Lunchbox ideas
Rice and sides or sandwiches: recipes that make a meal together.
Suggested meal combinations
Check each recipe’s yield and adjust the quantities for your meal.
A rice and chicken lunchbox
Butter Soy Mushroom Rice
A Japanese-style pan rice with mushrooms, onion, a small amount of butter and soy sauce. Cook off the mushrooms' excess moisture before adding rice.
Chicken Teriyaki
Tender chicken glazed with a sweet-savory soy sauce, served over warm rice.
Chinese Smashed Cucumber Salad
Crisp cucumber with rough, cracked edges that hold a light soy-vinegar dressing. A refreshing Chinese-style side dish with garlic and toasted sesame, made without turning on the stove.
A sandwich lunchbox
Tuna Mayo Sandwich
A simple tuna sandwich with crisp lettuce and finely chopped onion. Draining the tuna and drying the lettuce keeps the bread from turning soggy.
Japanese Potato Salad
A creamy Japanese-style potato salad with small potato chunks, crisp cucumber and tender carrot. Drain the vegetables well so it stays creamy.
For packed meals, follow appropriate cooling, refrigeration and transport practices.
More recipes to explore
Tuna Mayo Onigiri
Japanese rice balls filled with creamy canned tuna and wrapped in nori. Start with warm, cooked short-grain rice and make four generously filled triangles, two per person.
Mexican-Style Vegetable Tortilla Wrap
Soft tortillas filled with crisp vegetables, black beans, corn and a lightly spiced yogurt dressing. Dry the vegetables well so the wrap stays together.