From sandwiches to salads, these recipes come together in 10 minutes or less.
In the past, people were brown-bagging their lunches to school and work without refrigerators.
Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.
Photo: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
Make these wraps ahead of time for a grab-and-go lunch or dinner.
A few wedges of warm pita finish off the meal perfectly.
If you cant find mozzarella pearls, cut or tear a fresh ball of mozzarella into bite-size pieces instead.
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
If you like your salad with a little kick, try swapping out the spinach for arugula.
Try other mayo varieties, like roasted garlic or chipotle lime, in this fast, no-cook lunch recipe.
Serve this rotisserie chicken salad recipe with whole-grain crackers.
If you like the heat, add additional Sriracha or try it with chile-garlic sauce.
Chickpea “Chicken” Salad
This chickpea salad is a vegetarian version of a classic chicken salad.
It doesn’t mimic the flavor of chicken; it swaps chickpeas in for the chicken.
It’s an ideal recipe if you’re looking for simple, healthy lunch ideas.
It is a delicious and fiber-packed vegetarian alternative!
Plus, it’s easily transportable, perfect for picnics and will surely step up your usual desk lunch.
The tangy citrus dressing is a refreshing flavor with the sweet caramel of the roasted sheet-pan veggies.
We love going to our local specialty grocery store for fast shortcut ingredients like these.
The high-fiber falafel and tabbouleh will help keep you feeling satisfied all afternoon.
Carolyn Hodges
We use rotisserie chicken (look for unseasoned to keep sodium in check!)
to simplify things, but any leftover cooked chicken will work.
The green goddess dressing is creamy with cheese and avocado and bright from lemon and herbs.
Rachel Marek
Cucumber and carrots add color and crunch to this healthy, robust whole-wheat wrap.
Leftover chicken can easily stand in for the chicken strips.
Traditional cabbage coleslaw works well, as does broccoli slaw for a slightly different look and flavor.
Use a soup with tomato pieces for a heartier texture.
Look for a brand that’s low- or reduced-sodium, with no more than 450 mg sodium per serving.
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious.
Celery brings a nice crunch.
This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day.
It’ll keep you energized until dinner.
Feel free to swap in your other favorite sandwich vegetables, sprouts or greens.
Look for a soup that contains no more than 450 mg of sodium per serving.
10-Minute Tuna Melt
This variation of a classic sandwich uses mayonnaise but not where you think!
Try it for a quick lunch or snack.
Chopped walnuts add nuttiness and crunch to this easy sandwich.
you might reserve the remaining hard-boiled egg half for a snack.
This nutritious Mason jar salad allows plenty of room for customization based on your taste preferences.
Salmon, sardines or mackerel would work just as well in this quick recipe.
This recipe is easily doubled to make a big batch to meal-prep for the week.
Caprese Sandwich
This caprese sandwich is fresh from the basil and hearty from thick, crusty ciabatta.
The sun-dried tomatoes deepen the flavor.
Antonis Achilleos
Brie Passano
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Prop stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food stylist: Gabriel Greco
Ali Redmond
Joy Howard
Jacob Fox
Ali Redmond
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
Photographer / Jennifer Causey, Food Stylist / Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist / Christine Keely
