what's for (work) lunch?: viral recipes edition

Part six of our what’s for (work) lunch? series takes us online. 

Here are three recipes that have gone viral on social media and for good reason: They’re delicious, easy to make, and perfect for your workday break. 

BAKED FETA PASTA
Let’s rewind to 2021, when this recipe went so viral that feta cheese was nearly impossible to find at grocery stores. Once you taste the baked feta mixed with warm, roasted tomatoes, you’ll get the hype!

Ingredients

• 2 pints cherry tomatoes
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 8 oz. block feta cheese
• 8 oz. cavatappi pasta
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for serving

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Add cherry tomatoes to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Drizzle olive oil on top. Season with salt and pepper. Toss until well-combined. Nestle feta cheese in the middle of the dish. Flip once to coat it in olive oil. Add more seasoning to taste. Bake for 35 minutes or until cherry tomatoes burst and feta cheese is soft.

Meanwhile, cook pasta in a pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Remove tomatoes and feta cheese from oven. Immediately add garlic and basil leaves. Mix well.

Transfer cooked pasta to baking dish. Toss to combine. Garnish with more basil.

Makes 6 servings.

HOT HONEY BEEF BOWL
There are so many variations of this hot honey beef bowl on TikTok. I’ve seen ground turkey swapped for ground beef, different seasonings for the sweet potatoes, and sauerkraut instead of cottage cheese (highly recommend trying the sauerkraut version if you’re a fan). But the one thing that always stays constant: the hot honey! It truly ties the bowl together.

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• ½ tsp. cinnamon
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. black pepper
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 2 Tbsp. taco seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
• 4 Tbsp. hot honey
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 2 avocados

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Add sweet potatoes to baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and tender, tossing halfway.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, cook ground beef over medium heat. Add taco seasoning. Stir in tomato paste. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.

To meal prep for work lunch, allow sweet potatoes and ground beef to cool completely. Divide sweet potatoes, ground beef, and hot honey evenly between four airtight containers. Divide cottage cheese into four small separate containers. Cube ½ an avocado right before enjoying.

Makes 4 servings.

LASAGNA SOUP
Lasagna is known for being labor intensive, but this recipe changed that notion when it went viral in 2024. The unique soup form means you can enjoy the taste and texture of lasagna without the time-consuming work!

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 14.5-oz. can Italian stewed tomatoes, undrained
• 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 6 uncooked lasagna noodles, broken into 1½-inch pieces
• For the cheese topping
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ tsp. salt

Instructions
In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and sauté for about 5-7 minutes, or until translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add beef, using a wooden spoon to break apart. Cook until no longer pink.

Stir in Italian stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, and Italian seasoning. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in lasagna pieces. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until noodles are tender.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, and salt together.

To meal prep for work lunch, divide soup into 8 equal servings. Store cheese mixture in separate container. Mix in one dollop of cheese before enjoying.

Makes 8 servings.

Avoid the kitchen chaos
Miss an article in our what’s for (work) lunch? series? Check out part one through five below, and stay tuned for more:

• part one: casserole edition
• part two: mason jar edition
• part three: cold lunch edition
• part four: snack box edition
• part five: buddha bowl edition