Our 20 Best Lunches Ready In Less Than 20 Minutes

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a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad Save time during your day with these delicious lunch recipes! Each of these dishes comes together in no more than 20 minutes, making them perfect options to throw together during your lunch break. They’re also popular with […]

Click here to view original web page at www.eatingwell.com


a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad
a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

Save time during your day with these delicious lunch recipes! Each of these dishes comes together in no more than 20 minutes, making them perfect options to throw together during your lunch break. They’re also popular with our readers, having earned four and five stars. You’ll want to try options like our No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad and our High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich for a delicious lunch that will keep you satisfied.

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.

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02 of 20

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.

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03 of 20

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.

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04 of 20

High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich

a recipe photo of the High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich
a recipe photo of the High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich

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.

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05 of 20

Cucumber & Tomato Sandwich

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

This herby cucumber and tomato sandwich is crisp and refreshing, making the most out of summer’s produce bounty. Chives add a delicate onion flavor to the cream cheese, but dill or basil can be used in their place.

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06 of 20

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. Use the remaining herb sauce as a dressing for salads or grain bowls, as a spread on sandwiches or as a dip for vegetables.

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07 of 20

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

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08 of 20

Eat-the-Rainbow Vegetable Soup

Side view photo of 3 jars of Anti-Inflammatory Eat-the-Rainbow soup after broth is added with lid on top.
Side view photo of 3 jars of Anti-Inflammatory Eat-the-Rainbow soup after broth is added with lid on top.

This vibrant and wholesome soup recipe helps support your well-being. It’s packed with a variety of colorful vegetables, like tomatoes, which contain lycopene, a phytochemical that may help reduce inflammation.

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09 of 20

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries

a recipe photo of the Spinach-Quinoa Bowls w Chicken and Berries
a recipe photo of the Spinach-Quinoa Bowls w Chicken and Berries

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 microwavable quinoa.

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10 of 20

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. The base of the soup is prepared in advance and stored in separate containers. When you’re ready to enjoy it, simply add the broth and heat it in the microwave.

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11 of 20

Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon

Overhead view of a bowl of Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon recipe
Overhead view of a bowl of Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon recipe

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.

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12 of 20

Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija & Lime

a recipe photo of the Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija and Lime
a recipe photo of the Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija and Lime

This easy vegetarian cucumber sandwich draws flavor inspiration from elote, the Mexican street corn dish. Instead of corn, we flavor cucumber slices with cotija cheese, lime and cilantro for a tasty filling. Cotija cheese, a salty, crumbly Mexican cheese, is similar in flavor and texture to feta cheese, which can be used as a substitute. Arugula adds a peppery flavor, but any tender greens will work well here.

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13 of 20

Open-Face Goat Cheese Sandwich with Tomato & Avocado Salad

This simple lunch comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a great option for busy days.

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14 of 20

Chickpea Tuna Salad

Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn

This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).

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15 of 20

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.

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16 of 20

Caprese Sandwich

Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely

This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta. The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor. Topping the bread with a layer of basil leaves and using toasted bread helps to keep the sandwich from getting soggy if you need to make it a few hours ahead.

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17 of 20

Butternut Squash, Tomato, Chard & Chickpea Soup

This vegan soup recipe is chock-full of colorful vegetables. All those veggies give this soup plenty of fiber, upping the satisfaction factor while keeping calories low—a combination that can aid in weight loss over time and potentially help you lose belly fat. Vibrant turmeric adds a golden color to the flavorful broth, while cumin and ginger give it a bright, fresh finish.

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18 of 20

Avocado Tuna Spinach Salad

Greg DuPree

Avocado adds creaminess while sunflower seeds provide texture and crunch in this easy tuna-spinach salad.

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19 of 20

High-Protein Greek Salad Omelet Wrap

Sara Haas

Would you rather have a salad or a wrap for dinner? Wait, why not both! This protein-packed meal features Greek salad tucked into an egg-white wrap. It also makes for a delicious breakfast.

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20 of 20

Vegetarian Niçoise Salad

This vegetarian take on a traditional Niçoise salad omits the fish and piles on plenty of vegetables.

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