Boxed lunches come in handy when training runs through noon or teammates are taking breaks at different times. Each person gets an individually packed meal they can grab on the way to their next meeting or sit down and enjoy with the team.
Here are eight boxed lunch catering ideas, from sandwich and wrap boxes to Indian curries and Korean BBQ bowls. Each comes with a restaurant to look up on DoorDash, followed by tips on what to order, how much to budget, and when to schedule delivery.
What Is Boxed Lunch Catering?
Boxed lunch catering is an order where every person gets their own individually packaged meal instead of serving themselves from shared trays. One person places the order for the whole group, and the boxes arrive ready to hand out.
A typical boxed lunch includes a main (a sandwich, bowl, or salad), a side, something sweet, plus utensils and a napkin. Depending on the restaurant, you might also get a drink or a choice of sides.
You'll also hear it called box lunch catering or lunch box catering. They all mean the same thing: one meal, one box, one person.
When Boxed Lunches Work Better Than Trays
Trays are great when the meal is the event. Boxed lunches are better when lunch has to fit around something else. They tend to work best for:
Meetings that run through lunch. People grab a box and keep going. No serving line, no spoons to pass around. This is where boxed lunches for meetings earn their spot.
Trainings and onboarding days. Everyone eats at about the same time, and new hires don't have to figure out buffet etiquette on day one.
Client visits. A labeled box for each guest looks planned, because it was.
Groups with a lot of dietary needs. Each meal is packed and labeled separately, so a gluten-free lunch stays gluten-free.
Staggered schedules. If people drift in between calls, a closed box holds up better than a tray sitting open on the counter.
Trays still make sense for celebrations and relaxed team lunches where the whole point is to hang out together. If that's what you're planning, these catered lunch ideas lean more toward shared spreads.
8 Boxed Lunch Catering Options for the Office
Sandwiches are the default, but corporate boxed lunches can go a lot further than turkey on wheat. Here are eight box types worth ordering, each paired with a restaurant you can order from on DoorDash in one of our catering cities.
1. Braised and Roasted Rice Bowls
A protein, a vegetable, and rice in one container is about as desk-friendly as lunch gets. Bowls hold their heat, don't fall apart in transit, and are easy to eat during a meeting without getting sauce on your notes. They're also a simple way to cover dietary needs, since plenty of rice bowls are naturally gluten-free.
If you're in San Francisco, take a look at Catering by The Roost. Its boxed lunch menu includes a citrus braised pork bowl, with pork shoulder braised with oranges, sweet braised collard greens, and jasmine rice, that's both gluten-free and dairy-free. For the sandwich fans in the room, there's a BBQ chicken sandwich with pickles, adobo coleslaw, and sweet potato croquettes on the side.
2. Indian Curry Boxes
Curry, rice, and naan in a box is warm, filling, and a welcome change for a team that's had one too many sandwich lunches. Indian food is also one of the easiest cuisines to order for vegetarian guests, with paneer and chickpea dishes that don't feel like an afterthought.
Ordering for an office in New York? Manhattan Valley has a boxed lunches section on its catering menu, alongside half and full trays. Its most-ordered dishes on DoorDash include chicken tikka masala, palak paneer, and garlic naan, so you can cover meat eaters and vegetarians with one order.
3. Burrito and Taco Boxes
Burrito boxes are a crowd favorite for good reason. Rice, beans, a protein, and chips and salsa make a full meal that travels well, and since each box is built separately, swapping chicken for veggies or skipping the cheese is easy. One tip: if someone on your team avoids gluten, ask about corn tortillas, which many Mexican restaurants offer.
In Los Angeles, Catering by GoodFellas Tacos is a DoorDash Verified Caterer with a dedicated boxed lunches section. It also has burritos, salads, and breakfast options if your meeting starts early.
4. Sandwich and Wrap Boxes
Sandwich boxes are the classic office lunch, and they're still a good pick. They're easy to eat, easy to customize, and almost never controversial. The way to make them feel less routine is the side: fruit or a salad goes over better than another bag of chips. For more ideas, check out our guide to sandwich catering for the office.
If you're in Chicago, Catering by Exquisite 501 makes boxed lunches with fresh breads, meats, vegetables, and cheese, as sandwiches or wraps, with vegetarian options on request. It also has individual boxed entrées when you want something heartier.
5. Hot Comfort Food Boxes
When it's cold out or the training day runs long, a hot entrée with a couple of home-style sides feels like an actual lunch, not a snack between sessions. These boxes work well for groups that want something filling without a full sit-down meal.
In the Boston area, Catering by Boston Market offers box lunches with a sandwich, chips or a house or Caesar salad, and a cookie or brownie, plus the option to add a cup of soup. If you want something hot, its individually plated meals pair a hot entrée with two home-style sides.
6. Healthy Bento Boxes
Bento boxes split a meal into compartments: a protein, a grain, vegetables, and usually something small on the side. Everything stays separate, which makes them a strong choice when your group has a long list of dietary needs. If gluten is a concern for part of your team, our gluten-free catering ideas have more options.
Ordering in Austin? Catering by True Food Kitchen is tagged for vegetarian and gluten-free options on DoorDash, and its catering menu includes bento boxes and individual meals (minimum 10 per order).
7. Burger Boxes
Burgers aren't the first thing most people picture for boxed lunch catering, but for a team win, a Friday lunch, or a casual all-hands, they're hard to beat. The trick is timing. Burgers and fries are best right after they arrive, so schedule the delivery for when people are ready to eat, not an hour before.
If you're in Seattle, Dick's Drive-In Catering brings a local favorite to the office. It's a DoorDash Verified Caterer with a Deluxe Box Lunch option (minimum 10 per order), so the team gets a Seattle classic without anyone making a lunch run.
8. Korean BBQ Bowls
Marinated meat over rice with vegetables is bold, filling, and holds up well on the way to the office. Korean BBQ bowls are a good way to add some variety to a lunch rotation that's leaned heavily on sandwiches and salads.
In Denver, Catering by Honest Bowls is a DoorDash Verified Caterer that specializes in Korean food and Korean BBQ.
Don't see your city here? You can still plan ahead or join the waitlist and we’ll let you know as soon as Corporate Catering expands to your city.
How to Order Boxed Lunch Catering for Your Team
Picking the food is the fun part. Here's what makes the order itself go smoothly.
Collect Dietary Needs Early
Ask about allergies and restrictions when you send the meeting invite, not the morning of. A simple RSVP question ("Any allergies or dietary needs?") gets you what you need. If you feed the same group often, keep a running list and update it when someone new joins.
Order Your Headcount Plus a Small Buffer
Boxed lunches are ordered per person, so getting the count right is easier than estimating tray servings. Still, add one or two extra boxes for a group of 20 to 30. Someone always wraps a call early and shows up hungry.
Check Labels and Dietary Tags
Each box should say what's inside and list any dietary tags, so nobody has to open three boxes to find the vegan one. On DoorDash, catering menus include dietary tags and serving details, and you can filter restaurants by dietary needs before you choose one.
Commande d’avance
You can schedule catering orders on DoorDash up to 14 days in advance. Restaurants set their own lead times and order minimums, so check both before you lock in a date, especially for bigger groups.
Plan the Drop-Off
Office buildings can turn a quick delivery into a scavenger hunt. Add clear notes about building access, the floor, and a contact name, so your boxed lunch delivery reaches the right room before the meeting starts.
Budget Per Box
Since boxed lunches are priced per person, the math is simple: price per box times headcount, plus fees and tip. On the menus in this list, boxes run from about $10 to $16, though prices vary by restaurant and location.
If Lunch Turns Into a Weekly Thing
If you're ordering boxed lunches every Tuesday, it might be time for a program instead of one-off orders. Meal Manager handles recurring team lunches for in-office teams: employees pick their own meals, and everything arrives together on a set schedule.
Order Boxed Lunches With DoorDash Corporate Catering
Corporate Catering on DoorDash is built for the moments when one person needs to feed a whole group. You choose a catering-ready restaurant, pick shared trays or individually boxed meals, and place one order for everyone.
Here's what you get:
Catering menus with serving details and dietary tags, so you know how much to order and who can eat what
Orders for groups of 10 to 200+ people
Scheduling up to 14 days ahead
Live order tracking and 24/7 support
Corporate Catering is available in cities including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Austin, Seattle, and Denver.
Feeding a smaller group? For teams under 15, Group Orders let everyone add their own meal to a shared cart.
Foire aux questions
What is typically in a boxed lunch?
Most boxed lunches include a main, like a sandwich, bowl, or salad, plus a side, a dessert, and utensils and a napkin. Some restaurants also include a drink or let you pick the side.
Is box lunch catering the same as lunch box catering?
Yes. Boxed lunch catering, box lunch catering, and lunch box catering all describe the same thing: individually packaged meals ordered for a group.
How many boxed lunches should I order for a meeting?
Order one per confirmed attendee, plus one or two extras for a group of 20 to 30. Because boxes are individually portioned, you don't have to estimate servings the way you would with trays.
How far in advance should I order boxed lunch catering?
Earlier is better, especially for larger groups. On DoorDash, you can schedule catering orders up to 14 days ahead, and each restaurant sets its own minimum lead time.
Are boxed lunches more expensive than catering trays?
It depends on the menu. Boxes can cost a little more per person because of the individual packaging, but you order exactly what you need, which usually means less waste and fewer half-empty trays at the end of the day.
