Looking for a healthy and quick lunch recipes? When you come back home after a busy day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours cooking and making food. You want to make something tasty but simple that will take you less than 10 minutes to make. That’s where this healthy and quick lunch recipes post comes in handy. These easy recipes can be prepared in the morning and kept in the fridge until lunchtime. The best part? They are healthier than most things you’ll buy from a shop or fast food!
The best and delicious recipes can be found here, which are easy to prepare and cheaper than the take away. Check out this selection of somehealthy, quick & easy lunch recipes.
Healthy And Quick Lunch Recipes
A compilation of all the recipes I’ve posted over the years that make great lunches. Of course, you can make them for dinner too. But these are the recipes I usually enjoy in the middle of the day. They’re perfect for after work and many of them are portable, make-ahead meals you can bring to the office with you! If you’re getting bored of your daily lunch, this is your chance to find an exciting new recipe to try. Plenty of these recipes are super quick and easy to make. Many of them will feed your whole family, too! Your new favorite lunch is around the corner.
Whether you eat lunch at home these days while WFH or pack it to take along, having a healthy (and tasty!) lunch you feel good about can sometimes make or break your day.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite lunch recipes to help you power through your day — and keep you full enough to avoid mindless snacking come 3 p.m.
They may take more planning than swinging through the drive-thru or ordering in, but they’re easier on your waistline and your wallet, too.
Soups
This Indian-inspired vegetarian soup is easy to throw in your slow cooker in the morning if you’re an early riser. Or make it ahead — and it freezes well.
Looking for something quick and filling? This soup is for you. It comes together in under a half-hour and is bursting with flavor from poblano pepper, paprika and cumin.
This Mexican-inspired soup features zesty lime, fresh radishes and a touch of heat from jalepeño. And it’s all ready for lunch in just 25 minutes.
Salads
If you’re stuck thinking salad means iceberg lettuce, it’s easy to break out of the rut using the superfood kale. It features lots of different flavors and a satisfying crunch!
If you enjoy a classic Cobb, give our California Kale Cobb a try. To save time around your lunch hour, chop your kale and bake the bacon in advance.
This simple salad’s flavor develops in the fridge overnight, so prep it the night before and you’ll be rewarded with a tasty lunch — filled with brain-healthy antioxidants.
Chicken
This chicken salad is great for when you’re out of ideas, but are looking for something the whole family can chow down in little time. It features chunks of chicken tossed with Greek yogurt, tart dried cranberries, crisp Granny Smith apples and rosemary.
When you make wraps, it’s best to use fresh vs. processed meats. Try this delicious lunch, featuring shredded chicken (use a rotisserie chicken to save time).
Once you’ve got your ingredients prepped and sautéed, this chili only takes another 45 minutes to simmer. So it’s doable if you’re working from home, or you can always finish it in your crockpot and have it the next day to last the week.
Beef
When you’re craving a taco salad, don’t hit the drive-thru. Try this healthy version with grass-fed beef, cumin and chili powder, on a bed of mesclun and red cabbage.
If you’re trying to cut carbs, try these bun-less bison burgers for a change. Once you prep them, you can throw them on the grill or broil them.
If you use pre-packed diced butternut squash, this flavorful chili can come together in time for a filling lunch. You can also prep your onions and peppers the night before to save yourself even more time.
Fish
These tacos are perfect for lunch because they come together so fast. Use any thawed frozen or fresh firm, white fish. Try flounder, cod, snapper or tilapia.
This fish chowder makes plenty of leftovers. Make it for dinner one night and then the rest stays good for lunches in the fridge for five days.
This Asian-inspired dish hits the spot when takeout temptation strikes. Chilled noodles are topped with cucumber, salmon and a delicious garlic sauce.
Vegetarian
Whether you’re vegetarian or not, this eggless tofu salad is a tasty lunch — with customizable toppings, depending on your mood or what you have on hand.
Sure, it takes longer than the kind that comes in a box. But you won’t regret it and your kids (or you!) will still gobble it down.
If you’re feeling lazy (or crunched for time), this recipe is essentially a deconstructed sandwich. But sometimes just presenting something differently is enough to make it new and fun.
Check Out These Recipes You Would Love To Try Them
Escarole and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toast
If you’re looking for a healthy and filling vegetarian soup that’s quick, cheap and easy, this Escarole and Chickpea Soup is it.
Escarole and Chickpea Soup
You’ve been asking me for new soup recipes, so I am delivering! Italian Escarole and Chickpea Soup with Garlic Toast is easy, comforting and healthy, with only 7 ingredients, not counting salt and pepper, and ready in under 20 minutes. My favorite part is the sourdough toast that I rub with a raw garlic clove – something my dad always used to do, which reminds me of him. This soup is also budget-friendly as it uses one of my favorite pantry staples – chickpeas, which are so healthy and high in fiber. More chickpea recipes that you could try are Harissa Shrimp and Chickpeas and Chickpea Tomato Soup.
What is escarole?
Escarole is a leafy green vegetable and member of the chicory family. It’s popular in Italian cuisine and can be served either raw or cooked. At the grocery store, escarole can be easy to miss as it looks a lot like lettuce. It’s usually located near the heads of lettuce and bunches of kale. If you can’t find it, any leafy green vegetable will work.
Parmesan cheese rind adds great flavor in soup
Here’s a tip: Save those Parmesan or Romano cheese rinds in the freezer, they give soup a deeper savory flavor to make tasty soups. Let the rind simmer in the soup pot and toss it before serving. If you don’t have one, no worries. You can still make this escarole and chickpea soup without it and just add a little Parmesan to your soup before serving.
Variations:
- Swap the chickpeas for white beans.
- Swap the escarole for any leafy green such as baby spinach or chard.
- Omit the toast to make it gluten-free
Escarole And Chickpea Soup With Garlic Toast
Instructions
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Smash 3 of the garlic cloves with the side of a knife. Cut the 4th clove in half.
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Heat a medium pot or Dutch Oven on medium heat; when hot add the oil.
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Add the 3 smashed garlic cloves and sauté until golden, about 2 minutes.
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Add the broth, Parmesan rind and chickpeas and bring to a boil. Then add the escarole and cook until it wilts, about 15 minutes.
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Meanwhile, spritz the bread with olive oil and place in the broiler or toaster, until golden brown.
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Take the garlic halves and rub them all over the toasted bread.
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To serve, discard the garlic and cheese rind. Ladle into 4 bowls and serve with fresh grated Parmesan. Serve with garlic toast.
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Make a perfectly air fryer baked sweet potato cooked in less time than it would in the oven – fluffy in the center with crisp skin!
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
Adding to my list of air fryer recipes, this simple method for air frying a sweet potato! I love making baked sweet potatoes in the air fryer because it’s quicker since you don’t have to preheat the air fryer like you do an oven and the sweet potatoes come out perfectly – fluffy in the center with crisp skin. If you don’t have an air fryer, check out my Oven-Baked Sweet Potatoes.
First off, this is the air fryer I have and love, and trust me after writing 2 air fryer cookbooks, I have tried a lot. I have the 7 quart, perfect for making a whole chicken.
What is healthier: baked sweet potato or baked potato?
Baked sweet potatoes and baked potatoes are both very healthy. If your goal is to add more fiber to your diet, then I’d go with a sweet potato. However, both types would be great additions to any diet. They both have a lot to offer:
- Sweet potatoes have about 50% more fiber than a russet potato, but they have about the same amount of protein.
- Sweet potatoes are loaded with more vitamins A and C than baked potatoes, while regular potatoes have more potassium and folate.
Tips for the Perfect Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes
- Buy sweet potatoes that don’t have soft skin, wrinkles, cracks, or soft spots.
- Store sweet potatoes in a cool, dry place for three to five weeks.
- Pierce sweet potatoes all over with a fork before air frying.
How long does it take to air fry sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes take about 35-45 minutes to cook at 370F degrees in the air fryer, which is less time than they take in the oven.
How to Serve Baked Sweet Potatoes
There are so many ways to serve baked sweet potatoes. The simplest way to eat them is with butter (or coconut oil if you’re dairy-free) on top – a little goes a long way. Another easy option that’s calorie-free is to sprinkle on chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, or pumpkin spice.
You can also stuff sweet potatoes with different fillings. Some delicious ideas are these Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, Loaded Vegetarian Baked Sweet Potato, and Italian Stuffed Sweet Potatoes.
