These high protein vegetarian lunch ideas are all delicious, easy to pack, and energizing enough to power you through the day!
When I was in college, it wasn't uncommon for me to grab a granola bar or a bag of chips from a vending machine and call it lunch. Being older and wiser, I now know: a granola bar is not lunch!
But when you're in a rush, don't have access to a microwave, or don't have the money to buy a decent restaurant meal, your on-the-go options are a little bit limited.
So I've pulled together my favorite lunchbox-friendly vegetarian salads, sandwiches and wraps. You can bring them to work or school and eat straight out of your lunchbox, without needing to reheat anything.
And because lunch should keep you full and satisfied until dinner, every recipe in this list has at least 10 grams of protein too. Good-bye granola bars, hello satisfying lunch!
P.S. If you're here looking for lunch ideas for your kids, be sure to check out my new e-book, Healthy Plant Based School Lunches. It's packed with my best tips for packing school lunches that they'll actually eat!
High Protein Vegetarian Lunch Recipes
This easy chickpea salad is delicious on its own, but it's also great for stuffing into pitas, lettuce leaves or wraps.
Fork and Beans adds protein to a veggie sandwich with homemade tempeh bacon.
To keep the veggies crisp, pack the dressing in a small container and add it just before eating.
This is not your mother's egg salad! Running to the Kitchen replaces mayo with Greek yogurt and adds sriracha for a spicy kick.
Who needs takeout or food trucks when you can bring your own banh mi to work?
Well Plated shares a vegetarian take on the classic Niçoise salad.
This is one of my favorite salads--not only is it lunchbox-friendly, but it will last in the fridge for a few days!
Roasted butternut squash adds a little bit of sweetness to this healthy kale salad.
With smoky, spicy hummus and quinoa, these lunch wraps from The Muffin Myth are sure to liven up your lunch.
Salad in a jar, AKA the perfect portable lunch. Just bring a fork and dig in!
Lentils, veggies and herbs tossed in a light vinaigrette--so easy and so delicious!
Don't have time to grill the fruit? Fresh fruit--whatever is in season--will work too.
This tomato and mozzarella panini can be served hot or cold. You have options!
With quinoa and chickpeas, you'll get a double dose of protein from this salad from Cafe Johnsonia.
Baked tofu is an easy way to add protein to just about any salad or sandwich.
Using whole grain bread is a great way to add more protein to your lunch, like in this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod.
Whole grains, like farro, are a fantastic--and often over-looked--source of protein.
If you want a lunch that's absolutely packed with protein, this salad from Delish Knowledge is for you--it has 30 grams!
Sometimes you just can't beat a simple bean salad.
More Lunch Ideas
If you love these vegetarian lunch ideas, be sure to check out these other tasty articles:
Taylor @ The Girls on Bloor says
Love all the colours of these salads and lunch bowls!
Anna says
loove these ideas 🙂
marie says
is there some site maintenance going on? it looks like the css isn't loading....
Jessica Solsona says
You Guys ROCK!!!!