Have you gotten reclusive of that routine sandwich? Coming out of a lunchtime routine may be difficult, and it is even harder with a hectic work schedule. A good lunch should be satiating, enlivening and best of all, delicious.
That’s where we come in. The finest mouthwatering lunch recipe list has been collected and rejuvenate your lunch time off. These are easy meals, full of flavours and aimed at getting you through.
Forget uninspired salads and last night’s soggy leftovers. This guide contains three irresistibly appealing choices including an exotic quinoa salad, a friendly tomato soup with a difference and a wrap, full of flavorful chicken. Get ready to transform your midday meal.
Recipe 1: Quick & Healthy Quinoa Salad
At the top of our lunch recipes list is a quinoa diversion filled with freshness and nutritiousness. This dish is the definition of a power lunch. It is protein backed and containing fibre and fresh vegetables that serve to give you energy in the afternoon.
Furthermore, it’s incredibly versatile. It is flexible and can be easily adorned with your preferred stock up or choice vegetables. This is an easy recipe to prepare and tastes better a day later.
Why You’ll Love This Quinoa Salad
This salad is a revolutionary bite to all those who want to have both a healthy and satiable meal. This wonderful mixture of fluffy quinoa with crunchy vegetables and such a refreshing dressing of lemon vinaigrette makes a flawless blend of textures and tastes. It’s naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegan.
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
- 2 cups water or vegetable broth
- 1 cucumber, diced
- 1 bell pepper (any color), chopped
- 1/2 red onion, finely diced
- 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
For the Lemon Vinaigrette:
Salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
Time & Servings
| Type | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 15 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Total Time | 30 minutes |
| Serves: | 4 |
Step-by-Step Instructions
Cook the quinoa by combining the rinsed quinoa and water (or broth) in a saucepan. Bourach and lower the temperature, cover and simmer 15 minutes until liquid is absorbed.
Leave the cooked quinoa to cool up after at least 10 minutes by fluffing with a fork. This step is crucial for preventing a mushy salad.
Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and garlic chunks in the small bowl to make vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large bowl mix together all the cooled quinoa, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, chickpeas and parsley.
The vinaigrette should be poured on the mix of ingredients to dress the salad. Toss gently to combine everything thoroughly.
Add the feta, when used and gently stir once more and serve.
Recipe 2: 15-Minute Creamy Tomato Soup
A comforting vintage is next in the row: creamy tomato soup should be on every list of lunch recipes. But this isn’t your average canned soup. It is a rich, velvet smooth and a 15 minutes version.
The secret weapon? Grilled cheese croutons. These crunchy, cheesy snacks substitute regular croutons and enrich the whole dish, thus creating a really unforgettable meal.
A Comfort Food Classic, Reimagined
This recipe proves that a quick lunch doesn’t have to be boring. It appears that a couple of seasonings and quality canned tomatoes are enough to produce a soup that would taste that it has been simmering for hours. It is an ideal answer on a cold day or when you need to feel a little comfy.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream for a dairy-free option)
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and pepper to taste
For the Grilled Cheese Croutons:
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 slices of sturdy bread (like sourdough)
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Time & Servings
| Type | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Total Time | 20 minutes |
| Serves: | 2-3 |
Step-by-Step Instructions
In a large pot or Dutch oven cook the onion in olive oil over medium heat until it softens (3-4 minutes). Add the garlic and continue to cook a minute until they are fragrant.
Put the basic requirements to simmer and add crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth and dried basil. Simmer the mixture and cook it 10 minutes to make flavors blend.
Make the grilled cheese croutons while the soup simmers. Spread butter on one side of each bread slice. Greased the inside of one slice butter-side down, and put in a piece of cheese, then set on the other slice buttered side up.
On medium heat place the sandwich on a non-stick skillet and cook 2-3 minutes on one side and on the other side, until it is golden brown and the cheese is melted.
Incorporate the soup slowly through the use of an immersion blender till it is smooth. Alternatively, transfer it in batches to a regular blender. Return the soup to the pot.
Complete the soup by adding in heavy cream and sprinkling with a little salt and pepper.
Chop the grilled cheese sandwich into bite sized small cubes and arrange at the surface of the warm soup.
Recipe 3: Flavor-Packed Chicken & Veggie Wraps
The last dish in our great lunch recipes list is chicken and veggie wrap that are infinitely versatile. The best thing about this is that it is the ultimate grab-and-go lunch that suits all of us who are busy during the weekdays.
These wraps are so good to use any left-over cooked chicken and any vegetables you have. They are light, but satisfying and fully adjustable to your taste.
The Perfect Grab-and-Go Lunch
The special part of such wrap is creamy avocado and lime spread, which serves as a delicious layer in the form of a barrier that does not allow the tortilla to get wet.
It is a minor trick, but it matters a lot, particularly when you are packing beforehand.
Ingredients
2 large flour tortillas (or whole wheat)
1 cup cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 avocado, mashed
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup mixed greens or spinach
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup sliced bell peppers
Salt and pepper to taste
Time & Servings
| Type | Time |
|---|---|
| Prep Time | 10 minutes |
| Cook Time | 0 minutes |
| Total Time | 10 minutes |
| Serves: | 2 |
Step-by-Step Instructions
Mash avocado in a small bowl and add lime juice, salt and pepper to the avocado to make avocado spread.
Put the tortilla in a dry pan and warm it in a pan or microwave, around 15-20s. This makes them more pliable and easier to roll.
Build the wrap Put a large dollop of the avocado mixture on one side of each tortilla (leaving a small strip on one corner as a handle to eat the wrap with).
Sandwich the ingredients by putting a handful of the numerous greens in the middle then the cooked chicken, sliced carrots, and the sliced bell pepper on top.
Then it should be folded up by tucking the sides in then rolling it up, starting at the bottom so that all the fillings are engulfed.
Eating immediately or well sealed in plastic wrap or beeswax paper to eat later. It is neat to cut it diagonally in half to make it look more like a typical deli.
Tips for Mastering Your Midday Meal
Creating an amazing lunch is easier than you think. These are some tips that every person can use to ensure that they maximize on the use of the best delicious lunch recipe list.
Meal Prep Components
You don’t have to make full meals ahead of time. Just make single ingredients such as cooking a batch of quinoa, chopping vegetables or shredding chicken. This makes assembly quick and easy.
Don’t Forget the Sauce
A good sauce, dressing, or spread can elevate any meal. At the weekly shop, whiz up a batch of your favourite vinaigarette or sauce to add it to instant authenticity to salads, wraps and bowls.
Pack Smart
Pack wet and dry ingredients separately to prevent having a wet lunch. For salads, keep the dressing in a small container until you’re ready to eat. In the case of wraps, a moisturizing device such as avocado or cream cheese is essential.
Your New Favorite Lunch Recipe List
The most important thing after escaping monotony with lunchtime is to have a trusty list of satisfactory lunch recipes. These three recipes will give you a great place to start, as variety and flavor are going to make you feel satisfied and nutritious to keep you going.
We would like to recommend you all of these and discover your new favorite. This collection proves that a good tasty homemade lunch is not so far out of reach even the busiest day of ours.
In case you liked these recipes, do not forget to comment or to rate below. And we would be happy to know how they worked out with you. Don’t forget to share this article with friends and family who need some lunch inspiration!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are these recipes make-ahead meal prep friendly?
Absolutely. The quinoa salad is ideal to meal prep and it tastes even better the next day. As far as the soup goes, you can prepare it in large amount and leave it in the fridge during 4 days after; only the grilled cheese croutons should be freshly cooked.
The wraps may be prepared the morning before it is to be consumed at lunchtime in the same day.
What are ideas of vegetarian or vegan replacements of the chicken wrap?
The chicken wrap is easily adaptable. For a vegetarian option, use a can of rinsed chickpeas (mashed slightly) or baked tofu.
To go vegan, use the chickpeas and make sure your tortilla does not have dairy. The avocado spread is already vegan.
How can I store leftovers from these recipes?
Keep refrigerated the quinoa salad and tomato soup in airtight containers. The salad may keep up to 3 days and the soup up to 4 days. It’s best to store the wrap components separately and assemble just before eating to prevent sogginess.