19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (2024)

Enjoy one of these easy meals for lunch. In 10 minutes or less, you can make a healthy and delicious sandwich, salad, wrap or soup to keep you satisfied in the middle of the day. Plus, each dish takes just three steps or less to make, so it’s as simple as it is quick. Recipes like our Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija & Lime and Falafel Tabbouleh Bowls with Tzatziki are flavorful, nutritious and worth making over and over.

01of 19

Cucumber Sandwich with Cotija & Lime

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (1)

This easy vegetarian cucumber sandwich draws flavor inspiration from elote, the Mexican street corn dish. Instead of corn, we flavor cucumber slices with cotija cheese, lime and cilantro for a tasty filling. Cotija cheese, a salty, crumbly Mexican cheese, is similar in flavor and texture to feta cheese, which can be used as a substitute. Arugula adds a peppery flavor, but any tender greens will work well here.

View Recipe

02of 19

Salmon Couscous Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (2)

This healthy and easy salad is designed to be made with precooked or leftover salmon. To quickly cook salmon, lightly brush with olive oil, then roast in a 450 degrees F oven until the fish is opaque and firm, 8 to 12 minutes.

View Recipe

03of 19

Falafel Tabbouleh Bowls with Tzatziki

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (3)

Meal-prepping a week's worth of lunches doesn't need to take hours in the kitchen. These Greek-inspired meal-prep bowls can be prepared in just 10 minutes and only require 4 ingredients--greens, falafel, tabbouleh and tzatziki. We love going to our local specialty grocery store for fast shortcut ingredients like these. The high-fiber falafel and tabbouleh will help to keep you feeling satisfied all afternoon.

View Recipe

04of 19

Caprese Avocado Toast

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (4)

Tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil—the building blocks of caprese salad--lend a creative twist to a standard avocado toast recipe.

View Recipe

05of 19

3-Ingredient Brie & Jam Wrap

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (5)

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’s fully assembled can get messy, so we recommend enjoying the wrap cold if you’re taking it on the go.

View Recipe

06of 19

Veggie Sandwich

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (6)

There's no chance of getting the afternoon munchies when you fuel up with this vegan veggie sandwich filled with fiber and healthy fats, plus fruit on the side. It'll keep you energized until dinner. Feel free to swap in your other favorite sandwich vegetables, sprouts or greens.

View Recipe

07of 19

Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (7)

Toss the cooked chicken into this healthy salad recipe while it's still warm to lightly wilt the kale, making it softer and easier to eat. Using store-bought salad dressing saves time, but you could alsomake your own tangy vinaigrette.

View Recipe

08of 19

Low-Carb Chicken & Cheddar Lettuce Wraps

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (8)

This fresh, crunchy wrap sandwich is brimming with vegetables, yet still delivers a satisfying amount of protein thanks to the chicken and cheese. Crisp iceberg lettuce is what keeps this wrap sandwich ultra low in carbs (just 4 grams per serving). The hardest part of this 10-minute recipe is rolling the sandwich, but our parchment paper trick makes it infinitely simpler.

View Recipe

09of 19

Turkey Apple Cheddar Sandwich

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (9)

It only takes 5 minutes to make this healthy sandwich with whole-wheat bread and the classic combination of Cheddar cheese and apples that your kids will love.

View Recipe

10of 19

Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (10)

Shaving the vegetables for this easy salad recipe makes them deliciously tender-crisp without having to cook anything and helps them stand up to the bright homemade vinaigrette and salty Parmesan cheese.

View Recipe

11of 19

Shrimp Salad with Peanut Dressing

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (11)

Using applesauce in the peanut dressing lends a sweet, tart flavor that pairs wonderfully with shrimp.

View Recipe

12of 19

Tex-Mex Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (12)

Get all the protein -- 17 grams -- you need without the fat and cholesterol. Loaded with fiber-filled beans, sweet corn, crunchy sweet pepper, smooth avocado, and spicy pico de gallo, this bold salad will satisfy your taste buds and appetite.

View Recipe

13of 19

Tomato & Burrata Sandwich

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (13)

This easy sandwich is a harmony of flavors that you can toss together for a quick lunch or dinner. Fresh heirloom tomato pairs well with the slightly salty, creamy burrata and tangy balsamic vinegar. Be sure to toast the ciabatta, as it adds a welcome crunch and keeps the bread from getting soggy. If you're looking to add more protein to the sandwich, sliced deli meat like chicken or turkey would be delicious.

View Recipe

14of 19

Buffalo Chickpea Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (14)

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.

View Recipe

15of 19

Salmon Pita Sandwich

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (15)

This quick lunch recipe is loaded with heart-healthy omega-3s thanks to the canned sockeye salmon. If you're bringing this sandwich for lunch, keep the salmon salad separate and stuff the pita just before eating.

View Recipe

16of 19

3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (16)

We put a flavor twist on the classic chicken salad by using a lemon-herb mayonnaise. 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.

View Recipe

17of 19

Quinoa Deli Salad

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (17)

This healthy version of a deli salad combines hearty quinoa and chickpeas with small amounts of ham and mozzarella, so you get all of the flavor without overdoing it on the sodium. This healthy quinoa salad is great as dinner and doubles as a delicious lunch the next day.

View Recipe

18of 19

Spicy Chicken Noodle Soup with Soft-Boiled Eggs

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (18)

Transform canned chicken noodle soup by adding fresh ginger, crunchy vegetables, herbs and a jammy soft-boiled egg. Look for a low-sodium soup that has 450 mg sodium or less per serving.

View Recipe

19of 19

Spicy Tuna Salad English Muffin Sandwich

19 10-Minute Lunches in Three Steps or Less (19)

This quick lunch idea has a delicious balance of flavors. A slightly spicy Sriracha-mayonnaise mixture adds heat to the tuna salad, while the quick-pickled cucumbers provide brightness. Be sure to toast the English muffin so the sandwich doesn't get soggy.

View Recipe