Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 51 Healthy Lunch Ideas You Can Easily Make at Home in a Flash Nutritious, homemade lunches don't have to take a lot of effort. By Betty Gold Betty Gold Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 20, 2024 Close Photo: Alison Miksch Lunch doesn't have to be boring or unhealthy for it to be quick and easy. Add these healthy lunch ideas to your weekday rotation to kick your noontime nosh. Whether you're craving something hearty for lunchtime or a dish that is on the lighter side, we have you covered. Choose from soups, salads, sandwiches, and beyond—from vegetarian to Tex-Mex, Asian, Italian, and everything in between. loaded 01 of 51 Caesar Salad With Yogurt-Parmesan Dressing Alison Miksch This Caesar salad's egg-free dressing is made with yogurt, which packs probiotics for a healthy gut and doubles as a dip for cut-up veggies or chips. For a speedier execution, prep the dressing and make croutons the night before (or use store-bought). GET THE RECIPE 02 of 51 Chickpea Salad Sandwich Alison Miksch Chickpeas roll in for a vegetarian version of a classic chicken salad sandwich (read: not your grandmother's). This lunch recipe calls for mayo, but swap it out with yogurt for a lighter take. Once you try it, you'll be brown-bagging this one regularly. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 51 Old-School Taco Salad Fred Hardy This classic taco salad offers all your favorite flavors from the handheld dish, like ground beef and sliced avocado. But here, it's made a little healthier thanks to a bed of romaine lettuce. Crushed tortilla chips offer crunch while a lime dressing provides a bit of tang. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 51 Sweet Potato and Kale Tortilla Soup Alison Miksch This comforting bowl of tortilla soup is made righteous (and anti-inflammatory) with heart-healthy sweet potatoes and kale (shredded rotisserie chicken optional). Softened corn tortillas plump up in the broth to contrast with crispy ones on top. Finish with avocado, radishes, and cilantro to freshen it up, or not: They're totally optional. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 51 Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey This lunchtime salad takes its cues from the classic Mexican street food, elote, which is grilled corn rubbed with spices and cheese. Make this tasty lunch plate even more filling by serving it alongside grilled proteins like fish, chicken, or steak, or serve with hard-cooked eggs for a vegetarian twist. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 51 Celery and Apple Salad With Toasted Buckwheat Alison Miksch Celery, apple, and toasted buckwheat pack a variety of tasty textures for a satisfying, healthy lunch. Toasted buckwheat is a fun and nutritious add-on that fits into a gluten-free diet. Bonus: Unlike other salads, this healthy pick doesn't wilt by the time the clock hits lunchtime. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 51 Cauliflower Tartine With Romesco Sauce Caitlin Bensel This delicious open-faced sandwich may look fancy, but we promise it's super easy to make. Start with the delicious combination of Romesco and cauliflower, and then add golden raisins and fresh parsley for a bright, subtly sweet kick. Don't love raisins or parsley (or both)? No problem: Use cilantro and chopped dates instead. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 51 Speedy Salmon Burgers Greg DuPree Bet we had you at "speedy". Nevertheless, this healthy lunch recipe transforms a lowly can of salmon into a nutritious burger in just 25 minutes. Make the lemony-horseradish mayo ahead for an even quicker prep. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 51 Potato Leek Tart With Feta and Zucchini Tracey Kusiewicz/Getty Images This vegetarian tart is incredibly hearty, thanks to chunks of potatoes throughout. A store-bought pie crust means it comes together easily but feels (and looks) so sophisticated. We love the chopped leeks and zucchini, which play off the salty feta scattered on top. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 51 Southwestern Chicken Soup Alexandra Rowley How does a 15-minute soup recipe deliver four satisfying, hearty lunches? A jar of salsa verde, leftover cooked chicken, and a can of cannellini beans is how. Serve with diced onions, sour cream, and tortilla chips. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 51 Eggplant-Mushroom Meatball Sub Caitlin Bensel This veggie sub is so satisfying that you'll wonder why you ever bothered with meat-based meatball sandwiches. Its eggplant-mushroom meatballs pack plenty of savory flavor and protein. Make them ahead for a super-speedy lunch prep, and while you're at it, make an extra batch to freeze for later. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 51 Slow-Cooker Bean and Spinach Enchiladas Marcus Nilsson A slow cooker helps you create this classic Tex-Mex dish without the cooking, filling, rolling, and baking. Prep for 25 minutes in the morning, and by noon, this hearty vegetarian lunch is ready. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 51 Blistered Tomatillo Salsa and Roasted Chicken Thighs Tacos Charles Masters Tacos for lunch are never wrong. This healthy lunch recipe takes 30 minutes, but use leftover rotisserie chicken and jarred salsa to cut down on prep time to about 5 minutes. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 51 Chicken Paprikash Soup Antonis Achilleos This tasty lunch recipe turns leftover cooked chicken into a quick, warm, comforting meal, Hungarian style. Egg noodles swim in a chicken broth flavored with diced tomatoes, red bell peppers, onion, and paprika—lots of paprika—to create a way-better-than-from-a-can bowl of soup. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 51 Chicken Curry in a Hurry John Kernick For lunch prep, 35 minutes is a long time, but for curry, it's super quick. This recipe conjures a curry sauce out of cream, yogurt, canned tomatoes, and curry powder. Add white rice, leftover cooked chicken, and naan to round out this Asian-inspired full meal deal. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 51 Artichoke-Chard Pasta and Cheese Greg DuPree Spinach-artichoke dip meets mac and cheese in this creamy, dreamy casserole. If you don't have 35 minutes to make lunch, make this ahead and warm it up around noon for a meal you'll look forward to all morning long. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 51 Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio If you have leftover cooked chicken, a loaf of sourdough, and 15 minutes, you can make this healthy tartine (a fancy French term for an open-face sandwich) for lunch. That prep time includes whipping up a honey-mustard-flavored mayo, which helps this sandwich earn its fancy French title. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 51 Chicken Posole Jose Picayo Posole (or pozole, pronounced poh-ZOLE-eh) is a hearty, nourishing Mexican chicken and hominy stew. It sounds complicated, but this recipe puts a bowl of goodness on your lunch table in just 30 minutes using leftover cooked chicken and pantry staples, namely chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and hominy. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 51 Crispy Peanut Tofu With Sugar Snap Peas And Peppers Greg DuPree Instead of takeout, take in this veggie and crispy tofu stir fry. Its star is a silky, nutty sauce made of peanut butter, maple syrup, rice vinegar, and sriracha that gives this Asian-inspired meal a subtle kick. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 51 Salt and Pepper Chicken With Cheesy Spinach Quinoa Victor Protasio This doesn't look like a 20-minute meal, so you may have to try it to believe it. While the quinoa cooks in chicken broth, seasoned chicken cutlets sauté to a golden brown. Add chopped baby spinach and Gruyère to the cooked quinoa and plate up a dinner-quality lunch. GET THE RECIPE 21 of 51 Summer Nachos Greg DuPree This lunch recipe serves six, but you can pare it down for an easy, flavorful vegetarian lunch for one. It tops veggies and chips with shreds of cheddar and a creamy avocado-yogurt-lime juice topping that you'll want to use atop all your Tex-Mex dishes. GET THE RECIPE 22 of 51 Coconut Chicken Cutlets With Mango Chutney Slaw Fred Hardy Yes, you can make this for lunch! The chicken is dipped in mayo and then a panko-shredded coconut mix before lightly frying for just a few minutes per side. It's paired with a spicy mango chutney and mayo slaw punched up with sambal oelek—a South Asian chili pepper sauce—but siracha, gochujang, harissa, or any other hot pepper sauce would do. GET THE RECIPE 23 of 51 Linguine With Cherry Tomato Sauce Greg DuPree What the title of this recipe doesn't tell you is the secret ingredient that sets it apart: pancetta. While the pasta cooks, pancetta crisps in a skillet, and then the tomatoes cook in its drippings to create—with Parmesan and basil leaves—a flavorful pasta bowl for lunch. GET THE RECIPE 24 of 51 Almond Crusted Chicken With Arugula Salad Caitlin Bensel This lunch recipe takes only 30 minutes, but make the crispy cutlets ahead (like for dinner the night before), and this lunch comes together in seconds. They're paired with an arugula and sliced Brussels salad dressed in merely olive oil and lemon juice. GET THE RECIPE 25 of 51 Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Caitlin Bensel Turkey burgers are often maligned for being too dry, but zucchini helps these turn out extra juicy. This healthy lunch recipe suggests you grill them, but they fry up just as nicely on the stove. Find a bag of sweet potato chips for this burger's perfect side. GET THE RECIPE 26 of 51 Spring Minestrone Caitlin Bensel Sure, you could open a can of minestrone, but you won't want to after you try this lunch recipe. Starting with a good-quality broth, it calls for lemon, basil, crisp green beans, silky Swiss chard, and ditalini (small tubular-shaped) pasta. Top with Parm and basil leaves for the taste of Italy in springtime in a bowl. GET THE RECIPE 27 of 51 Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos Greg DuPree These "green" tacos come together in just 20 minutes, but if you have leftover cooked chicken, it takes almost no time at all. The chicken is doused with jarred salsa verde, folded into warm corn tortillas, and then topped with avocado, onion, cilantro, and cotija for a delightful Tex-Mex lunch. GET THE RECIPE 28 of 51 Swiss Chard Mac and Cheese Caitlin Bensel In the time it takes to prepare a box of mac and cheese, you can cook this grown-up version loaded with greens, mozzarella, and Parmesan. Use fusilli pasta to trap the sauce's creamy cheesiness in its spiral grooves. GET THE RECIPE 29 of 51 Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas Antonis Achilleos We often tout sheet-pan dinners, but how about a sheet-pan lunch? Fill a sheet pan with seasoned shrimp and vegetables, bake, and then broil for a quick char. Squeeze with a lime, sprinkle with cilantro, and then pile onto flour tortillas for a colorful Tex-Mex lunch. GET THE RECIPE 30 of 51 Orange Chicken Stir-Fry With Rice Noodles Victor Protasio This better-than-takeout orange chicken recipe uses orange marmalade to sweeten and flavor dark-meat chicken chunks as they finish cooking. Rice noodles provide a fresh diversion from white rice, while chopped peanuts deliver a crunchy finish. GET THE RECIPE 31 of 51 Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing Victor Protasio Spaghetti is underutilized for pasta salads, but this lunch recipe bucks that trend. It's coated with a dressing of avocados, basil, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and honey whirled in a blender. Add leftover chicken, sausage, or more veggies for something more substantial. The possibilities are endless! GET THE RECIPE 32 of 51 Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree What's so fancy about a no-cook tomato sandwich? Let us count the ways: a homemade chive butter spread, a Gruyère or Comté cheese—or Cheddar if you don't have anything fancy in your refrigerator cheese drawer, and a crunchy topping of baby arugula and crispy fried onions. GET THE RECIPE 33 of 51 Speedy Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel "Speedy" is a beautiful thing, especially regarding lunch prep. This recipe for the classic Vietnamese-style sandwich features pork tenderloin that's roasted and then sliced. For a super-speedy prep, use leftover cooked pork. GET THE RECIPE 34 of 51 Thai Peanut Butter Ramen Antonis Achilleos Think a quick, healthy, satisfying homemade lunch is too much to ask? This recipe proves it's not. What's more, just a few pantry staples—instant ramen noodle packets, peanut butter, and soy and sesame sauces—make the basis of this dish, to which you can add many options. GET THE RECIPE 35 of 51 Smashed Cucumber Salad With Spicy Feta and Olives Jennifer Causey Why smash a perfectly good cucumber? This technique, followed by salting and draining, draws out moisture from the cucumbers, making them crisper and crunchier. It makes more nooks and crannies for the oil and vinegar dressing to seep into. GET THE RECIPE 36 of 51 Chicken and Avocado Rice Bowl Greg DuPree Lean, fast-cooking chicken cutlets, cooked white rice, creamy avocado, and crunchy watermelon radishes comingle in this colorful, healthy grain bowl. A spritz of lemon, a scattering of scallions, and a dash of hot sauce give this bowl a final flourish. GET THE RECIPE 37 of 51 Miso Chicken Noodle Soup With Kimchi Linda Pugliese This Asian-inspired bowl looks and sounds complicated, but could hardly be easier to put together. It's packed with leftover cooked chicken and tofu along with Japanese-style soba or udon noodles surrounded by a chicken-y miso-flavored broth GET THE RECIPE 38 of 51 Huevos Rancheros Charles Masters You likely know that breakfast for dinner is a thing, but what about breakfast for lunch? Whip up this Spanish-accented egg dish in just 20 minutes for a protein-packed meal that will fill you up for the rest of the day. GET THE RECIPE 39 of 51 Pizza Margherita Maria Robleda Before you use that app to order a pizza for lunch, consider following this recipe to make a taster, healthier alternative. It starts with pre-made pizza dough from the freezer that's been thawed, or just grab a refrigerated pizza dough. Top it with tomato slices, basil, and mozzarella for a back-to-basics lunch that's better than delivery. GET THE RECIPE 40 of 51 Loaded Tuna Salad Tartines Jen Causey If you’re a fan of tuna sandwiches, this is one tartine not to miss. Oil-packed tuna fillets mingle with shallot, celery, cornichons, capers, and tender herbs. GET THE RECIPE 41 of 51 Nutty Tofu Bowls Caitlin Bensel Crispy tofu and zingy cucumbers dress up this easy rice bowl recipe for lunch or dinner. Tofu is a tasty and high-protein food that makes this vegetarian rice bowl come together. And the crispier the tofu, the better. GET THE RECIPE 42 of 51 Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad Greg DuPree Crunchy romaine and cucumbers, juicy shrimp, and a creamy soy-mayo dressing are just a few of the reasons you'll love this delicious salad recipe. It comes together in just 15 minutes yet packs in tons of flavor. GET THE RECIPE 43 of 51 Chickpea-Tuna Salad Victor Protasio Rethink your standard tuna salad with this healthy lunch recipe. This vinegar-based tuna salad is far from the mayonnaise-centric rendition of deli counters and cafeterias. First, you'll marinate chickpeas in oil and vinegar to infuse them with flavor. These join oil-packed tuna, radicchio, and red onion, plus kalamata olives and capers. GET THE RECIPE 44 of 51 Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Salad As far as lunch salads go, Caesar is indisputably king, and this tasty rendition is proof. The shortcut dressing relies on mayonnaise rather than egg yolk for an easier swap and packs a generous amount of classic flavor thanks to Parmesan, Dijon, anchovies, and garlic. GET THE RECIPE 45 of 51 Spring Green Salad Greg DuPree This easy salad recipe proves that a fresh-tasting hearty plate of greens and mix-ins can be lunch. The base is romaine lettuce hearts—the crispiest of lettuces—with chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame mixed in. GET THE RECIPE 46 of 51 Seared Fish Tacos With Marinated Peppers Smoky and bright, these fish tacos are a delicious and nutritious lunch option and all you need is just 30 minutes from start to finish. Scatter a zingy roasted bell pepper salsa made with charred scallions, punchy sherry vinegar, and fragrant oregano over tender, flaked fish. GET THE RECIPE 47 of 51 Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps www.honestlyyum.com Here’s a fresh and easy chicken lunch item that’s great for changing up the usual routine. Despite being quick, it packs a ton of flavor, thanks to the coconut-peanut sauce and all the toppings of scallions, basil, and peanuts. Want even more veggies? Shredded carrot, thinly sliced bell pepper, and snow peas would be welcome, too. GET THE RECIPE 48 of 51 Crunchy Salad With Chicken and Ginger Fred Hardy A simple dressing of orange juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, olive oil, fresh mint, and grated ginger works double time in this vibrant salad. Part of it will be the marinade for boneless, skinless chicken thighs before they're seared in a hot skillet until nicely browned. The remaining dressing will coat shredded cabbage, carrots, and red bell peppers, making this dish a speedy lunchtime winner. GET THE RECIPE 49 of 51 Shawarma-Seasoned Cauliflower and Chickpea Pitas Chris Simpson This five-ingredient lunch is a fragrant vegetarian delight that’s packed with flavor. Traditionally, shawarma is a Middle Eastern dish of thinly sliced meat that has been marinated in an array of flavorful spices and roasted on a spit. This vegetarian shawarma wrap recipe borrows the intricate flavors sans the meat. GET THE RECIPE 50 of 51 Roasted Broccoli Pesto Pasta Caitlin Bensel This pasta salad is easy, healthy, and completely satisfying for lunchtime. A handful of broccoli florets mingle with the pasta, but the rest goes to making a nutty, cheesy, and zesty pesto. Swap regular pasta for a whole-grain option such as kamut, farro, or whole wheat. Or opt to make it gluten-free with brown rice pasta. GET THE RECIPE 51 of 51 Simple Risotto Anna Williams This simple risotto only calls for a few key ingredients: unsalted butter, finely chopped yellow onion, rice, dry white wine, and vegetable or chicken broth. Add salt and pepper as you'd like, but it's still fluffy and delicious. And you can pull it together in just about 40 minutes. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit