Easy and Delicious Paleo Lunch Ideas + Recipes

The paleo diet is a popular style of eating. This dietary plan is modeled after the prehistoric human diet. It’s made up exclusively of food that prehistoric man could obtain by hunting and gathering. This includes lean meats, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds.

When following a paleo diet, it’s important to avoid a variety of foods, including dairy products, grains, legumes, potatoes, salt, refined sugar, and any foods that are highly processed. Having a few paleo lunch ideas on hand will make it easy to stick to the plan.

Grab it now on Instacart:

Organic Avocado (70 ct)

Hot Pico De Gallo (16 oz)

Zucchini Noodles (12 oz)

Jumbo Golden Pineapple (each)

Primal Kitchen Mayo (24 oz)

Cucumber (75 ct)

Raspberries (6 oz Container)

Fresh Thyme Market Iqf Riced Cauliflower (12 oz)

Apple Slices (18 oz)

Organic Hard Boiled Eggs (6 ct)

Easy paleo lunch recipe ideas

Once you understand the basics, it’s pretty simple to put together lunches that fit into the guidelines of paleo eating. Start with these eight delicious ideas. 

1. Chipotle chicken lettuce wraps

Spicy chicken, lettuce, avocado, and pickled jalapenos combine to create these tasty chicken lettuce wraps. This recipe calls for a pinch of brown sugar and salt, but you can easily leave it out. 

2. Turkey bacon wraps

Crunchy lettuce leaves replace a tortilla wrap, making this recipe perfectly paleo-friendly. Inside, you’ll find turkey, bacon, avocado, and pico de Gallo. 

3. Cajun shrimp zoodle bowls

Spicy Cajun shrimp is delicious when served on top of a bowl of spiralized zucchini noodles, onions, and red bell peppers. 

4. Chicken zoodle soup

Chicken noodle soup is classic comfort food. Swapping out the noodles for spiralized zucchini creates a paleo-friendly recipe that you can enjoy without any guilt. 

5. Paleo burgers with onions and avocado

Paleo burgers skip the buns and are served with slices of tomato and avocado instead. Add some caramelized onions and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar for an extra splash of flavor. 

6. Paleo turkey meatloaf muffins with roasted tomato sauce

Ground turkey and pork are the basis for these meatloaf muffins. The sweet and savory roasted tomato sauce is the perfect topping, making this recipe a paleo favorite. 

7. Grilled pineapple burger

A smokey grilled burger made of grass-fed beef tastes amazing when paired with grilled pineapple and sliced onion. Skip the bun and wrap the whole thing in a large lettuce leaf instead. 

8. Avocado tuna salad

Since there’s no mayo, this avocado tuna salad is totally paleo-friendly! Serve it inside halved avocados with the pits removed for a rich and satisfying lunch. 

Paleo lunch box ideas

When it comes to packing a lunch on the go, eating paleo can present a challenge. No grains means no sandwiches, so when packing a lunch box, you’ll need to get creative.

1. Chicken salad with bacon and scallions

This delicious chicken salad uses paleo-friendly mayo to give it a classic creamy texture. The grilled chicken, bacon, and green onions also pack some powerful flavor. 

2. Turkey cucumber roll-ups

Thin ribbons of cucumber are the perfect base for paleo veggie dip and sliced turkey deli meat. Roll them up for a quick and easy lunch with no utensils needed. 

3. Egg roll in a bowl

Find yourself missing egg rolls? Skip the wrapper and enjoy egg roll in a bowl instead. You can make this with any protein you choose, but pork, chicken, or shrimp are the most popular options. 

4. Salmon salad veggie bowl

Packed with healthy fats, grilled or baked salmon is the perfect topper for this delicious salad. The fresh raspberries and a balsamic glaze give it an unforgettable flavor. 

5. Thai veggie wraps with sunflower seed butter

A mix of cauliflower rice, mango, and veggies is the perfect filling for these Thai veggie wraps. They’re delicious when served with a homemade sunflower seed butter dip. 

6. Taco mason jar salad

When you’re packing a lunch on the go, a mason jar salad is both easy and practical. Try layering salsa and a mixture of avocado and lime with cumin-roasted veggies and seasoned chicken. When you’re ready, just dump out your mason jar and enjoy! 

Paleo lunch ideas for kids

When packing a paleo lunch for kids, using a bento-box style is often the easiest option. Use a divided container to separate fruit, veggies, proteins, and a few of your kids’ favorite paleo-friendly snacks. Here are a few ideas to help inspire you.

1. Apple slices with nut butter

Sliced apples with a side of nut butter (like almond or sunflower) make a perfect lunchtime snack for kids of all ages. 

2. Hard-boiled eggs

You never want to skimp when it comes to protein, so tossing a few hard-boiled eggs in your child’s lunchbox is always a good idea. 

3. Coconut yogurt

This two-ingredient coconut yogurt is super easy to make and is perfect for a kid’s lunchbox. You can top it off with different types of fresh fruit to add a bit of variety. 

4. Guacamole with plantain chips

Paleo guacamole is healthy and easy to make. Serve it with a side of homemade plantain chips – just be sure to skip the salt. 

5. Lunchmeat and veggie rolls

Use any clean deli meat, like turkey or roast beef, as the main protein for this meal. You can put lettuce on the inside or outside and include ingredients like slices of avocado, pickles, bell peppers, or any other paleo-friendly ingredients your kids will enjoy.

6. Ants on a log

This classic kid-friendly snack is made from pieces of celery filled with nut butter and topped with raisins.

Instacart makes eating paleo easy

Following a paleo diet is easier when you can plan ahead. With Instacart, you can quickly make your shopping list and completely avoid the store! Instead of taking the chance with temptations, why not let an expert shopper do the shopping for you? Just log on, create your shopping list, and wait for your grocery delivery to arrive at your door.

Instacart

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