36 Easy Lunch Ideas Perfect for Every Day
Updated: Aug. 18, 2024
Skip the same old PB&J! Instead, use our tasty, quick and easy lunch ideas to change up your routine.
The Ultimate Grilled Cheese
Total Time: 15 minutes
Main Ingredients: Cream cheese, mozzarella, cheddar, Italian bread
Level: Beginner
This easy lunch idea combines mayonnaise, cream cheese, melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese for an indulgent sandwich you’ll want to pack for lunch every day. Wrap it in aluminum foil to maintain its warmth and crispiness until 12 o’clock rolls around.
These gooey grilled cheese sandwiches taste great for lunch with sliced apples. And they’re really fast to whip up, too. Here’s how to make grilled cheese the right way. —Recipe contributor Kathy Norris, Streator, Illinois
Chicken Pesto Wraps
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground chicken, sun-dried tomato pesto, mozzarella
Level: Beginner
This recipe makes a quick and easy lunch. Swap the sun-dried tomato pesto for basil pesto or your own homemade pesto to make the most of what you have on hand.
Chicken pesto wraps make a really quick meal for us. It’s so easy—and the cleanup is just as easy if you line the cookie sheet with foil. My wife likes to add a dollop of sour cream to hers, and I sometimes use tomato basil pesto sauce. —Recipe contributor Gary Phile, Ravenna, Ohio
Easy Chicken Salad
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Shredded rotisserie chicken, seedless red grapes, chopped pecans
Level: Beginner
Use up leftover roast chicken with this easy chicken salad recipe. Featuring a creamy sour cream and mayo sauce, sweet grapes and crunchy celery, this sandwich is ready in minutes. Find more inspiration with our best cold lunches.
This chicken salad with grapes is ready in a snap when using rotisserie chicken and a few quick chops of pecans, sweet onion and celery. —Recipe contributor Julie Sterchi, Jackson, Missouri
Tuna Melt on Cornbread
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Cornbread/muffin mix, canned tuna, celery, avocado
Level: Intermediate
This open-faced sandwich combines the creaminess of tuna salad, the subtle sweetness of cornbread and the gooey richness of melted cheese. The result is a simple but satisfying lunch.
Try our rendition of an open-faced tuna melt. Serve it on cornbread for a quick lunch or dinner. —Recipe contributor Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Turkey Spinach Salad with Maple Dressing
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Baby spinach, deli smoked turkey, maple syrup
Level: Beginner
Toss together fresh spinach, savory turkey, crunchy walnuts and dried cranberries for a vibrant salad that’ll give you the energy to power through until the end of the workday.
My husband and I love to hike in New England. The maple syrup in Vermont is wonderful, and we always bring some home to extend the vacation spirit. This recipe I created reminds us of those lovely days. —Recipe contributor Jessica Gerschitz, Jericho, New York.
Peanut Butter, Chicken and Basil Sandwich
Total Time: 5 minutesMain Ingredients: Creamy peanut butter, shredded cooked chicken, fresh basil
Level: Beginner
You’ve heard of PB&Js, but what about a peanut butter and chicken sandwich? This easy lunch uses creamy peanut butter, shredded cooked chicken and fresh basil to turn flavors you’d normally find on Thai noodles into a comforting sandwich.
Hasselback Tomato Clubs
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Plum tomatoes, Swiss cheese, bacon strips, deli turkey
Level: Beginner
No bread in the pantry? No problem. This hassle-free version of a club sandwich uses tomatoes instead of bread for a juicy version of the classic. Simply cut four or five crosswise slices in each tomato and stuff with meat and cheese—or whatever your heart desires.
This no-fuss, no-bread riff on a classic is perfect during tomato season. Make it for lunch or pair it with pasta salad for a light dinner. —Recipe contributor Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Pesto Quinoa Salad
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Quinoa, pesto, fresh mozzarella pearls
Level: Intermediate
Have a well-balanced lunch with this vibrant salad, filled with protein-rich quinoa, heart-healthy olive oil and a medley of vegetables like onions, red peppers and tomatoes. Customize it by adding crumbled feta cheese or toasted pine nuts to fit your taste.
My daughter-in-law got me hooked on quinoa, and I’m so glad she did! I’ve been substituting quinoa in some of my favorite pasta recipes, and this dish is the happy result of one of those experiments. I love using my garden tomatoes and peppers in this salad; sun-dried tomatoes and roasted red peppers are equally delicious. —Recipe contributor Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Open-Faced Pizza Burgers
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, pizza sauce, hamburger buns, shredded mozzarella
Level: Intermediate
Get the best of both worlds by combining juicy ground beef with the classic flavor of a cheese pizza. This recipe mixes ground beef with pizza sauce, mushrooms and oregano before placing it on a bun and topping it with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese.
I’m not sure where I first saw this pizza burger recipe, but I’m glad I did! My family requests this meal often. A dash of oregano livens up canned pizza sauce. —Recipe contributor Sharon Schwartz, Burlington, Wisconsin
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Fresh baby spinach, bacon strips, Worcestershire sauce
Level: Intermediate
Toss together fresh spinach, juicy tomatoes, crunchy croutons and a hard-boiled egg for this easy make-ahead lunch idea. The hot bacon dressing uses ketchup, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce for its tantalizing taste. Use an airtight container to pack the salad to hold freshness until lunchtime (and pack the dressing separately).
After having a salad like this at a restaurant years ago, I came up with this recipe. It is especially good when the spinach comes right from the garden to the table. —Recipe contributor Wanda Cover, Mediapolis, Iowa
Basil Chicken Sandwiches
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Paprika, boneless skinless chicken breasts, basil leaves, ciabatta rolls
Level: Beginner
This sandwich is the perfect choice for a light and satisfying lunch. Season the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika before cooking it in a skillet. Then, assemble the sandwiches by brushing salad dressing on the ciabatta rolls, adding the chicken and layering basil leaves, red peppers and Romano cheese on top. Try these other healthy sandwich ideas for tomorrow’s lunch.
I got the inspiration for this recipe when I knew my parents and in-laws were coming to see our new home. My mother-in-law has food allergies, my father-in-law has some very specific food preferences and my parents appreciate light meals. I created this chicken sandwich with fresh basil for our lunch. —Recipe contributor Kerry Durgin Krebs, New Market, Maryland
Indian Spiced Chickpea Wraps
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Yogurt, pineapple tidbits, chickpeas, whole wheat tortillas
Level: Intermediate
Enjoy global flavors for lunch with these chickpea wraps. Featuring seasonings like curry powder, coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper, this easy lunch brings the taste of India right to your fingertips.
Raita, an Indian condiment made with yogurt, elevates this vegetarian dish to a satisfying gourmet wrap. If you’re in the mood to experiment, try diced mango or cucumber for the pineapple and add fresh herbs like cilantro or mint. —Recipe contributor Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia
Sausage and Pepper Sheet-Pan Sandwiches
Total Time: 50 minutesMain Ingredients: Italian turkey sausage, medium sweet red peppers, hot dog buns, provolone cheese
Level: Intermediate
Level up your lunch game with these sausage and pepper sandwiches. Stuffed with Italian turkey sausage, sweet red peppers, caramelized onions and melted provolone cheese, every bite of these sandwiches is mouthwatering.
Sausage with peppers was always on the table when I was growing up. Here’s how to do it the easy way: Just grab a sheet pan and the ingredients, then let the oven do the work. —Recipe contributor Debbie Glasscock, Conway, Arkansas
Shrimp Patty Sandwiches
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Shrimp, haddock, pancake mix, cornmeal, hamburger buns
Level: Intermediate
Feeling like having seafood for lunch? Impress your taste buds with bread crumb-covered shrimp patties seasoned with parsley, celery salt, mustard and paprika. Top them with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo, and voila! Lunch is served.
Quite often when we eat at a restaurant, my husband will try something and tell me that I could make it better at home. That was the case with this shrimp patty. It had very few shrimp and needed more flavor. I made some improvements and now it’s one of my husband’s favorites. —Recipe contributor Tina Jacobs, Hurlock, Maryland
Southwestern Pork Salad
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Cooked pork loin, kidney beans, onion, green pepper, tomato
Level: Beginner
If cowboys in the Wild West had salad for lunch, it would’ve looked like this. Pork loin is the base of the salad, complemented with refreshing tomatoes, ripe olives, hearty kidney beans and the crunch of green peppers and onions.
As pork producers, we’re proud to cook and serve the delicious product we raise. This tempting salad is refreshing and colorful. It’s a succulent showcase for pork. I know your family will enjoy it as much as we do. —Recipe contributor Sue Cunningham, Prospect, Ohio
Dilly Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Chickpeas, onion, celery, fresh dill, mayonnaise, multigrain bread
Level: Beginner
Enjoy a zesty work lunch with this chickpea sandwich—it’s a breeze to make. Simply mash the chickpeas, toss in the remaining ingredients, mix and serve! It’s the perfect lunch idea when you’re running short on time, but don’t want to compromise having a tasty meal.
These chickpea salad sandwiches are super flavorful and contain less fat and cholesterol than chicken salad. They make delightful picnic sandwiches. —Recipe contributor Deanna McDonald, Muskegon, Michigan
Focaccia Sandwiches
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Focaccia bread, deli ham, deli turkey, sliced hard salami, provolone cheese
Level: Beginner
Get a little fancy with your lunch sandwich by using focaccia bread. Packed with ham, turkey, salami, peppers, tomato and provolone cheese, this sandwich is a lunch idea you won’t mind making again and again.
Slices of this pretty sandwich make any casual get-together more special. Add or change ingredients to your taste. —Recipe contributor Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Grilled Steak Bruschetta Salad for 2
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Beef tenderloin steaks, Italian bread, fresh arugula, bruschetta topping
Level: Intermediate
Grilled steak covered in bruschetta and blue cheese dressing? Yes, please! This steak arugula salad layered on toasted Italian bread will be the highlight of your week. Give the other sandwich to a friend or save it for tomorrow’s lunch!
Fire up the grill for this tasty salad. The meat will be done in a snap, leaving you more time to enjoy the summer evening. —Recipe contributor Devon Delaney, Princeton, New Jersey
Quick Tangy Sloppy Joes
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Ground beef, onion, red or green pepper, ketchup, chili powder, hamburger buns
Level: Beginner
Yes, you can have sloppy joes for lunch. The sauce uses ketchup, vinegar, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce to add zip to your sandwich.
I adjusted three different recipes to come up with this one. Kids like the tangy taste and request the sandwiches for birthday parties. —Recipe contributor Anna Adams, Chatsworth, California
Chicken & Onion Caesar Salad
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Boneless skinless chicken breasts, red potatoes, Caesar dressing, romaine
Level: Intermediate
This Caesar salad got a little makeover. Featuring everything we love about the classic, like Parmesan cheese, romaine lettuce and creamy Caesar dressing, this recipe adds chicken, sweet onion and hearty red potatoes for a lunch like no other.
My Caesar with grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to heavy meat and potato dishes. After grilling the kabobs, we serve them family style. —Recipe contributor Melissa Adams, Tooele, Utah
Quick Taco Wraps
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Cream cheese, taco seasoning, flour tortillas
Level: Beginner
These wraps are perfect for a quick Taco Tuesday lunch. Smear the cream cheese mixture on a tortilla, then layer on bean dip, guacamole, cheese, olives and more. Just roll it up and tada! Your lunch wrap is ready to go.
I was running late one night, so I shopped in my own fridge and came up with ingredients that became taco wraps. Everybody at the table was a happy camper. —Recipe contributor Katie Mitschelen, La Porte, Indiana
Curried Egg Salad
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Mayonnaise, ground curry, hard-boiled eggs
Level: Beginner
Here’s a twist on the typical egg salad sandwich! Serve open-faced, with a few slices of tomato and some pepper on top, for the perfect afternoon bite.
A curry kick gives this egg salad big appeal. We love it when the weather gets warm. —Recipe contributor Joyce McDowell, West Union, Ohio
White Bean Arugula Salad
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Pancetta, cherry tomatoes, cannellini beans, fresh arugula or baby spinach
Level: Intermediate
Prep your lunch in just 30 minutes with this bean salad. Made with onions, tomatoes, cannellini beans and fresh herbs, this lunch is packed with protein to energize you for the workday.
My red, white and green salad is inspired by the Italian flag. Top it with shaved Parmesan. —Recipe contributor Malia Estes, Allston, Massachusetts
Crunchy Tuna Wraps
Total Time: 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Tuna, spinach tortillas, mayonnaise, shredded lettuce
Level: Beginner
These tuna wraps not only taste good, but they’re also veggie-packed, making them an ideal healthy lunch! Roll these wraps up tightly and secure them with a toothpick so everything stays in place until noon.
Packed with protein-rich tuna and fresh, crunchy veggies, these colorful wraps have sensational flavor—and they’re good for you, too. —Recipe contributor Edie Farm, Farmington, New Mexico
Asparagus Nicoise Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Small red potatoes, fresh asparagus, tuna
Level: Beginner
This easy salad lunch idea calls for only five ingredients, making this a work lunch you’ll want to keep coming back to for its simplicity. The tuna and potatoes will fill you up, while the asparagus and Italian dressing bring flavor to the dish.
I’ve used my Nicoise as an appetizer or a main dish salad, and it’s a winner every time I put it on the table. Here’s to a colorful, make-ahead salad! —Recipe contributor Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota
Sweet Macaroni Salad
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Elbow macaroni, carrots, green pepper, red onion, mayonnaise, sweetened condensed milk
Level: Beginner
Not feeling a green salad? Whip up this pasta salad instead. Mixed with carrots, green peppers, onions, mayo, sweetened condensed milk and vinegar, you won’t want to stop at just one bowl of this creamy goodness.
A sweet, out-of-the-ordinary dressing makes this macaroni salad special. My aunt gave me the recipe and it has become one of my favorites. I occasionally leave out the green pepper if I know that people don’t like it, and it still tastes great. —Recipe contributor Idalee Scholz, Cocoa Beach, Florida
Italian-Style Veggie Wraps
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Zucchini, provolone cheese, hard salami, fresh broccoli, whole wheat tortillas
Level: Intermediate
These easy-to-assemble wraps are filled with everything we love about an Italian sandwich. It’s stuffed with zucchini, broccoli, tomatoes, olives, onions, hard salami, hot peppers and lettuce, but you can easily customize this lunch. Check out these other sandwich wraps ready to be packed in your lunchbox.
Yummy! There are so many great flavors and textures in these wraps. Feel free to experiment with the ingredients—use mozzarella, pepperoni or any combo you like. —Recipe contributor Maria Simmons, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Skinny Cobb Salad
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Lettuce, turkey bacon, avocado, feta cheese, cooked chicken
Level: Intermediate
Filled with chopped apple, feta cheese, chicken, bacon and garbanzo beans, this light salad is topped with a creamy dressing made of Greek yogurt and ranch. Put this one at the top of your list of easy lunch ideas!
This “skinny” version of Cobb salad has all the taste and creaminess with half the fat and calories. You can skip the coleslaw mix and do all lettuce, but I like the crunch you get with cabbage. —Recipe contributor Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida
Grilled Cheese & Pepper Sandwiches
Total Time: 20 minutesMain Ingredients: Green pepper, sweet red pepper, jalapeno pepper, shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Level: Beginner
This upgraded grilled cheese stuffs green and red peppers, sauteed onions and jalapeno between melted Monterey Jack cheese for the ultimate lunch. Pair with a side salad or tomato soup for a well-rounded, satisfying lunch.
This is a tasty and wholesome sandwich to make for one or two. It’s a nice twist on a grilled cheese, very tasty and filling, especially good with rye bread. —Recipe contributor Arline Hofland, Deer Lodge, Montana
Bacon Avocado Salad
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Crumbled bacon strips, avocados, romaine, feta cheese
Level: Intermediate
This BLT sandwich-turned-salad incorporates avocado for a quick, well-rounded lunch. The creamy avocado, smoky bacon and juicy tomatoes keep the flavors balanced.
My family loves this bacon and avocado salad—even the younger kids! I serve it at almost every get-together I’ve hosted, and at this point, the recipe’s been shared too many times to count. —Recipe contributor Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut
Guacamole Tossed Salad
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Bacon strips, hot pepper sauce, avocados, salad greens
Level: Beginner
Skip the tortilla chips with this easy-to-make guacamole salad. Packed with juicy tomatoes, red onion, crispy bacon, creamy avocados, fresh greens and a few drops of hot pepper sauce, this salad is full of flavor.
The fresh blend of avocados, tomatoes, red onion and greens in my salad gets additional pizazz from crumbled bacon and a slightly spicy vinaigrette. —Recipe contributor Lori Fischer, Chino Hills, California
Microwave Egg Sandwich
Total Time: 15 minutesMain Ingredients: Canadian bacon, egg substitute, shredded cheddar, whole wheat English muffin
Level: Beginner
Have breakfast for lunch with this ready-in-minutes egg sandwich. Made with Canadian bacon, cheddar cheese, egg and salsa, this breakfast sandwich is high in protein and low in fat. The best part? You can cook it in the microwave for the easiest lunch you’ll ever devour.
If you’re looking for a grab-and-go breakfast for busy days, this sandwich keeps me full all morning. Plus, it’s only about 200 calories! —Recipe contributor Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
Almond Strawberry Salad
Total Time: 10 minutesMain Ingredients: Fresh baby spinach, fresh strawberries, honey-roasted sliced almonds
Level: Beginner
Whip up a refreshing salad in minutes! This easy lunch tosses together spinach, strawberries and almonds before topping it off with a dressing made with vinegar, honey and sugar for a sweet and light meal.
It’s easy to love this pretty salad topped with strawberries and sliced almonds. With just a few ingredients, it’s loaded with flavor. —Recipe contributor Renae Rossow, Union, Kentucky
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Chicken breast halves, hot pepper sauce, spinach tortillas, blue cheese salad dressing
Level: Intermediate
Spice up your lunch with Buffalo chicken wraps—everything you love about Buffalo wings, in wrap form.
Blue cheese dressing and hot pepper sauce enhance these yummy tortilla wraps. Filled with chicken, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, these buffalo chicken wraps are colorful, fun to eat…and tote-able, too! —Recipe contributor Athena Russell, Florence, South Carolina
Apple Chicken Quesadillas
Total Time: 25 minutesMain Ingredients: Tart apples, cooked chicken breast, flour tortillas
Level: Intermediate
Enjoy a twist on classic quesadillas with this apple chicken quesadilla recipe. Chicken, apple slices, cheddar and mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, onions and corn are tossed together and placed between two warmed flour tortillas for a sweet and savory lunch.
My sister came up with an easy recipe that can be served as a main course or an appetizer. People are surprised by the combination of chicken, apples, tomatoes and corn inside the crispy tortillas, but they love it. —Recipe contributor Stacia Slagle of Maysville, Missouri
Lemon Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Total Time: 30 minutesMain Ingredients: Lemon juice, quinoa, dried cranberries
Level: Intermediate
Enjoy a medley of quinoa, cucumber, onion, cranberries and fresh herbs dressed in a tangy lemon dressing. Looking for more protein? Add shredded chicken or shrimp for a rounded meal. If you’re a fan of this whole grain, check out these other quinoa salads that are perfect for lunch.
As the family cook, I appreciate how easy this is to throw together on a busy weeknight. Plus, this salad never gets boring. One of my favorite variations is substituting diced fresh mango for the cranberries, cilantro for the parsley, and lime for the lemon juice and zest. —Recipe contributor Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
