r/Cooking • u/britthood • 2d ago

Favorite cold lunches?

I work in outside sales, so I’m in the car all day and don’t usually have access to a microwave to heat up my lunches. What are your favorite make-ahead lunches that can be eaten cold/room temp? (I have an insulated lunchbox, so no worries about it needing to stay cold.) Looking for something with a decent amount of protein. I also, for some reason, don’t like the taste of cold leftover chicken… but other meats don’t both me. Thanks!

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u/Thund3rCh1k3n 2d ago

Tunasalad. It's easy, it's great cold. You get protein from the fish, fat from mayo, and carbs from pasta. And if you serve it on a bed of iceberg like I grew up with, you at least get some veggies. Even tho iceberg is not the most nutrient thick. Add some baby carrots and hummus, you have a whole thing.

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u/Bender7676 2d ago

I never thought to mix tuna with pasta cold. I bring my lunch to work, usually can’t heat things up, and have gotten bored with sandwiches too. I’m trying this one

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u/kikazztknmz 2d ago

We made it with mayo, onions, carrots, celery and little cheddar cubes mixed with rotini and zesty Italian dressing. Loved it.

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u/Thund3rCh1k3n 2d ago

Yeah it's super customizable. You can wrap it up like a lettuce wrap in iceberg.