12 Knock-Your-Socks-Off Teacher Lunch Recipes

With fall right around the corner, it’s a good idea to stock up on healthy and portable lunch recipes so you’re ready to roll into the school year with your best food — er, foot — forward. 

Here are 12 great recipe ideas to make ahead in batches and easily pack for on-the-go dining.

Cornbread with sundried tomatoes and basil

Do I really need to say more? YUM. Slice up a couple of hearty pieces of this golden, cheesy, mildly sweet, and intensely savory cornbread and pair with a simple green salad. It’s super easy to make and even easier to take. And the best part? You can make a few batches at once and freeze for the ultimate fast food for those mornings you roll out of bed and barely have time to brush your teeth before running out the door.

Cheesy quinoa and broccoli patties

Ok. First of all, with quinoa, you really can’t go wrong. It’s packed with protein, calcium, fiber, magnesium, and iron. And when you pair it with broccoli and cheese and turn it into a crispy-on-the-outside and chewy-on-the-inside patty? Straight. Up. Masterpiece. 

Edamame feta salad

Packed with protein, full of flavor, and brimming with fiber, this salad wins with a capital W. The flavors are complex and layered. It’s really stinking good for you. It keeps you so full. And get this: it’s better after a day or two, so leftovers are actually something to look forward to. 

Easy burrito bowls

I love a basic recipe that you can customize in a million and twelve ways. This is that recipe. Basic rice, beans, veggies, and a flavorful sour cream drizzle are perfect as is or as a foundation for your own culinary explorations. Add chicken. Steak. Tofu. Grilled portobellos. Roasted sweet potatoes. Swap out the rice with riced cauliflower for a low-carb option, or substitute quinoa for more protein. Move over, Chipotle. 

Spaghetti squash chicken parm

Ditch the carbs without losing that fabulous Italian comfort food flavor. Great source of protein, restaurant-level deliciousness. You’ve got nothing to lose with this one — and it keeps and travels well. That’s amore. 

Quick and healthy Mediterranean tuna fish salad

When you’re in need of a major midday pick me up, nothing beats this refreshing, tangy tuna salad. Fresh salad greens with a Mediterranean flavor profile, juicy tomatoes, and creamy avocado…it’s filling and satisfying while feeling light as air. Don’t dig fish? Any cooked lean protein is great. Pan-roasted chickpeas are another surprisingly scrumptious option — good to know if you’re a vegetarian.

Chicken summer rolls

Fresh and oh-so-crunchy, these Vietnamese-style rolls are every bit as filling as they are healthy and light. Plus the fresh mint adds just the right amount of zing to put a little pep in your step and get you through the day. 

Empty peanut butter jar noodles

Waste not, want not. You know that moment when you’re staring down the empty jar of peanut butter, dreading having to get it clean enough to toss into the recycling bin? That’s the moment you make this killer noodle dish. It’s ridiculously good and convenient in more ways than one!

Protein-packed kale hummus wrap

Super easy to make ahead for several days worth of lunches, this wrap is filling, satisfying, and absolutely packed with protein and healthy fats. The best part? The hummus holds it together for a no-mess, on-the-go meal. 

Pasta on the go

An oldie, but a goodie. It’s like a deconstructed lasagna, all neatly packaged in a jar for convenient packing. Plus, it’s loaded with nutrients and absolutely delicious. 

Polenta pie

An entirely new twist on pizza, a slice of this polenta-based pie will not disappoint. It’s made with only a few ingredients and takes no time to make, plus it firms up with time, so it’s the perfect leftover to slice up and snack on cold. 

Sweet potato chickpea Buddha bowl

Fiber-rich, protein-packed, this sweet and savory dish is everything and more. Coming in at under 30 minutes to make, I guarantee this will be one of your go-to recipes for a long time to come. That maple-tahini sauce though!

Bon appétit!