Easy Lunch recipe Ideas

We’ve all been there—tired of expensive, boring takeout for lunch and craving something flavorful, satisfying, packed with enough protein to keep you full, on the healthier side, and easier on your budget. No worries! You can swap out that overpriced takeout for a homemade lunch with these Easy Lunch Ideas, including no-cook recipes, salads, and vegetarian options. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can reference it the next time you need a simple lunch idea! ;)

Easy Lunch IDeas

We’re starting things off with these simple and easy lunch recipes that are not only delicious, but way better than takeout!

Philly Cheesesteak Recipe

This Philly Cheesesteak recipe comes together in just about 30 minutes. Hearty, cheesy, and super flavorful, these sandwiches beat take-out any day.

Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta

Rich, creamy comfort food at its finest, this Creamy Tomato and Spinach Pasta takes pantry staples and transforms them into a super satisfying meal.

Kung Pao Chicken

This homemade Kung Pao Chicken is super satisfying, with a bold, tangy-spicy sauce, crisp-tender veggies, and that perfect balance of sweet, salty, and heat

Hearty Black Bean QUesadillas

Fifteen minutes is all you’ll need to make these Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re easy, flavorful, and perfect to make ahead and freeze for later!

Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen

Ditch the plain instant ramen…this Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen is rich in flavor, includes a delicious broth and comes together in just 15 minutes!

Classic Tuna Salad

We’re not making any boring tuna salads over here. Our Classic Tuna Salad is full of flavor, texture, and perfect for a quick lunch meal.

The Best Veggie Sandwich

We’ve got the formula to help you make the Best Veggie Sandwich ever! And because veggie sandwiches are super flexible, we have tons of ingredient suggestions and flavor combos for you to try!

Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet

This one pan Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet is perfect for lunch or dinner! A delicious meal that saves you time and money.

Honey Garlic Chicken

Get ready to fall in love with this simple and delicious Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. Tender chicken is coated in a sweet & tangy sauce that goes perfectly with fluffy white rice!

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

I don’t know about you, but my go-to lunch on most days is chicken tenders and fries! These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and wayyy less expensive than fast food restaurants!

Chicken Stir-Fry

Stir-fry for lunch? Yes, please!! This easy Chicken Stir Fry recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner meal! You can mix-and-match the vegetables and the sauce is simply irresistible!

Lunch Salad Ideas

Salads are an easy go-to meal for lunch, but if you’re going to have a salad then it might as well be one that’s loaded with flavor, texture, and easy to make! Check out our favorite lunch salads below.

Ramen Noodle Salad

If you love salads with Asian-inspired flavors, then you’ve definitely got to try this Ramen Noodle Salad! It’s made with simple ingredients like shredded cabbage, chicken, carrots, green onions, and uncooked ramen noodles for a little extra CRUNCH!

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

If you want to mix things up for lunch, then save the recipe for this Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad. You can serve it as is or with a tortilla as a wrap sandwich, or mix it with cooked pasta for a really good pasta salad.

Cobb salad

This Cobb Salad has a little bit of everything: bacon, chicken, cheese, eggs, in a wonderful red wine vinaigrette.

Beet Salad

Quick and cheerful, this Beet Salad delivers a plethora of colors and flavors all bathed in an orange and beet juice-based dressing.

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Mediterranean Tuna Salad is another salad that holds up great in the fridge, making it perfect for lunch and meal prep! It includes tuna, fresh vegetables, white beans, a little feta cheese, and a tangy homemade vinaigrette.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

Our popular Cold Peanut Noodle Salad is a super simple salad recipe that comes together with just a few ingredients and is topped with a creamy, tangy, peanut-lime dressing.

Chicken Salad With Apples

Chicken Salad with Apples is another Budget Bytes favorite! It’s filling, easy to prepare, and easy to customize. Serve it for lunch with a croissant, your favorite bread, with crackers, or as a topper for a green salad.

Traditional Chicken Salad

And for those who love classic recipes, this Traditional Chicken Salad is creamy and tangy, and the tender pulled-apart chicken gives it the best texture.

Nicoise Salad

Niçoise Salad is protein-packed, crunchy, and perfect for meal prep! It will keep you full all week long.

Taco Salad

Make Taco salad at home for a fraction of the price and have enough salad to meal prep all week long.

No-Cook Lunch Ideas

If you’re looking for quick lunch ideas that require very little prep, we’ve got you covered! These no-cook lunch boxes and recipes are easy to meal prep and place in the fridge, so you can just grab your lunch and go!

The Hummus Lunch Box

This Hummus Lunch Box is a great no-cook lunch option to have as a meal or snack. You can mix and match the ingredients to find a combination you love, then enjoy it as is, as a pita sandwich, or with a salad.

The Cheese Board Lunch Box

Another great lunch box option is The Cheese Board Lunch Box. It’s like your own personal charcuterie board for lunch! ;)

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey Pinwheels are always a fun and simple way to make lunch for work or school. They’re also super versatile. Grab the basic formula in our recipe, then feel free to switch up the ingredient combinations!

The Peanut Butter Lunch Box

The Peanut Butter Lunch Box includes both sweet and savory side items that are all delicious dipped into the creamy peanut butter.

Healthy Lunch Ideas

Healthy lunch ideas don’t have to be complicated, bland, or time-consuming. With a little planning and a mix of fresh ingredients, you can put together midday meals that are satisfying, energizing, and delicious—all while staying budget-friendly.

Cottage Cheese Wraps

Once you’ve got these Cottage Cheese Wraps on hand, the sandwich options are endless. Super simple to prepare, these wraps taste great stuffed with chicken, beans, tuna, tofu, veggies or anything else you have on hand.

Antipasto Salad

This Antipasto Salad is another great lunch option. All of the toppings stay pretty fresh when stored separately, so you can make half batches, ¼ batches, or even one salad at a time!

Kale Chicken Caesar Wrap

This Kale Chicken Caesar Wrap is almost like a clean-out-the-fridge wrap, loaded with kale, chicken, chickpeas, and carrots. It’s easy to customize based on what you’ve got on hand.

Swamp Soup

Cold winter days call for warming and comforting soup just like this Swamp Soup.

Smoky Quinoa and Black Bean Salad

This Smoky Quinoa and Black Bean Salad has tons of color, flavor, texture, and nutrients, so it doesn’t get boring quickly. Serve it on its own, as a snack, or stuff it into a wrap with some spinach for a quick lunch.

Tuna White Bean Salad

This Tuna White Bean Salad is light, fresh, and satisfying. It’s a quick and no-fuss meal built entirely from pantry staples, but still manages to feel like a put-together meal.

High Protein Lunch Ideas

High-protein lunch ideas are the secret to staying full, energized, and focused all afternoon—without relying on heavy meals or constant snacking. With a balance of lean meats, hearty legumes, eggs, nuts, and nutrient-dense veggies, these meals pack in the protein you need while still being quick, fresh, and flavorful.

BBQ Grilled Chicken Breast

With just a handful of ingredients, these Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts are ideal to have on hand to eat as is or use in salads, wraps, or bowls.

Easy Pesto Chicken and Vegetables

This Easy Pesto Chicken and Vegetables recipe is the perfect light, flavorful, and fast recipe for meal prep. And it’s just SO SIMPLE.

Egg Muffins

These easy-to-prepare Egg Muffins are ideal to have on hand, whether you chow down on them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even an afternoon snack.

Tuna Patties

These Tuna Patties are effortless to make, delicious over a bed of greens, or popped into a pita, and the perfect excuse to make all my favorite sauces for dipping.

Vegetarian Lunch Recipes

Vegetarian lunch options can be just as hearty, satisfying, and protein-packed as any meaty meal—no sacrifices required. With vibrant veggies, whole grains, legumes, and bold flavors, these meals come together quickly and keep you full for hours.

Spinach And Feta Grilled Cheese

Seriously, who can resist a cheesy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich for lunch? Take it up a notch with this Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese sandwich!

Creamy White Bean And Spinach Quesadillas

Switch things up for lunch with these Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas. They’re crispy on the outside, rich in flavor, and can be made in just 20 minutes.

Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls

I mean who doesn’t love a good taco bowl? Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Ranch are super yummy, easy to customize, and great for meal prep!

Roasted Vegetable Salad Meal Prep

In the mood for more veggies? These Roasted Vegetable Salad Meal Prep boxes are delicious and another great option that’s easy to make and customize with your favorite veggies and dressing.

Thai curry vegetable soup

This Thai Curry Vegetable Soup is packed with bold, Thai-inspired flavors made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.

BBQ Beans and Greens

These BBQ Greens and Beans are packed with protein and color, and make the best leftovers.

With these easy lunch ideas in your back pocket, you’ll never have to fall back on boring or overpriced takeout again. Keep this list handy and enjoy delicious, satisfying midday meals any day of the week.