30 Quick and Easy Lunch Ideas

Everyone has had to run out of the house at full speed one morning or another. It can be easy to skip lunch or throw something together that frankly doesn’t work. However, with a little bit of planning and prep, you’ll never have to worry about rushing again!

Whether you’re looking for a way to spice up your kids’ lunch or a new treat to bring into the office, there’s something on this list for you.

No matter your dietary restriction, you can find something to make! There’s sure to be a lunch idea on this list that you will like, becoming an instant classic.

This list of lunch ideas is packed with so many incredible recipes, and they are so easy to whip up! Anyone can make them, and they will make your life so much easier.

No more panicking because you can’t find lunch for the day!

1. Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps

First up are these incredible chicken bacon ranch wraps! Essentially a chicken club inside of a tortilla, these are so easy to pull together and sure to satisfy all family members.

They’re perfect for sending to school or the office on a busy day!

No one wants a soggy wrap, especially when you’re packing lunch.

Tomatoes have so much moisture in them, making the tortillas fall apart. Instead, you can drain the tomatoes overnight and then assemble the wraps. You can enjoy the wraps without them falling apart in your hands!

2. Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders

One of the best quick lunch ideas, these sliders aren’t just good for lunch; they’ll also make a great game-day snack! They can be made as a single slider, or you can make them en masse for larger gatherings.

Thin-cut deli ham is the secret to this recipe and how the texture is.

The thinner you can get the ham, the better the flavor. The thinner the ham, the further in the BBQ sauce will go and pack in even more flavor!

3. Chicken Club Lettuce Wraps

Yet another chicken club in a wrap, this recipe stands out because it’s made protein-style!

Lettuce wraps are a delicious alternative to bread products like tortillas and flatbreads. While they can be messier, they have a great texture and are refreshing!

All of these fresh ingredients are perfect with the rich bacon and avocado.

Dijon dressing adds a perfect final touch along with fresh-cracked black pepper. You could add some sriracha to the mixture for even more kick and add some heat.

4. Vegetarian Quesadillas

While this list has other lunch ideas for adults at home, these vegetarian quesadillas are excellent for anyone looking for a healthy, diet-friendly option.

This Tex Mex snack is fast, packed with bold flavors, and entirely vegetarian-friendly.

This recipe could easily be made vegan too. You could substitute Non-dairy cheese for the cheddar or pepper jack cheeses, vegan tortillas instead of typical tortillas, and avoid butter.

Similarly, you could easily make this recipe for the meat-eaters in your life by adding marinated meat, lunch meats, or even fried chicken.

5. Healthy Tuna Stuffed Avocado

This recipe was born out of clearing leftovers from the fridge and cupboards. It is packed with healthy fats from both the avocado and the tuna and has heat from the fresh peppers.

You could even use this recipe as a modified poke bowl recipe!

While this recipe is delicious, it is best to avoid eating it daily.

You can quickly fill your recommended level of mercury and take it into the danger zone. This is especially true if you buy the higher grade albacore tuna or fresh sushi-grade tuna.

6. Homemade Pizza Pockets

These cheesy pizza pockets are excellent treats, especially as an after-school snack or lunchbox staple.

They are perfect for kids of all ages, and even adults will fall in love with them! They are also so straightforward to make.

You can customize them to make pizzas for everyone. You could put fresh vegetables, pineapple, pepperoni, different cheeses, and other toppings inside.

However, don’t add too many! You don’t want the pockets to burst while baking because they are stuffed too full.

7. Ham and Cheese Egg Cups

Lunch options all seem to blur together after a while. However, these ham and egg cups are cute, delicious, nutritious, and easy to boot. It has no bread, making this perfect for anyone trying to cut down on carbs.

You don’t even need to make these cups with ham! Turkey or salami are great options as well.

As long as the meat can be layered together to create a cup shape, you can use it in the treats. You could also sprinkle fresh herbs over the top to add new flavors.

8. Keto Mini Burger Bites

Lunch ideas for work need to be two things: nutritious and delicious. These delicious keto-friendly sliders are full of fresh flavors and veggies that pop with incredible flavor.

Coconut aminos are an excellent seasoning for these little beef patties. It is very similar to soy sauce, but it has a different flavor and is better for the body as a protein boost.

This is a popular choice for vegan diets since it is an excellent alternative to other dietary supplements that vegans need to survive.

9. Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps

These wraps are great for busy days and packed with fresh, vibrant flavors.

Homemade red vinaigrette is a lovely touch and valuable for many other recipes. Once you start making it yourself, you’ll never go back to store-bought again!

If you want to get a different flavor in this wrap, you could choose new hummus flavors.

Sun-dried tomato, garlic, and boiled peanuts can give you all different kinds of subtle tastes. You could even add some extra olive oil if you like your wraps slightly soggier.

10. Mediterranean Orzo Salad

Orzo pasta is incredible in soups, but it shines in salads, especially this recipe.

These little bits of pasta are a great way to bulk up a dish with even more nutrition and give you energy throughout the day.

Not only that, but this pasta salad has so many incredible Mediterranean flavors.

Feta cheese and Kalamata olives will whisk you away to Greece, along with oregano, olive oil, and fresh parsley. You’ll practically feel the ocean wind on your face as you enjoy this lunch.

11. Banana Sushi

While the name might sound wild and crazy, this treat is a great sweet and savory treat for kids and adults alike.

This recipe is more of an after-school snack, but it could be turned into a quick lunch for picky eaters in elementary school.

While this recipe calls for peanut butter, you could substitute Nutella or another type of nut butter.

Nutella is an even sweeter option that adds chocolate and hazelnut to this snack. You can even use non-nut butter if you have an allergy!

12. Best-Ever Chicken Salad

Food has to be nutritious and exciting. However, an often overlooked aspect of food is how it can be customized and spiced up.

This chicken salad is not only delicious, but you can add all kinds of other new ingredients to make it unique.

If you want to give the recipe an incredible flavor, using fresh dill is the way. Not only does it have concentrated dill flavor, but the recipe also has other fresh spices that will bring it to the next level.

13. Cajun Chicken Pasta

This is one of the best lunch recipes, but you can also use it for dinner, special occasions, date nights, and every other occasion in-between. It has an incredible kick and so many delicious flavors.

The pounded-thin chicken and sauteed garlic pair so well together.

This dish is versatile, so if you are in the mood to day-drink or want something exciting for brunch, you can pair this pasta with a lovely rose or chardonnay. These two types will cut through the richness and balance other flavors.

14. Chicken Pasta Salad

Never say ‘What should I make for lunch?’ ever again! This pasta salad has it all: meat, fresh veggies, carbs, and everything else an adult needs to thrive.

Fresh chunks of avocado are delicious and give the salad creaminess to balance out the other intense herb flavors.

While this recipe calls for cherry tomatoes that you have cut in half, you could easily use a full-sized tomato cut into smaller pieces. You could also add even more vegetable flavors to this recipe and clean out your crisper.

15. Spicy Kani Salad

Did you know that the look of your food is just as important as the flavor for your enjoyment?

Pinterest lunch ideas look so good and satisfy you to the max! This Kani salad is incredible and looks as good as it tastes!

You can serve it on several lettuce leaves for an extra beautiful presentation. This will let all the colors pop on the plate or in the bowl, especially the mango yellow. Bright red sriracha and vivid green onions are other color pop you can add to the top of the salad.

16. Pepperoni Pizza Quesadillas

These pepperoni pizza quesadillas are a strong dose of childhood. Adults and kids alike can find something to love about this recipe. Not only is this an excellent choice for school lunches, picnics, and bringing into the office, these are perfect to snack on.

If you want to save these for later or if you need to make a smaller amount than the full recipe, you could freeze the excess.

That way, you can have the perfect after-school snack ready to go. All you have to do is pop it in the microwave, and voila!

17. Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These chicken wraps have one intense kick that will wake you up! You can customize fresh chilis and curry paste to fit any spice tolerance, but the base level is extreme. The fresh lettuce is so refreshing with this heat.

If you want to add even more flavors to this already delicious dish, you could add a small amount of sesame oil to the oil you use to cook the meat.

You don’t need a lot since it goes a long way, and you add perfect nuttiness to this dish!

18. Keto Sushi Bowls

What’s better than delicious lunch ideas? Lunch that can be thrown together in minutes! All you have to do is prepare the cauliflower rice and mix the ingredients. It’s that easy! These sushi bowls are packed with fresh veggies, perfect for hot summer days.

Prepping cauliflower rice is incredibly easy. You can even buy pre-prepared cauliflower that needs to go in the microwave in today’s day and age. You can store them in your fridge or freezer and have fresh cauliflower rice in moments.

19. Turkey and Cheese Crescent Rolls

There are many great things to make for lunch, and this recipe is even easier with the premade crescent roll dough.

These little wraps are no-fuss and savory, making them perfect for every member of the family to enjoy at all times of the day.

The base recipe calls for turkey and shredded cheese, but you could also include other ingredients to spice it up. Spinach, different condiment sauces, and mixing various meats will take this dish to the next level.

20. Greek Spaghetti Squash Toss

This recipe takes a less-common ingredient and puts it in a pasta salad with other veggies, herbs, and toppings. The less-common ingredient? Spaghetti squash!

This recipe is perfect for anyone trying to avoid carbs but who wants a similar texture and the same kind of flavor absorption. You’ve come to the right spot if you’ve been looking for the ideal veggie-filled dish for lunch.

Suppose you choose to make this recipe, a word of warning: make sure to toss all of the strands in the mixture. Spaghetti squash has a hard time combining with other ingredients if you aren’t careful.

21. Chicken Patties

Fast lunch ideas can be just as good as longer ones. This recipe may seem like it takes a long time, but it is easier than expected.

You can use leftover rotisserie chicken and make something even the pickiest eater will enjoy.

Like crab cakes, you can use these chicken patties for just about anything. Not only are they perfect for sliders, but you can use them as a side item with a decadent dipping sauce or as a main course protein.

22. Turkey Ranch Roll-Ups

Easy lunch ideas come in all shapes and sizes. This classroom and sports team classic is perfect for long days under the sun.

They are super easy to make, especially in bulk, to make as many as you need and satisfy every guest.

If you’ve ever worried about sneaking veggies into your child’s food (or even your own), this is a great recipe to start with.

The bell peppers and finely chopped onion hide in the center filling and can’t notice.

23. Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Chickpea salad sandwiches are a great alternative for your regular tuna sandwich, but this recipe comes with a vegan twist.

These simmered chickpeas (or garbanzo beans) give the sandwich texture and all kinds of other flavors with the fresh herbs.

You can keep this recipe in the fridge for three to four days to make these sandwiches throughout the week! No need to worry about what you need to make next; the filling has already been prepped for you!

24. Caprese Pasta Salad

Packed lunch ideas do not need to be over the top. Sometimes, they can be as simple as drizzling olive oil and balsamic vinegar over mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes.

The hardest part of this recipe is cooking the pasta and mixing the ingredients. It’s that simple!

While the recipe calls for fresh pesto, you can skip that and go with your favorite packaged brand. You’re missing out on all the perfect flavors from fresh, homemade pesto, so I would recommend making it for yourself if you have time.

25. Buffalo Chicken Wrap

Good lunch ideas come in all shapes and sizes. These wraps are delicious, easier to make, and portable versions of your favorite game-day snacks.

Not only that, but this recipe uses up all kinds of leftovers, so the excitement can keep on giving.

You can crisp up the chicken in the air fryer or reheat any other type of leftover chicken you have.

Buffalo sauce is a given for this recipe, but a fresh bleu cheese dressing takes it to the next level. You could also add avocado as a perfect creamy companion.

26. Bacon Guacamole Grilled Cheese

What’s better than bacon and guacamole? Both of them together on a grilled cheese sandwich, of course!

This sandwich might be ooey and gooey, but the mess is part of this recipe’s feel-good charm. It will warm you up and bring a classic sandwich into the modern era.

This recipe goes incredibly well with tomato soup like any other grilled cheese. Classic store-bought tomato soups are incredible, but pairing this next-level grilled cheese with a next-level tomato bisque is a meal fit for a king or queen.

27. French Dip Crescents

French dips are a classic Los Angeles lunch staple, but they are enjoyed by people worldwide to this very day. This recipe makes them even easier to make from your backyard!

Making homemade au jus is difficult without making a whole beef roast. Packets of au jus mix make your life easier, and they are widely available.

Instead of making one large dish and collecting the fresh au jus, you can make a single portion and never worry about leftovers.

28. Korean-Style Lunch Boxes

Homemade lunch ideas from all over the world have one goal: feed someone during the middle of the day.

These Korean-style lunch prep boxes are perfect for the Type-A food prepper in all of us. You can pull them together over the weekend and then take a box every day for work!

You can customize these boxes with every type of vegetable under the sun and even come up with unique rice seasonings.

Sweet soy sauce or chicken bouillon are popular choices to spice up your rice game without overtaking the main course’s flavors.

29. Mini Garlic Toast Pizzas

The most effortless lunches are made with small dishes. They’re easier to clean up, and you can easily control your portions and food waste.

These mini garlic toast pizzas are full of rich garlic flavors and topped with everything you love in a pizza.

These mini-pizzas are infinitely customizable, and you can get the whole family involved in making this lunch staple.

Even the littlest ones in your family can participate in decorating their mini pizzas. This is a great way to teach your little ones about different vegetables and toppings.

30. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Last but certainly not least, we come to loaded baked potato soup. No lunch list could be complete without at least one delicious soup!

If you are a fan of Panera Bread, you know how hearty soup is with the other entries on their menu. Once you try this recipe, you’ll never go back!

This recipe is packed with bacon, cheese, and rich potato flavor. It will warm you right up after a long day, and it tastes like home. Like regular baked potatoes, you can also add other toppings to make this recipe your own.