40 Easy Lunches You'll Actually Look Forward To (2024)

Home Recipes Cooking Style Easy

Skip the same old PB&J. These quick and easy lunch ideas are here to change up your routine.

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The Ultimate Grilled Cheese

The combination of creamy mayonnaise and cream cheese with melted mozzarella and cheddar cheese will give you an indulgent sandwich you’ll want to pack for lunch every day. Wrap it in aluminum foil to maintain its warmth and crispiness until lunchtime rolls around.

Sometimes cooking for just two people can be trickier than cooking for a crowd. We have a bunch ofdinner ideas for twothat are easier than you think.

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Chicken Pesto Wraps

This recipe makes a quick and easy lunch idea. Swap the sun-dried tomato pesto for basil pesto or your own homemade pesto to make the most of what you have on hand.

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Easy Chicken Salad

Use up last night’s chicken with this easy chicken salad recipe that’ll be ready in minutes. Featuring a creamy sour cream and mayo sauce, sweet grapes and crunchy celery, this sandwich is perfect for a hassle-free lunch.

Find more inspiration with these cold lunch ideas.

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Tuna Melt on Cornbread

This open-faced sandwich combines the creaminess of tuna salad, the subtle sweetness of cornbread and the gooey richness of melted cheese to make a satisfying lunch that will leave you craving for more.

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Turkey Spinach Salad with Maple Dressing

Toss together earthy spinach, savory turkey, crunchy walnuts, dried cranberries and more for a vibrant salad that’ll give you energy to last the workday.

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Peanut Butter, Chicken and Basil Sandwich

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 the flavors you’d normally find on Thai noodles into a comforting sandwich you won’t be disappointed with.

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Hasselback Tomato Clubs

No bread in the pantry? No problem. This hassle-free version of a club sandwich uses plum tomatoes instead of bread for a juicy version of the classic. Simply cut 4 or 5 crosswise slices in each tomato and stuff them with meat and cheese—or whatever your heart desires.

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Pesto Quinoa Salad

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!

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Open-Faced Pizza Burgers

Get the best of both worlds by combining juicy ground beef with the classic flavors of a cheese pizza. This recipe mixes together ground beef with pizza sauce, mushrooms and oregano before placing it on a bun and topping it with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese.

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Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

Toss together fresh spinach, juicy tomatoes, crunchy croutons and a hard-boiled egg for this make-ahead lunch. The hot bacon dressing uses ketchup, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce for its tantalizing taste. Use an airtight container for packing the salad so it’ll hold its freshness until lunchtime.

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Chicken Cucumber Pitas

Skip doing takeout for lunch with these Greek-inspired Chicken Cucumber Pitas. With chicken, cucumbers, olives, tomatoes, red pepper and red onion covered in salad dressing, you’ll have yourself a veggie-packed meal that’s just as delicious as ordering out.

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Basil Chicken Sandwiches

This sandwich is the perfect choice for a light and satisfying lunch. Simply season the chicken with salt, pepper and paprika before cooking it on 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.

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Indian Spiced Chickpea Wraps

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.

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Sausage and Pepper Sheet-Pan Sandwiches

Level up your hot dog 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.

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Shrimp Patty Sandwiches

Feeling like having seafood for lunch? Impress your taste buds with these breadcrumb-covered shrimp patties, seasoned with parsley, celery salt, mustard and paprika. Top them with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo, and voila! Lunch is served.

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Southwestern Pork Salad

Go to the wild west with this southwest flair of a salad. Using pork loin as the base of the salad, its meaty flavors are complimented with refreshing tomatoes, ripe olives, hearty kidney beans and the crunch of green peppers and onions.

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Dilly Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

Enjoy a zesty work lunch with this chickpea sandwich that’s a breeze to make. Simply mash the chickpeas to your desired consistency, toss in the remaining ingredients, mix and serve! It’s the perfect lunch to make when you’re running short on time, but don’t want to compromise having a tasteful meal.

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Focaccia Sandwiches

Get a little fancy with your lunch sandwich by using focaccia bread. Packed with ham, turkey, salami, peppers, tomato and provolone cheese, this sandwich makes one fulfilling lunch you’ll come back to time and again.

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Grilled Steak Bruschetta Salad for 2

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!

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Quick Tangy Sloppy Joes

Get a tangy twist of your classic sloppy joes with this easy lunch idea. The sauce uses ketchup, vinegar, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce for an added zip to your sandwich.

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This Cesar salad got a little makeover. Featuring everything we love about the classic like Parmesan cheese, romaine lettuce, creamy Caesar dressing and chicken, this recipe adds the crunch of a sweet onion and heartiness of red potatoes for a lunch like no other.

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Quick Taco Wraps

These wraps are perfect for a quick Taco Tuesday lunch break. Smear the cream cheese mixture on a tortilla, layer bean dip, guacamole, cheese, olives and more on top, roll it up and tada! You have yourself a festive wrap ready to go.

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Curried Egg Salad

Add a little kick to your typical egg salad sandwich with this curried version. Cut a few slices of tomato and sprinkle some pepper on top for the perfect afternoon bite.

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White Bean Arugula Salad

Meal prep your lunch in just 30 minutes with this refreshing bean salad. Made with onions, tomatoes, cannellini beans and fresh herbs, this lunch is packed with protein to leave you energized for the workday.

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Turkey Salad with Pear Dressing

Featuring a dressing made with lemon, honey, ginger and pears and a salad topped with pomegranate seeds and cranberries, you’ll get your fair share of sweetness in this lunch. Prevent a soggy salad for lunch by packing the dressing separately and pouring it over the arugula once it’s break time.

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Crunchy Tuna Wraps

These tuna wraps not only taste good, but they’re packed with protein and veggies, making them good for you too! Roll these wraps up tightly and secure it with a toothpick so everything stays in place until lunchtime.

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Fajitas in Pitas

Get a pocket-size version of your favorite restaurant dish with these fajitas in pitas. Made with a creamy mayo dressing, grilled chicken and multi-colored peppers, this lunch is one for the books. Make sure to pack the ingredients separately so the pita bread doesn’t get soggy.

Have leftover pita? Use them in these recipes with pita bread that we love.

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Asparagus Nicoise Salad

This colorful, make-ahead salad 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 added flavor to the dish.

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Sweet Macaroni Salad

Switch your typical lettuce salad for this sweet macaroni 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.

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Italian-Style Veggie Wraps

These easy-to-assemble wraps are filled with everything we love about an Italian sandwich. Stuffed with zucchini, broccoli, tomatoes, olives, onions, hard salami, hot peppers and lettuce, you can customize this easy lunch with endless varieties.

Check out these other sandwich wraps that are ready to be packed in your lunchbox.

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Skinny Cobb Salad

With the creaminess from Greek yogurt and ranch dressing, this “skinny” salad is half the calories with all the flavor. Filled with chopped apple, feta cheese, chicken, bacon and garbanzo beans, you’ll have a satisfied stomach with this easy lunch idea.

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We couldn’t come up with an easier lunch idea if we tried. This upgraded grilled cheese stuffs green and red peppers, sauteed onions and jalapeno between melted Monterey Jack cheese for the ultimate lunch. Pair it with a side salad or tomato soup for a well-rounded, satisfying lunch.

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Bacon Avocado Salad

This disassembled BLT-turned salad incorporates avocado for a full-rounded, easy lunch. The creamy avocado, smoky bacon and juicy tomatoes give a balanced refreshing and savory taste to this bed of lettuce.

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Guacamole Tossed Salad

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.

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Microwave Egg Sandwich

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 is you can cook in the microwave for the easiest lunch you’ll ever devour.

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Almond Strawberry Salad

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.

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Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Spice up your lunch with these Buffalo chicken wraps. This recipe mixes together hot sauce and butter to dip battered chicken in and tops it off with creamy salad dressing for the ultimate lunch wrap.

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Apple Chicken Quesadillas

Enjoy a delightful twist on the classic quesadilla 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.

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Loaded Turkey Sliders

Don’t let the size fool you—these mini sandwiches are packed with flavor! Flavored with hamburger seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, cumin and Dijon mustard, these turkey sliders are then topped with gooey Muenster cheese for a satisfying lunch.

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Lemon Cranberry Quinoa Salad

Enjoy a medley of quinoa, cucumber, onion, cranberries and fresh herbs dressed in a tangy lemon dressing for a bright and citrusy twist to your average lunch. Looking for protein? Try adding in 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.

Ivis recently completed her first year as assistant editor at Taste of Home, where she's been writing and updating content about cooking trends, food news and cleaning and organizing. She also works on behind-the-scenes projects that help keep the Taste of Home team ticking along. Still learning how to cook elaborate meals, she's an expert when it comes to finding and trying beginner recipes.After hours, you can find Ivis out looking for the best restaurants in Madison (especially those that serve authentic Mexican food) or taking her dog for scenic walks.