Sometimes you just don't feel like having leftovers for lunch. If you are wondering "what to make for lunch" that is easy, healthy, and delicious, and you don't necessary want to spend all Sunday night meal prepping (although there is nothing wrong with that, we have some great meal prep ideas here too!), then you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 50 of our best and most popular healthy lunch ideas.
Best Healthy Lunch Ideas
Browse through the best lunch sandwiches wraps and rolls, filling hearty salads, flavor-packed Asian bowls, hearty soups that are easy to make ahead and reheat well, and easy meal prep ideas (meatballs are the best for meal prep). Plus, many of these lunch recipes are quick and easy!
Sandwiches, Wraps and Rolls
Easy Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki
This refreshing and light, easy Greek chicken gyros is packed with tender souvlaki chicken, Greek salad, and homemade tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in a pita. One of our most popular healthy lunch ideas.
The best egg salad sandwich is a quick and easy picnic classic loaded with perfect hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, a touch of dijon mustard and green onions.
Turkey pinwheels are bite-sized finger food perfection and will make back-to-school lunch planning for the kids a total breeze. They are fully customizable and you can wrap them up in a tortilla or in pita bread.
Homemade chicken shawarma (donair) with juicy tender chicken marinated in Middle Eastern spices and wrapped in pita bread is easy to make at home. Serve it with a Persian Shirazi Salad on the side.
Vegan hummus wrap is a quick easy lunch made in minutes with a handful of fresh ingredients. This delicious veggie wrap is healthy, fresh, nutritious.
Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Chicken
Vietnamese summer rolls with chicken are fresh, light, and healthy. This Asian snack is a healthy lunch idea that takes less than 20 minutes to make and way easier than you think.
Hearty and filling beef and bean burritos are easy to make ahead, freezer-friendly, and take just 30 minutes for restaurant-quality Mexican food at home.
Tuna Melt Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Get your hands on pantry staple canned tuna and make a delicious, crunchy tuna melt grilled cheese sandwich in less than 10 minutes! It's so tasty and easy! For another grilled cheese option, try a roasted broccoli grilled cheese sandwich.
Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Mayo
Spice it up and make copycat Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps with spicy mayo from the comfort of your own home with this easy to follow recipe. Plus, it is healthier than the original.
Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich
This easy-to-make, light and crunchy Vietnamese lemongrass chicken banh mi sandwich is packed with tender chicken, pickled vegetables and fresh herbs.
Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Fresh, light and healthy Vietnamese salad rolls are packed with vermicelli noodles, shrimp, fresh vegetables and herbs and dipped in homemade peanut sauce. If you prefer chicken, try our Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Chicken.
Hearty Filling Salads = the Easiest Healthy Lunch Idea
Chicken Garden Salad with Ranch Dressing
Chicken garden salad with ranch dressing is fresh, healthy, hearty, and colorful. It's a filling and wholesome lunch or dinner that is versatile too. You can't get a healthy lunch idea than a fresh salad.
Italian pasta salad is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Make it up to three days ahead for your summer picnics and cookouts. You can't get more classic than Italian Salad for lunch.
Grilled shrimp salad is a quick and easy, healthy summer meal that is loaded with fresh, flavorful ingredients, all tossed in an easy homemade dressing.
Beef taco salad is a simple, filling, and delicious meal loaded with your favorite taco fillings, and a creamy lime dressing. Make it in 20 minutes.
There’s nothing better on a hot day than a cold and refreshing vegan soba noodle salad, tossed with fresh vegetables and a delicious saucy dressing.
Greek chicken salad is fresh, healthy, and delicious, packed with classic Mediterranean flavors. Perfect as a light lunch or dinner, or for meal prep.
Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Quick and easy Mediterranean orzo pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables and herbs is tossed in a Greek lemon vinaigrette. Healthy, light and delicious.
Shrimp taco salad with cilantro lime dressing is flavourful, delicious, and easy to make. It has all the fixings and of shrimp tacos, but without the mess.
Asian chopped salad is a delicious and colorful salad, loaded with refreshing crisp vegetables, plant-based protein, and a homemade creamy sesame dressing.
Chickpea Greek salad is a fresh, healthy, vibrant, and colorful salad, packed with traditional Mediterranean ingredients, superfoods, and nutrients.
Take a bite into this refreshing, gluten-free quinoa and spinach salad bursting with colourful tomatoes, cucumbers and raisins.
Filling Asian Bowls for the Most Flavourful Wholesome Lunch
Easy to make, light and fresh teriyaki grilled salmon rice bowl is topped with vegetables, seaweed and salmon roe, with homemade teriyaki sauce on top.
Vietnamese Noodle Bowl with Chicken
Vietnamese noodle bowl with lemongrass chicken, fresh vegetables and herbs, tossed in a homemade Vietnamese sauce is healthy, delicious, light, and filling.
Korean beef steak rice bowl is loaded with tender and juicy strips of beef, marinated vegetable sides (banchan), and kimchi. Make it in under 30 minutes!
Cold Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce
Easy vegan Shanghai style cold noodles tossed in peanut butter sauce with fresh vegetables and Asian seasonings, are flavourful and ready in 10 minutes.
Easy Make Ahead Soups for Lunch that will Keep you Full Until Dinner
Creamy Tortellini Soup with Sausage
Hearty and creamy tortellini soup with sausage, spinach and kale is total comfort food in a bowl. Make this flavourful one pot meal in under 30 minutes.
Hearty chicken tortilla soup is a delicious, wholesome and filling soup that you can make in about 30 minutes, packed with classic Mexican flavours.
Vegetarian Mushroom Barley Soup
Wholesome hearty vegetarian mushroom barley soup is healthy, filling, and so delicious. This one pot meal is easy to make with just 10 minutes of prep.
Indian-inspired, vegan, creamy coconut curry lentil soup is an easy and simple 30-minute pantry meal that is packed with spices for maximum flavour. Serve it as a soup or as a curry over some coconut rice.
Creamy ham and potato soup is hearty, filling, and so flavourful. This warm and cozy one pot meal is the easiest weeknight meal to make in just 25 minutes.
Delicious and flavourful, light cream of broccoli soup is a silky smooth, creamy, and thick soup made healthier with no cream. Make it in under 25 minutes.
This vegetarian, hearty and filling, creamy Mexican corn soup is dense, bright, and full of flavour! It has all the warm and cozy vibes written all over it. Serve it with some butternut squash quesadillas.
Hearty beef cabbage barley soup is wholesome, filling and flavourful. This one pot meal can be made ahead and is freezer-friendly. Prep it in 10 minutes for one of the easiest healthy lunch ideas.
One pot sweet potato soup is super silky, creamy and vegan, and packed with fall flavours. Make this quick and easy fall and winter soup in 30 minutes. Serve with some rosemary cornbread or pumpkin dinner rolls on the side.
Easy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas
Delicious, moist and juicy Mediterranean chicken patties have everything you want in one bite: protein, veggies, herbs, and they're quick and easy to make. Serve it on it's own, with hamburger buns, or a side of Basmati rice.
Fresh, homegrown bell peppers baked with an assortment of veggies and brown rice is what these easy vegan stuffed bell peppers are all about!! Ready in under an hour, serve this at your next fancy dinner party or make it for an easy weeknight dinner!
Meal Prep Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables
Quick and easy, throw everything into one pan, Asian-style meal prep sheet pan sesame balsamic chicken and vegetables is flavourful, juicy and tender. Serve with some steamed rice.
Meatballs are probably my favorite of all ground beef recipes. These quick, easy homemade Italian meatballs are juicy, flavourful, and delicious, simmered in a rich and savoury tomato sauce. Make them in just 30 minutes.
Spinach and Feta Quiche with Cauliflower Crust
Spinach and feta quiche is healthy and gluten-free with a keto cauliflower crust and savoury vegetarian filling. Serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Sizzling and hot sheet pan chicken fajitas are on the table in less than 30 minutes. The best part is that you just throw everything into one sheet pan. Make it a total fiesta with some pico de gallo and fish tacos.
Baked Chicken Breast with Greek Souvlaki Marinade
Juicy, tender, and moist, baked chicken breast with the best Greek souvlaki marinade is the most flavorful and delicious chicken dinner in under 30 minutes.
One Pot Spanish Chicken and Rice
Packed with flavour, real ingredients and vibrant colours, one pot Spanish chicken and rice is the perfect no fuss, no clean up weeknight meal.
Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.
Classic easy meat lasagna is the ultimate Italian comfort food with layers of tender lasagna, meaty tomato sauce, cheese filling and melted cheese on top.
Ground beef stuffed peppers are delicious, healthy, and filling. Stuffed with beef rice and veggies, they're easy to make ahead and freezer-friendly.
Spring vegetable frittata is a delicious breakfast or served at any time of the day. It's a one-pan meal that starts on the stove and moves to the oven.
One Pot Coconut Curry Chicken and Rice
Creamy, delicious and flavourful, Thai-inspired one pot coconut curry chicken and rice is a 30-minute weeknight meal made with red curry and coconut milk.
Creamy White Chicken and Spinach Lasagna
Creamy white chicken and spinach lasagna with tender shredded chicken is the most comforting creamiest cheesiest white lasagna. Easy to make ahead & freeze.
Tips for Storing and Reheating these Healthy Lunch Ideas
- Make ahead instructions. You can make many of these lunch recipes ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months (the soups and meatballs freeze really well!). You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use or assemble.
- How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to confirm if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
- How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.
More Lunch Recipes
Did You Make Any of These Easy Lunch Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these healthy lunch ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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Print
50+ Healthy Lunch Ideas
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings
Description
Over 50 best most popular lunch ideas including sandwiches wraps and rolls, hearty salads, flavorful Asian bowls, easy meal prep ideas, and hearty soups.
Ingredients
- Refer to each recipe for ingredient lists.
Instructions
- Make ahead instructions. You can make many of these lunch recipes ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months (the soups and meatballs freeze really well!). You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use or assemble.
- How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to confirm if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
- How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Various
- Cuisine: Various
Nutrition
- Calories: 250
Keywords: 50+ healthy lunch ideas, healthy lunch ideas, lunch ideas, what to make for lunch
Zee says
I am really happy after making the healthy lunch ideas. I cooked so many dishes from this blog and it was really delicious thanks a lot.
★★★★★
Katrina Kalina says
I think these are amazing options! Thank you so much! Another great option for a lunch or dinner recipe is butternut squash lasagna. It's an amazingly fantastic dish which I adore!
★★★★