"Eating the same thing every day for lunch can quickly get boring and monotonous. While prepping lunches ahead of time is a great way to save time during the week, it defeats the purpose if you get sick of eating leftovers by day three and throw out the rest. If you’re struggling to find lunches you actually enjoy eating day after day, turning to an old childhood favorite could be the key. I don’t know about you, but Lunchables were a staple in my household growing up, and an adult version sounds like the perfect way to make lunches fun again.
These meal prep lunches consist of several small portions of different foods, essentially turning snacking into a full meal. Beyond reconnecting with your inner child and implementing a little nostalgia into your lunch break, adult Lunchables are a delicious and easy way to meal prep with less time and effort. Plus, you can customize your Bento box with your favorite foods and include more nutritious options than served in a traditional Lunchable. Keep reading for our best tips for building the perfect adult Lunchables, plus 20 recipes you can recreate the next time you need an easy, make-ahead lunch.
What Goes in an Adult Lunchable?
The great thing about adult Lunchables is that they are entirely customizable, but most follow a basic formula. Typically, this includes protein, some carbs, and a serving of fruits or veggies. This makes it easy to switch up the sides every day, so you aren’t eating the same exact meal five days in a row. Think celery and ranch as a side one day, but an apple with peanut butter the next, while keeping the main protein source the same.
If the thought of your food touching gives you the ick, invest in a Bento box with divided sections. Otherwise, just pile everything into your favorite meal prep container, and you’re good to go! To keep things as fresh as possible, however, it’s a good idea to store all the ingredients separately. Wait to assemble your adult Lunchable until the night before or the morning prior to heading out the door. This ensures that if your ingredients are touching, they won’t get soggy or mushy before you’re ready to eat.
20 Adult Lunchable Ideas
Ready to give adult Lunchables a try? These 20 Bento box recipes are the perfect solution for on-the-go meals.
1. Orzo Salad Meal Prep Lunch Boxes
I love a good pasta salad, but it’s not usually a very filling lunch on its own. This adult Lunchables idea, however, has you pair Italian orzo salad with a hard-boiled egg and some slices of fresh mozzarella for extra protein. You can prep the salad ahead of time, then quickly throw together your lunch box before heading out the door.
2. Southwest Chicken Salad Bento Box
This recipe puts a southwestern twist on classic chicken salad, then wraps it up in a tortilla for an easy, on-the-go lunch. Just be sure to store the chicken salad separately and roll it up the morning of so your tortilla doesn’t get soggy. Paired with some tortilla chips and salsa on the side, it makes a hearty, satisfying lunch.
3. Hummus Lunch Boxes
For an easy lunch that doesn’t require any cooking, you need to try this adult Lunchables recipe. Beyond slicing up some cucumber and cutting a pita into triangles, all you have to do is arrange everything in your container of choice. It’s perfect for busy mornings when you just need to throw something together before dashing out the door.
4. DIY Pizza Lunchable
Growing up, the pizza Lunchable was always my favorite, and on the rare occasions my parents allowed me to have one, I was absolutely ecstatic. Now that I’m an adult, I am obsessed with this recipe, which re-creates a favorite childhood snack with healthier ingredients.
5. Taco Salad Bento Lunch Box
There’s nothing worse than a soggy tortilla ruining a taco, which makes meal prepping them tricky. This recipe trades the tortilla for tortilla chips and keeps everything separate to prevent any sogginess. Although it skips the typical taco meat to save time, you could easily add in some seasoned ground beef or turkey to add some more protein and heartiness.
6. Leftover Chicken Lunchbox
Leftovers can be a blessing and a curse. They mean you don’t have to cook another meal, but you also have to eat the same thing as the night before. This leftover chicken Lunchable is a fun way to mix up how you use last night’s chicken dinner.
7. Greek Salad and Hard-Boiled Eggs Bento Box
This Greek salad makes for an incredibly fresh, light lunch. It packs in tons of veggies, while the side of hummus and hard-boiled egg will give you the protein you need to get through your afternoon slump.
8. Cheese Board Lunch Box
If your appetizer of choice is a charcuterie board, why not make it for lunch? Customize it with any meat, cheeses, nuts, and dried fruits of your choice, and you’ll have a new favorite go-to lunch.
9. Peanut Butter and Banana Snack Box
Peanut butter and banana are an unmatched combo typically reserved for breakfasts and snacks, but this recipe will convince you to incorporate it into your lunch rotation as well. You can also customize the fruit and vegetables you pair with it based on what’s in season.
10. Greek Pita Bento Box
This Greek pita Bento box is a light and refreshing lunch option. Just be sure to store it in a container with divided compartments so the tzatziki doesn’t make your pita soggy and the vegetables stay fresh throughout the day.
11. Curried Chicken Salad Adult Lunchable
This curry chicken salad packs tons of flavor and can be served in many different ways: on a sandwich, in a lettuce wrap, with crackers, or by itself. The curry spices add a little something extra to this classic recipe, and tart green apples make the perfect complement.
12. Turkey Spinach Pinwheels Bento Box
Instead of opting for a basic wrap, try these turkey spinach pinwheels that are way more fun. Switch it up during the week by swapping the turkey and spinach for your preferred greens or deli meat, or up the flavor by adding a spread like pesto or hummus.
13. Zucchini Noodle Caprese and Chicken Bento Box
Swapping average pasta for zucchini noodles is an easy way to get in some more greens. Zucchini noodles can also be served cold, so you don’t need to mess with the microwave before eating. Pair it with some chicken and fruit for a well-rounded meal.
14. Falafel Hummus Adult Lunchables
If you are trying to incorporate more plant-based foods into your life, falafel is a tasty way to get your protein in without meat. You can even buy it store-bought to save more time. With more vegetables on the side, this adult Lunchable is equal parts nutritious and delicious.
15. DIY Starbucks Protein Bistro Box
I know every time I’m at Starbucks, I’m tempted by the convenience of the premade bistro boxes sitting right by the checkout. This recipe gives you all the same convenience but for a much cheaper price at home.
16. Pico de Gallo Quinoa Bowls
This recipe is so easy to make and only takes about 20 minutes to throw together. The homemade pico de gallo adds so much flavor, while the quinoa and black beans offer a plant-based protein source.
17. Chickpea Salad Bento Box
Whether you’re vegetarian or not, this chickpea salad is a tasty alternative to the traditional chicken salad. If you have a can of chickpeas collecting dust in your pantry, put them to good use in this adult Lunchable recipe.
18. Granola Bento Box
I’m no stranger to eating a handful of granola while running out the door, but this Bento box idea makes it much easier to take on the go. Plus, paired with fruit and a hard-boiled egg, it will fuel you up way more than just granola.
19. BLT Salad Lunch Box
This BLT salad promises all the flavor of a delicious BLT sandwich minus the bread. Add some protein and fruit on the side, and you have an incredibly easy, well-rounded lunch.
20. Turkey Bagel Sandwich
Bagels are one of my go-to breakfasts, but thanks to this recipe, they are also making their way into my lunches. Bagels don’t get as soggy as regular bread, so they’re better suited for lunches you are packing to take on the go.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.