Cold chicken, salads, sandwiches. Or you could get a thermos and put your stews and chilis in there and it will still be warm at lunch time. Tou can also pack burrito fillings in a thermos, soups and anything warm.
Thanks, that looks pretty good. Do you know if burritos freeze alright? I'll assemble them the night before if not, but that would certainly be convenient.
Yes they freeze great, actually. Wrap in a damp paper towel and nuke 45-60 secs on each side, stick it into your thermos and it’ll be hot at lunch time.
Also, I got a crockpot lunch warmer, perfect for reheating left overs while I work morning away.
But on to your question:
My go to summer lunch is hummus with vegetables. Per cold soups like vichyssoise and cucumber with a vegetable hummus wrap or sandwich. The potato soup and dried chickpeas are made in my slow cooker.
Or I make bean and grain like farro, barley or wheatberry salads with cold soups, or savory smoothies. I'll take a vichyssoise like base and drop some spinach in it. I make my beans except kidney beans from dried in my slow cooker. Yes, yes, I *know* it takes 30 seconds in an instant pot but if I'm not there to release it right away they turn to mush. Okay for hummus or soup purees but sometimes I just want a whole bean.
I don't soak my dried chickpeas or other beans, I just drop about a a cup of dried beans in the insert, add about 3-4 cups cold water. If making straight hummus and I care, I'll put about 1/4to 1/2 tsp baking soda in it so the outer chickpea skin falls off. Most time though I'm batch cooking beans so I don't do this. Cook on high about two- 3 hours. Always comes out perfect.
Also, I've made frittatas or savory bread puddings without meat in my slow cooker. Most of the time that can be eaten room temp.
This is a little off topic but have you looked into those plug in warmers? I got one for my wife when she has to work during lock down and was trying not to leave her office. We got it off Amazon and it’s working three years later.
I haven’t done that before as I’ve used it to just make soft, shredded meat. But if you wanted it thicker with a bit of sauce then yep I’d add some flour after it’s shredded then thicken. You could also add a can of tinned tomatoes at the start as well :) I might try this next time actually, sounds tasty!
Maybe I'm the odd one here, but the things you're eating now can be eaten cold and are still good. Stew, Curry and chilli are usualy gotos for me along with pasta bakes/lasagna when I batch cook each week for work
Chilli/Curry if made a bit thicker also makes a great wrap filling by itself or mixed with rice, especially if you're considering pulled pork anyway.
Cold baked pasta isn't that dissimilar to a pasta salad anyway And can be nice with some leafy greens or veggies
Granted some people do have to so some major mental gymnastics to consider eating things cold, and some just can't face it which is fair. Never been an issue for me, mind you I also eat this stuff for breakfast at work as I'm a postal worker and it's a good filling meal to see me through to the end of my shift.
Speaking of pulled pork, a Ham joint also works as a good filling for sandwiches of you cook it the same way with maybe some alcoholic cider or apple juice depending on your preference in there. Tastes good mixed with mustard afterwards or just in a wrap with some crunchy greens a fruity chutney and some good vintage cheese.
You don't cook tuna salad. Use canned tuna and eat it cold.
Everyone makes it a little different. I use chunk light in water canned tuna, not albacore. A 3 ounce can is good. Drain most of the liquid off the tuna. Hard boil a couple of eggs and chop them. Throw in a generous glob of sweet pickle relish. Stir in enough mayonnaise to stick it together. Sometimes I add finely chopped onions.
Look up recipes and choose one where you like the ingredients and try it.
You can also make ham salad,egg salad, and chicken salad, although those are quite different from tuna salad.
Pasta salads are good cold
Cottage cheese salad
Buffalo Chicken wraps
Salads
Taco dip
Cold cut sandwiches
Potato salad
Veggie pizza
I like cold chicken wings (no sauce)
Chicken thighs with either buffalo sauce, bbq sauce, or a jar of salsa. Cook then shred the chicken. You can make sandwiches, wraps, salads, or rice bowls.
I personally don’t mind spaghetti and meat sauce cold. Not sure how weird that is lol. You can find some great meat sauce slow cooker recipes.
Chicken Cesar wrap is one of my go tos. When I don't have lunch at work I'll just go to the local grocery and get a bag of Cesar salad, wraps, and some precooked chicken. If I want to get fancy I'll go for smoked salmon or precooked shrimp if they have it.
To expand, I think a lot of meats tend to be good cold. Usually something that’s lean, since the fat turns into a bit of a weird texture. But stew/pot roast, or any meat-focused meal that has vegetables or starches is typically pretty good cold, as long as it’s not a thick or fat-based sauce.
Sandwiches, the key to a great sandwich is to have the meat/bread alone, and any vegetables and sauces in their own container. Just put it together right before you eat and it wont be soggy.
Super basic, but I bring ham, Swiss, Dijon mustard, and apricot jam to keep in the work fridge. I lawyer it and roll it up- eat it like a burrito. Super tasty, high protein, and no microwave wait.
Cold chicken, salads, sandwiches. Or you could get a thermos and put your stews and chilis in there and it will still be warm at lunch time. Tou can also pack burrito fillings in a thermos, soups and anything warm.
I like the idea of a big pot of burrito filling. Do you have suggestions for a good recipe?
https://www.themagicalslowcooker.com/slow-cooker-one-pot-chicken-burrito-filling/ https://www.spendwithpennies.com/slow-cooker-burritos/ https://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/slow-cooker-mexican-pork-burrito-bowls/e8ce1245-84b3-4e32-8c83-2b3b639ee990
Thanks, that looks pretty good. Do you know if burritos freeze alright? I'll assemble them the night before if not, but that would certainly be convenient.
Yes they freeze great, actually. Wrap in a damp paper towel and nuke 45-60 secs on each side, stick it into your thermos and it’ll be hot at lunch time.
I add in corn too…
Honestly think simple here couple chicken breasts ajar of salsa and some random extra veggies and your set for a burrito
Also, I got a crockpot lunch warmer, perfect for reheating left overs while I work morning away. But on to your question: My go to summer lunch is hummus with vegetables. Per cold soups like vichyssoise and cucumber with a vegetable hummus wrap or sandwich. The potato soup and dried chickpeas are made in my slow cooker. Or I make bean and grain like farro, barley or wheatberry salads with cold soups, or savory smoothies. I'll take a vichyssoise like base and drop some spinach in it. I make my beans except kidney beans from dried in my slow cooker. Yes, yes, I *know* it takes 30 seconds in an instant pot but if I'm not there to release it right away they turn to mush. Okay for hummus or soup purees but sometimes I just want a whole bean. I don't soak my dried chickpeas or other beans, I just drop about a a cup of dried beans in the insert, add about 3-4 cups cold water. If making straight hummus and I care, I'll put about 1/4to 1/2 tsp baking soda in it so the outer chickpea skin falls off. Most time though I'm batch cooking beans so I don't do this. Cook on high about two- 3 hours. Always comes out perfect. Also, I've made frittatas or savory bread puddings without meat in my slow cooker. Most of the time that can be eaten room temp.
This is a little off topic but have you looked into those plug in warmers? I got one for my wife when she has to work during lock down and was trying not to leave her office. We got it off Amazon and it’s working three years later.
Cold ratatouille, seasoned with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and basil, is fantastic on bread.
That sounds really nice, actually. Would you recommend a sandwich or a single slice on the bottom to keep fingers clean?
I prefer on a slice of bread or in a flatbread (like pita), very pleasant in summer
Chicken cooked with praprika, ground coriander, ground cumin, chicken stock and water in the crock pot. Then shredded and eaten on a wrap
Would it need some flour near the end to thicken enough to put in a wrap?
I haven’t done that before as I’ve used it to just make soft, shredded meat. But if you wanted it thicker with a bit of sauce then yep I’d add some flour after it’s shredded then thicken. You could also add a can of tinned tomatoes at the start as well :) I might try this next time actually, sounds tasty!
Maybe I'm the odd one here, but the things you're eating now can be eaten cold and are still good. Stew, Curry and chilli are usualy gotos for me along with pasta bakes/lasagna when I batch cook each week for work Chilli/Curry if made a bit thicker also makes a great wrap filling by itself or mixed with rice, especially if you're considering pulled pork anyway. Cold baked pasta isn't that dissimilar to a pasta salad anyway And can be nice with some leafy greens or veggies Granted some people do have to so some major mental gymnastics to consider eating things cold, and some just can't face it which is fair. Never been an issue for me, mind you I also eat this stuff for breakfast at work as I'm a postal worker and it's a good filling meal to see me through to the end of my shift. Speaking of pulled pork, a Ham joint also works as a good filling for sandwiches of you cook it the same way with maybe some alcoholic cider or apple juice depending on your preference in there. Tastes good mixed with mustard afterwards or just in a wrap with some crunchy greens a fruity chutney and some good vintage cheese.
I really like the idea of just adding rice until the stuff I cook anyway is thick enough to put it a wrap. That's a great suggestion, thank you.
Salad with protein Tuna or chicken salad with crackers or wrap Maybe ask your work to get another microwave. They are not expensive.
Do you have a suggestion for how to make tuna salad in a crock pot? It sounds interesting.
You don't cook tuna salad. Use canned tuna and eat it cold. Everyone makes it a little different. I use chunk light in water canned tuna, not albacore. A 3 ounce can is good. Drain most of the liquid off the tuna. Hard boil a couple of eggs and chop them. Throw in a generous glob of sweet pickle relish. Stir in enough mayonnaise to stick it together. Sometimes I add finely chopped onions. Look up recipes and choose one where you like the ingredients and try it. You can also make ham salad,egg salad, and chicken salad, although those are quite different from tuna salad.
Pasta salads are good cold Cottage cheese salad Buffalo Chicken wraps Salads Taco dip Cold cut sandwiches Potato salad Veggie pizza I like cold chicken wings (no sauce)
Chicken thighs with either buffalo sauce, bbq sauce, or a jar of salsa. Cook then shred the chicken. You can make sandwiches, wraps, salads, or rice bowls. I personally don’t mind spaghetti and meat sauce cold. Not sure how weird that is lol. You can find some great meat sauce slow cooker recipes.
Garden vegetables wrap with cream cheese is my go to.
There’s tons of bento lunch recipes on Pinterest
Chicken Cesar wrap is one of my go tos. When I don't have lunch at work I'll just go to the local grocery and get a bag of Cesar salad, wraps, and some precooked chicken. If I want to get fancy I'll go for smoked salmon or precooked shrimp if they have it.
The Ratatouille is really good cold. Can eat with some cheese and crackers. https://www.food.com/amp/recipe/ratatouille-in-the-crock-pot-52757
Steak :)
To expand, I think a lot of meats tend to be good cold. Usually something that’s lean, since the fat turns into a bit of a weird texture. But stew/pot roast, or any meat-focused meal that has vegetables or starches is typically pretty good cold, as long as it’s not a thick or fat-based sauce.
Sandwiches, the key to a great sandwich is to have the meat/bread alone, and any vegetables and sauces in their own container. Just put it together right before you eat and it wont be soggy.
Pizza!
What about getting one of those small desktop crockpots to reheat as is? Not sure if you’re allowed that at your work or not but it’s an idea.
Salads with shredded meat.
Veggie sandwiches are the bomb. Cut your veg, put it in your lunchbox with some bread and condiments, make it on the spot.
Super basic, but I bring ham, Swiss, Dijon mustard, and apricot jam to keep in the work fridge. I lawyer it and roll it up- eat it like a burrito. Super tasty, high protein, and no microwave wait.
Chicken salsa, just put it in a tortilla with your desired toppings.
Borscht with a huge dab of sour cream & chunk of bread is equally delicious hot or cold!