In need of some mid-day meal inspiration? These 15+ vegan and gluten-free lunch ideas are perfect for taking to work or school, or for enjoying a tasty meal at home.
Does your lunch routine leave you feeling like you're in a bland and boring rut? I promise you're not alone. Lunch is often the hardest meal for me because I'm a busy gal - once my day gets started, it's GO, GO, GO!
Because I feel your lunchtime meal pain, I've rounded up 15 of my favorite delicious, easy-to-prepare vegan lunch recipes that are excellent for meal prep. These trusty recipes are a snap to make and will make lunch an occasion to look forward to rather than a sad affair taken over your keyboard.
Jump to:
What Can I Eat For (EASY) Lunch As A Vegan?
Just because you don't want to eat animal products or you need gluten-free food DOES NOT mean your lunch has to be boring. I also promise that it doesn't have to be hard, either!
I have assembled an incredible list of gluten-free soups, salads, grain bowls, cold pasta, and wraps, PLUS easy protein add-ons, and healthy sweets to make sure that lunchtime is something you can look forward to all week long.
I've made sure you'll have a full arsenal of go-to lunch recipes so you can keep the blah at bay. Packed lunch has never been so fresh and colorful!
So put down the takeout menus and forget about PB&Js; these easy, healthy gluten-free vegan recipes are about to transform your weekday lunch life for the better. Let's get cookin'!
What do I use to store it?
I always store my lunches in easy-to-carry and easy-to-heat portable glass containers like these Pryrex containers.
If you're looking for more of a bento box style, there are these glass meal prep/bento box containers too.
I avoid plastic so I know I don't have any toxic chemicals getting into the food I eat. Using these heat save glass containers is a safe way to reheat/store food (just don’t use the plastic lid when reheating).
Soups
I don't know about you, but soup is my go-to comfort food all year round. It's cozy, nourishing, and the perfect way to warm up in the depths of winter - or in my case, the freezing cold, overly air-conditioned office in the summer.
Salads
I'm not sure if you've heard, but salads don't have to be boring!!! Scratch your itch for crispy, crunchy, and cold foods when the weather is too hot to bear.
TIP: To keep your salads nice and fresh until lunchtime, be sure to pack the dressing separately. You can also follow this handy guide for packing the perfect salad in a mason jar.
Pasta Salads
When work (or life in general) is tough, I love turning to a big bowl of carbs as comfort. These pasta salad recipes are easy to transport, don't require any microwaving, and are loaded with veggies so you don't have to feel guilty about your indulgences.
Bowls
Whether you heat these in the microwave or enjoy them cold, these deliciously colorful bowls are sure to make your co-workers crazy with envy.
Wraps & Sandwich Ideas
These vegan taco meat and "chicken" salad recipes are extremely versatile and are a big hit with the kids.
Add to salads or bowls for a big hit of flavor and protein, or make your own Lunchables with crackers or chips. You can also make wraps out of tortillas, flatbreads, lettuce, or collard greens.
Some other ideas to add to gluten-free sandwiches, wraps, or to eat with crakers are:
- Peanut/almond/sunflower butter and jelly (or even better strawberry or blueberry chia jam)
- Chickpea salad: mashed chickpeas with some vegan mayo, chopped celery, and spices
- Hummus & veggies
Extra Protein Add Ins
Try adding any of these easy, tasty bits to your salads, bowls or wraps for an extra filling meal that is sure to keep you full till dinnertime.
Sweet Snacks
If you're anything like me, you may need a little something to fight off the 3 o'clock slump. These tasty snacks are just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth without ruining my dinner.
If you make this recipe and LOVE IT, please give it 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐!
📖 Recipe
Easy Homemade Vegan Lunch
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Vegan Chicken Salad
- 1 serving gluten-free crackers or tortilla for wrapping
- 1 cup mixed greens + 1 tablespoon of salad dressing of choice
- 1 healthy-ish treat such as a piece of fruit, a Vanilla Almond Ball or Cookie Dough Protein Ball
- 1 serving water or sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea
Instructions
- Using a bento box style lunchbox (or some reusable containers), arrange the ingredients so that the dry items are stored away from the wet. Most notably, the chicken salad and salad dressing should be well insulated from other ingredients.
- Optional: Write love note on a paper napkin and pack it with the lunch.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutrition facts will vary based on your choices of crackers/wrap, fruit/treat, and salad dressing.
- Pack up to a week in advance, keeping the bento box in the fridge. If storing for more than a few hours, be sure to use airtight containers for any dry ingredients like crackers to prevent them from going stale.
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional information data is computer generated and only an estimate so it should be used only as a guide.
Mary Ellen Valverde MS, CNS, LDN is a Licensed Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Specialist who empowers vegans to feel confident in creating sustainable habits that align with their values and health goals. She shares easy gluten-free plant-powered food to nourish your body + satisfy your tastebuds. Mary Ellen's recipes and nutrition info have been featured on Yahoo News, Parade, VegNews, LIVESTRONG, Dr. Axe, Greatist, LIVEKINDLY, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more.
Maya | Spice + Sprout says
These are all so lovely and look amazing! Thank you so much for including my recipe <3
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Maya! Your pasta looks amazing!
Aimée / Wallflower Girl says
I want to eat all of these. Great round-up! (and thanks for including me :-))
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much! Your burritos looks so delicious!! 🙂
Bianca - Elephantastic Vegan says
Awesome list! Natalie's sushi in a jar-idea is perfect to take to work too. Thank you for including my palak tofu!
Mary Ellen says
Your tofu looks so tasty!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
Thank you so very much for including my recipe Mary Ellen 🙂
Mary Ellen says
I loved your sushi parfait! Such a wonderful idea and an easy way to have "sushi" if you don't feel like rolling it!
kateringforveggies says
So much inspiration! Thank you!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Katie!
Christine @ Run Plant Based says
Great collection of recipes, thanks! So true on lunches, mine are usually packed salad leftovers which can get old.
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Christine! Mine are a lot of leftovers and salads too so I thought these would be a nice change.