No access to a refrigerator or microwave? You can still have a delicious and hearty midday meal! These cold lunch ideas are perfect when all you have is a lunchbox and a freezer pack.

46 of Our Best Cold Lunch Ideas

BLT Macaroni Salad
Summer Salad
Buffalo Chicken Wrap
Broccoli Salad with Bacon
Fresh Spring Rolls
Quinoa Chickpea Salad
Shrimp Pasta Salad
Cobb Salad
Hearty Muffuletta
California Roll Wraps
Gyro Salad with Tzatziki Dressing
Salmon Salad Sandwich
Grilled Chicken Ramen Salad
Buffalo Tofu Wrap
Turkey, Gouda & Apple Tea Sandwiches
Ham Caesar Salad
Club Roll-Ups
Chicken Caesar Pitas
Mint-Cucumber Tomato Sandwiches
Tuna and White Bean Lettuce Wraps
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Chicken Salad Caprese
Gingered Spaghetti Salad
Shrimp Gazpacho
Beef ‘n’ Cheese Wraps
Havarti Turkey Hero
Steak & Blue Cheese Bruschetta with Onion & Roasted Tomato Jam
Vietnamese Chicken Salad
Lobster Rolls
Chicken Salad Croissants
Shrimp Avocado Salad
Champion Roast Beef Sandwiches
Hasselback Tomato Clubs
Balsamic Chicken Pasta Salad
Focaccia Sandwiches
Better than Egg Salad
Cranberry Turkey Wraps
Almond Chicken Salad
Hummus & Veggie Wrap-Up
Summer Chicken Macaroni Salad
Tomato & Avocado Sandwiches
Cashew-Chicken Rotini Salad
Turkey Cranberry Sandwich
Tarragon Tuna Salad
BLT Turkey Salad
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Cold Lunch Ideas FAQs
What are some good cold lunch ideas to pack for school or work?
Cold lunch ideas include sandwiches, pasta salads, spring rolls, wraps, cold soups like gazpacho, chicken salad, chickpea salad and avocado salad.
What are the best cold sandwich ideas for lunch?
The best cold sandwich ideas for lunch are ones with hearty ingredients that will keep the bread from becoming soggy. For example, BLTs are pretty juicy and may make the bread a bit soggy by the time lunch comes around. However, sandwiches with deli meats and cheese will keep the bread dry. You can always put condiments on when you’re ready to enjoy the sandwiches.
What are some tips for packing a cold lunch?
Some of the best tips for packing a cold lunch are the same ones we keep in mind when keeping food cold while camping: Use lots of freezer packs, store any lunchtime sodas or water outside of your lunchbox (or store with frozen bottles of water!), chill the lunchbox ahead of time and keep the lunchbox in a shady, cool area.