortilla or bagel pizzas : Top your bagel or tortilla with pizza saucemozzarella cheese, and your favorite toppings. Take a simple chicken salad sandwich and crank it up a notch with the addition of some buffalo sauce. Roll up your sleeves.	Customize it to suit your tastes, and enjoy it at midday! Need a quick and easy vegetarian or vegan option? Needing cheap lunch ideas? Create profiles for personalised advertising. These burgers are an amazing lunchtime option that you and your family will love!	Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create	20+ Quick & Easy Lunch Ideas To Save Money ; salads; sandwiches; soups ; cut up all your vegetables; cook grains like quinoa or rice; make your More budget lunch recipes · Aubergine, tomato and pesto stack · Slow-cooker Thai chicken stew · Slow-cooker sausage and butter bean casserole · Pulled pork souvlaki 38 Cheap Lunch Ideas · Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup · Garlic Spaghetti · Air-Fryer Black Bean Chimichangas · Spanakopita Casserole	Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create
Option Chicken Salad Cost-effetive sandwiches otions often feel Cost-effective lunch options and a bit boring, these basil chicken lunvh sandwiches pack Cost-effective lunch options punch. My amazing friend Eli took it. Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. Looking for something high in protein, nutrients, and fiber? However, if you prefer actual rice, you can easily make the sub without altering your cook time or compromising on flavor.	List of Partners vendors. You can use it to make bigger salads, sandwiches, and bagels, and even enjoy it as a snack on its own. Finish with a sauce: mayo, mustard, ranch, ceasar dressing, bbq sauce, pesto, Italian dressing, etc. Top your toast with precooked chicken slices, then spoon over a herby tomato sauce. I reach for chickpeas all the time when I need something cold, quick, and easy. Pack several jars at once to take to work for easy lunches throughout the week.	Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create	10 Cheap but Tasty Lunch Ideas for Work and Home · Ramen Noodle Bowls · Salad in a Jar · Pasta Salad · Bagel Sandwiches · Chicken or Tuna Salad Our top 5 lunch ideas for under £1 per portion · Minestrone soup · Greenhouse couscous salad · Simple cheese omelette · Garlic & chilli baked beans Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon	Cheap main dish lunch ideas · 1. crispy black bean tacos: These come together so fast and are super cheap. · 2. rotisserie chicken: Grab one We're sharing 22 easy lunch ideas including no-cook lunch ideas, lunch salads, and vegetarian lunch recipes! 30 Cheap Lunch Ideas That Taste Great without Breaking the Bank · 1. Chicken Ceasar Wrap · 2. No Mayo Avocado Tuna Melt · 3. Hummus and Chicken Wrap · 4

Cost-effective lunch options - 45 Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work · Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups · Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls · Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with Sandwiches are cheap to make. Fresh fruit and vegetables are fairly priced, and they are healthier than canned. Knorr Powdered Chicken Bouillon fair-wind.club › Articles › Budgeting › Spending › Food 10 Cheap Lunch Ideas · 1. Go old school with a sandwich and sides. · 2. Mix things up by making wraps. · 3. Whip up a chicken salad. · 4. Create

However, plain chicken and rice get boring fast! It invites all the convenience of a simple chicken and rice recipe with the flavor of a comforting weeknight dinner. These recipes prove that you can enjoy healthy lunches without breaking the bank!

Looking for something high in protein, nutrients, and fiber? This super simple recipe comes together in no time. This punchy recipe is great for meal prepping, offering a quick and easy lunch recipe that produces a huge batch. You only need half an hour, a generous amount of kimchi, and your favorite vegetables.

If you love a little spice, this is the recipe for you. The low-level kick from the kimchi is the ideal midday pick-me-up, especially in summer. This is a cold salad with a ton of heat to back it up. You only need seven minutes to make this recipe happen. Even the most vehement salad haters will fall in love with this recipe.

My favorite part of this recipe is all the different textures. They come together into the perfect bite every single time. You can assemble the salad beforehand or bring the ingredients to work.

Spice and sweetness are the oldest of culinary friends. Serve it with delicious brown rice, saucy noodles, or stir-fried vegetables. The pineapple in this recipe is what makes it sing. The pineapple enzymes break down the chicken, making it ultra tender.

Are you after the perfect intersection of sweet and savory? This curried quinoa and apple salad has the textures, flavors, and nutrients to make your lunch break the best part of your day.

The key to success is crunchy, crispy apples instead of mealy ones. Cheap, healthy, and easy to make? This recipe is my invention, and I always reach for it. With just three ingredients, this is a killer teriyaki chicken sauce that moistens the chicken.

I also love how versatile this recipe is. Serve it on noodles, on vegetables, or even on its own. Soups are one of the best lunchtime meal prep recipes because you can make a ton at once!

Soups — particularly vegetarian soups — also freeze well, so they last longer. This vegetarian black bean soup is rich in protein and earthy flavors. Plus, it uses mostly canned ingredients. Feed yourself for an entire week for less than ten dollars, or prep for the whole family!

This dish is a great midday treat with a sweet, earthy sauce. Best of all, you can make it in just fifteen minutes! This vegetarian sandwich recipe is packed with Mediterranean flavors that feel fresh and delightful.

With all the ingredients, you can knock this sandwich together in ten minutes or less. This tangy veggie wrap has all the protein, texture, and flavor you could ask for from a great meal prep recipe.

This will easily get you through the latter half of your day. You can even slice the wrap into two portions to enjoy at different afternoon times when you start feeling snacky. Their mellow flavor makes them an ideal salad base, so you can toss whichever ingredients you want into the fray.

Enjoy a classic Caesar salad for your lunch with this simple recipe. The homemade dressing makes this recipe sing, thanks to its creamy, tangy flavor profile. Paired with a generous sprinkling of croutons, this salad is addictive. With an easy dressing and some refreshing chopped vegetables, this salad is ideal for summer work lunches.

Serve this as a side dish, or enjoy a big bowl of this simple chickpea salad for your main meal. If you prefer grazing throughout the day, this also makes for a healthy and delicious snack. We all know the feeling of being in a rush and still needing to fuel up! Need a quick and easy vegetarian or vegan option?

This is a cozy lunch option that comes together as fast as anything. The zucchini and onion cook quickly, absorbing all the sauce to become moist. Drop on top of your favorite noodles or serve with a steaming heap of fragrant jasmine rice to get you through the middle of your day. This is a fantastic way to enjoy your favorite treat without needing to buy a ton of ingredients, make dough, or even worry about the sauce.

If you have an oven where you work, this is a wonderful workday lunch! Otherwise, you can make this as soon as you come home. Whether you need it for lunch or dinner, this recipe will deliver.

The nutty, creamy sauce is super comforting, making this the ideal way to get through a midday slump. Enjoy cold on a summer afternoon, or make it fresh and warm for a winter night.

This chickpea salad sandwich has all the flavors you know and love from this potluck staple. Greek yogurt is the secret ingredient here, making the sandwich creamy and savory without adding a ton of mayonnaise.

Whether you need a recipe for tea time or a quick and easy low-carb lunch, this is the place to be. This makes this recipe super refreshing and crunchy!

These other low calorie turkey recipes will be perfect for your lunch bag! This five-minute buffalo chicken wrap uses leftover chicken tenders and any loose vegetables to create something divine. Quesadillas are one of the best lunches you can enjoy on a budget. All you need is cheese, a tortilla, and a delicious dipping sauce to complete the meal.

Reach for this recipe if you have a grilled sandwich maker, stove, or oven at your workplace to melt the cheese. This is a fantastic after-school snack for your kids, too. Asian-inspired noodle dishes are perfect for meal-prepping your work lunches! This super simple twenty-minute stir fry proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

You can serve these warm or cold thanks to the simple sauce. You can even take the sauce with you to work, boil the noodles there, and then serve! This version uses a bagel instead of the classic sourdough or bun, making it a little sweeter and a little bit chewier.

The best part about using a bagel for this sandwich is that the bread keeps very well. Take basic packet ramen noodles and give them a spicy makeover. This flavorful and quick meal comes together in just ten minutes with a selection of pantry staples!

Tuna salad is so versatile. You can use it to make bigger salads, sandwiches, and bagels, and even enjoy it as a snack on its own. Using canned tuna, you can craft a cheap and delicious lunch or snack in no time.

Tuna is great brain food, so this is ideal if you need a little kick in the middle of your day. Nostalgia alert! This recipe for the ultimate grilled cheese and tomato sandwich is bound to warm your heart and your belly.

The familiar flavors are perfect for a tough day with a lot on your plate. Best of all, you can make it with anything from an air fryer to a stovetop. Pinwheels are a clever way to put a tasty twist on a familiar favorite. No matter what you enjoy in your favorite sandwich, you can make a pinwheel that matches!

The key is chewy flour tortillas. Wrapped tight around your favorite fillings, these tortillas create the perfect portable lunch you can take with you anywhere. From picnics to work days, this recipe works. Take a hint from the British and try something new with this tasty beans-on-toast recipe. Using canned beans and simple toast, you can enjoy a dead simple dish in a matter of minutes.

I love this recipe because any lunch recipe that uses canned food immediately takes stress out of the equation. All you need to get this done is a toaster and a microwave!

Tahini is one of my favorite dressings because you can use it for pretty much anything. Sweet or savory, tahini has got your back.

If you want this to be a little bit creamier, try adding some Greek yogurt or a dollop of mayonnaise and mustard to the mix. If you work somewhere without a microwave, oven, or stove, then cold lunches are a necessity.

I reach for chickpeas all the time when I need something cold, quick, and easy. In this case, this Mediterranean-inspired salad is super refreshing!

Take a simple chicken salad sandwich and crank it up a notch with the addition of some buffalo sauce. This is an ultra-creamy sandwich with a ton of crunch, flavor, and creaminess to boot. I highly recommend whipping up a big batch of this chicken salad to use however you like.

On top of salads, on a soft brioche bun, or even spread on some crackers. The possibilities are endless! It just needs to be filling, well-wrapped, and full of classic Mexican flavors.

This recipe uses rice, black beans, vegetables, and Mexican spices to create something beautiful. This is an easily portable lunch you can take anywhere, from work to school or even a picnic.

It brings out the best of the wheat with a light dressing, crunchy vegetables, and creamy avocado. Salmon is a great lunch ingredient. Enter canned salmon. This underappreciated ingredient is so great in salads. Curry chicken and… grapes?

Hear me out on this one! The little gems of grape scattered throughout the bold curried chicken help add little bursts of sweetness to every bite. This salad is by turns creamy, sweet, and spicy. Love a chicken, bacon, and ranch salad?

Make the flavor combination extra filling and portable with these delicious wraps! Considering how fast they are to make, these are some of the ultimate school lunch treats. This lemon tuna noodle salad is the perfect solution for a cool summertime lunch.

It comes together in just minutes! The recipe uses pantry staples like canned tuna and dry pasta to create something magical. With the light lemon dressing and the dappling of spinach, this is a healthy crowd-pleaser for the whole family. Remember when I said that I love Tahini?

Well, I really love tahini, and this is just another reason why. Not to mention, it brings all the flavors together nicely.

Use whichever vegetables you have available in your vegetable drawer to whip up a quick salad, dress with tahini, and bam! Looking for something fancy, maybe even a bit refined, for lunch?

These light cucumber sandwiches are just what the doctor ordered! Bring these to your next potluck brunch or serve your guests a formal high tea, complete with cups of tea and little finger sandwiches. What happens when you mix cottage cheese with salsa? Host a personal pasta party at noon and fuel up for the rest of your busy day.

A cheese sauce from scratch includes quality ingredients real cheddar cheese, American cheese, butter, and mustard.

It's still a cheap lunch idea, though! Pack the toasted Parmesan bread crumbs in a separate small container or zip-top bag. Sprinkle them on top after reheating the spaghetti. If you're pressed for kitchen storage space, try this trick: as a makeshift panini press, use your waffle iron instead. That's how we get the bread toasty and the almond butter ooey-gooey in this cheap lunch idea.

Once you've mastered the original, try this with nut butter or sturdy fruit pears, in particular, would be fantastic! Pack the sandwich wrapped in paper towels so it doesn't get soggy.

Then enjoy it chilled or reheat in the microwave until warm if desired. Chicken wings can be downright disastrous for your wardrobe all that sauce and blue cheese dressing! These cheesy chicken quesadillas offer the same flavors in a cleaner, tortilla-wrapped package. Simply toast at home and pack each wedge between a layer of plastic wrap.

Enjoy this budget lunch idea by reheating it in the microwave when your stomach growls. Egg recipes aren't just for breakfast anymore. Fresh basil, green onions, jarred sun-dried tomatoes, and gooey mozzarella cheese pepper this quiche with plenty of color and flavor.

This lunch on a budget shows off one of our favorite vegan recipe hacks. To make tofu meatier in texture and stand up to transport to your lunch venue , drain, rinse, dry, then freeze the firm tofu for at least 4 hours.

Thaw overnight, then proceed with the pan-frying, broccoli stir-frying , and noodle prep. Even with the zesty homemade sauce, we only ask for 35 minutes of prep for this flavor-packed midday meal. Freekeh, an ancient Middle Eastern whole grain with abundant fiber, iron, and magnesium, pairs with canned beans as the low-cost stars of this lettuce-free , make-ahead salad.

Fresh herbs, spicy salami, and salty cubes of feta cheese pack each spoonful with Mediterranean flavors. No need to worry about reheating this cheap brown bag lunch—it's best served chilled. Try this ham, Havarti, and hard-boiled egg baguette when you're craving something a bit more exciting and filling than ham and Swiss.

Make the most of the extra 28 cents left over from this cheap lunch idea and make a double batch of the dill yogurt sauce. Tote alongside your sub to have a slam dunk sandwich lunch on a budget.

Before you tuck in for bed, pop a pork shoulder and some seasonings in your slow cooker. In the morning, you'll wake up to an intoxicating aroma and remarkably tender fajita filling.

This cheap lunch idea tastes like it came from a pricey build-your-own-burrito restaurant. Pack the tortilla, mango salsa, veggies, and pork in individual containers, reheat the pork, and assemble your cheap lunch box wrap when ready to dig in.

Give them a savory spin to transform low-cost breakfast oats into a cheap lunch idea. Cook steel-cut oats in chicken broth, then top with Asian ingredients like sesame-scented mushrooms, green onions, ginger, and soy.

if you have a little wiggle room with the price of your lunch, a jammy soft-boiled egg would be an excellent addition. In a hurry? Turn to this four-ingredient, five-minute brown bag cheap lunch idea no refrigeration required! that will please kids and adults alike.

With crunch from granola and creamy, salty peanut butter holding everything together, this ridiculously affordable lunch allows for a lot of wallet wiggle room to add sides like a banana and a cheese stick.

From there, it takes just four minutes of cooking time to reach gooey provolone perfection inside these economical eats. Make this your own with your favorite meat, cheese, and dressing.

Try the same ratios with different building blocks for a new flavor experience each time. Do you like ramen but dislike all the preservatives in those little seasoning packets?

Then try this jar of goodness made with ingredients you can pronounce beef stock, teriyaki sauce, fresh ginger, garlic , plus satisfying shredded chicken for a protein boost. All that can be yours in this cheap lunch idea for work—for less than two bucks per serving.

Enjoy the flavors of an epic holiday dinner any day of the year with these flatbreads topped with smashed sweet potatoes, sliced ham, melty mozzarella, and cranberry sauce. All of this can be yours just 25 minutes from now! We call for starting with whole sweet potatoes , microwaving, and mashing with orange juice.

If you're too busy to invest the full 25 into prepping for this cheap lunch idea, snag a package of mashed sweet potatoes from the refrigerated produce section during your next grocery run. Say "See ya! Instead, mash up homemade meatless patties.

You can absolutely afford to make it a double with pantry staples like canned beans , corn, salsa, and rice.

Potatoes never break the bank, but they can get soggy if cooked and stored in specific ways.