9 Cheap Lunch Ideas Under That Taste Even Better Than Takeout
With ideas for pasta, soups, and sandwiches, these remarkably cheap lunch ideas are perfect for packing to-go and will keep you satisfied until dinnertime. Even better news about these less-than-$2 lunches? You'll save big money by packing one of these lunches on a budget each workday instead of springing for a $10 takeout sandwich or salad.
Roasted Butternut Squash Burrito Bowls
Budget lunch price: $1.16 per serving
Grain bowls are one of our go-to cheap lunch ideas for work. They can use up any extra grains and roasted vegetables leftover from dinner earlier in the week, and they're also a cinch to take with you. To do so, consider a bento box to store the brown rice, citrus-scented beans, butternut squash, and toppings in separate wells. Then pack it with a big bowl to assemble and enjoy at lunch o'clock.
Bacon-Cheddar Chipotle Chicken Panini
Budget lunch price: $1.98 per serving
You deserve better than a plain ol' cold-cut sandwich. Your coworkers or classmates will melt with jealousy when they see you unwrap this upgraded BLT. Leftover or rotisserie chicken, spicy ranch, and plenty of gooey cheddar cheese make this panini taste way richer than its less-than-two-buck lunch on a budget price tag.
Mac and Cheese Spaghetti
Budget lunch price: $1.40 per serving
Host a personal pasta party at noon and fuel up for the rest of your busy day. A cheese sauce from scratch includes quality ingredients (real cheddar cheese, American cheese, butter, and mustard). It's still a cheap lunch idea, though!
Test Kitchen Tip
Pack the toasted Parmesan bread crumbs in a separate small container or zip-top bag. Sprinkle them on top after reheating the spaghetti.
Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas
Budget lunch price: $1.57 per serving
Chicken wings can be downright disastrous for your wardrobe (all that sauce and blue cheese dressing!). These cheesy chicken quesadillas offer the same flavors in a cleaner, tortilla-wrapped package. Simply toast at home and pack each wedge between a layer of plastic wrap. Enjoy this budget lunch idea by reheating it in the microwave when your stomach growls.
Chickpea and Freekeh Salad
Budget lunch price: $1.88 per serving
Freekeh, an ancient Middle Eastern whole grain with abundant fiber, iron, and magnesium, pairs with canned beans as the low-cost stars of this lettuce-free, make-ahead salad. Fresh herbs, spicy salami, and salty cubes of feta cheese pack each spoonful with Mediterranean flavors. No need to worry about reheating this cheap brown bag lunch—it's best served chilled.
Jerk Pork Wraps with Lime Mayo
Budget lunch price: $1.75 per serving
Before you tuck in for bed, pop a pork shoulder and some seasonings in your slow cooker. In the morning, you'll wake up to an intoxicating aroma and remarkably tender fajita filling. This cheap lunch idea tastes like it came from a pricey build-your-own-burrito restaurant.
Test Kitchen Tip
Pack the tortilla, mango salsa, veggies, and pork in individual containers, reheat the pork, and assemble your cheap lunch box wrap when ready to dig in.
Crunchy PB and A Wrap
Budget lunch price: $0.65 per serving
In a hurry? Turn to this four-ingredient, five-minute brown bag cheap lunch idea (no refrigeration required!) that will please kids and adults alike. With crunch from granola and creamy, salty peanut butter holding everything together, this ridiculously affordable lunch allows for a lot of wallet wiggle room to add sides like a banana and a cheese stick.
Teriyaki Chicken Noodle Soup
Budget lunch price: $1.92 per serving
Do you like ramen but dislike all the preservatives in those little seasoning packets? Then try this jar of goodness made with ingredients you can pronounce (beef stock, teriyaki sauce, fresh ginger, garlic), plus satisfying shredded chicken for a protein boost. All that can be yours in this cheap lunch idea for work—for less than two bucks per serving.
Ham and Sweet Potato Mini Flatbreads
Budget lunch price: $1.54 per serving
Enjoy the flavors of an epic holiday dinner any day of the year with these flatbreads topped with smashed sweet potatoes, sliced ham, melty mozzarella, and cranberry sauce. All of this can be yours just 25 minutes from now!
Test Kitchen Tip
We call for starting with whole sweet potatoes, microwaving, and mashing with orange juice. If you're too busy to invest the full 25 into prepping for this cheap lunch idea, snag a package of mashed sweet potatoes from the refrigerated produce section during your next grocery run.