Lunch is one of those meals that’s hard to know what to make. Many of us get stuck with the same old salad, sandwich or wrap because it’s simple and easy to make. There are SO many other options out there, so today, we’re talking about 25 healthy lunch ideas that are ready in 30 minutes or less! I’ve found twists on classic sandwiches, delicious salads, and easy-to-make meal prep ideas you can make over the weekend for the week ahead!
The dishes I’ve found are all perfect for spring & summer time as they feature light, colourful veggies, dishes made from the grill, and even fruity inspiration to help you on your clean eating journey! Please note, all the recipes and photos in this article are created by the author listed below each image! If you’d like to learn more about any of these recipes, click on the recipe title or image to be brought to their website!
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 489 Fat: 24g Carbs: 53g Protein: 14g
A night-out favourite is always buffalo pizza or flatbread. Now you can make this iconic dinner or appetizer right at home! My recipe takes just 25 minutes to make and can be topped with all your favourite veggies! Finish it off with blue cheese or ranch & add a sprinkle of green onions!
Vegetarian Pasta with Avocado Sauce
Number of Servings: 5
Total Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition: Calories:529 Fat: 14g Carbs: 85g Protein: 16g
Who doesn’t love pasta? My vegetarian pasta with avocado sauce is the perfect addition to your spring & summer lunch menu, and is ready in just 20 minutes! For this recipe, I added the addition of Boursin cheese, which is the perfect creamy topping to make this dish out of this world!
Bruschetta with Goat Cheese
Number of Servings: 4-8
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
We all love a classic bruschetta, but what about toaster bruschetta? This allows you to get that toasty bread, without getting mushy tomatoes. The even better part? It saves A LOT of time. If you’re going to enjoy this recipe for lunch I suggest budgeting 2 pieces per person, or 1 if you want to serve it as an appetizer.
Korean Lettuce Wraps with Chicken
Number of Servings: 3-4
Total Time: 20 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 13
This is an easy chicken lettuce wrap recipe with Asian inspiration and ready in only 20 minutes! If you’re looking for a healthy option for lunches or meal prep, these wraps are only 300 calories per serving, low carb, and packed with protein!
5 Ways to Ricotta Toast
Number of Servings: 1
Total Time: 5 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 5 or less
Looking for a delicious lunch ready in 5 minutes or less? My ricotta toast recipes come with minimal ingredients and are SO easy to make! I have recipes for traditional, honey walnut, avocado, tomato & basil, and sundried tomato & pesto! I highly recommend trying the honey walnut if you like a touch of sweetness & the tomato basil if you’re looking for freshness.
Pea & Asparagus Ravioli
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 12
The ultimate spring pasta is my pea & asparagus ravioli! If you love cream sauce, you’re going to love this healthier version made with evaporated milk instead of cream! The best part? This sauce takes only 5 minutes to make! I chose to go with a butternut squash ravioli, however, you can choose whatever flavour you want to make it your own.
Hummus Tartines
Number of Servings: 2 pieces
Total Time: 10 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 5
This simple Hummus Tartines is a super simple and fast lunch to make! You can make it with your favourite flavour of hummus and top it off with yummy sundried tomatoes, artichoke & feta! If you’re looking for a tangier taste, try it out with goat cheese instead of feta.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Mango and Avocado
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 20 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
Looking for the ultimate summer salad? This fruity salad is paired with cashews & avocadoes to make it a refreshing option for a hot summer day! This recipe is perfect for a weekend gathering, or reduce the recipe to make it for quick lunch during the work week! If you want, you could also cut the fruit up and add some sugar or lemon juice to it to preserve it during the week, so it’s ready to go for lunch!
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10- Minute Italian Chicken Wraps
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 10 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 11
Take your wrap game to the next level with this mouth-watering Italian chicken wrap! Chelsea from Chelsea’s Messy Apron tops this wrap with Italian dressing, crunchy Italian croutons, and sprinkles basil on top to make this the perfect Italian-inspired lunch!
Keto Foil Packet Shrimp on Grill
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 27 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 9
With the warmer weather comes BBQ season! These easy-to-make shrimp packets are a great weekend make (or work from home lunch)! The purple hue comes from the red cabbage used in this recipe.
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Avocado Egg Salad
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
If you’re looking for a versatile lunch, this creamy avocado egg salad is for you! You can eat this on its own, add it to a sandwich, wrap or even add a scoop to an existing salad recipe you already love!
Crunchy Thai Chicken Salad
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 5 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
If you’re looking for a speedy lunch to make, this chicken Thai salad is the perfect recipe for you! Kelly from Eat Yourself Skinny uses a rotisserie chicken to cut down the prep/cook time drastically! This would also be a great recipe if you have leftover chicken from the night before and need an easy recipe to make it with.
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Honey Sriracha Glazed Meatballs
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 30 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
Meal prepping is a great way to save you ample time in the morning, so you don’t have to worry about lunches for the week! This delicious turkey meatball with rice recipe is a great lean option to prepare on the weekend and enjoy throughout the week! If you’d like to see more meal prep recipes, check out my full article here.
Easy Lunchbox Cobb Salad
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 10 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 7
If you love easy lunchbox ideas you can make ahead, Corey from Family Fresh Meals has DOZENS of lunchbox ideas like this one here! This is her cobb salad lunch box, but she has tons of options for kids and adults, so you never have to worry about what you’re going to pack for school lunches again!
Grilled Chicken Pitas with Garlic-Chipotle Aioli
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 12
This chicken pita recipe will be a must-try for the grilling season! Cara from Street Smart Nutrition uses BBQ chicken paired with a delicious garlic-chipotle aioli to make this delicious pita recipe! If you’re someone who can’t handle a lot of heat, she also has a recommendation so everyone can enjoy it!
10-Minute Chickpea Curry
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 11+
Another super quick meal prep recipe you can make for the week ahead! This chickpea curry is ready in 10 minutes and has simple ingredients you can make when you don’t have a lot of time!
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5-Minute Vegetarian Quesadilla
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 5 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 3
A simple lunch doesn’t get any easier than this 3 ingredient spinach & cheese quesadilla ready in 5 minutes! This is a great option for short lunch breaks or to serve kids before sports & activities!
Thai Chicken Lunch Bowl (Meal Prep Recipe)
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
Another super simple meal prep recipe to make on the weekend for the work week ahead! This Thai Lunch Bowl has ingredients you probably already have lying around your house and is a healthy option to enjoy! If you love meal prepping, check out all of Denise’s Recipes on Sweet Peas & Saffron! She has tons of healthy options, so you never get bored of the same out meal prep recipes!
Super Quick Avocado Shrimp Salad
Number of Servings: 1-2
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
If you don’t have a lot of time and want a healthy lunch, this shrimp & avocado salad is under 300 calories & ready in 15 minutes! This recipe has only 8 ingredients you might already have at home and is a great low carb/high protein lunch!
Healthy Spinach Chicken Salad with Cauliflower
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 10 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 12
If you love a salad with a creamy dressing, this recipe is for you! It’s made with chipotle mayo & whipped cream to give it an extra creamy texture! In order to save time, this recipe calls to use a rotisserie chicken to have it ready in a hurry!
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Easy Fried Rice
Number of Servings: 3
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 11+
Fried rice is a fan favourite that is so easy to make! This recipe is perfect for meal prepping and is ready in 15 minutes! If you plan on making it take a trip to your Asian market or section of the grocery store to get some of these ingredients like Mirin & miso.
Chicken Caesar Crostini
Number of Servings: 12 pieces
Total Time: 30 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
Sandwich meets salad with these easy-to-make chicken caesar crostinis! If you’re looking for a quick, comforting lunch to make at home, these crostinis are a must-try! This recipe calls for a rotisserie chicken, so you whip them up in a flash!
Farro and Kale Salad with Goat Cheese
Number of Servings: 4 lunch salads
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 11
If you’re looking for a super nutritious salad this farro & kale salad with goat cheese is a must! This salad only has 6 ingredients and an effortless dressing you probably can make with things already in your fridge!
Moroccan Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
Number of Servings: 4 lunch salads
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 15
Looking for a tasty gluten-free option? These Moroccan Chicken Salad Cups are gluten-free and packed with delicious spices like cumin & turmeric. You can enjoy these with lettuce cups, like the photo above, add to a sandwich, or use them as a topper for a big lunch salad!
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5-Minute Veggie Coconut Wraps
Number of Servings: 5
Total Time: 5 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
If you’re looking for an alternative to traditional wheat tortillas, these coconut wraps may be for you! They are vegan & gluten-free, and as you guessed, made with coconut! This recipe by the Minimalist Baker is ready in 5 minutes and uses nutritious ingredients like green curry paste, avocado and peppers.
Heirloom Avocado Bagelwich
Number of Servings: 1
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
This creamy avocado and tomato bagelwich is a delicious and simple option to whip up for lunch! This bagelwich is made with veggie cream cheese to give it a tangy flavour and topped with a juicy heirloom tomato to make this the perfect summer lunch!
Creamy Grilled Romaine Salad
Number of Servings: 2
Total Time: 20 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
This surprisingly quick salad takes it to the next level with this grilled romaine lettuce leaves! This is a great vegan option made with a tahini dressing mixed with plant-based milk! This is a creamy option without having any cream or dairy!
Korean Ground Beef Bowl
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 12 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 14
A super quick meal prep option you can make over the weekend is the Korean Ground Beef Bowl by Lexi’s Clean Kitchen! There is the option to make this with rice or cauliflower if you’re looking for a keto-friendly option!
Tomato & Roasted Broccoli Quinoa Salad
Number of Servings: 4-6
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 17
If you’re looking for an easy way to get your veggies in, this quinoa with tomato and broccoli is a must-try! You can meal prep this for the week ahead and pair it with a side of chicken if you’re looking for a little extra protein!
Grilled Salmon Salad
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 16
Switch up your classic chicken salads for this tasty grilled salmon salad with artichoke & olives! Salmon is full of healthy fats and packed with protein!
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Watermelon Berry Summer Salad
Number of Servings: 6-8
Total Time: 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 8
We’re finishing off with the ultimate light summer lunch: this gorgeous watermelon & berry salad! You can really add your favourites here and top it off with mint, honey and lime to make this the perfect sweet lunch idea!
Bonus Recipe: Vietnamese Chicken Sandwich (Bánh Mì)
Number of Servings: 4-5
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Number of Ingredients: 13
This recipe isn’t ready in 30 minutes, but I thought it was too good not to include! This Vietnamese sandwich is the perfect substitute for the same old turkey or ham sandwich! It’s made with pickled veggies and perfectly seasoned chicken breast. If you’re looking for a fresh recipe to try this summer, this is the must-try sandwich for you!
