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Lunch is the meal that sneaks up on me. The morning chores run long, and suddenly it is noon and everyone is hungry. Over the years I have gathered a handful of lunches that come together fast and use things most kitchens already have.
Here are 12 easy lunch ideas, from quick sandwiches and quesadillas to soups and make ahead salads. Each one says what it is and how to make it. Many use pantry staples, leftover chicken or the eggs from your own hens. If you are planning the rest of your day, our 30 minute dinners are a good next stop.
1. A classic BLT
SaveCredit: Spend With Pennies
A BLT is a lunch that never gets old. Crisp bacon, juicy tomato and cool lettuce on toasted bread is done in about 15 minutes.
Cook the bacon in the oven so it all finishes at once, and toast the bread so it holds up to the tomato. Add avocado or a fried egg if you want it heartier.
2. Egg salad sandwich
SaveCredit: The Modern Proper
If you keep hens, you know the problem of too many eggs. Egg salad is the happy answer, and it turns a dozen hard boiled eggs into lunch for days.
Chop the eggs and stir in mayo, mustard, a little celery and fresh chives. A splash of pickle juice wakes it up. Keep it in the fridge in a covered container and use it within four or five days.
3. Tomato soup and grilled cheese
SaveCredit: Little Sunny Kitchen
This is the lunch for a cold gray day. A quick tomato soup made from canned tomatoes takes about 15 minutes, and the grilled cheese is made for dunking.
Simmer canned tomatoes with garlic, broth and a little basil, then blend and stir in a splash of cream. Butter the bread, cook the sandwiches low and slow so the cheese melts before the outside burns.
4. Chicken salad sandwich
SaveCredit: The Gingham Apron
Chicken salad is a smart way to use leftover chicken or a rotisserie bird. A big bowl on Sunday gives you easy lunches all week.
Shred the chicken and mix it with mayo and a little sweet relish, or add celery, grapes and walnuts for crunch. Serve it on soft bread with lettuce and a few chips on the side.
5. A fluffy frittata
SaveCredit: Once Upon a Chef
A frittata is a lunch that cleans out the fridge. Eggs, leftover vegetables and a little cheese bake together in one pan.
Cook your vegetables in an oven safe skillet, pour in beaten eggs and bake until set in the middle. Serve it right from the pan, and the leftovers are good cold the next day.
6. Tuna melt quesadillas
SaveCredit: Bucket List Tummy
A tuna melt in a tortilla is crispy outside and cheesy inside, and it is ready in about 10 minutes. It uses cans you probably already have in the pantry.
Mix drained tuna with a little mayo, lemon juice and some chopped celery. Spread it on a tortilla with cheese, fold it over and brown it in a skillet on both sides.
7. Chicken noodle soup
SaveCredit: Salt & Lavender
A pot of chicken noodle soup is warm comfort in a bowl. It takes about 35 minutes, and it makes plenty for the whole week.
Cook onion, carrot and celery in a little butter, add broth and chicken, then add egg noodles near the end. Leftover roast chicken works well and saves time. Freeze extra portions for busy days.
8. Easy pasta salad
SaveCredit: Eating on a Dime
Pasta salad is a make ahead lunch that tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge. Spiral pasta holds on to the dressing nicely.
Toss cooked and cooled pasta with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and olives, then add an Italian dressing. Stir in chickpeas or leftover chicken if you want more protein.
9. Peanut butter and banana sandwich
SaveCredit: Corrie Cooks
This one takes two minutes and uses things most of us always have. Peanut butter and sliced banana is filling and a little sweet.
Use ripe bananas for the best flavor. A drizzle of honey or a pinch of cinnamon is lovely, and you can toast or griddle the sandwich if you like it warm.
10. English muffin pizzas
SaveCredit: The Recipe Critic
Mini pizzas are a hit with kids and grown ups alike. An English muffin makes a ready made crust, and lunch is on the table in about 15 minutes.
Toast the split muffins, add pizza sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings, and broil for a minute or two until the cheese bubbles. Watch them closely, since broilers work fast.
11. Cheese and tomato quesadilla
SaveCredit: My Fussy Eater
Two tortillas, some tomato and a handful of cheese is all it takes. This is a fast lunch that even picky eaters tend to like.
Spread a little tomato sauce on one tortilla, sprinkle on cheese and oregano, and top with a second tortilla. Cook on low heat for a couple of minutes per side and cut into wedges.
12. Chickpea salad, no tuna needed
SaveCredit: Feel Good Foodie
Mashed chickpeas make a creamy, filling salad that tastes a lot like a tuna sandwich filling. It is a great pantry lunch when the fridge is bare.
Mash canned chickpeas with a fork and stir in Greek yogurt, celery, red onion and fresh herbs. Eat it on bread, in a wrap or with crackers. It takes about 10 minutes.
How to make lunch easier all week
Pick one or two things to make on the weekend, like a pot of soup or a bowl of pasta salad, and lunch is mostly done. Boil a dozen eggs at once, cook extra chicken at dinner, and keep tortillas, canned beans and tuna in the pantry. With those on hand you can always put something decent together in 15 minutes.
Keep food safe too. Cold salads and sandwiches with mayo should stay in the fridge until you eat them, and most of these keep well for about three or four days.
Easy lunch ideas FAQ
What is a quick lunch with no cooking? A peanut butter and banana sandwich, a chicken salad sandwich with leftover chicken, or a chickpea salad all come together with no stove at all.
What can I make for lunch with pantry staples? Canned tuna, canned chickpeas, tortillas, pasta and canned tomatoes cover quesadillas, tuna melts, chickpea salad, pasta salad and tomato soup.
Which of these lunches can I make ahead? Pasta salad, egg salad, chicken salad and soup all taste good the next day. Soup also freezes well in single portions.
