Easy Lunch Ideas

I know we’ve all been there, that moment when you’re tired of eating expensive and boring takeout for lunch and you want something that’s flavorful, satisfying, and helps you rein in your budget. No worries! You can swap out that overpriced takeout for a homemade lunch with these Easy Lunch Ideas, including no-cook lunch ideas, lunch salads, and vegetarian lunch options. Be sure to bookmark this page so you can reference it the next time you need a simple lunch idea! ;)

Easy Lunch IDeas

We’re starting things off with these simple & easy lunch recipes that are not only delicious, but way better than takeout!

Hearty Black Bean QUesadillas

Fifteen minutes is all you’ll need to make these Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas. They’re easy, flavorful, and perfect to make ahead and freeze for later!

Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad

This Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad is super easy, creamy, and delicious! It’s made with a mayo-free dressing and can be served as a salad, stuffed into a pita, or piled between two hearty slices of bread.

Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen

Ditch the plain instant ramen…this Vegan Creamy Mushroom Ramen is rich in flavor, includes a delicious broth and comes together in just 15 minutes!

Classic Tuna Salad

We’re not making any boring tuna salads over here. Our Classic Tuna Salad is full of flavor, texture, and perfect for a quick lunch meal.

The Best Veggie Sandwich

We’ve got the formula to help you make the Best Veggie Sandwich ever! And because veggie sandwiches are super flexible, we have tons of ingredient suggestions and flavor combos for you to try!

Kimchi Quesadillas

These Kimchi Quesadillas are the perfect mix of flavors and textures, they’re SO FAST to make, and all of the ingredients last a long time in the fridge! #winning

Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet

This one pan Chicken Sausage White Bean Skillet is perfect for lunch or dinner! A delicious meal that saves you time and money.

Honey Garlic Chicken

Get ready to fall in love with this simple and delicious Honey Garlic Chicken recipe. Tender chicken is coated in a sweet & tangy sauce that goes perfectly with fluffy white rice!

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

I don’t know about you, but my go-to lunch on most days is chicken tenders and fries! These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and wayyy less expensive than fast food restaurants!

Chicken Stir-Fry

Stir-fry for lunch? Yes, please!! This easy Chicken Stir Fry recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner meal! You can mix-and-match the vegetables and the sauce is simply irresistible!

Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken Fried Rice – Easily stretch leftover rice and a single chicken breast into a budget-friendly and satisfying meal the whole family will love!

Lunch Salad Ideas

Salads are an easy go-to meal for lunch, but if you’re going to have a salad then it might as well be one that’s loaded with flavor, texture, and easy to make! Check out our favorite lunch salads below.

Ramen Noodle Salad

If you love salads with Asian-inspired flavors, then you’ve definitely got to try this Ramen Noodle Salad! It’s made with simple ingredients like shredded cabbage, chicken, carrots, green onions, and uncooked ramen noodles for a little extra CRUNCH!

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

If you want to mix things up for lunch, then save the recipe for this Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad. You can serve it as is or with a tortilla as a wrap sandwich, or mix it with cooked pasta for a really good pasta salad.

Crunchy Kale Chicken Salad

This Crunchy Kale and Chicken Salad is full of juicy chicken breast, almonds, lots of kale and the best homemade honey Dijon dressing!

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Mediterranean Tuna Salad is another salad that holds up great in the fridge, making it perfect for lunch and meal prep! It includes tuna, fresh vegetables, white beans, a little feta cheese, and a tangy homemade vinaigrette.

Cold Peanut Noodle Salad

Our popular Cold Peanut Noodle Salad is a super simple salad recipe that comes together with just a few ingredients and is topped with a creamy, tangy, peanut-lime dressing.

Chicken Salad With Apples

Chicken Salad with Apples is another Budget Bytes favorite! It’s filling, easy to prepare, and easy to customize. Serve it for lunch with a croissant, your favorite bread, with crackers, or as a topper for a green salad.

Traditional Chicken Salad

And for those who love classic recipes, this Traditional Chicken Salad is creamy and tangy, and the tender pulled-apart chicken gives it the best texture.

Nicoise Salad

Niçoise Salad is protein-packed, crunchy, and perfect for meal prep! It will keep you full all week long.

Taco Salad

Make Taco salad at home for a fraction of the price and have enough salad to meal prep all week long.

No Cook Lunch Ideas

If you’re looking for quick lunch ideas that require very little prep, we’ve got you covered! These no-cook lunch boxes and recipes are easy to meal prep and place in the fridge, so you can just grab your lunch and go!

The Hummus Lunch Box

This Hummus Lunch Box is a great no-cook lunch option to have as a meal or snack. You can mix and match the ingredients to find a combination you love, then enjoy it as is, as a pita sandwich, or with a salad.

Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl

This Cottage Cheese Crab Bowl is light and fresh, but still filling enough to serve as a whole meal!

The Cheese Board Lunch Box

Another great lunch box option is The Cheese Board Lunch Box. It’s like your own personal charcuterie board for lunch! ;)

Turkey Pinwheels

Turkey Pinwheels are always a fun and simple way to make lunch for work or school. They’re also super versatile. Grab the basic formula in our recipe, then feel free to switch up the ingredient combinations!

The Peanut Butter Lunch Box

The Peanut Butter Lunch Box includes both sweet and savory side items that are all delicious dipped into the creamy peanut butter.

Antipasto Salad

This Antipasto Salad is another great lunch option. All of the toppings stay pretty fresh when stored separately, so you can make half batches, ¼ batches, or even one salad at a time!

Vegetarian Lunch Recipes

If you’re looking for some good vegetarian lunch options, we’ve got a few that we think you’ll love!

Spinach And Feta Grilled Cheese

Seriously, who can resist a cheesy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich for lunch? Take it up a notch with this Spinach and Feta Grilled Cheese sandwich!

Creamy White Bean And Spinach Quesadillas

Switch things up for lunch with these Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas. They’re crispy on the outside, rich in flavor, and can be made in just 20 minutes.

Autumn Kale And Sweet Potato Salad

This Autumn Kale and Sweet Potato Salad is a great vegetarian salad option. It has incredible flavor and texture combinations including fresh apple and kale, roasted sweet potatoes, and a maple tahini dressing.

Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls

I mean who doesn’t love a good taco bowl? Roasted Cauliflower Taco Bowls with Cilantro Lime Ranch are super yummy, easy to customize, and great for meal prep!

Roasted Vegetable Salad Meal Prep

In the mood for more veggies? These Roasted Vegetable Salad Meal Prep boxes are delicious and another great option that’s easy to make and customize with your favorite veggies and dressing.

Buffalo Beans and Greens

These Buffalo Beans and Greens are packed with creamy white beans, rich kale, and wholesome diced veggies all tossed in spicy buffalo sauce. Perfect for a quick lunch and even better for meal prep!

Chicken Caesar Wraps

These Chicken Caesar Wraps are light and refreshing, but still big on flavor and filling.

Tostadas

These Tostadas are made with crispy tortillas and piled high with mashed pinto beans, salsa, veggies, and cheese for a different spin on your typical taco lunch or dinner!