Dinner recipes that do double duty as both a weeknight meal one night and lunch(es) the next are my ace in the hole! Here are some of my favorite dinners-turned-lunches
Dinners that turn into tomorrow’s lunches are kinda like a superhero, if you think about it.
Remember how Clark Kent ducked into a telephone booth and emerged as Superman?
Now, compare that to dinner that makes banging leftovers.
Both save lives.
Both lead double lives.
Both are kinda dreamboat-ish.
And there is nothing I love more during a busy week than knowing my efforts aren’t going to waste.
Because while technically every dinner can turn into leftovers, we all know that not all dinner recipes are created equal in the next-day’s-meal department.
Not everything tastes good the day after it’s made.
Not every dinner recipe travels well to work or school.
So I set about to create a list of dinners turned lunches that worked.
These are dinners turned lunch that taste good the next day, held up well in a lunchbox, and didn’t involve fifty million steps to get us there.
Here’s what I consider a great dinner turned lunch recipe:
-The dinner part has to be relatively simple
-It can’t get soggy or mushy before it’s eaten again
-No heavy cheese or cream sauces that mask boring flavors.
-Kids have to enjoy it.
-You can pull it from the fridge, reheat, and eat as is: no adding wraps or buns or anything extra on the side.
-Healthy-ish.
Ok, ready for the list of AMAZING easy dinners that make great lunches the next day?
Vegetarian
Roasted Carrot Soup from Well Plated
Spicy Brazilian Burrito Bowls from Pinch of Yum
Spicy Spaghetti Squash Noodles from Paleo Gluten Free
General Tso’s Chickpeas from Yup It’s Vegan
Weeknight Kimchi Fried Rice with Vegetables from Percolate Kitchen
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells from Love and Lemons
Curried Chickpea Bowls from Eating Bird Food
Mediterranean Vegan Bowl from Culinary Hill
Beef/Pork
Salami, Jalapeno and Olive Pizza from the Modern Proper
Butter Garlic Herb Steak Foil Packets from the Recipe Critic
Honey Sriracha Glazed Meatballs from Eat Yourself Skinny
Pork Carnitas Meal Prep Bowls from Eazy Peazy Mealz
Korean Beef Bowls from The Whole Kitchen Sink
Beef and Broccoli from Life Made Sweeter
Smoked Kielbasa, Beer, and Vegetable Chowder from Percolate Kitchen
20-Minute Beef Lo Mein with Bok Choy from Percolate Kitchen
Chicken
One Pan Honey Lemon Chicken and Asparagus from Cafe Delites
Creamy Salsa Verde Chicken and Veggies Foil Pack from Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Cashew Chicken Sheet Pan Meal form Life Made Sweeter
Italian Chicken Sheet Pan Meal from Eazy Peazy Mealz
Hawaiian Chicken Noodle Bowls from Fit Foodie Finds
Buffalo Chicken Burrito Bowls from Averie Cooks
Peanut Noodles with Chicken from Foodie Crush
Sticky Soy Glazed Chicken Bowls from Budget Bytes
Green Thai Quick Chicken Curry from Percolate Kitchen
Seafood
Shrimp and Asparagus Foil Packs with Lemon Garlic Butter from Cooking Classy
Shrimp Boil Foil Packs from Crumb de la Crumb
Thai Salmon Foil Packet from Damn Delicious
That’s it! Now, go forth and meal plan 🙂
If you want more easy simple dinner ideas, leave your name below and I’ll send you my personal cheat sheet of 14 easy “throw it together” style meals!
