15 Chicken Meal Prep Recipes For Work Lunches
If you’ve ever found yourself eating a sad desk salad, or grabbing an expensive sandwich that left you hungry, today’s collection of chicken meal prep recipes is for you!
These work lunches are the kind you can make ahead, portion out, and actually rely on during the week. We’re talking easy, practical meals that hold up well in the fridge, reheat properly (or taste good cold), and don’t feel like you’d rather not have bothered by day three. Most of them are built around simple components, so you can mix things up a bit without cooking from scratch every day.
Plenty of protein, balanced meals that really fill you up, and options you won’t get bored of halfway through the week. Basically: cook once, sort your lunches, and take one more thing off your plate for the next few days!
If you liked my meal prep breakfast ideas, meal prep bowls, and meal prep snacks, these are the next ideas for you to try.
Chicken & Pineapple Kebabs
These are a great one to prep ahead and keep things interesting during the week! Grill or bake the skewers, then store them in containers so they’re ready to grab whenever you need them. You can serve them over rice, with a simple salad, or in wraps for an easy switch-up. They reheat well but are just as good cold, which makes them perfect for packed lunches.
Chicken & Sweet Potato Rice Bowl
This one’s a reader favorite for a reason. It just works! Chicken, sweet potatoes, and broccoli roast together on a sheet pan, then get piled over rice for a balanced, no-fuss meal prep classic. Portion everything into containers and you’ve got lunches or dinners ready to go for days.
Shredded Bruschetta Chicken
This is one of those batch-cook recipes that sets you up for the whole week. The chicken cooks quickly in the Instant Pot, then gets shredded and mixed with a fresh, bright bruschetta-style topping. Portion it out over rice for easy, ready-to-go meals you can grab for lunch or dinner.
Chipotle Lime Chicken Salad
If you love bold flavors, this is for you! Portion it into containers alongside lettuce so you can build your own wraps or bowls throughout the week. It’s easy to switch between light lunches and more filling meals depending on how you serve it.
Grilled Chicken Wraps
These are perfect for easy, no-fuss lunches you can grab on your way out the door. Fill grilled chicken wraps with salad and a drizzle of ranch, then wrap them up and store them ready for the week. If you like a bit of variety, you can switch things up with different veggies or dressings, like Caesar, honey mustard, or even a spicy mayo.
Baked Lemon Chicken Breasts
Sometimes simple is exactly what you need for meal prep. These baked lemon chicken breasts come out tender and full of fresh, zesty flavor, making them easy to pair with just about anything. Slice or portion them into containers and serve with rice, roasted veggies, or over salads throughout the week.
Crockpot Shredded Chicken
If you’re not using your crockpot for meal prep, you’re really missing a trick. And if you’re trying it for the first time, this is the one you should start with! Make a big batch of crockpot shredded chicken, then portion it out so you’ve got a ready-to-use protein on hand. Keep it plain or stir through a sauce like BBQ, buffalo, or teriyaki to switch things up, then add it to pasta, rice bowls, salads, or wraps as needed.
Air Fryer Chimichurri Chicken
This one brings a lot of flavor without making meal prep complicated. Tender chicken strips cook up with peppers and onions in the air fryer, then get finished with a bright, herby chimichurri that keeps things fresh. Portion it over rice for an easy, balanced setup that’s ready to go for the week. It reheats really well, so it’s a solid option for quick lunches or low-effort dinners.
Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
This is one of those meal prep recipes that never sticks around for long. Tender chicken, pasta, and that classic buffalo kick come together in a creamy salad that’s easy to portion into containers for the week. It’s great straight from the fridge, so it works perfectly for packed lunches or quick bites between activities. Bonus: it’s a real crowd-pleaser, so you won’t have to worry about making separate meals for everyone.
Chicken & Grape Salad
This simple salad is great for meal prep when you want something high protein to add to a lunchbox or serve in wraps, and you don’t want to overcomplicate things! Everyone in my family loves this one, and it’s a real staple that you’ll keep coming back to if you love an easy, no-fuss meal prep option.
Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
The chicken cooks until tender in the crockpot, then you can portion it out and serve it however you like – wraps, rice bowls, even stirred through pasta for something a little different. It’s easy to mix and match with what you have on hand, so meals never feel repetitive.
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
I could eat this one straight from the fridge! Tender chicken gets mixed with cream cheese, mayo, cheddar, bacon, and jalapeños for a rich, flavor-packed salad that holds up well in the fridge. Portion it into containers and you’ve got an easy option for wraps, sandwiches, or quick snack plates throughout the week.
Southwest Chicken Salad
My Southwest chicken salad has been made hundreds of times and always gets rave reviews from regular readers! We’ve got shredded chicken, corn, black beans, diced avocado, and an easy homemade dressing made with Greek yogurt and spices.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
These chicken drumsticks are so handy for keeping in the fridge for a grab and go snack, or you can shred off the meat and add to salads and sandwiches. The BBQ glaze adds plenty of flavor, so they don’t feel like another boring option!
As always, if you try these ideas, I’d love to hear how they worked out for you! Your feedback means the world to me, and it also helps other readers. You can leave a comment below, or tag me on Instagram @slimmingviolet and #slimmingviolet.
