Batch Cooking Ideas For Work Lunches - Home & Office
When working, lunch is possibly one of the most anticipated times of the day and there’s nothing better than having a proper homecooked meal to look forward to. However, it can be a challenge to keep your meals varied throughout the week. Fortunately, batch cooking (preparing all your food early in the week and freezing it so that it’s ready for your midweek madness) offers the perfect solution.
Let's dive into how we can make batch cooking your work lunches a breeze with these easy batch cooking ideas for work or home!
How To Batch Cook
Batch cooking isn’t just about preparing your work lunches in advance; it's about infusing flavour into your daily and weekly routine, making even a quick lunch break an enjoyable experience!
To make the most of your lunch prepping, we’ve created a list of the top things to keep in mind:
- Planning Is Key: Make sure you know what ingredients you need for each batch, so you can stock up and have them to hand during your meal prep.
- Choose Recipes That Freeze Well: Choose dishes that freeze well so you can store them easily and preserve their flavours and textures.
- Quality Containers: Use good quality, air-tight containers to store your food and keep it fresher for longer.
- Variety. Switch your dish up week by week to keep things interesting and flavoursome. If you’ve got the time, you could create two dishes for each week for maximum variety!
Follow these tips and you’ll be a regular meal prepper in no time at all! Read on to find our suggestions on great freezable lunch meal prep ideas that’ll get you kickstarted on your batch cooking journey.
Make Ahead Work Lunch Recipes
Now that you have our top tips on how to batch cook, it’s time to explore some make ahead work lunch recipes to incorporate into your plan! From delicious burrito bowls to chillis, these Mexican-inspired meals offer plenty of variety:
Slow-Cooker Pork Burrito Bowls
Recipe Name
Slow-Cooker Pork Burrito BowlsTotal Time
8 hours and 15 minutesSpice Level
MediumServings
9Ingredients
- 1 kg boneless pork shoulder
- 1 tin (400 g) kidney or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 pack (25 g) Old El Paso™ Garlic & Paprika Seasoning Mix for Tacos
- 1 green chilli, finely chopped
- 4 packs (250 g) Mexican-style microwave rice
- 150 g Mexican-style cheese, grated
- 1 romaine lettuce, sliced thinly
- 175 g Old El Paso™ Thick 'n Chunky Salsa
Preparation
- If the pork comes in netting or is tied, remove netting or strings. Place the pork into a slow cooker with the beans, taco seasoning mix and chilli. Cover and cook on low heat setting for 8 to 10 hours.
- Make the rice up according to packet instructions.
- Remove the pork from the cooker to chopping board and shred. Return the pork to the cooker and gently mix with the beans.
- Serve the rice in bowls topped with the pork, some cheese, lettuce and salsa.
Expert Tips
- If you cannot get hold of Mexican style cheese, use Cheddar cheese as an alternative. Great also served with some soured cream and guacamole.
Made With
Quick & Easy Freezer-Friendly Work Lunches
Freezer-friendly lunches are key to effective batch cooking and meal planning. Imagine unwrapping a burrito filled with vibrant flavours or a taco salad that only needs a quick thaw before it’s ready to serve! We have plenty of quick and easy work lunch ideas that you can whip up in no time and freeze for later.
Burritos
Burritos can easily be pre-prepared and frozen in batches for a delicious and fast work lunch. Fillings-wise, those filled with mostly meat and rice tend to freeze the best! We have plenty of burrito recipes to keep your weekday meals fun and varied.
Top Tip: Wrap your burritos in tinfoil before storing them in an airtight container in the freezer. The foil will help to protect the burritos from freezer burn by acting as a barrier.
Chillis
Chilli is an incredibly easy dish to create in batches and can be made in one single pot, so you have less cleaning up to do! Not only that, but it freezes extremely well. A batch of chilli made with our seasoning mix can serve as a hearty base for multiple meals and is perfect as a lunch you can make ahead of time.
Rice Dishes
As well as our Slow-Cooker Pork Burrito Bowls, we have a range of Mexican-inspired rice dishes that you can batch make at home. From spicy rice mixes to milder dishes, there’s something to suit every taste!
Top Tip: Be sure to cool your cooked rice quickly before storing it in an air-tight container in the freezer. To speed up the cooling process, split your rice into smaller portions to allow the heat to escape. Ensure the rice is reheated thoroughly and steaming before eating.
Meal Prepping Is Made Easy With Old El Paso
With these easy batch cooking ideas for work lunches having delicious meals to look forward to throughout the week has never been easier! With something for everyone, they’re great for feeding families too. Looking for even more mealtime inspiration? View our full range of Mexican-inspired recipes here.