Healthy Recipes Mealtimes Healthy Lunch Recipes 18 Cold Vegetarian Lunch Ideas for Adults 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 June 12, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close Cool down with one of these delicious chilled lunch recipes, all of which fit well in a vegetarian diet. These refreshing dishes are flavorful, filling and made without any meat so you can have a midday meal that aligns with your goals. Some of our favorites include a Creamy Avocado & White Bean Wrap and our Tofu Cucumber Salad with a Spicy Peanut Dressing—which one will you try first? 01 of 18 Udon Noodles with Tofu Tofu, vegetables and noodles pair well with a savory soy-and-sesame vinaigrette in this tasty vegetarian meal. View Recipe 02 of 18 Vegetarian Italian Hoagies Traditional Italian subs feature meat, but this delightfully easy sandwich packs a punch with artichoke hearts, red onion and zesty peperoncini instead. If you're packing the hoagies to take along, keep the ingredients separate and assemble right before eating to avoid soggy bread. View Recipe 03 of 18 Tofu Cucumber Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing Neutral-flavored tofu absorbs all of the flavors of this Sichuan-inspired dressing like a champ. Serve over rice noodles or a bowl of greens. View Recipe 04 of 18 Hoisin-Sesame Salad with Baked Tofu This salad is made satisfying with savory baked tofu; carrots and snap peas add crunch. View Recipe 05 of 18 Tofu, Snow Pea & Carrot Wild Rice Salad Sesame oil and nori (dried seaweed) give this wild rice salad a savory flavor boost. View Recipe 06 of 18 Quinoa Avocado Salad Protein-packed quinoa pairs with creamy avocado in this refreshing grain salad. It's the perfect meal-prep recipe for lunches on the go. View Recipe 07 of 18 Chickpea & Veggie Grain Bowl This high-fiber grain bowl is packed with colorful veggies and plant-based protein to keep you feeling energized and satisfied. View Recipe 08 of 18 Black Bean & Mango Salad Coleslaw mix makes this recipe quick to prepare. The coleslaw-bean mixture can also be used as a delicious taco topping. View Recipe 09 of 18 Whole-Wheat Veggie Wrap Use whichever veggies you have on hand to fill up this veggie wrap. The avocado and hummus help hold the wrap together—and provide heart-healthy fat and fiber. View Recipe 10 of 18 Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple This salad is a breeze to whip up for lunch, especially if you use canned lentils. View Recipe 11 of 18 Chickpea & Quinoa Grain Bowl Robby Lozano It seems grain bowls have as many variations as there are stars in the sky, and there is no wrong way to build one! This one features hummus, quinoa, avocado and loads of veggies! View Recipe 12 of 18 Tomato & Smoked Mozzarella Sandwiches Take a classic combination like fresh tomatoes and mozzarella, add a couple of flavor-packed ingredients like olives and sun-dried tomatoes, put it between two pieces of crusty bread and you'll have a satisfying sandwich you’ll look forward to eating for lunch. View Recipe 13 of 18 Spring Pea Salad with Strawberries The tangy champagne vinaigrette balances the grassy sweetness of the peas and fruity pop of the berries. View Recipe 14 of 18 Edamame Hummus Wrap Made with protein-rich edamame instead of chickpeas, this easy hummus recipe is the perfect vegetarian filling for a grab-and-go wrap. View Recipe 15 of 18 Roasted Veggie & Quinoa Salad Quick, simple and packed with satisfying protein and fiber, this salad makes a perfect lunch. View Recipe 16 of 18 Veggie Sandwich There's no chance of getting the afternoon munchies when you fuel up with this vegan sandwich filled with fiber and healthy fats. View Recipe 17 of 18 Southwestern Salad with Black Beans Here we top salad greens with black beans, sweet corn and grape tomatoes and bring it all together with a tangy avocado-lime dressing for a flavor-packed salad. View Recipe 18 of 18 Black Bean-Avocado Torta Here we fill a hollowed-out roll with mashed spiced black beans and guacamole for a satisfying vegetarian dish. Cabbage provides a delicious crunch. View Recipe Medically reviewed by Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit