Soups
Minestrone Soup
A hearty Italian vegetable soup with beans, small pasta, tomatoes and greens, simmered with a parmesan rind for depth. Filling and great for using up vegetables.
1 hrEasy
Category
Lunch recipes
Lunch should be satisfying without slowing you down. Here you will find hearty salads, soups that reheat beautifully, and dishes that pack well for the next day.
58 recipes
Lunch
Kimchi Fried Rice
Day-old rice stir-fried with tangy kimchi, gochujang and scallions, then topped with a fried egg. A 20-minute Korean favourite made from leftovers.
20 minEasy
Salads
Roasted Squash Salad with Feta and Cranberries
Caramelised cubes of butternut squash over greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, feta and dried cranberries, tossed in a maple-Dijon dressing.
50 minEasy
Breakfast
Shakshuka
Eggs gently poached in a spiced tomato and red pepper sauce, finished with fresh herbs. A one-skillet meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
35 minEasy
Chicken
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A brothy, smoky tomato soup with tender shredded chicken, topped with crisp baked tortilla strips, cheese and plenty of fresh cilantro.
55 minEasy
Soups
Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
A velvety tomato soup made with canned whole tomatoes, a splash of cream and fresh basil. Just right with a grilled cheese sandwich.
40 minEasy
Salads
Greek Village Salad (Horiatiki)
Juicy tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion and olives dressed with olive oil and oregano, crowned with a slab of feta. No lettuce required.
15 minEasy
Appetizers
Classic Hummus
Smooth, creamy hummus made from canned chickpeas, tahini, lemon and garlic in a food processor. Ready in 10 minutes and better than most store-bought tubs.
10 minEasy
Lunch
Arepas With Black Beans and Cheese
Crisp-outside, tender-inside corn arepas made with precooked cornmeal, split and stuffed with black beans, avocado and salty crumbled cheese.
35 minEasy
Lunch
Lemongrass Pork Bánh Mì
A crunchy baguette filled with caramelised lemongrass pork, quick pickled carrot and daikon, cucumber, chilli and fresh cilantro. A vibrant Vietnamese sandwich.
1 hr 5 minIntermediate
Lunch
Black Bean Burgers That Hold Together
Hearty, smoky black bean burgers that are crisp outside and hold together on the grill or skillet. A trick of drying the beans first makes all the difference.
45 minEasy
Lunch
The Perfect BLT Sandwich
Crispy oven-baked bacon, ripe tomato and crunchy lettuce with mayo on toasted bread. Simple techniques for the best BLT sandwich of the summer.
28 minEasy
Lunch
Chicken Burrito Bowl
A homemade chicken burrito bowl with cilantro lime rice, spiced chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, avocado and cheese. Better than takeout and easy to meal prep.
40 minEasy
Lunch
Caprese Sandwich With Pesto
Fresh mozzarella, ripe tomato and basil layered on toasted ciabatta with basil pesto and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. A bright vegetarian summer sandwich.
13 minEasy
Lunch
Crispy Cheese Quesadillas
Golden, crispy cheese quesadillas with a gooey Monterey Jack and cheddar filling, cooked in butter in about 10 minutes. Plus easy filling ideas.
13 minEasy
Chicken
Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Juicy grilled chicken, crisp romaine, Parmesan and crunchy croutons tossed in a quick garlicky Caesar dressing and rolled into a flour tortilla.
27 minEasy
Chicken
Greek Chicken Gyros With Tzatziki
Lemony, garlicky yogurt-marinated chicken thighs, seared and sliced into warm pitas with cool tzatziki, tomato and red onion. A Greek favourite at home.
1 hr 5 minEasy
Chicken
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Savoury ground chicken stir-fried with garlic, ginger, water chestnuts and a hoisin-soy sauce, spooned into crisp butter lettuce cups. A fresh, low-carb lunch.
20 minEasy
Chicken
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
A bright, comforting one-pot lemon chicken orzo soup with tender chicken, carrots, celery, spinach and dill. A cosy lunch that is ready in about 45 minutes.
45 minEasy
Lunch
Smashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich
A creamy, tangy smashed chickpea salad with celery, red onion, dill and capers, piled into sandwiches. A plant-based lunch that is easy to make vegan.
15 minEasy
Soups
Smoky Chickpea and Spinach Stew
A smoky, warming chickpea stew with tomatoes, spinach, garlic, cumin and smoked paprika. An easy vegan pantry lunch that tastes even better the next day.
40 minEasy
Lunch
Classic Club Sandwich
A towering triple-decker club sandwich layered with roast turkey, crispy bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo on toasted bread. A diner classic made at home.
25 minEasy
Pasta
Cold Soba Noodles With Dipping Sauce
Chilled buckwheat soba noodles served with a savoury soy-mirin dipping sauce, scallions, nori and wasabi. A refreshing Japanese lunch for warm days.
18 minEasy
Lunch
Croque Monsieur
The classic French café sandwich: ham and Gruyère on bread, topped with creamy béchamel and more cheese, then baked and broiled until golden and bubbling.
35 minIntermediate
Lunch
Cuban Sandwich (Cubano)
A pressed Cuban sandwich layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and yellow mustard, griddled in butter until crisp, flat and melty.
20 minEasy
Lunch
Simple Egg Fried Rice
Fluffy, savoury egg fried rice made with day-old rice, scrambled egg, peas and scallions, seasoned with soy and sesame. A 15-minute lunch from leftovers.
15 minEasy
Lunch
Creamy Egg Salad Sandwich
A creamy, well-seasoned egg salad sandwich with Dijon, crunchy celery and fresh chives. Simple, satisfying, and ideal for packed lunches.
37 minEasy
Lunch
Baked Falafel Wraps With Tahini Sauce
Crisp-edged baked falafel made from soaked dried chickpeas and herbs, wrapped in warm flatbread with tahini sauce and fresh vegetables. A hearty vegan lunch.
12 hr 50 minIntermediate
Lunch
The Best Grilled Cheese Sandwich
A golden, shatteringly crisp grilled cheese sandwich with a molten cheddar and Gruyère centre. The secret: mayonnaise on the outside and low, patient heat.
15 minEasy
Appetizers
Baked Ham and Cheese Sliders
Soft sweet rolls filled with ham and Swiss, brushed with a buttery Dijon and poppy seed glaze, and baked until golden and melty. Perfect for crowds.
30 minEasy
Lunch
Rainbow Hummus Veggie Wrap
A crunchy, colourful veggie wrap with creamy hummus, spinach, cucumber, carrot, red pepper and feta. A fresh, no-cook vegetarian lunch in 10 minutes.
10 minEasy
Pasta
Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)
Japchae: chewy Korean sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with beef, spinach, carrot, mushrooms and onion in a sweet soy-sesame sauce. Great warm or cold.
45 minIntermediate
Lunch
Katsu Sando (Japanese Pork Cutlet Sandwich)
Katsu sando: a crisp panko-crusted pork cutlet with tangy tonkatsu sauce and shredded cabbage on soft, crustless milk bread. A Japanese convenience-store icon.
30 minIntermediate
Lunch
Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Rolls)
Kimbap: sesame-seasoned rice and colourful fillings of egg, spinach, carrot, pickled radish and ham rolled in seaweed. A classic Korean lunch and picnic food.
1 hr 5 minIntermediate
Lunch
Loaded Baked Potatoes
Fluffy baked potatoes with salty, crispy skins, loaded with butter, cheddar, bacon, sour cream and scallions. Steakhouse-style comfort food for lunch.
1 hr 10 minEasy
Lunch
Mediterranean Mezze Lunch Plate
A colourful mezze lunch plate with hummus, marinated feta, olives, warm pita and a quick cucumber-tomato salad. A no-cook lunch that is easy to share.
18 minEasy
Lunch
Tuna Mayo Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
Hand-shaped Japanese rice balls with a creamy tuna mayo filling, wrapped in crisp nori. A portable, satisfying lunch for bento boxes and picnics.
50 minIntermediate
Seafood
Pan Bagnat (Niçoise Tuna Sandwich)
Pan bagnat, the pressed Niçoise sandwich from the south of France, filled with olive-oil tuna, eggs, tomato, olives and a mustard vinaigrette. Built to travel.
1 hr 32 minEasy
Pasta
Spicy Peanut Noodles
Chewy noodles tossed in a creamy, spicy peanut sauce with crunchy cucumber, carrot and scallions. Delicious warm or cold, and perfect for packed lunches.
25 minEasy
Lunch
Crispy Pita Pizzas
Crispy pita pizzas topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella and pepperoni or vegetables, baked in about 10 minutes. A fun, fast lunch for kids and adults.
17 minEasy
Seafood
Salmon Poke Bowl
A fresh salmon poke bowl with cubes of sesame-soy marinated salmon over sushi rice, topped with avocado, cucumber, edamame and scallions. Ready in 30 minutes.
40 minIntermediate
Lunch
Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl
A filling Mediterranean quinoa bowl with chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, feta and a lemon-oregano dressing. Makes four lunches that keep for days.
40 minEasy
Beef
Classic Reuben Sandwich
A classic Reuben sandwich: corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and homemade Russian dressing grilled in buttery rye bread until crisp and melty.
20 minEasy
Lunch
Sabich (Eggplant and Egg Pita)
Sabich is a pita stuffed with fried eggplant, hard-boiled egg, hummus, tahini sauce, chopped salad and pickles. A hearty vegetarian street-food lunch.
40 minEasy
Seafood
Roasted Salmon Rice Bowls With Spicy Mayo
Soy-glazed roasted salmon over rice with edamame, cucumber, avocado and a creamy sriracha mayo. A healthy, high-protein salmon rice bowl ready in 35 minutes.
35 minEasy
Seafood
Crispy Shrimp Po' Boy
A New Orleans shrimp po' boy: cornmeal-crusted fried shrimp piled into a crusty roll with lettuce, tomato, pickles and a tangy Creole remoulade.
35 minIntermediate
Seafood
Smoked Salmon Bagel With Cream Cheese
A classic smoked salmon bagel: a toasted bagel spread with cream cheese and topped with silky smoked salmon, red onion, capers, cucumber and dill.
13 minEasy
Beef
Chimichurri Steak Rice Bowls
Seared flank steak sliced over rice with black beans, tomatoes, corn and a bright herb chimichurri. A high-protein steak rice bowl that meal-preps well.
45 minEasy
Lunch
Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Tender baked sweet potatoes stuffed with smoky black beans and corn, then topped with salsa, avocado and Greek yogurt. A filling vegetarian lunch.
1 hrEasy
Appetizers
Fresh Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Fresh summer rolls packed with shrimp, rice noodles, crisp vegetables and herbs, wrapped in rice paper and served with a creamy peanut-hoisin dipping sauce.
40 minIntermediate
Lunch
Rustic Tomato Galette
A rustic tomato galette with a flaky, buttery crust, a garlicky ricotta and Parmesan layer and ripe sliced tomatoes, baked until golden and topped with basil.
1 hr 45 minIntermediate
Seafood
Diner-Style Tuna Melt
A crisp, buttery tuna melt with tangy tuna salad and melted cheddar on toasted bread. A comforting diner classic ready in about 15 minutes.
18 minEasy
Seafood
Classic Tuna Salad
A classic, creamy tuna salad with crunchy celery, red onion, dill pickle and lemon. Ready in 10 minutes for sandwiches, wraps, crackers or lettuce cups.
10 minEasy
Lunch
Turkey Avocado Wrap
A quick turkey avocado wrap with provolone, spinach and tomato in a soft flour tortilla. Ready in 10 minutes and sturdy enough to pack for lunch.
10 minEasy
Lunch
Turkey Pesto Panini
A crisp, pressed turkey pesto panini with melted mozzarella, roasted red peppers and spinach on sourdough. Make it with or without a panini press.
18 minEasy
Pasta
Lemongrass Pork Vermicelli Noodle Bowl (Bún)
A Vietnamese vermicelli noodle bowl with caramelised lemongrass pork, cool rice noodles, fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables and tangy nước chấm dressing.
1 hr 5 minIntermediate
Chicken
Creamy White Chicken Chili
A creamy white chicken chili with tender shredded chicken, white beans, green chiles, cumin and corn. A high-protein, freezer-friendly lunch stew.
50 minEasy
Lunch
Crispy Zucchini Fritters With Garlic Yogurt
Golden, crisp zucchini fritters with feta, scallions and herbs, pan-fried and served with a cool garlic yogurt sauce. A fresh vegetarian lunch.
45 minEasy
Learn
Lunch guides
Techniques and answers to common questions for cooking lunch.
Lunch Guide · 4 min read
How to Pack a Lunch Safely
Keep packed lunches cold and safe until you eat them: insulated bags, ice packs, the two-hour rule, keeping hot food hot and which foods travel best.