Are y’all ready for the next installment in the no-cook lunch box series? The Hummus Lunch Box is a classic, one that I’m sure many of you have made before, but it definitely deserves its own mention in the series because it is flexible and always a pleaser. I’ve got a few different ways you can eat or serve this lunch box listed below, so even if you’ve made this before, make sure to go check out the alternate ideas!
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What’s in the Hummus Lunch Box:
Hummus (of course), kalamata olives, cucumber, grape tomatoes, and pita bread. I love this lunch box because of its simplicity, it requires so little prep, and I just like “snacky” finger foods. The only prep work I had to do was slicing the cucumber and draining the jar of olives! For the sake of convenience, and because ALDI has very inexpensive hummus, I used store bought hummus this time. But if you want to make your own hummus or want to experiment with different hummus flavors, try my homemade hummus recipe (four flavors).
Serving Options
As I mentioned in intro, there are a few different ways you can eat this lunch box. The obvious way is to eat it in a “snacky” fashion, eating a little of this, a little of that, etc. But here are a couple other options:
- Make it into a pita sandwich. Instead of cutting the pita bread into triangles like in my photos, leave your pita cut in half, then when you sit down for lunch smear the hummus inside, add some cucumber slices, olives, and tomatoes, and eat it like a sandwich!
- Make it into a salad. Pack a separate bowl of mixed greens, then when you sit down to lunch, add the vegetables and hummus on top and eat it as a giant sandwich! You might also want to some dressing on the side (I suggest a vinaigrette, like Greek dressing, Italian, or Caesar dressing).
Alternate Ingredient Ideas
Just like all the no-cook lunch boxes in this series, this hummus lunch box is very flexible. If you don’t like some of the ingredients I included in mine, here are a few other ideas:
- Pita chips or pretzel crackers in place of the pita bread
- Feta cheese cubes
- Marinated white beans
- Celery or carrot sticks
- Bell peppers
- Sliced grilled chicken
How Long Does the Lunch Box Keep?
This lunch box holds up very well to refrigeration, so it will probably keep about 5 days in the refrigerator, depending on the freshness of your ingredients when the boxes are made and the conditions inside your refrigerator.
What Containers Do You Use?
I got these divided glass meal prep containers on Amazon. You can find a link to the product in the bottom of the recipe card below. (P.S. these containers came three to a set and this recipe makes FOUR lunch boxes, so I ate the fourth portion on a plate the day that I packed them. 😄)
The Hummus Lunch Box
Servings 4Ingredients
- 1 cucumber ($1.29)
- 2 pita breads ($0.66)
- 1 cup hummus ($1.95)
- 1 pint grape tomatoes ($1.99)
- 1 6oz. jar kalamata olives ($2.15)
Instructions
- Slice the cucumber and cut the pita bread into triangles.
- Divide the hummus, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and pita triangles between four containers. Refrigerate up to 5 days.
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
- Divided Glass Meal Prep Containers
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!Check Out These Other No-Cook Lunch Ideas:
This is such an easy, affordable, tasty, low-calorie, healthy lunch. A nice change from the usual salads, and holds up really well in the fridge as the week progresses. Bonus: It’s been helping me lose a little weight before my wedding!
Like someone else said, I also add a hard boiled egg and an apple to this, and I’m full and satisfied through the afternoon.
Thanks so much, Beth!
What an awesome idea block for a super-convenient, healthy, low-cost, tasty-o lunch away from (or at) home. I appreciate the simplicity! Worked great and keeps very well. :)
I send basically the same lunch for my husband most days. He loves roasted garlic hummus for his veggies. I will also send him some cheese and always a hard boiled egg. I believe the hard boiled egg helps to fill him up and he dips it in the hummus also. We canโt forget his apple at lunch either.ย
Could vary the peanut butter lunch with other nut butters, the hummus lunch with Tzatziki or, Taboleh, the cheese lunch with cottage cheese with addins or salad dressing in a tiny container. Deviled eggs. Leftover meat from dinner, are options. My sister does this with assorted cut up raw. vegetables and homemade dips. But cooked vegetables could be subbed on cold days if you have a micro, or they can be a different style cold salad. I have a bento box I do this with at home, so I don’t forget to eat. Also from Amazon.
I really enjoyed this, and it was very easy. I used a half cup of hummus and replaced the olives for slices of red bell pepper that I happened to have on hand. I’m just not a big fan of olives, but I like the crunch of a fresh pepper slice. I also like how healthy it is.
It isn’t enough to keep me happy throughout my 12 hour workday though, but I make up for it by throwing in some other healthy snacks like Greek yogurt and fruit.
For those who were looking for exact daily measurements. ย This recipe is for 4 days. For each day portion out ย 1/4 cup hummus, ย 1/2 a pita, 1.5 oz of olives each day. ( I donโt worry about veggie portions as the are calorically low and so good for you!!)
I tried hummus first time. It is healthy!!!
Try it!!
This is one of my favorite light lunch ideas, too. I noticed, though, that Beth says she drained the olives and left it at that. I never throw out the “juice” from kalamata olives! If you drain a box of tofu, pat it dry a bit (no need to do the paper towel-n-plates smash), pour the kalamata olive juice on it, and put it in the refrigerator, the tofu will absorb the juice overnight. What you’re left with is a feta-like, crumbly tofu that is fabulous sprinkled on salads, in wraps, etc. If salt is an issue, I have also made this using half water and half kalamata olive juice, and it tastes (almost) just as good, although the texture is affected (it’s a little less crumbly). This keeps in the refrigerator for about two weeks, but it never lasts that long.
The container you have linked to only has two compartments rather than three you have pictured. Is there a corrected link available?
You can try these ones
This was my work lunch at least three days a week and I never tired of it. Super easy to prep. I added feta and baby carrots. Trader Joe Mediterranean hummus is my absolute favorite. Their flatbread is yummy too. ย Also, we buy the kalamata olives at Costco in that big huge jar.
This looks delicious though I think I would need more. Do other people really only eat 350 calories for lunch? Maybe I am a hungry person.
This would never be enough for me, either, at least as lunch. Looks like a great midday snack though :). I’ve noticed Beth usually eats about 1/2-2/3 of what I would eat in a meal, so I guess that makes us two hungry people haha :D
Beth is tiny judging by her pictures. :) Personally, a simple way I would bulk this up a little would be to use an entire whole-wheat pita and half a cup of hummus per serving.