28 Cold Lunches to Pack on a Hot Day
These easy lunch ideas will keep you feeling cool and nourished in the middle of a busy, hot day.
We may be in the final weeks of summer, but that doesn’t mean the hot weather is going anywhere quite yet. However, as summer ends, it’s common for many people to swing back into a more structured routine. If you’re looking to take your lunch on-the-go throughout the remainder of hot weather months, check out these cold lunch ideas that are perfect to enjoy on a hot and sunny day.
Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
You’re just ten minutes or so away from a hearty sandwich that's made by smashing chickpeas (which is very satisfying by the way) and combining them with fresh vegetables like carrots. Serve the protein-packed salad on two slices of fresh bread with tangy Dijon mustard, tomato, and thinly sliced red onion.
Sweet and Tangy Chicken Wrap
You can’t go wrong with a wrap for on-the-go lunching, and these nutritious chicken wraps will satisfy your appetite for the rest of the afternoon. To make the filling, combine rotisserie chicken with Greek yogurt and fresh vegetables. Finish the wraps with lettuce, sliced red onion, and crisp pickles.
Deli-Style Submarines
For this take on a classic deli sandwich, meats are layered with toppings like crisp lettuce and cucumber, creamy cheese, and a tangy sour cream ranch dip between two slices of French bread. Wrap the sandwich with aluminum foil, and you’ll be looking forward to this cold lunch idea all morning long.
Caprese Salad Pita Pockets
Ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, cucumbers, and mozzarella are tucked neatly into lettuce-lined pita pockets for this healthy cold lunch idea. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil for safe travels. The aroma of basil upon unwrapping these as lunchtime will rev up your appetite!
Peach and Tomato Salad
Peaches and tomatoes sometimes go unnoticed as a perfect flavor match. With similar juicy textures and the contrast of sweet peaches and savory tomatoes, the two complement each other beautifully. For this lunch recipe, toasted pecans add a bit of crunch to the mix, while red onion adds a spicy punch. This beautiful salad is finished with fresh basil, creamy feta, and a simple oil and vinegar dressing.
Peach and Feta Bulgur Salad
Sweet peaches are the star of this lovely salad, which is made hearty and savory with nutty bulgur, feta cheese, and fresh lemon juice. With herby flavors like mint and dill, the dimension of this lunch salad is not to be underestimated. It’s a nutritious and delicious lunch option that's packed with both flavor and texture.
Turkey Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Peanut Sauce
These protein packed lettuce wraps are filled with turkey meat that has been cooked with garlic and ginger. The mix is then combined with tender cooked vegetables and a flavorful spice mix. As if this isn’t already delicious enough, the assembled lettuce wraps are drizzled with sweet and spicy peanut sauce and tangy lime juice.
Avocado-Yogurt Spaghetti with Veggies
This pasta recipe for lunch packs on the protein to help you power through the rest of your day. With avocado and herbs, protein-rich Greek yogurt, and vitamin-packed vegetables, this whole grain spaghetti dish offers flavor, texture, and the type of energy boost that will sustain rather than cause a crash by the end of the work day.
Related: Cozy Spaghetti Noodle Recipes You’ll Want to Make On Repeat
Shrimp and Broccoli Noodle Bowl
For this cold lunch idea, shrimp and broccoli are packed tidily in a jar with whole grain spaghetti, golden raisins, sesame seeds, and sesame-ginger salad dressing. All you have to do is shake it up, pop the lid off, and enjoy.
Crunchy PB and A Wrap
This cold lunch idea for kids starts with creamy peanut butter (or a nut-free alternative) and crisp apples. They're combined with crunchy granola for added texture and wrapped up in a fluffy flour tortilla.
Fresh Corn Salad with Stone Fruit and Herbs
Corn and stone fruit are summer seasonal staples. Here, sweet corn kernels are tossed with peaches and plums, fragrant onions, and crisp oven toasted pita. Pack this gorgeous salad in a jar or container to shake up later and enjoy as a delicious midday meal.
Apple and Almond Butter Panini
Panini-style sandwiches make everything come together in an extra special way. The warm press of soft bread combines the sweet flavors of almond butter, sliced apples, honey, and cinnamon-sugar. If you love breakfast for lunch, this is the perfect cold lunch idea to pack up for your next midday meal.
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
This cold lunch idea for adults is stuffed with shredded chicken breast, hot sauce, shredded mozzarella, and crumbled blue cheese. Pack these up to go with celery and carrot sticks, as well as a little cup of blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping later on.
Chickpea and Freekeh Salad
This salad is made with freekeh, a whole grain similar to bulgur or farro. Chickpeas, avocado, feta, salami, and fresh herbs add unique flavor to this lunch salad. A drizzle of earthy olive oil brings it all together. Make this hearty salad ahead of time, pack it up in an airtight container, and it will still taste just as fresh hours later—just in time for lunch!
Ginger-Sesame Oats with Mushrooms and Charred Green Onions
Savory oats are really starting to have more of a moment in home kitchens, and it means exciting things for on-the-go lunchtime ideas! This savory bowl of porridge can be made with hearty quinoa, buckwheat, or barley, and features meaty mushrooms and greens. Pack this umami-packed oats dish ahead of time in a jar, and all you have to do come lunchtime is microwave it for a few minutes.
Turkey-Cucumber Sandwiches with Cilantro Spread
This elevated cold lunch idea for work takes the turkey sandwich you loved growing up, and adds even more flavor to the mix. Naan is sliced in half and coated with a creamy cilantro and Greek yogurt spread, and then topped with savory slices of turkey breast, crisp cool cucumber ribbons, and some sliced red onion for a bit of heat. This will keep you focused on getting to lunchtime all morning long!
Fast Nicoise Salad
This Nicoise salad is inspired by the classic, but takes just 20 minutes to prepare and pack for a delicious lunch. It features canned tuna, crisp mixed greens, pan fried red potato wedges, and plump cherry tomatoes with a simple but flavorful vinegar and mustard dressing.
Orzo Chicken Salad with Avocado-Lime Dressing
Here, fluffy orzo pasta is combined with corn, shredded chicken breast, tomatoes, and feta cheese to build a flavorful pasta salad. Toss it with a creamy avocado sauce before packing it up in a jar or container, where all of those delicious flavors can come together leading up to lunch time.
Muenster, Cabbage, and Apple Sandwiches
This mouthwatering sandwich will have you looking forward to lunchtime. Crisp shredded cabbage, Muenster cheese, apple slices, and onion are sandwiched between two slices of rye bread before being pan-fried, grilled cheese style.
Turkey-Quinoa Salad
This make-ahead grain salad features nutty Gouda cheese, dried fruit, quinoa, and juicy turkey or chicken breast. With a sprinkle of toasted walnuts and a dressing to top everything off, pack this salad in a jar or container and bring it with you on the go.
Picnic Taco Jars
For this cold lunch idea, everyone’s favorite taco components are packed in a Mason jar. Start layering with a savory beef base, then add chopped fillings like onion, lettuce, pepper, tomato, and cheddar cheese. Finish with crushed tortilla chips and salsa or sour cream.
Italian Focaccia Sandwich
Transform your classic Italian sub by trading the traditional bread for freshly baked focaccia bread. Layer the focaccia with the works: Caesar dressing, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted peppers, and sliced olives.
Spinach-Filled Egg Wrap
These tortilla-free wraps use eggs to contain the fillings. Omelet-style eggs contain olives, spinach, shredded chicken, and roasted peppers. Simply slice and serve with fresh fruit for a balanced and healthy cold lunch idea.
Avocado and Tomatillo Sandwiches with Pesto
For this lunch sandwich, you'll start with slices of whole grain bread. Pack them with sliced tomato, creamy avocado, creamy mozzarella cheese, and crisp cool cucumber slices. Robust herb pesto and tangy pickled red onions make this vegetarian sandwich absolutely burst with flavor. Pack it neatly in a container with some vegetable sticks or sliced fruit for dessert, and you’re good to go!
Tofu Spring Rolls
To make these spring rolls, rice paper wraps are packed with crisp cucumber matchsticks, savory tofu, shredded carrots, fresh herbs, and umami packed soy sauce or chili sauce. These are a gluten free, vegetarian midday meal you can prepare ahead of time and enjoy later as leftovers.
Cucumber and Apricot Sandwiches
Here, slices of bread are coated with tangy cream cheese and then layered with cool cucumber, sweet sliced apricots, and fresh herbs. It's the perfect combination of savory and sweet.
Broccoli-Cheddar Egg Sandwiches
Breakfast for lunch? Always! These broccoli-cheddar egg sandos give brunch vibes, with an easy-to-make-ahead egg bake packed with hearty broccoli, sharp cheddar cheese, and roasted red peppers. Simply cut the egg bake into squares and build a hearty brunch time sandwich on an English muffin. Bonus: you can make and freeze these ahead of time for delicious grab and go lunches.
Sweet Tortilla Wraps
You can get creative with these make and take sweet wraps by adding layers of chocolate spread, nut butter, or honey over tortillas. Add toppings like sliced bananas, berries, granola, or roasted sweet potato wedges.
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