Healthy Recipes Cooking Methods Quick & Easy Healthy, Quick & Easy Lunch Recipes Our 21 Best 15-Minute Lunches By Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Alexa Wimberly Camryn Wimberly is EatingWell's Editorial Fellow. As a food and mental health blogger, Camryn explores how food and cooking can help improve mental health and also be an avenue to connect with one's culture and heritage. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on October 26, 2024 Close Photo: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower These lunch recipes are some of our favorites and we think you’ll agree! Each recipe is quick and easy to make, taking no longer than 15 minutes. Plus they’re highly rated by our fans, with at least four stars in reviews. There are plenty of delicious options, whether you’re in the mood for a sandwich, salad or toast. Try dishes like our Goat Cheese-Tomato Toast or our Lemon-Dill Tuna Salad for a quick and simple lunch that’s full of flavor. 01 of 21 High-Protein Mason Jar Salad Ali Redmond Mason jar salads make for a convenient lunch that can easily be taken on the go or enjoyed at home. With just a few ingredients, you have a well-rounded lunch packed with fiber, protein and micronutrients that won’t spike your blood sugars. This nutritious Mason jar salad allows plenty of room for customization based on your taste preferences. View Recipe 02 of 21 Goat Cheese-Tomato Toast Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek Whip up this goat cheese–tomato toast to enjoy the fresh flavors of summer any time of the year. This sweet-and-savory combo makes a perfect breakfast, lunch or snack. For an extra burst of flavor, drizzle with balsamic glaze or sprinkle with crushed red pepper for a little heat. You could also drizzle with a bit of honey and sprinkle with some fresh herbs like basil or mint. View Recipe 03 of 21 Lemon-Dill Tuna Salad Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower This lemon-dill tuna salad packs plenty of protein and gets a boost of flavor from sumac—a spice used in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and North African cooking that adds a citrusy touch, enhancing the lemon flavor without overshadowing the other ingredients. Serve this between two pieces of whole-wheat bread as a sandwich or by itself with tender Bibb lettuce or crunchy celery sticks. View Recipe 04 of 21 No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad This easy white bean and spinach caprese salad features the classic combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar, but adds tender white beans and fresh baby spinach to the mix. If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, cut or tear a fresh ball of mozzarella into bite-size pieces instead. If you like your salad with a little kick, try swapping out the spinach for arugula. View Recipe 05 of 21 High-Protein Tomato, Mozzarella & Arugula Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, prop stylist: LIndsey Lower This vegetarian sandwich is packed with protein, thanks to creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and plenty of walnuts blended into the roasted red pepper spread. The spread, reminiscent of romesco sauce, is versatile and can also be served as a dip or sauce, adding depth and complexity to dishes like grilled meats, seafood and vegetables, or as a topping for pasta. View Recipe 06 of 21 5-Ingredient Brie and Blackberry Jam Grilled Cheese Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco This irresistible sandwich pairs creamy Brie cheese with a sweet-and-savory blackberry jam spread for the perfect ultra-quick lunch or dinner option. You can easily double the recipe using a medium pan, or use a sandwich press if you have one on hand. View Recipe 07 of 21 Kale, Quinoa & Apple Salad Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This kale, quinoa and apple salad is perfect for fall. Fresh apples bring crisp autumn flavor, and the kale breaks down when it's massaged with the dressing. Nuts, fennel and quinoa add more layers of texture, while blue cheese lends a savory note. View Recipe 08 of 21 Cucumber & Tomato Sandwich Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf This herby cucumber and tomato sandwich is crisp and refreshing. Chives add a delicate onion flavor to the cream cheese, but dill or basil can be used in their place. View Recipe 09 of 21 Green Goddess Tuna Salad Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco Canned tuna makes this recipe convenient and pantry-friendly while also offering an impressive punch of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon, sardines or mackerel would work just as well in this quick recipe. Serve on bread or in a wrap, over a bed of greens or scooped up with your favorite chips, crackers or cucumber slices. View Recipe 10 of 21 Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomato & Cucumber Sandwich Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum This protein-packed hummus sandwich features a topping of crisp veggies, feta cheese and sweet, tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes in oil have a soft texture perfect for sandwiches. You can use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes in their place, but you may have to rehydrate them in water to soften them before using. View Recipe 11 of 21 Gut-Healthy Miso Cup Soup Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless This miso soup is packed with gut-healthy ingredients like miso, a fermented paste that may improve digestion plus reduce gas and bloating. View Recipe 12 of 21 Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner. We love the grassy flavor of dill, but another fresh herb like oregano, parsley or chives will work well in its place. View Recipe 13 of 21 Chopped Italian Sandwiches Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf This mouthwatering chopped Italian sandwich is assembled using a method where all the ingredients are arranged in a single layer, finely chopped together and then layered onto the bread. It’s a straightforward yet efficient technique that you’ll find yourself using again and again. Feel free to add additional Italian antipasto ingredients like canned artichokes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes or roasted bell peppers for an extra flavorful twist. View Recipe 14 of 21 Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless If you're packing this grain bowl for work, combine the dressing ingredients in a small container. When you're ready to eat, shake the dressing well, add it to the salad and toss. If you don't have time to make a homemade dressing, use 3 tablespoons of store-bought olive oil vinaigrette. Keep prep time short by using rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) and a pouch of microwaveable quinoa. View Recipe 15 of 21 Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Melissa Gray / Kay Clarke This chopped salad with chicken is smoky and zesty thanks to the creamy chipotle dressing. Cilantro adds a pop of freshness to each bite. View Recipe 16 of 21 High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle This zesty tuna sandwich gets an extra boost of protein from chickpeas. Smashing some of the chickpeas into the tuna enhances the texture and helps hold the filling together. The combo of garlic and Sriracha adds a delightful kick, but feel free to opt for an alternative hot sauce of your preference or skip it altogether for a milder flavor. View Recipe 17 of 21 Chicken, Spinach & Feta Wraps Photographer: Grant Webster, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco This chicken, spinach and feta wrap recipe is elevated by the convenience of rotisserie chicken and the scrumptious flavor of sun-dried tomatoes. Whisk together the easy dressing, toss with the chicken, add spinach and wrap it all together for a delicious lunch or dinner. Using rotisserie chicken speeds up the process, but you can also reach for this recipe if you have leftover cooked chicken on hand. View Recipe 18 of 21 Avocado Tuna Salad Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless Jazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds creaminess that's cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer refreshing crunch. View Recipe 19 of 21 Pasta Salad with Vinaigrette Lunchbox Diana Chistruga Pasta salad is a great take-along lunch with tons of opportunity to make it your own. Want to make it vegetarian? Pack olives in place of salami. Don't love peppers? Try tomatoes instead! Be sure that you pack at least one container big enough to hold everything together once it's mixed (about 1½ cups). View Recipe 20 of 21 English Muffin Pizza with Tomato & Olives Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh This pizza-inspired English muffin topped with tomato, cheese, olives and oregano does triple duty—it's great as a snack or as part of a delicious breakfast or lunch. View Recipe 21 of 21 Mashed Chickpea Salad with Dill & Capers This creamy yet light vegan salad is full of bright, herby goodness. On its own, it's great to serve alongside a sandwich or veggie burger in place of potato salad or coleslaw. You can also make it into a light lunch by adding a handful of arugula to enjoy it as a green salad. Double the recipe and refrigerate to have on hand throughout the week. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit