20 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas for Work That Will Actually Fill You Up

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Updated on July 12, 2023

Reviewed by Dietitian

Elizabeth Ward, M.S., RDN

a collage of some of the 20 Low Carb Lunch Ideas for Work That Will Actually Fill You Up

These low-carb lunch ideas are simple to make and a healthy choice for your midday meal. Make one of these recipes for your next to-go meal or workday lunch—from stuffed avocados to quick salads, these lunches aim to please. Plus, each recipe has 15 grams of carbohydrates or fewer per serving, so you can meet your nutritional goals.

01 of 20

Avocado Egg Salad

This quick recipe takes classic egg salad to the next level with the addition of creamy avocado. Serve it on a piece of toasted whole-grain bread or inside a tender lettuce leaf. Avocados brown quickly, so plan on making it no more than two hours before you plan to serve it.

02 of 20

Loaded Broccoli Salad

Loaded Broccoli Salad — Photographer / Brie Passano, Food Stylist / Annie Probst, Prop Stylist / Holly Raibikis

This is the broccoli salad you will get special requests for. The combination of bacon, sour cream, mayonnaise, scallions and Cheddar is hard to resist. And the addition of rice vinegar or cider vinegar sharpens all the flavors.

03 of 20

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

04 of 20

Tuna Salad with Egg

Tuna Salad with Egg — Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis

This simple tuna salad with egg has a clean and balanced flavor. The capers and lemon bring acidity to help everything come together, and the chopped arugula adds a peppery kick. Enjoy it with greens or on a slice of your favorite whole-grain bread.

05 of 20

Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip come together in this quick vegetarian recipe. Serve these cheesy stuffed mushrooms with a big salad for a satisfying and healthy lunch.

06 of 20

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken — Jason Donnelly

Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.

07 of 20

Avocado Tuna Salad

Avocado-Tuna Salad — Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

Jazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds a creaminess that's cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer a refreshing crunch.

08 of 20

Chicken Salad-Stuffed Avocados

Looking for a clean, packable lunch for work? This healthy homemade chicken salad served inside an avocado instead of with bread is just the ticket. Plus, this recipe makes enough for ready-made lunches for the week!

09 of 20

Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve it for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.

10 of 20

Turkey & Cheddar Lettuce Wraps

Turkey & Cheddar Lettuce Wraps

Crispy green lettuce leaves hold the filling inside this low-carb turkey wrap. It's perfect for lunch or a quick, easy dinner on the go.

11 of 20

Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing

Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing — Jason Donnelly

Sweet and savory find harmony in this salad dotted with ripe melon and tossed in a lemony dressing. Melon balls are so adorable, but making them leaves some fruit behind—whir up those leftovers into a smoothie.

12 of 20

Eat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & Mozzarella

This fresh and colorful salad has all of the delicious flavors you love from the classic caprese salad plus even more healthy veggies. Double this and top each portion with 3 ounces of grilled or roasted chicken to take it from a simple side to a quick main dish.

13 of 20

Meal-Prep Turkey Cobb Salad

Cubed deli turkey takes the place of chicken, while Cheddar replaces blue cheese in this easy Cobb-inspired salad. The protein-rich turkey and cheese, plus eggs and bacon, gives the salad staying power, so you won't get hungry an hour after you eat.

14 of 20

Creamy Pesto Chicken Salad with Greens

For a healthy variation on creamy chicken salad, we've replaced half the mayonnaise with basil pesto. Serve over greens or make it into a sandwich for a healthy lunch.

15 of 20

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Don't limit yourself to lettuce for this low-carb, gluten-free taco lettuce wrap recipe—any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.

16 of 20

Pickle Sub Sandwiches with Turkey & Cheddar

pickle sub

Cut down on carbs by swapping out the bread for slices of pickle to make these fun turkey and Cheddar sandwiches. Roma tomatoes are the perfect oblong shape for these mini sandwiches, but feel free to use regular tomatoes—simply cut the slices in half so they fit nicely on the pickle sandwich.

17 of 20

Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

This healthy vegetarian quiche recipe is as simple as it gets. It's a quiche without the fussy crust! It's filled with sweet wild mushrooms and savory Gruyère cheese. Enjoy it for breakfast or brunch, or serve it with a light salad for lunch.

18 of 20

Green Goddess Salad with Chicken

For this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chicken salad, a healthy green goddess salad dressing gets its creaminess from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. Any extra dressing is delicious served over grilled chicken or flaky white fish, such as cod or flounder.

19 of 20

Barbecue Chicken Kale Wraps

Smooth, lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale) is topped with barbecue chicken, carrots and cabbage in this healthy, gluten-free lettuce wrap recipe.

20 of 20

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing

We've replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make.

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