Wondering what to make for lunch? We’ve got you covered with these great Quick Lunch Ideas !
This collection of fifty super fast Lunch Ideas has a huge variety for you to try. From standards like soups and wraps, to easy pastas and salads, Tacos, bowls and so much more!
Whatever flavors you’re craving, you’ll find something to satisfy your midday appetite on this list.
Cook your way through all, you’re sure to find some new favorite lunch. Have fun…
1. Korean Beef Tacos (Bulgogi Tacos)
Korean Beef Tacos, aka Bulgogi Tacos… Thinly sliced, juicy tender steak marinated then flash cooked and wrapped in tortillas with Asian coleslaw and sriracha aioli. They’re a Flavor Bomb!
2. Gigi Hadid Pasta (Spicy Pasta Alla Vodka)
What is Gigi Hadid Pasta? Simple… Pasta made by Gigi Hadid, which broke the internet when it went viral on instagram and tiktok. If you look closely, it’s the same delicious creamy and cheesy pasta alla vodka, with a slight makeover – it gets pleasantly spiked with heat from red chili flakes.
3. Mediterranean Pasta
This Mediterranean Pasta is your new best friend. It’s super quick, like 20 minutes quick, and has great flavors the whole family will love. With just a few simple ingredients, this easy dinner will be on the table in no time. And it’s also versatile.
Check out our collection of favorite Pasta Salad Recipes!
4. Balela Salad (Middle Eastern Bean Salad)
Let me present you Balela deliciousness!! So colorful, so easy, so refreshing… This hearty colorful salad comes from many Middle Eastern countries and is bursting with flavors and textures.
5. Easy Chicken Souvlaki
All the lunches on this list are quick and easy, but this easy chicken souvlaki has easy in its name – so you know it’s true! It’s grilled to perfection and it’s marinated in a marinade with lemon, garlic and oregano.
6. Shrimp Remoulade Lettuce Cups
Shrimp Remoulade is a New Orleans classic. You can use them in your salad bowl or make lettuce cups. Great quick lunch or keto friendly meal option!
7. Tortellini Pasta Salad with Prosciutto
This gorgeous Tortellini Pasta Salad is one dish that looks as great as it tastes. It’s so quick and easy, yet such a crowd pleaser. Make a big batch and you’ll have lunches for days!
8. Healthy Chicken Ramen Stir Fry
Healthy ramen? Who would have thought! This stir fry is packed with veggie power and nice lean protein. Take your pantry staple to a whole new level!
9. Vietnamese Chicken Salad
Another spectacular salad on our list is this chopped Vietnamese chicken salad. This is not your usual chicken salad. It’s almost like a shredded slaw, but with amazingly tasty dressing and the goodness of chicken. In every bite there is a perfect combination of sweet, savory and tangy with the slightest hint of spice, thanks to their beloved Nuoc Cham dressing.
10. Hawaiian Pineapple Fried Rice
Add some island flair to your fried rice. This quick and easy one pot lunch is loaded with flavors and whips up in 20 minutes or less!
11. Ground Beef Tacos
Ground beef and tacos are a classic combination, and these ground beef tacos show why they’re so beloved! They’re made with a seasoned ground beef filling, and they’re covered with shredded cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and avocados.
12. Classic Reuben Sandwich
Ah, the classic Reuben… Make this irresistible deli delight in your very own home. It’s fast, easy and oh so satisfying!
13. TikTok Salmon Rice Bowl
This Salmon Rice Bowl is a great way to use leftovers, and it only takes moments to prepare.
If you have some leftover salmon and rice in the fridge, this is the best and easiest way to repurpose it for a quick and healthy lunch.
14. Korean Ground Beef Bowl
This Korean Ground Beef Bowl has just the right combination of sweet, salty, umami and just a touch of spicy. Try it when you crave some Asian flavors, or just need something super quick!
15. Greek Steak Salad Bowl
Packed with colorful, crunchy veggies, protein, whole grain, and yummy feta cheese, this Greek Steak Salad Bowl is sure to leave you satisfied!
Check out our collection of favorite Salad Recipes!
16. Rainbow Pasta Salad
Quick, easy, and very colorful. It’s loaded with healthy veggies and works great as leftovers, so you can make a huge batch and have lunches for the whole week!
17. Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
Inspired by P.F. Chang, this quick and tasty dish is a sure crowd pleaser! It’s perfect if you want a low carb lunch, or just some great Asian flavors!
18. Sesame Chicken Bowls
These Sesame Chicken Bowls are the easy answer to your Chinese food cravings. In less than half an hour, you can have your own, customizable dish that’s so much better than takeout.
They’re a breeze to make, and are a great healthy meal prep option to prepare in bulk. You’ll just love these leftovers for lunch.
19. Tacos Gobernador
Tacos Gobernador, aka Governor’s Tacos!! Have you ever bite into these crazy tasty shrimp tacos? They are irresistibly delicious!
20. Shrimp Foil Packets with Summer Veggies
These Shrimp Foil Packets are a delicious healthy lunch ideal with all your favorite summer veggies. Ready in just 12 minutes on your grill, campfire or even in the oven, this is great meal prep for all your future camp outs, Sunday cookouts, or simply great weeknight dinners.
21. Salmon Patties
These salmon patties are tasty, nutritious and budget friendly. And just look at them. Who said pantry staple meals can’t be fancy?
22. Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Take a look at this tasty shrimp and avocado salad. It’s like shrimp tacos, but in salad form. It’s loaded with tomatoes, corn, black beans, cilantro, avocado, and crushed tortilla chips, and it’s all covered in the best cilantro lime dressing!
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
23. Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry
This teriyaki chicken stir fry is great! It’s surprisingly quick and easy to make, full of fresh vegetables, and it’s tossed in a homemade teriyaki sauce that will impress everyone eating it!
Get the Recipe @ eatyourselfskinny
24. Italian Sub Sandwich
Italian subs are a classic lunch. They’re so meaty and flavorful! This one is made of crispy bread that’s layered with mayonnaise or Italian dressing, and it’s filled with provolone cheese, ham, salami, and mortadella.
25. Grilled Greek Chicken Salad
This grilled Greek chicken salad is absolutely amazing! It uses perfectly grilled chicken thighs, and a superb tzatziki dressing. The chicken thighs aren’t just perfectly grilled, they’re also perfectly seasoned with oregano, basil, thyme, paprika, and garlic powder.
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
26. Fresh Spring Rolls
These fresh spring rolls are totally phenomenal! They’re homemade, healthy, easy to make, and packed with fresh vegetables. They’re filled with fresh basil, soft butter lettuce, crunchy carrots, cucumber, red peppers, and crisp red cabbage.
Check out our collection of favorite Taco Recipes!
27. Mexican Street Corn Salad with Grilled Chicken
If you’ve been reading us, you know we love Mexican street corn, so we have to recommend this Mexican street corn salad with grilled chicken. If you also like Mexican street corn, Elote, or traditional esquites, you’ll love this salad!
28. Greek Chicken Gyros
These Greek chicken gyros are awesome, and if you like Greek, you’ll love these Greek chicken gyros! They’re an easy, make-ahead recipe, that lets you marinate the chicken ahead of time, so the gyros can easily be made when you want them.
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
29. Baked Salmon with Mango Salsa
Are you tired of eating your salmon with just salt and lemon? This vibrant and tropical recipe will take your favorite fish to a whole new level of deliciousness!
30. Southwestern Wraps
While the name might not grab your attention, these Southwestern wraps are fantastic! They’re filled with nutrition, and they use black beans, chicken, spinach, roasted red peppers, low fat sour cream, and a tasty blue cheese spread.
31. Pasta Primavera
This pasta primavera recipe makes a dish that’s packed with vegetables, healthy and easy! While it might sound like a summer dish, you can make it all year round, and you’ll want to thanks to its satisfying flavor and versatile ingredients.
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
32. Instant Pot Chicken Tinga
It’s instant pot time everybody! This instant pot chicken tinga is made using juicy, shredded chicken, chipotle peppers, and tomato purée. It’s refreshingly easy to make and serve, and it’s a perfect lunch for a big family get-together.
33. Asian Salmon Kabobs
These Asian salmon kabobs aren’t just easy to make, they’re also delicious, healthy, hearty, and light. The flavors, and colors, are fantastically vibrant, and it uses awesome ingredients like red onions, fresh pineapple chunks, and zucchini.
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
34. The Best Chicken Salad
Saying you’re the best is a big claim, but this chicken salad is determined to convince you it’s the best chicken salad you’ll ever try! It uses sweet and crunchy grapes alongside tasty chicken and rich mayonnaise to make a great salad!
Get the Recipe @ therecipecritic
35. Thai Chicken Tacos with Peanut Sauce
These Thai chicken tacos with peanut sauce are so good, they’ll knock your socks off! They use lightly charred seasoned grilled chicken, crispy thinly sliced fresh vegetables, and a peanut sauce that’s perfectly rich and creamy.
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
36. Beef Lo Mein
If you’re a lo mein fan, this beautiful beef lo mein is for you! It uses common ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge, and it’s a breeze to make. It’s also a great meal to have as leftovers throughout the week.
Check out our collection of favorite Stir Fry Recipes!
37. Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese
This cheeseburger grilled cheese is creative, tasty, and easy to make! It’s great for when you’re looking for a quick lunch that’s still yummy and filling. It’s filled with cheesy and meaty goodness that’s sure to make you fall in love with it.
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
38. Italian Chicken Wrap
Do you ever stare at fancy sandwiches on display, wishing you could make something like them? Now you can with this Italian chicken wrap! It’s filled with great Italian flavors, and it’s healthy!
39. Unstuffed Pepper Bowls
As you might know, we love bowls, so we just had to include these unstuffed pepper bowls. They’re made with ground turkey and cauliflower rice, which means they’re healthy, easy, and tasty. Go ahead and give them a try today!
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
40. Spicy Fish Taco Bowls
Fish tacos are all the rage right now, and these spicy fish taco bowls are the perfect way to spice up the popular meal! They use fresh blackened spicy cod filets, corn, black beans, red peppers, and avocados to make some delicious tacos.
41. Chicken Quesadillas
Chicken quesadillas are a beloved classic, and you will definitely fall in love with this chicken quesadilla recipe. It creates quesadillas that are packed with juicy chicken, peppers, garlic, onions, and a bunch of melty cheese!
Get the Recipe @ gimmedelicious
42. Roast Beef Panini Recipe
If you need more sandwich recipes in your cookbook, take a look at this roast beef panini recipe. It looks and tastes like something from a gourmet restaurant, but it can be made easily and quickly right in your own home. What’s better than that?
Get the Recipe @ shewearsmanyhats
43. Egg Roll in a Bowl
It’s exactly what it sounds like – it’s egg roll in a bowl! This egg roll in a bowl recipe is the perfect way to get your takeout fix while staying on the healthy side. You can make it with your choice or ground turkey or chicken, and it makes an unbelievably tasty lunch.
44. Turkey Burgers
Turkey burger time! These turkey burgers are easy to make, thanks to the fact they use simple ingredients, and take about ten minutes to cook. If you find yourself super hungry all of the sudden, and you’d like a burger, this one’s for you!
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
45. Easy Italian Pinwheels
Another super easy recipe on our list is this easy Italian pinwheels recipe. They’re perfect for a light lunch, or an appetizer for a get-together or work event. It gets even better – they’re also super easy for meal prep, so you can make them in advance for a big event or a week’s worth of lunches.
Get the Recipe @ therecipecritic
46. Chicken Burrito Bowl Meal Prep
If you find yourself craving a Chipotle bowl, but you want to stay healthier and save some money, try this chicken burrito bowl recipe! You’ll save calories and time, and you won’t even miss the bowls from the restaurants.
Get the Recipe @ damndelicious
47. Avocado Tuna Salad
Despite the simple name, this avocado tuna salad is far from boring! It’s got it all – bright colors, a perfect blend of textures, and a bunch of amazingly delicious flavors. It’s the perfect salad to make for a quick lunch.
Get the Recipe @ cookingclassy
48. Juicy Steak Kabobs
These juicy steak kabobs are the perfect recipe if you’re looking for some food on a stick. They’re layered with onions and peppers, and they’re seasoned to perfection. Best of all, they’re served with an amazing homemade guacamole.
49. Asian Chicken Wraps
They’re creamy, crunchy, spicy, and healthy… they’re Asian chicken wraps! These Asian chicken wraps are fantastic. They use a homemade Thai peanut sauce, which helps create the burst of flavors and textures that make up the wraps.
50. Turkey BLT Wraps
Last but certainly not least, are these turkey BLT wraps. They work great whether you’re using them for lunch or dinner, and they taste fantastic. Best of all, the prep is easy, so you won’t need to prepare them ahead of time, unless you want to.
Get the Recipe @ aberdeenskitchen
There you have it, fifty delicious quick lunch ideas! Pin or bookmark this collection of great dishes so you always know where to find it.
The 50 BEST Quick and Easy Lunches
Want a midday meal in a flash? This collection of fifty Quick Lunch Ideas has you covered plenty of salads, sandwiches, wraps and more! For easy meal prep, try this Mediterranean inspired pasta:
Ingredients
- 8oz pasta
- 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1/4-1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 10oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3/4 cup kalamata olives, halved
- 8oz marinated quartered artichoke hearts
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Feta cheese, crumbled, for garnish
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil pasta according to directions on package. Drain.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Add garlic and red chili flakes. Stir and cook for one to two minutes.
- Add cherry tomatoes and cook one to two minutes.
- Stir in pasta, oregano, parsley, olives and artichoke hearts.
- Garnish with feta cheese and serve.
Notes
- Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!
Check out these other great recipes collections!
Lettuce Wrap Recipes
Pizza Recipes
Ramen Recipes
Flatbread Recipes
Potato Salad Recipes
Noodle Recipes
Hamburger Recipes
Ice Cream Recipes
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