10+ Quick Lunch Recipes to Brighten Your Midday Meal

Finding time for lunch can be tough, especially on busy days. You want something fast, simple, and satisfying that won’t slow you down.

Quick lunch recipes help you prepare tasty meals in little time, so you can enjoy lunch without stress or long waits.

These recipes fit into your busy schedule and keep your meals fresh. Whether you’re at home, work, or on the go, easy lunch ideas make your day smoother.

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Ingredients

• Varies by recipe; typically includes common items like bread, vegetables, proteins, and sauces.

Cooking Instructions

• Follow simple step-by-step instructions specific to each recipe to prepare your quick lunch efficiently.

1) Sweet and Spicy Turkey Sandwich

This sandwich is a tasty way to enjoy turkey with a little kick. You get a nice balance of sweet and spicy flavors.

It’s quick to put together and works great for busy days. Use hearty bread like country or sourdough for a good bite.

Adding pepper jack cheese brings just the right amount of heat. A touch of strawberry preserves adds sweetness that pairs well with the turkey.

Butter the bread before toasting it lightly. This creates a warm, crispy sandwich that’s perfect for a quick meal.

Ingredients

• 2 slices hearty bread (country or sourdough)
• 4-6 slices oven-roasted turkey breast
• 1 slice pepper jack cheese
• 2 teaspoons butter
• 4 teaspoons strawberry preserves

Cooking Instructions

1. Butter one side of each bread slice.
2. Spread strawberry preserves on the unbuttered side of one slice.
3. Layer turkey and cheese on the other slice.
4. Close the sandwich with the preserve side facing the turkey.
5. Heat a pan over medium heat (about 325°F / 163°C).
6. Cook the sandwich for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden and cheese melts.

2) Pizza Lava Toast

Pizza Lava Toast lets you enjoy pizza flavors in just minutes. Start with a slice of bread and make a small well in the center.

Fill it with cheese and your favorite pizza toppings. Double toast your bread for a crispy outside and gooey inside.

Add pizza sauce and Italian seasoning for extra flavor. This quick lunch takes about 15 minutes to make.

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of bread
• 7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• ½ cup pizza sauce
• 1 ½ teaspoons Italian seasoning
• Pepperoni or other toppings (optional)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Make a small well in each bread slice.
3. Fill wells with cheese, sauce, and toppings.
4. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top.
5. Bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese melts and bread is crispy.

3) Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups

Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups make a quick and tasty lunch. You only need a few fresh ingredients, and it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Enjoy healthy fats from avocados and protein from chicken. Mix cooked chicken with black beans, corn, red onion, and cherry tomatoes.

Spoon the mixture into halved avocados for a colorful, filling meal. Customize with your favorite spices or add cilantro for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe avocados
• 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded or diced
• 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup corn
• 1/4 cup red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
• Cilantro (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cut avocados in half and remove pits.
2. In a bowl, mix chicken, black beans, corn, red onion, and tomatoes.
3. Add cilantro if you like.
4. Scoop the mixture into avocado halves.
5. Serve immediately or chill for later.

Learn more about Mexi-Chicken Avocado Cups

4) Sheet-Pan Crispy Ramen

Sheet-pan crispy ramen is a simple and tasty lunch you can make quickly. Roast chicken or tofu with a flavorful sauce, then add ramen noodles that turn crispy in the oven.

Do everything on one pan for easy cleanup. You can use sauces like teriyaki or stir-fry sauce to change up the flavor.

Toss everything together and roast. Check the noodles while cooking to keep them crispy but not burnt.

This dish works well with chicken thighs, tofu, or vegetables like bok choy for a fresh touch.

Ingredients:

• 3 packs ramen noodles (no seasoning)
• 1½ pounds boneless chicken thighs or tofu
• 3 tablespoons olive oil or sesame oil
• ¼ cup teriyaki or stir-fry sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
• Vegetables (like bok choy or carrots), optional

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Combine sauce, oil, garlic, and ginger in a bowl.
3. Toss chicken or tofu in the sauce and spread on a sheet pan.
4. Break ramen noodles into pieces and scatter around the pan.
5. Roast for 20–25 minutes, stirring noodles halfway through.
6. Add vegetables in the last 10 minutes if using.
7. Serve hot, mixing everything together for the best flavor and crispiness.

For more ideas on sheet-pan crispy ramen, see this recipe.

5) Chipotle Shrimp Taco Bowls

This dish is great when you want something tasty and ready fast. Toss shrimp in a smoky chipotle sauce for just the right amount of spice.

Serve it on a bed of cilantro-lime rice with a fresh corn salad. You can customize with toppings like avocado or salsa.

This meal comes together in about 20 to 30 minutes. For a healthy twist, use Greek yogurt chipotle lime sauce instead of mayo or sour cream.

You can find a good recipe for these bowls with creamy chipotle sauce here.

Ingredients

• 1 lb raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cooked cilantro-lime rice
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix chipotle peppers, garlic, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
2. Toss shrimp in the sauce and let it marinate for 5 minutes.
3. Cook shrimp in a hot pan for 2-3 minutes each side until pink.
4. Warm cilantro-lime rice and prepare corn salad with corn, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
5. Assemble shrimp over rice and add corn salad on top.
6. Serve with lime wedges.

6) Pork Dumpling Bowls

Pork dumpling bowls are a quick and tasty lunch. You get all the flavors of dumplings without the extra work of wrapping them.

The filling has ground pork, shrimp, cabbage, and scallions, served over noodles or rice. You can swap shrimp for chicken or use different vegetables.

Cook everything in one pan to save time. The flavors mix well in the skillet.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork
• 4 oz shrimp, peeled & chopped
• 1 lb Napa cabbage, chopped
• 5 scallions, diced
• 1 oz chives, chopped
• 8 oz shiitake mushrooms, sliced (optional)
• Wheat noodles or rice

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook noodles or rice as directed.
2. Brown the pork and shrimp in a skillet over medium heat.
3. Add cabbage, mushrooms, scallions, and chives. Cook until tender.
4. Mix in sauce of your choice, heat through.
5. Serve filling over noodles or rice.

Learn more about pork dumpling bowls here.

7) Classic BLT Sandwich

The Classic BLT Sandwich is a quick and tasty lunch you can make in minutes. Cook bacon until it’s crispy and drain it on paper towels.

Toast your bread slices until golden brown. Spread mayonnaise on each slice.

Add fresh lettuce and ripe tomato slices for crunch and juiciness. Place the bacon on top and close your sandwich.

Ingredients

• 8 slices bacon
• 8 slices bread
• Mayonnaise
• Lettuce leaves
• Tomato slices

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.
2. Drain bacon on paper towels.
3. Toast bread slices.
4. Spread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise on each slice.
5. Layer lettuce and tomato on half the bread slices.
6. Add bacon on top.
7. Close sandwiches and serve.

For more details, you can check a classic BLT recipe.

8) Buffalo Chicken Wrap

A Buffalo Chicken Wrap is a quick lunch option. Use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time.

Mix the chicken with buffalo sauce for a spicy kick. Add crunchy veggies like lettuce and carrots for freshness.

Creamy ranch or blue cheese dressing balances the heat. Wrap everything in a soft tortilla for an easy meal.

You can add avocado or cheddar cheese if you like. This wrap comes together in about 5 minutes.

Ingredients

• Cooked chicken (leftover or rotisserie)
• Buffalo sauce
• Lettuce
• Carrots, shredded
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing
• Flour tortilla
• Optional: avocado, cheddar cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss chicken with buffalo sauce until coated.
2. Lay tortilla flat and spread dressing in the center.
3. Add buffalo chicken, lettuce, and shredded carrots.
4. Sprinkle cheese or add avocado if using.
5. Roll tortilla tightly and slice in half.
6. Serve immediately or wrap for later.

9) Spicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad

This spicy peanut soba noodle salad makes a quick and tasty lunch. You toss cooked soba noodles with a creamy peanut sauce that has a little kick.

Add colorful veggies like bell peppers or cabbage for freshness and crunch. You can also add chicken or tofu for extra protein.

This salad tastes great warm or cold. It works well for meal prep or a fast lunch at home or work.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces soba noodles
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 cup shredded cabbage
• 1 cup cooked chicken or crispy tofu
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated ginger

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook soba noodles according to package instructions, then rinse with cold water.
2. Whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sriracha, garlic, and ginger to make the sauce.
3. Toss noodles with sauce, bell pepper, cabbage, and chicken or tofu.
4. Serve immediately or chill before eating for a cool salad.

You can find more about this spicy peanut soba noodle salad here.

10) 5-Minute Spicy Chickpea Salad

This spicy chickpea salad offers a quick and tasty lunch. It comes together fast with just a few ingredients you likely already have.

Eat it on its own, in a sandwich, or with crackers. Creamy mayo and spicy sriracha give the salad its main flavor.

Adjust the heat by changing the amount of sriracha. Lemon juice adds freshness and balance.

You don’t need to cook or reheat this salad. It’s simple, satisfying, and packed with protein from the chickpeas.

Ingredients

• Two 14-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 2–4 tablespoons sriracha
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a bowl, mash chickpeas slightly with a fork.
2. Add mayo, sriracha, and lemon juice.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Stir everything until well mixed.
5. Serve right away or chill for 10 minutes for extra flavor.

For more ideas, check this 5-Minute Spicy Chickpea Salad recipe.