Upgrade your menu this winter with these quick and easy lunch recipes! In 15 minutes or less, you\u2019ll be able to whip up a tasty and satisfying meal that will keep you fueled until dinnertime. Featuring tasty seasonal flavors, dishes like our Cheese Dreams with Tomatoes or our High-Protein Salmon Salad will become your new favorite midday meal.\n<\/p>\n
Chickpea-Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps <\/p>\n
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall.<\/p>\n
These Chickpea-Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps give classic tuna salad a fresh, flavorful upgrade. Mashed chickpeas add creamy texture and extra protein, while Greek yogurt gives the salad a light, creamy base. A generous shake of everything bagel seasoning ties it all together with savory crunch. Wrapped in crisp butter lettuce instead of bread, it\u2019s a satisfying, high-protein lunch that\u2019s perfect for meal prep or a quick, no-cook dinner.\n<\/p>\n
Cheese Dreams with Tomatoes <\/p>\n
Abbey Littlejohn<\/p>\n
Cheese Dreams are nostalgic open-faced cheesy toasts\u2014simple, satisfying and perfect for lunch. This version is inspired by a family favorite: juicy tomato slices layered under melted Cheddar cheese on crisp whole-wheat toast. Toasting the bread first keeps it from getting soggy under the tomatoes. Watch out: The scalding cheese-and-tomato can burn the roof of your mouth if you\u2019re not careful. I like to eat mine with a fork and knife to cool off each bite, but feel free to eat these however you choose.\n<\/p>\n
Bang Bang Chicken Salad <\/p>\n
Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Julia Levy.<\/p>\n
This bang bang chicken salad is a delicious dish that combines tender chicken with crisp chopped bell pepper, carrots and scallions. The star of the salad is the creamy, sweet-and-spicy bang bang sauce, made with mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce and a hint of Sriracha for heat. It\u2019s easy to prepare and makes a satisfying lunch, light dinner or appetizer served with crudit\u00e9s and crackers.\n<\/p>\n
Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.<\/p>\n
This chickpea-farro grain bowl is a hearty dish that\u2019s packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies. If you don\u2019t have farro on hand, you can easily swap in quinoa, brown rice or barley.\n<\/p>\n
No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowls <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.<\/p>\n
These black bean taco bowls with lime crema are a refreshing no-cook meal that\u2019s perfect for busy days. They feature hearty black beans, veggies and zesty toppings layered over crispy cabbage and lettuce. The lime crema adds a tangy, creamy finish that brings all the flavors together. Enjoy these effortless bowls with the suggested toppings below, or customize them with your own favorites.\n<\/p>\n
High-Protein Tuna & White Bean Melt <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley<\/p>\n
This ultra-quick tuna melt with white beans is a protein-packed sandwich that\u2019s perfect for a fast and satisfying lunch or dinner. The beans add creaminess and fiber, while the tuna provides lean protein and omega-3s, making this dish as nutritious as it is flavorful. Plus, it comes together in minutes\u2014ideal for days when time is in short supply.\n<\/p>\n
High-Protein Tomato, Mozzarella & Arugula Sandwich <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, prop stylist: LIndsey Lower<\/p>\n
This vegetarian sandwich is packed with protein, thanks to creamy fresh mozzarella cheese and plenty of walnuts blended into the roasted red pepper spread. The spread, reminiscent of romesco sauce, is versatile and can also be served as a dip or sauce\u2014adding depth and complexity to dishes like grilled meats, seafood and vegetables\u2014or as a topping for pasta.\n<\/p>\n
High-Protein Salmon Salad <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower<\/p>\n
This salmon salad combines flaky canned salmon with tangy capers and fresh, fragrant dill. This versatile salad can be enjoyed piled onto toast, stuffed into a pita or served over greens for a light, satisfying meal.\n<\/p>\n
Gut-Healthy Miso Cup Soup <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless<\/p>\n
This soup is packed with gut-healthy ingredients like miso, a fermented paste that may improve digestion as well as reducing gas and bloating. The base of the soup is prepared in advance and stored in separate containers. When you\u2019re ready to enjoy it, simply add the broth and heat it in the microwave. If you don\u2019t wish to travel with vegetable broth or don\u2019t have access to a microwave, you can use reduced-sodium bouillon instead and just add hot water. Cover and let the soup stand for 10 minutes before serving.\n<\/p>\n
Buffalo Chickpea Salad <\/p>\n
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly<\/p>\n
We took all the flavors you know and love from Buffalo wings and used them in this plant-based chickpea salad. Celery adds a satisfying crunch, while blue cheese provides a cooling element to balance the spicy sauce. Serve on top of leafy greens or use as a sandwich filling.\n<\/p>\n
5-Ingredient Brie and Blackberry Jam Grilled Cheese <\/p>\n
Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco<\/p>\n
This irresistible sandwich pairs creamy Brie cheese with a sweet-and-savory blackberry jam spread for the perfect ultra-quick lunch or dinner option. You can easily double the recipe using a medium pan, or use a sandwich press if you have one on hand.\n<\/p>\n
High-Protein Tex-Mex Chicken Soup <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless<\/p>\n
Make this grab-and-go Tex-Mex\u2013inspired soup when you have leftover chicken, or use rotisserie chicken for this easy meal-prep soup. The frozen pepper-onion mix adds flavor and saves time in the kitchen, while the black beans add fiber and protein. Combine everything but the broth ahead of time, then add it and heat it in the microwave when you\u2019re ready to eat. If you don\u2019t wish to travel with liquid broth or don\u2019t have access to a microwave, you can use reduced-sodium bouillon instead and just add hot water.\n<\/p>\n
3-Ingredient Brie & Jam Wrap <\/p>\n
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco<\/p>\n
Grab your favorite-flavor jam and pair it with melted Brie cheese on a whole-wheat tortilla for a sweet and savory lunch. Reheating the wrap once it\u2019s fully assembled can get messy, so we recommend enjoying it cold if you\u2019re taking it on the go.\n<\/p>\n
High-Protein Tuna & Chickpea Salad Sandwich <\/p>\n
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle<\/p>\n
This zesty tuna sandwich gets an extra boost of protein from chickpeas. Smashing some of the chickpeas into the tuna enhances the texture and helps hold the filling together. The combo of garlic and Sriracha adds a delightful kick, but feel free to opt for an alternative hot sauce of your preference or skip it altogether for a milder flavor.\n<\/p>\n
Curried Butternut Squash Soup with Crispy Halloumi <\/p>\n
Take advantage of healthy convenience foods, such as pureed vegetable soups, to make a healthy meal in minutes. We enhance the flavor of boxed butternut squash soup with curry powder, then top it with irresistible halloumi cheese. Serve with warm whole-grain pita bread.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Upgrade your menu this winter with these quick and easy lunch recipes! In 15 minutes or less, you\u2019ll…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":251671,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[103,61,60,446],"class_list":{"0":"post-251670","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nutrition","8":"tag-health","9":"tag-ie","10":"tag-ireland","11":"tag-nutrition"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251670"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251670\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/251671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}