27 Hot Office Lunches That Feel Like You Escaped for a Minute

I enjoy a salad as much as any reasonable adult, but by 1:17 p.m. I generally prefer something warm. Having cooked lunch is a small boost to your morale. It is comparable to the feeling of putting on socks right out of the dryer, but you can do it at your desk without feeling too much shame. These concepts account for real office life: access to microwaves, dubious fridge availability, and the possibility of forgetting a fork. Choosing a few to switch around, and all of a sudden, it won’t feel like the weekdays are an endless hallway.

1) Miso Noodle Soup

Miso soup gives me the illusion that I have my life on track, even if I’m eating it while mid-email. Combine the miso paste with hot water or broth. Then, add the tofu, a handful of spinach, and the cooked soba or ramen noodles. Just be sure to not boil it too roughly as miso can be sensitive and lose some of its subtleties. Add leftover chicken or edamame for a heartier option.

2) Sweet Potato Bowl

My preferred type of lunch is one that is somewhat decent, very satisfying, and nearly impossible to screw up. Microwave the sweet potato until tender, then split it open and top it with black beans, salsa, and plain yogurt or sour cream. Especially during those dreary afternoons, I often find myself yearning for that sweet and salty flavor combination. If the type of microwave in your office is the “blast furnace” kind, you should wrap your potato in a paper towel to keep it from turning into a dehydrated comet.

3) Chicken and Rice

This is what I prepare when I have random leftovers and I do not want to deal with any theatrics. If possible, use rice that is a day old, then stir-fry it, along with diced chicken (or rotisserie chicken), frozen peas and carrots, and a quick scrambled egg. Pack it up, and the next day it will reheat like it was made for the microwave. Adding a dash of soy sauce and a little sesame oil at the end will help it avoid that “sad reheated rice” taste, which is a real thing.

4) Lentil Soup

Lentil soup feels dependable and sturdy in the same way a good pair of boots does. Cook the lentils with broth, onion, garlic, and cumin until they are tender. Finish it off with a squeeze of lemon. It can be stored in the refrigerator for days without becoming oddly watery. People who are likely to have “second lunch” cravings, this one typically sates them.

5) Chili

I have indeed stood in the break room and eaten chili from a mug. It was, indeed, fabulous. Create a chili by combining ground turkey or additional beans, tomatoes, chili powder, and any peppers you can handle. In fact, the purpose is leftovers since the flavor intensifies overnight. Store toppings separately so your cheese doesn’t melt into a strange film on the way.

6) Mac And Cheese

This is comfort food with a little green alibi. Stir steamed broccoli into homemade or boxed mac and cheese, and suddenly you’ve got texture and bite, not just a cheese blanket. Add a little milk when you reheat so it stays silky instead of clumping into a single pasta brick. I prefer a little mustard powder or hot sauce, but that’s up to you and your desk drawer.

7) Teriyaki Salmon

I understand your concern about heating fish at work; I too have seen the “office tuna incident.” However, salmon is generally more lenient, especially with glazing and when combined with rice and vegetables. At home, bake or pan-cook the salmon, brush it with teriyaki sauce, and then pack the salmon, rice, and broccoli. Reheat carefully to ensure it stays moist; workplace fish becomes a cautionary tale by blasting it into dryness.

8) Burrito Bowl

This lunch makes me feel like I “went out” without having to spend my entire break waiting in line. Layer your rice, beans, seasoned chicken or fajita veggies, corn, and pico and add avocado or chips on the side. Heat the base first, and then add the cold toppings. This way, everything won’t turn into warm salsa soup. Your coworkers are probably hovering because they have detected the scent of legitimate food.

9) Pasta E Ceci

Despite its simplicity, pasta e ceci is one of those Italian-ish bowls that has a surprisingly rich flavor. Cook small pasta and stir with chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, and tomatoes (or tomato paste) until thickened. It is easy to reheat, and it remains enjoyable without being cumbersome in a fall-asleep-at-your-desk sort of way. Adding a bit of rosemary or some red pepper flakes gives the meal a little something extra to feel as if it weren’t a “pantry emergency” meal, even if that’s precisely the case.

10) Chicken Tikka Masala

I refer to it as “-ish” because I certainly don’t spend my weeknights grinding spices like a Victorian apothecary. Take some cooked chicken and simmer it with a sauce made quick using tomatoes, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and a little cream or coconut milk. It has a pleasant smell, reminiscent of good food, and is able to be stored for a few days. If you find spices irritating, just lower the heat and the flavor will still be interesting without the punch.

11) Upgraded Ramen

I haven’t packed lunch, and want something that’ll give me the same level of dignity as eating lunch out would. Prepare ramen (or soak the noodles in boiling water if that is more convenient), then include a soft-boiled egg, spinach, and scallions. Please bring the add-ins in a separate container so the noodles don’t get mushy. If you’re keeping an eye on sodium intake, use only a portion of the seasoning packet; ramen can sneak up on you with salt.

12) Meatballs And Marinara

An excellent office lunch option is polenta: it stores and reheats well, and evokes a cozy feeling without being complex. Place cooked meatballs (beef, turkey, or plant-based) into the container with marinara, then layer with soft polenta. If your polenta has set in the fridge, add a splash of water before microwaving and it will loosen up again. This lunch oddly makes me more patient during afternoon meetings.

13) Veggie Stir-Fry

An excellent peanut sauce can save just about any vegetable dilemma, even that bag of broccoli you were supposed to use three days ago. Quickly stir-fry vegetables at home, mix with peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and a touch of honey or sugar, then combine with rice. Reheat and stir; as it warms, the sauce will loosen and best adhere to the noodles again. For those working with allergies, substitute peanut butter for sunflower seed butter.

14) Deconstructed Egg And Cheese Burrito

I will have eaten this at noon and I feel no shame, which is a personal achievement. You can include eggs, cheese, and roasted potatoes (or leftover hash browns) and then either wrap it all up in a tortilla or place everything in a bowl. For the best reheating results, unwrapping the foil and using a paper towel to avoid sogginess is recommended. Add salsa after heating unless you want the tortilla to taste like tomato steam.

15) Sausage And Peppers

This one is loud, and that is a positive thing. On a bed of rice, place a generous portion of sliced sausage, either chicken or pork, and sweet cooked down peppers and onions. If anything they get even more powerful the longer they stay in the fridge. If you would like to keep it lighter, add an increased amount of peppers, and decrease your scoop of rice.

16) Tomato Soup And Grilled Cheese

Soup paired with something dunkable is one of life’s great simple pleasures. Bring tomato basil soup in a sealed container and grilled cheese cut into strips so you can dip without committing to a full sandwich situation. Reheat the soup, and add the dippers at the last moment so they remain crisp on the edges. The first time I bought this, it was a rainy Tuesday, and I felt unstoppable, even if just for a moment.

17) Sesame Noodles

These noodles taste great warm, but even at room temperature they’re perfectly fine to eat if your lunch break gets interrupted. Add shredded chicken, and toss the noodles in sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, and some rice vinegar. Crunch from cucumber or shredded carrots is more valuable than most people acknowledge. Having a small jar for extra sauce makes you feel smart at 12:30.

18) Stuffed Bell Pepper

Stuffed peppers give the appearance of being homemade, which is half the battle. Stuff the peppers with a combination of rice, ground meat or lentils, tomato sauce, and spices, and then bake them until they are tender. There are no sauce splatter apocalypses to worry about when heating up these meals in the microwave. I prefer using a fork to eat them, but if you happen to be eating over your keyboard like a gremlin, they cut nicely too.

19) Lasagna Roll-Ups

As a compliment, lasagna roll-ups are the portion-controlled cousin of full-pan lasagna. Spread ricotta and spinach on the cooked lasagna noodles, roll them up, top them with marinara and cheese, and bake. They are easy to pack and heat up without becoming a tragic noodle landslide. If you have a hectic week, consider making a batch on Sunday and saving it for the week.

20) Dumplings In Broth

Frozen dumplings are one of my favorite ‘this shouldn’t be allowed’ conveniences. Prepare them at home (or at the office if boiling water is an option) and include a light broth and some scallions. Reheat gently so the wrappers remain intact and do not become gummy. If you want something more substantial, try adding cooked rice or a handful of spinach.

21) BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich

The strategic thing to do here is reheat just the chicken, not the entire sandwich. Assemble the meal at your desk like a relaxed and well-fed architect. The BBQ chicken and slaw are packed separately from the bun. Napkins are absolutely necessary because it is satisfying in a messy way. – In the event that coleslaw isn’t your preferred choice of ingredient, pickles work equally as well.

22) Thai Red Curry

Just the thought of red curry paste and coconut milk brings the energy of “I left the office for lunch”. With rice, serve vegetables (and tofu or chicken if desired) after simmering the curry paste with coconut milk. It has a pleasant smell that isn’t overwhelming for most offices and reheats well. If the spice causes you to sweat while in a fluorescent-lit conference room, then I advise you to use less paste and add more coconut milk.

23) Shepherd’s Pie

This is like the lunch equivalent of a weighted blanket. Layer cooked ground meat (or lentils), peas and carrots, and gravy, then top with mashed potatoes and bake until the top gets a little browned. Divvy it up into individual containers so you don’t have to chisel frozen pie from a large pan on Monday morning. I’ve found that it prevents me from mindlessly drifting towards the snack drawer like some kind of haunted spirit at 3 o’clock.

24) Chicken Quesadilla

If you aren’t careful, the office microwave can ruin your quesadilla by making it floppy. I like to pan crisp it at home and then briefly reheat it. After that I let it rest so the cheese can settle. For salsa that isn’t soggy, pack it separately. You may add roasted vegetables if you have some leftover.

25) Farro Bowl

Farro adds a delightful chewy texture to your lunch that elevates the meal and makes it feel more purposeful than it actually is. After reheating, add feta so it doesn’t melt into oblivion, then toss cooked farro with roasted vegetables, olive oil, and lemon. It is resilient enough to handle the conditions of a chaotic fridge and withstand the daily commute. Naturally fitting options for more protein would be chickpeas or chopped chicken.

26) Tortellini Soup

My “I need something gentle and warm” lunch: soft edges, no sudden surprises. Cook cheese tortellini in tomato soup, either homemade or store-bought. Once cooked, stir in a bit of cream or half-and-half. Although it reheats well, the tortellini may absorb some of the broth, so you might consider adding a little bit of water before microwaving. A small amount of basil will give the impression that you put in more effort than you actually did.

27) Ham And Cheese Melt

I have a fondness for a simple melt, with salty ham, gooey cheese, and crunchy, toasted bread. Make it at home on a skillet so it gets nice and crispy, then wrap it up and reheat it at work for a bit. If you microwave bread for excessive periods of time, it becomes chewy, which is mildly tragic, so microwave it in short intervals. Add mustard on the side to create some nice contrast and avoid that cafeteria nostalgia (unless you prefer it).