23 Fast, Fresh & Filling Lunches to Power Your Days
Lunch can easily get neglected, but it shouldn’t! These easy and healthy lunches are easy to make, delicious to eat, and will power you through your day. Whether you’re packing it to go or working from home, these lunches are totally satisfying.
Tomato Mozzarella Panini
This copycat Starbucks tomato mozzarella panini recipe is an easy meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes, can easily be prepped ahead, and is loaded with classic Caprese flavors. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, this tomato mozzarella panini Starbucks copycat is a minimal meal with maximum flavor.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Mozzarella Panini.
Italian Tuna Potato Salad
Give your traditional tuna salad a Mediterranean makeover with this Italian tuna potato salad. Tender potatoes are tossed with flavorful tuna, crisp vegetables, and a zesty vinaigrette. It’s a hearty and nutritious salad that’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
Get the Recipe: Italian Tuna Potato Salad.
Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad
Don’t miss this delicious twist on a Caesar salad! Spicy, blackened chicken cooked to perfection in the air fryer takes center stage, while crispy homemade croutons add the perfect crunch. Tossed in a rich Caesar dressing, this salad is next-level good!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Blackened Chicken Caesar Salad.
Cowboy Caviar
Don’t tell the party guests that this bean dip is secretly super-nutritious – it is bound to be gobbled up based on flavor alone! Made with a colorful mix of fresh vegetables, two types of beans, and a tangy dressing, it’s hard to stop eating this dip! Serve with tortilla chips or crackers for a scoopable snack that everyone always adores.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Caviar.
Meal Prep Greek Salad
If you’re a fan of Mediterranean flavors and love having lunch ready to go, this meal prep Greek salad is perfect for you. Packed with crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, tangy Kalamata olives, and creamy feta cheese.
Get the Recipe: Meal Prep Greek Salad.
Chicken Salad Sandwich with Chili Crisp
This recipe is a must-try if you love a little heat! The classic creamy chicken salad gets a bold upgrade with chili crisp, adding a spicy, crunchy twist. It’s the perfect mix of rich, tangy, and spicy—all packed into one incredible sandwich.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad Sandwich with Chili Crisp.
Big Mac Salad
Skip the drive-thru and get the flavor you crave, at home. This recipe has Big Mac-inspired flavor in each bite, but with a lighter and fresher flavor. Serve with fries for a delicious and nutritious main course dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Big Mac Salad.
Mason Jar Asian Chicken Salad
For those who enjoy a mix of textures and flavors, the mason jar Asian chicken salad is a must-try. Tender chicken, crunchy veggies, and a tangy Asian-inspired dressing come together in a convenient mason jar format. It’s perfect for meal prepping and ensures you have a delicious, healthy lunch ready whenever you are.
Get the Recipe: Mason Jar Asian Chicken Salad.
Copycat Panera Chinese Citrus Cashew Salad
If you’re on the hunt for a healthy and filling meal to leave you refreshed and satisfied, check out this Panera-inspired Chinese Citrus Cashew Salad. No need to worry that you can’t get it at the restaurant now that you can make it at home! The blend of crispy greens and citrus fruits tossed in a tasty miso lime dressing makes for a delicious meal, and add some chicken for extra protein!
Get the Recipe: Panera Chinese Citrus Cashew Salad.
Turkey Pesto Panini
Love the Starbucks turkey pesto panini and wondering if you can make it even BETTER? Yes, you most definitely can. This turkey panini has major layers of flavor: melty provolone cheese, flavorful pesto, deli turkey, and roasted red peppers for a little punch.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Pesto Panini.
Copycat Portillo’s Chopped Salad
The iconic Portillo’s chopped salad is a popular favorite, and it is just as good when you make it at home! The crisp bacon gives it a nice crunch complemented by the fresh veggies, pasta, and cheese. Try it out for your next salad recipe!
Get the Recipe: Portillo’s Chopped Salad.
Hummus Toast
Quick, easy, nutritious, and always delicious, hummus toast is an excellent lunch option. It’s less of a recipe and more a mega list of ideas and inspiration. Choose your favorite whole grain bread for an extra protein and fiber boost.
Get the Recipe: Hummus Toast.
Arugula Quinoa Salad
You’ll find yourself making this quinoa arugula salad over and over again! Not only is this quinoa and arugula salad incredibly flavorful with its bright lemon vinaigrette, but it’s also ready in just 15 minutes of prep. Each serving of this has a whopping 19 grams of plant-based protein making it a great make-ahead lunch or dinner side dish.
Get the Recipe: Arugula Quinoa Salad.
Copycat Chipotle Chicken
Who doesn’t love the chicken from Chipotle? Now, you can ditch the line and make it in your own kitchen! This is the perfect protein to add to a variety of dishes, and you can make it on the grill, in the oven, or on the stovetop. The best part is you can make it your own!
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Chicken.
Chickpea Kale Salad
Packed with protein-rich chickpeas and nutrient-dense kale, this vibrant salad is tossed in a delicious dressing for a refreshing, healthy meal. Prep ahead for a quick and nutritious meal.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Kale Salad.
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
You’ll love this Greek orzo pasta salad with bright, fresh flavors and satisfying, salty bites! It’s made with classic Greek ingredients like crunchy and crisp cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, salty feta, and fresh dill. Everything is tossed with tender pasta and a red wine vinaigrette for a salad that’s utterly delicious.
Get the Recipe: Greek Orzo Salad.
Italian Chopped Salad
Quite possibly my all-time favorite salad and maybe yours, too, this is our go-to house salad and the side to so many dinners. This is the perfect chopped salad – crunchy, well-balanced, and tossed in a flavorful homemade red wine vinaigrette. Each bite is packed with bold Italian flavors.
Get the Recipe: Italian Chopped Salad.
Copycat Chic-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
Trust me when I say that these Copycat Chick-Fil-A Grilled Nuggets are easy and addictive! This fast-food alternative is easy to make with at-home ingredients – you’ll be making them all the time!
Get the Recipe: Chic-fil-A Chicken Nuggets.
Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad
When you’re in the mood for a salad that’s incredibly delicious, fun to eat, and super nutritious, this garbanzo bean salad is what you’re going to want to make! Made with crunchy and fresh veggies, satisfying garbanzo beans, and a homemade vinaigrette, this salad can be prepped ahead for quick and healthy lunches or served as a side dish to your favorite protein.
Get the Recipe: Garbanzo Bean Salad.
Mediterranean Steak Bowls
Tender steak, fresh veggies, and a zesty dressing come together in these Mediterranean-inspired bowls for a healthy and protein-packed meal.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Steak Bowls.
Chicken Caesar Avocado Wrap
A fresh and creamy chicken Caesar wrap with avocado, crisp romaine, and a flavorful dressing makes for a quick and satisfying lunch option.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Caesar Avocado Wrap.
Quinoa Black Bean Salad
This black bean quinoa salad recipe should be on the top of your recipes-to-make list! It’s light and bright, satisfying and nutritious, and loaded with plant-based protein and fiber, all with tons of layered flavor. Because it can be made ahead, it’s a great salad for everything from picnics to summer cookouts to healthy meal prep salads to get you through the week.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Quinoa Salad.
Best Chicken Salad
The best part of this rotisserie chicken salad recipe? The TEXTURE! Instead of big chunks of chicken and celery, everything is processed together into a pate-like texture that is absolutely perfect. It’s perfect scooped up with crackers and fresh vegetables, stuffed into tomatoes, or in between two slices of good bread for a classic sandwich.
Get the Recipe: Best Chicken Salad.
