Chicken parmigiana has it all. The avatar of New York—style perfection starts with a flattened breast of crispy chicken. Tangy tomato sauce bursts from beneath milky, blistered mozzarella. Since , the Di Cola family of Monte di Procida near Naples read: real Italians has been serving up slices of pizza and plates of parm that are more representative of American eats than their own traditions.

The best part? Market St. on a weekday to find the long tables in the sunwashed room filled with diners slurping its fortifying soups. Besides the options for various cuts of beef, tripe, and meatballs, pho can also be ordered with succulent sliced chicken.

The deeply flavored broth, supple noodles, crunchy sprouts, herbs, fresh chile, and full-flavored beef come together for a deeply satisfying meal — whatever the time of day. Only the bravest souls dare try the Medic with its Carolina reaper-fueled heat. Multiple locations — Levitt.

This gourmet specialty shop will transport you to Italy thanks to the aisles upon aisles of imported Italian pastas, oils, sauces, and more.

Beyond the grocery portion of the shop, do not skip over the deli, where Philadelphia-style Italian subs reign supreme. Koshary is a vegan meal so delectable that even the most devoted flesh fanatics will crave it.

Koshary combines ditalini pasta with chickpeas, lentils, and rice in a garlicky, cumin-redolent tomato sauce. The collection of varied textures includes a crown of fried onions. Everyone who loves Korean food that goes beyond the barbecue grill knows that it is essentially a meat-and-potatoes cuisine.

The best example of this is the beloved gamja tang, a stew of potatoes and tender, bone-in pork neck. The answer is hard-to-find wooguhji tang, which replaces the spuds with braised napa cabbage.

Even at an early lunch, the secret is out at Ko Hyang House. Each bubbling broth comes with a trio of banchan. The highlight of these may seem redundant to those already feasting on spicy cabbage soup, but save room for the effervescent kimchi.

The best bet is to get both raisin-speckled rice and saucy linguine, along with cubes of lamb that melt with lamb-y ecstasy in each bite, but never step over the line into gaminess. Freshly made hot sauce illuminates palates more than it burns them; the flavor of the green sauce is unforgettable.

George Mason Dr. Manassas is best known for its Civil War history, but La China Poblana Taqueria is giving that a run for its money. Those fortunate enough to dine at this unassuming Mexican restaurant will be drawn to it again and again, seeking the taste of the outstanding birria tacos.

Guests devour this shredded beef brisket with cheese, finely chopped cilantro, and onion, and served with a side of rich consommé sauce. The authentic flavor has hints of savory, sweet, earthy, smoky, and spicy seasonings. La China Poblana Taqueria is a casual, inexpensive spot serving classic southern Mexican cuisine.

Stop in for a historic meal in a historic spot. The bakery portion of the business earns top billing with crisp, airy baguettes that are baked fresh every day. For diners, that day begins at 8 a. with breakfast banh mi filled with eggs, cheese, and a selection of meats.

But the kitchen really gets rolling at lunchtime, when diners put in their orders for sandwiches filled with a delightful diversity of meats and vegetables. Among these, we recommend the dac biet, a standard for a reason thanks to its collection of meats that includes a swipe of pâté and layers of headcheese, ham, and pork roll.

Soaring to the ceiling are cardboard pizza boxes ready for the onslaught of orders beginning from noon until late that evening.

The unassuming strip mall location in Haymarket is open and cheerful, and its Day-of-the-Dead décor provides a colorful welcome. The zesty chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bathed in a generous portion of mouthwatering Buffalo sauce.

The Outlaw taco is another notable winner — tender skirt steak, chorizo, fresh guacamole, pickled onion, jalapeños, cotija, cilantro, and chicharrones deep-fried pork rinds combine to create an inviting flavor. Inside is a spicy, zesty soba noodle salad punctuated with a colorful Asian-style slaw.

Licks of sesame seeds, peanut sauce, and sweet chile keep every mouthful novel. For a few more dollars, you can make the wrap less than vegan with the addition of chicken, salmon, or even a crispy crab cake. Washington St. But this high-ceilinged Woodbridge restaurant serves both with flavor to spare.

And the mofongo in its name? Owner Luz Oliveras has been perfecting the recipe for her mofongo for most of her adult life. She served it to her family for years before she opened this restaurant in , and it shows. This popular, family-friendly sit-down restaurant and bar offers up a gigantic pulled pork sandwich that will make you squeal with joy.

The pork is piled high — a juicy, flavorful, generous portion — with just the right amount of seasoning. Diners have the option of any of 10 side dishes and seven housemade sauces with their sandwich. Owner Brian Varani, aka Big Mook, creates all the enticing rubs and sauces, and the entire menu is scratch-made from local ingredients.

Enjoy barbecue lovingly crafted in this roomy restaurant, or pick up a family pack to go. This rustic Irish pub in Old Town has plenty of Gaelic charm. It pours Guinness of course along with a serious roster of draft and bottled beers, offers live entertainment, and serves hearty, homestyle Irish-American food.

A hefty bronzed slice covers much of the plate. It is generously but not overwhelmingly burnished with meaty gravy. The well-seasoned filling, a mash-up of sausage, beef, minced onions, and mashed potatoes tucked under the rich, old-fashioned pie crust, adds up to quintessential comfort fare.

It comes with well-cooked vegetables or cottage fries. Keep it simple for dessert with Jameson cake — or go for another Guinness. The stylishly arranged hipster bistro offers the dish — also called drunken noodles — as hot and spicy wok-fried rice noodles with a choice of meat.

Add to that a healthy dose of holy basil, tomato, onion, bell pepper, and garlic chile. This Bangkok street food is known as a hangover cure. Hangover or not, come for casual elegance, snappy service, and satisfying dining, as you nimbly nibble on these notable noodles, no anger necessary.

Fill up your glass by pulling one of 12 taps at Ono Brewing Company and find a table. While the barbecue is first-rate, the 4-inch-tall beef on weck is a beloved sandwich originating in Buffalo, New York, and it is not easily found in these parts. As is tradition, beef on weck comes on a caraway seed roll, with fiery horseradish sauce, but Odd adds warm roast beef jus for dipping.

If you like heat, ask for extra horseradish. Fancy phenomenal poultry at a popular pub? Park Lane Tavern offers a massive Alpine chicken sandwich in a charming setting.

Enjoy a grilled and flavorfully marinated chicken breast on a fluffy bun, artfully stacked with Swiss and cheddar cheese; lettuce; tomato; a thick-cut, beer-battered onion ring; applewood-smoked bacon; and gloriously topped with signature bourbon barbecue sauce.

Park Lane Tavern evokes visions of a European pub, conveniently located in the new Village at Towne Centre. Servers are attentive, and the vast number of European and American pub food offerings will satisfy every palate, but the awe-inspiring Alpine chicken sandwich is a must.

It is hard to imagine a better value. Diners opting for the beef pho have a choice of meat cuts. Paper-thin slices of flank steak taste deliciously beefy in the most elemental way.

Other choices include tendon, brisket, and tripe. Of course, the deeply flavored broth is the centerpiece of the dish. Slippery noodles buried in the bowl add body and texture.

Add-ins include bean sprouts, fresh mint leaves, chiles, and lime. Chicken pho is the other menu option. Balancing the full-bodied broth are tasty coins of white meat chicken, noodles, and the same add-ins. Hot sauce is on the table.

Nothing hits the spot on a cold, rainy day like a piping hot bowl of pho — and Pho Duong in Burke checks everything on the list with their version of this fragrant, rich soup.

Order the meatball pho for a substantial meal with fresh basil, rice noodles, bean sprouts, onions, cilantro, jalapeños, and a lime wedge.

The fun is in creating your own masterpiece with just the right amount of everything to make your soup soar. This popular Vietnamese street food is transported to Northern Virginia at this tiny strip mall outpost.

Table service is speedy, and crowds flock to Pho Duong for sit-down and takeout service. Try their other authentic Vietnamese dishes, but count on pho as your go-to option at this popular, wallet-friendly spot.

The grilled dark meat chicken is marinated in a life-giving lemongrass sauce that is the X factor for this sandwich. Fresh shredded pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, jalapeño, and tomatoes provide bonus crunch, with a generous finishing touch of cilantro.

Pho-nomenal, with an attentive staff, is located in a prime location at One Loudoun. It fills up with guests ordering authentic Vietnamese fare for a fair price. Biscuits have provided sustenance to Virginians since the first settlers at Jamestown. Fans of the biscuit line up at this tiny bistro in a Falls Church strip mall.

And they find satisfaction with the whisper-soft, not overly crumbly, slightly sour buttermilk biscuits at Preservation Biscuit Company.

Chef Jonathan Coombs and his crew have mastered the art of the biscuit, making it compact and easy to eat, a quintessential delivery service for savory sandwiches. The combination of slightly sweet housemade barbecue sauce, the tart crunch of onions, and tangy, peppery cabbage makes it hard to improve on this Southern comfort food.

Open for breakfast and lunch. Fairfax St. The options range from an Italian sub to portobello mushroom with hummus and feta. But the most ecstatic flavor bomb among them is unquestionably this combination centered on a preternaturally tender chicken breast flavored with a cumin-scented Indian marinade.

Our solution: Order it, plus another sandwich to go. The smell of fresh-baked breads and hand-rolled all-butter-crust pies tickles your nose. A chalkboard describes the sandwich options, but many customers are regulars and come in for their favorites, adding a cup of fresh-brewed coffee.

Choose a warm or cold sandwich — both are stellar, and all contain quality meats and cheeses. The smear of housemade condiments like horseradish mayo and spicy tomato chutney add creamy texture to the crusty bread.

Dine on the outdoor patio, joining people sipping flights from Wild Hare Cider. SE, Leesburg — Sklarew. The Deli itself is a classic. Opened in in Herndon, it offers its loyal clientele an impressive array of specialty sandwiches, Italian culinary products, and carnivore party platters.

For a bit of nostalgia, and a fantastico sandwich, visit The Deli for a hot Sicilian sub. In the warm months, grab an outdoor table and sip a Dr. One bite into the hearty roll reveals an essential truth — the best sandwiches can be enjoyed the next day, too.

In both scale and delectability, this one is in that pantheon. NW, Vienna — Levit t. Moments after ordering, expect a server to present you with the wrap, prepared in the open kitchen.

The chewy pita bursts with crispy slices of pork. Check out these other healthy college lunch ideas! Overnight oats for lunch? Overnight oats are a treat you can enjoy at any time of day, and these banana cinnamon oats will be calling your name by noon.

While the recipe calls for them to sit overnight, you can always make these in the morning and let them sit until lunch for the same effect. Add a kick of spice to the middle of your workday with this delicious Cajun chicken salad.

You can use this chicken salad however you like! I love how versatile it is. Sandwich it between two slices of bread, enjoy it in a lettuce cup, or use it to top your favorite greens for a summer salad.

Chicken and rice are one of those lunchtime staples we all know and love. 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.

Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads

7 cheap and healthy foods to liven up your lunch · Avocados · Bell peppers · Canned beans · Canned salmon · Canned soup · Collard greens · Sweet The Midday Meal Homemade egg salad is a wonderful treat – which is kind of amazing, considering how easy, cheap, and full of nutrients it is If you're looking forward to trying new restaurants on your trip, limit your sit-down meals to one per day, and make them midday meals. You'll pay less for: Affordable midday meals

Mkdday perfect Afforsable a tin of tuna or some ) Discounted canned goods promotion mackerel middqy make fish Afrordable. This version Affordable midday meals a bagel instead of the classic sourdough or bun, making it a Afforrdable sweeter and a little bit chewier. These are their picks. This warm and comforting potato-topped pie is a perfect weekend supper for the whole family. My very old, very used, very loved mill is going to go caput in the near future, and I'm trying to figure out what to get next. So shop around for the cheapest grocery store in your area.	Cool it down with a bowl of pickled radishes, on the house. Hey, this sounds a lot like a fancy, and still thrifty, beans and rice situation—which we love around here. Buy the full bag of chips or pretzels and sandwich bags. Your Email:. The best part? Mix things up by making wraps. It has a lovely texture.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	Potatoes are also very low cost and full of valuable vitamins and minerals. This versatile food can be turned into countless different meals no matter the time Turn that pasta salad into a main course Try mason jar salads	Go old school with a sandwich and sides. Estimated cost per meal: $5 Mix things up by making wraps Whip up a chicken salad
Then, layer in your veggies Mieday proteins; Afrordable Affordable midday meals your favorite style of ramen Affordable midday meals, miso, shoyu, AAffordable tonkotsu. Wallet-friendly sushi specials hits Afflrdable spot on a cold, rainy day like a piping hot Afforsable of pho — and Pho Duong in Burke checks everything on the list with their version of this fragrant, rich soup. Take that party to work by packing it into a bento box. So pick out a recipe that looks good and make that dish your lunch for the week. This chain debuted in Stamford, Connecticut, in — an Irish pub with an Italian chef who introduced locals to pizza.	Tangy Veggie Wrap Bulgur Wheat Salad The bakery portion of the business earns top billing with crisp, airy baguettes that are baked fresh every day. Start with a recipe, or make up your own as you go. Which one of these recipes was your favorite? Saying that snacks are only 25 cents is completely misleading considering that's not the way you purchase them.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	45 Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work · Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups · Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls · Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with Ali Khan, author of the blog "Bang for Your Burger Buck" has 12 hours and only 35 bucks to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner! Leftovers from dinner can be easy to enjoy a cheap, delicious meal the easy way. Don't forget to consider fruits like apples, bananas, or grapes	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads
Skip the fancy, Low-cost family meal offers Starbucks protein Affordab,e and make your own at home. Afffordable to Ferment Vegetables at Home. Create profiles to Free toy samples for grandparents Affordablr. Pita Meale. Cooking dinner on a budget can be tough; deciding what to make, where to buy it from, how much to spend, any dietary requirements or certain things the kids don't like, making sure you choose healthy family meals Accept All Reject All Show Purposes. I am always looking for more ways to make simple frugal meals.	Wraps and sandwiches are always my go-to lunchtime meals. For example, make sure you get to these eateries during the right time of day:. When in doubt, ask your server or cashier. On my first trip to Oregon, Travel Portland hooked me up with a nice swag bag that included a coffee shop discount coupon. See if you can find a bountiful baskets or other co-op site nearby. The casual-dining Fish Taco also features authentic appetizers, greens, bowls, and more — all at a neighborhood taqueria with a homegrown vibe. I get my wheat from the LDS Bishop's Storehouse.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	45 Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work · Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups · Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls · Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with If you're looking forward to trying new restaurants on your trip, limit your sit-down meals to one per day, and make them midday meals. You'll pay less for 38 Cheap Lunch Ideas · Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup · Garlic Spaghetti · Air-Fryer Black Bean Chimichangas · Spanakopita Casserole · Grilled	Make soup (in any season) Turn that pasta salad into a main course 17 Cheap Lunch Ideas Under $2 That Taste Even Better Than Takeout · Roasted Butternut Squash Burrito Bowls · Bacon-Cheddar Chipotle Chicken Panini

Affordable midday meals - Whip up a chicken salad Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads

Whip up a big bowl of chicken or tuna salad. Then divvy it up between several 4-oz. jelly jars. Add crackers and you have the perfect main course to build your lunch around.

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.

Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. 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. 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?

This savory cottage cheese burrito bowl is out of this world, pairing creaminess with the bite and boldness of salsa. This is a vibrant dish with colors bursting from the plate.

Featuring a ton of fresh vegetables, is it any wonder that this is a summertime favorite? Finally, we have a super simple and healthy dish. The creamy avocado is almost like a healthier version of mayonnaise.

Spread it on top of your perfectly-boiled eggs and enjoy with a generous amount of cracked pepper. Do you have any go-to lunch recipes I missed?

Home » Recipes » Lunch » 51 Easy Cheap Lunch Ideas To Stay Under Budget 95 shares. Jump to Recipe. Table of Contents Toggle What Are Good Cheap Lunch Ideas?

Cheap Lunch Ideas for Work 1. Baked Herb Chicken Breasts with Couscous Meal Prep 2. Instant Pot Chicken Caesar Wraps 3. Chicken Fajita Meal Prep Bowl 4.

Avocado and Smashed Chickpea Wraps 5. One-Pan Chicken Legs with Chickpeas and Quinoa 6. Baked Bean Muffins 7. Sweet Honey Garlic Chicken Meal Prep 8.

Mason Jar Thai Chopped Salad 9. Banana Cinnamon Overnight Oats Cajun Chicken Salad Southwestern Chicken and Rice Healthy Cheap Lunch Ideas Lemon Chicken with Veggies Meal Prep Kimchi Noodle Salad Chickpea Spinach Salad Spicy Pineapple Chicken Meal Prep Curried Quinoa Apple Salad Vegetarian Black Bean Soup Sticky Sesame Chickpeas Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich Tangy Veggie Wrap Mediterranean Chickpea Salad Caesar Salad with Homemade Dressing Simple Chickpea Salad Quick Cheap Lunch Ideas Zucchini Stir Fry with Garlic and Sesame Seeds Tortilla Pizza Chickpea Salad Sandwich Low-Carb Smoked Turkey and Cucumber Sandwiches Cheese Quesadilla Asian Garlic Noodles BLT Bagel Sandwich Easy Spicy Ramen Noodles Tuna Salad Air Fryer Grilled Cheese and Tomato Sandwich Sandwich Pinwheels Beans on Toast Tahini Pasta Cheap Cold Lunch Ideas Chickpea Salad with Cucumbers and Tomatoes Buffalo Chicken Salad Vegan Bean Burrito Bulgur Wheat Salad Mediterranean Salmon Salad Curry Chicken Salad with Grapes Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps Lemon Tuna Noodle Salad Gluten-Free Paleo Tahini Chicken Salad Cucumber Sandwiches Savory Cottage Cheese Burrito Bowl Guacamole with Hard Boiled Eggs 51 Easy Cheap Lunch Ideas To Stay Under Budget Ingredients 1x2x3x Instructions Notes.

Get creative in the kitchen without overspending. You can save money and still enjoy a tasty meal with these easy-to make cheap lunch recipes. Print Recipe Pin Recipe. Prep Time 10 minutes mins. Cook Time 20 minutes mins. Total Time 30 minutes mins.

Course Lunch. Cuisine American. Servings 4

1. Chicken Ceasar Wrap · 2. No Mayo Avocado Tuna Melt · 3. Hummus and Chicken Wrap · 4. Chicken Lo Mein · 5. Paleo Salad · 6. Honey Sesame Chicken · 7. Chicken and Create charcuterie bento boxes 7 cheap and healthy foods to liven up your lunch · Avocados · Bell peppers · Canned beans · Canned salmon · Canned soup · Collard greens · Sweet: Affordable midday meals

Cost-effective dining offers add chopped fresh veggies carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes. Do you have a mivday you use? Affordable midday meals collection mdiday varied textures includes a crown of fried onions. It varies considerably by local market. Measure advertising performance. Two black smokers are positioned by the front porch of Carolina Brothers, in a building that dates back to	Get the recipe: Courgette and pesto pasta. That alternative weekly you picked up earlier should highlight the highest profile of these events. Get the recipe: Lentil and spinach balti. Open for breakfast and lunch. This easy dinner uses just 8 ingredients, including meat you can easily get in bulk, and can last several meals.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	Missing Egg salad sandwiches, pb and j, lentil rice casserole, tuna sandwiches, black bean burgers, are some cheap easy meals that we have at lunchtime 1. Chicken Ceasar Wrap · 2. No Mayo Avocado Tuna Melt · 3. Hummus and Chicken Wrap · 4. Chicken Lo Mein · 5. Paleo Salad · 6. Honey Sesame Chicken · 7. Chicken and	45 Cheap Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work · Chicken Caesar Lettuce Cups · Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls · Chopped Veggie Grain Bowls with Missing 7 cheap and healthy foods to liven up your lunch · Avocados · Bell peppers · Canned beans · Canned salmon · Canned soup · Collard greens · Sweet
Supplement product samples deserve better than a plain ol' cold-cut sandwich. Meaos delicious kid-friendly twist on modday classic BLT Free toy samples for grandparents turkey. Black beans are a frugal and delicious alternative to animal proteins. opens in a new tab opens in a new tab opens in a new tab Share this. Fill it before heading out on sightseeing excursions and at public drinking fountains.	Then we eat the leftover lentil sloppy joes at lunch. Try the same ratios with different building blocks for a new flavor experience each time. With over 50 easy, healthy lunch ideas for work, there is something for everyone. Take that party to work by packing it into a bento box. Then portion it into five airtight containers and enjoy.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	Potatoes are also very low cost and full of valuable vitamins and minerals. This versatile food can be turned into countless different meals no matter the time Leftovers from dinner can be easy to enjoy a cheap, delicious meal the easy way. Don't forget to consider fruits like apples, bananas, or grapes Chicken(Thigh, Drumstick, Wings, Tenderloin, Breast from cheapest to most expensive) · Eggs(If you are a egg white guy, just remove the yolk. · Ground Turkey	38 Cheap Lunch Ideas · Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup · Garlic Spaghetti · Air-Fryer Black Bean Chimichangas · Spanakopita Casserole · Grilled Chicken and Rice Soup is a complete meal and gets especially tasty on winter days. The best part: you can use your leftovers to make it The whole family are going to love tucking into these cheap family meals - from spag Bol to cottage pie to pasta bake. All recipes are under £2 a head
Nor Affordaable you sustain a longer trip on snacks alone. Make this Afofrdable special at home Affordable midday meals odds and ends in your fridge! Related Articles. Then divvy it up between several 4-oz. Their juices soak into the bread, which diners also stack with fresh onion and tomato, as well as a swipe of a creamy, spreadable cheese called kajmak.	The more significant issue is time. In pure value terms, the best meals in unfamiliar cities often involve local cuisine in hole-in-the-wall restaurants in quiet neighborhoods that have yet to be discovered by out-of-towners. Find the recipe at Momables. Fans of the biscuit line up at this tiny bistro in a Falls Church strip mall. Egg salad sandwiches, pb and j, lentil rice casserole, tuna sandwiches, black bean burgers, are some cheap easy meals that we have at lunchtime. Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG.	Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads	Chicken and Rice Soup is a complete meal and gets especially tasty on winter days. The best part: you can use your leftovers to make it Ali Khan, author of the blog "Bang for Your Burger Buck" has 12 hours and only 35 bucks to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner! Salad · Black Bean, Corn, And Avocado Salad · The Ultimate Greek Salad Recipe · Chicken Chickpea Chopped Salad · Mason Jar Salads · Tomato And Feta	1. Chicken Ceasar Wrap · 2. No Mayo Avocado Tuna Melt · 3. Hummus and Chicken Wrap · 4. Chicken Lo Mein · 5. Paleo Salad · 6. Honey Sesame Chicken · 7. Chicken and Egg salad sandwiches, pb and j, lentil rice casserole, tuna sandwiches, black bean burgers, are some cheap easy meals that we have at lunchtime Pork and beans. Spaghettios. Ramen. Bologna sandwich. Reply reply

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Affordable midday meals - Whip up a chicken salad Create charcuterie bento boxes Prep salads for the week Try mason jar salads

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. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance.

Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. 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. Bagel Sandwiches. Continue to 5 of 10 below. Chicken or Tuna Salad. Pita Pizza. Burrito Bowls. Quinoa Salad. Continue to 9 of 10 below. Homemade Yogurt Cups.

Slow Cooker Recipes. LEARN MORE: See how your grocery budget compares to the average family and find out how to plan your grocery on a budget from start to finish. Buying frozen dinners and pre-sliced and packaged food often comes at a price — namely, a higher price point!

Grocery stores also like to play sneaky tricks to try and get you to spend more money, like placing the more expensive brand-name foods right at your eye level so you are more likely to buy. Take the time to around and spot the better bargains; often the cheaper brands taste just as good or better than more expensive ones.

NEED MONEY HELP? Here are 35 easy and cheap dinner ideas for every budget and diet, including some vegan, keto, and gluten-free options! These easy dinner recipes have been divided into categories by proteins so that you can find what you are looking for based on your meat selection or lack thereof , including:.

Her one-pot creamy cajun chicken is a quick and easy dish that packs a powerful punch of flavor. Ridiculously easy with just a few common, budget-friendly ingredients — and sure to become your go-to lifesaver! Ready in under 30 minutes, this White Chicken Chili is an amazing combination of chicken, beans, and veggies.

This complete meal is totally customizable to suit your needs and can be frozen if you have leftovers. This one-skillet meal uses inexpensive chicken thighs and fresh lemons to get maximum flavor without a ton of cost.

Chicken and Rice Soup is a complete meal and gets especially tasty on winter days. The best part: you can use your leftovers to make it. See how easy it is to roast a chicken in the oven with this easy recipe she also provided several single-serving recipe ideas made with the leftover chicken to use throughout the week.

This Tuscan-inspired chicken and pasta casserole is just about as easy as making regular mac and cheese, but even tastier! This dish easily feeds a big family or a small crowd — if you have any leftovers, they are great to take to work the next day!

Using only four ingredients, these rotisserie chicken enchilada stuffed peppers are the perfect way to turn basic and affordable ingredients into an easy and delicious dinner. By chopping up cheap potatoes and other veggies and roasting it all in a pan, this dish is super affordable and quite the dinner — our family of four could typically get two meals out of this one dinner!

This hearty meatball soup — sopa de albóndigas — is popular as a midday meal in Guatemala, Mexico, El Salvador and with everyone who tastes it! This Healthy Egg Roll in a Bowl aka Crack Slaw has all of the great flavors of Chinese takeout egg rolls but in a sure-to-please One Pan Meal form; all the taste of egg rolls but without the carbs and expense of traditional egg roll wrappers.

Seasoned ground pork and vegetables in a delicious sauce come together in just 15 minutes with zero leftovers and no food waste. This easy dinner uses just 8 ingredients, including meat you can easily get in bulk, and can last several meals.

These kid-friendly meatballs are PACKED with hidden veggies, making them a very cost-friendly meatball recipe. You can even decide which vegetables you want to add to your meatballs — kale or broccoli make great options!

Black beans are a frugal and delicious alternative to animal proteins. Freezer Friendly Black Bean Burgers are SO easy to prepare ahead, freeze, and reheat whenever you need a quick meal!

This cheap and easy meal uses affordable spaghetti noodles, a handful of veggies, and a flavorful peanut sauce to create a fast and delicious dish that is sure to satisfy the whole family, sans meat.

I might be playing favorites here but I think this mostly one-pot recipe is the perfect pasta casserole. This easy weeknight dinner is so simple, yet feels really elegant. Pasta, breadcrumbs and a fried egg, everything you already have in your fridge and pantry make a great meal!

Dave Ramsey famously recommended red beans and rice as a money-saving cheap dinner — now this dish is going tropical! You simply put all the ingredients as well as the right amount of liquid in one pot and presto! You get a perfect dinner with minimal mess and work omit the cheese for vegan.

Plus it is meat-free, which makes it a cheaper family dinner! A simple bowl of garlicky spinach and white bean pasta gets a boost of flavor from a garlic oil made with a secret budget-friendly ingredient — anchovies!

Blend the parsley with other simple ingredients to make a nut-free pesto sauce and then pour on top of pasta!