Summer is here and it’s time to pack some healthy lunch ideas for summer. But are you out of ideas? Not anymore! Here are some easy and delicious lunchtime meals for summer. Summer is the season for barbeques and other parties where you get together and socialize. It also happens to be a time where we are most likely to find ourselves in situations where we are eating food that isn’t as healthy as we’d like. I don’t know about you, but at home I like to keep things simple and healthy. I think you will find these summer lunch ideas perfect for your needs.
Healthy Lunch Ideas For Summer
Summer is a delicious time of year, but it’s also a time when I’m not eager to stand in the kitchen over the hot stove at dinner time, let alone at lunch time too!
Thankfully, seasonal produce is abundant this time of year, and it makes whipping up these delicious summer lunch ideas easy and fun. With this list, you’ll find tons of ideas on ways to add flavor and variety to your summer lunch menu, without spending too much time in the kitchen to do it.
Keep Summer Lunch Fun and Easy with These Tips
Enjoying the flavors of summer doesn’t have to mean washing, cutting, or even cooking everyday! Here are some of my favorite ways to cut down on kitchen time without sacrificing flavor or freshness.
- Wash and chop once – Seasonal summer produce is often delicious raw, and can be sliced ahead of time for easy use. Keep cut veggies layered between damp paper towels for up to 3 days.
- Meal planning can save cooking time – If salads with quinoa are on your menu, then prep a large batch and also toss it into wraps, or make it into savory quinoa cakes.
- Keep things simple – Include a variety of no prep, low prep, and cold ideas to keep cooking time to a minimum and keep your summer menu fresh and delicious.
Get ready to plan your menu with these fantastic summer lunch ideas. Forget long cook times and hot ovens, and use these light and seasonal ideas to enjoy all the flavors of summer.
1. Summer Quinoa Salad
Celebrate the flavors of summer with this healthy and fresh vegetarian Summer Quinoa Salad! Featuring avocado for creaminess, strawberries for sweetness, walnuts for crunchiness, feta for that extra kick of flavor, and quinoa to make it more hearty, this salad has it all. An amazing maple lime mustard dressing is like a cherry on top!
2. Falafel Wrap With Tzatziki Sauce
Filling but also light and nutritious, this falafel wrap makes a perfect healthy vegetarian lunch or even dinner. It’s stuffed with crunchy falafel, fresh vegetables, pickled red cabbage, and topped with creamy tzatziki sauce. So good!
3. Brie Grilled Cheese
Kick up your grilled cheese with fresh summer strawberries and gooey Brie. This gourmet sandwich takes only minutes to put together!
4. Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad
This Crunchy Strawberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a great way to celebrate berry season and beyond! Crisp celery, pecans and poppy seeds give this simple chicken salad a fun twist on the traditional chicken salad recipe.
5. Tuna And Green Bean Pasta Salad
This green bean, potato, and tomato packed Tuna Pasta Salad ticks all the boxes. It’s healthy and super nutritious, it’s light but filling at the same time, and it’s so delicious you will rush to thank me after tasting it. A perfect summer dinner!
6. Indian-Style Tea Sandwiches
For all the crust-hating sandwich lovers, you’ll love these finger foods that are packed with different chutneys and flavor from Indian cuisine. These three different varieties of Indian-style tea sandwiches are inspired by British afternoon tea time and best served with friends and family over a glass of champagne or a hot cup of tea.
7. Tuna Veggie Wraps With Hummus
This tuna veggie wrap with hummus offers a hefty dose of protein with a generous serving of veggies. It’s the perfect nutritious lunch!
8. Fattoush Salad
Fresh and easy, this Fattoush Salad is delicious as a side dish or a light summer lunch. This healthy salad recipe is anything but boring with a ton of veggies and a tasty lemon mint dressing.
9. French Rustic Tomato Tart With Puff Pastry
Juicy, ripe tomatoes, fresh summer herbs and tangy delicious mustard packed in flaky puff pastry: this French rustic tomato tart is the ultimate “Summer in a bite” for me.
It literally tastes like summer time and has now officially been elected my most favorite dish of Summer.
10. Healthy Halloumi Wraps
Who said that healthy food can’t be delicious? These halloumi wraps are literally an all-around powerhouse of nutritious things and they taste so good you will be hooked immediately. Halloumi, quinoa, spinach, avocado, bell pepper, and a secret ingredient – fig mustard!
11. Easy Lemon Pasta
This Easy Lemon Pasta is fresh, light and delicious! Make ahead for easy summer lunches and feel free to add in some grilled chicken!
12. Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
This super simple chicken salad recipe is on repeat in my kitchen all summer! It’s tossed with a light mayo dressing, grapes, and pecans and comes together in just 10 minutes. I make it with homemade poached chicken but it’s also delicious with leftover rotisserie chicken! It’s great on it’s own but even better as a chicken salad sandwich.
13. Arugula Watermelon Salad
If you are looking for a perfect summer salad, look no more. This Arugula Watermelon Salad is super healthy and it will make you sexier. Arugula is a powerful aphrodisiac! This salad also features feta cheese, olives, mint, and pistachios! So refreshing, so good!
14. Smoked Turkey Pinwheels With Fresh Herb Cream Cheese
Delicious Pinwheels are a perfect party appetizer, light lunch, after school snack or game day nosh. They are easy to make too. This version has fresh herb cream cheese, smoked turkey, baby spinach and some grated cheddar cheese for the win!
15. Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Is it possible for a snack to be super delicious and healthy at the same time? You bet. These low-calorie Rice Paper Rolls are a perfect example. Stuffed with chicken, loads of veggies, and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce, these little guys will make you fall in love.
16. Zesty Quinoa Salad With Mint
Minty & Zesty Quinoa Salad is the perfect summer salad or side dish with refreshing mint and bright citrus flavors paired with crisp veggies, garbanzo beans and chopped mint – vegan and full of plant-based protein! Serve in the summertime for a crunchy side salad at your next BBQ or picnic or just enjoy as a filling snack thanks to the fiber and protein.
17. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wraps
Super easy & delicious healthy buffalo chicken caesar wraps. Ready in 15 minutes, this easy on-the-go lunch or dinner recipe is perfect for meal prep, fitness lovers, and families. They are loaded with chicken, avocado, buffalo sauce, caesar dressing, and lots of fresh veggies! Made gluten free, dairy free, paleo, high protein, and low fat.
18. Orzo Salad With Kale Walnut Pesto, Corn, And Asparagus
Everyone loves a good pesto pasta salad, and this one is packed with summer veggies, herbs, and crumbly feta cheese. It makes the perfect lunch with some grilled bread!
19. Summer Grain Bowl With Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
A grain bowl loaded with the best produce that summer has to offer like juicy blueberries, ripe tomatoes and sweet corn is the best lunch you could dream of! A zippy lemon basil vinaigrette takes it over the top!
20. Lemon Quinoa Salad With Feta
This Lemon Quinoa Salad with Feta is packed with bright lemon flavor, creamy feta, crunchy almonds, and fresh chopped herbs. Whether made as a main dish or side, the quinoa is easy to make in the Instant Pot or on the stove. Plus it’s a healthy dish that’s perfect for meal prep or making ahead!
21. Smoked Trout And Snap Pea Pasta Salad
If you want a fun new take on a pasta salad—this is your dish! Crisp sugar snap peas, smoked trout and farfalle pasta all tossed with a creamy and light dressing. This pasta salad is a great side dish for barbecues and picnics, or an easy lunch!
22. Best Greek Lentil Salad
This Greek Lentil Salad is full of fresh summer flavors! It’s a great lunch option that can also be prepped ahead of time.
23. Tuna Potato Salad With Dill Buttermilk Dressing
This tuna potato salad recipe is a complete meal that is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. A satisfying combination of baby potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and red onion all tossed together with a delicious dill buttermilk dressing.
24. California Grilled Cheese
Creamy California style grilled cheese made with mashed avocado, tomato and pepper jack cheese. Perfect as a fun summer lunch!
25. Avocado Green Goddess Turkey Burgers With Feta Cheese
These avocado green goddess turkey burgers are no ordinary sandwich. Up your lunch game with these juicy turkey burgers layered with crunchy green veggies and slathered with a delicious green goddess sauce!
21. Smoked Trout And Snap Pea Pasta Salad
If you want a fun new take on a pasta salad—this is your dish! Crisp sugar snap peas, smoked trout and farfalle pasta all tossed with a creamy and light dressing. This pasta salad is a great side dish for barbecues and picnics, or an easy lunch!
22. Best Greek Lentil Salad
This Greek Lentil Salad is full of fresh summer flavors! It’s a great lunch option that can also be prepped ahead of time.
23. Tuna Potato Salad With Dill Buttermilk Dressing
This tuna potato salad recipe is a complete meal that is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. A satisfying combination of baby potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and red onion all tossed together with a delicious dill buttermilk dressing.
24. California Grilled Cheese
Creamy California style grilled cheese made with mashed avocado, tomato and pepper jack cheese. Perfect as a fun summer lunch!
25. Avocado Green Goddess Turkey Burgers With Feta Cheese
These avocado green goddess turkey burgers are no ordinary sandwich. Up your lunch game with these juicy turkey burgers layered with crunchy green veggies and slathered with a delicious green goddess sauce!
26. Southwest Chicken Salad
This Southwest Chicken Salad recipe is easy enough to throw together for a busy weeknight meal or to make ahead of a busy week for lunches and meal-prep. Served with grilled chicken, black beans, sweet corn, and pickled red onions, this is sure to be your favorite summer salad!
27. Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps
Need a quick & healthy lunch? Fix these easy chicken wraps in just 15 minutes with simple ingredients like shredded chicken, hummus, chopped fresh veggies, red wine vinaigrette, and crumbled cheese all piled on
28. Vegan Asian Brown Rice Salad
This super refreshing brown rice salad is both light and filling at the same time! Only simple ingredients required and ready in no time.
29. Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich
Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich is an extremely delicious, vegan, and gluten-free sandwich, which just takes 15 minutes to make. This chickpeas recipe is perfect with a spicy dip for breakfast, light lunch, or just in between!
30. Easy Asparagus Pesto Tart
This asparagus tart is made with puff pastry and pesto for an easy and flavorful lunch or snack. Feel like you’re on a fancy vacation and enjoy the flakiness of this spring tart. If you love smoked salmon, top the tart with it for an even more delicious and fancy meal!