30 easy lunch ideas
Lunch is the meal most likely to end up as something sad from a packet. These sandwiches, wraps, salads, bowls and soups are quick enough for a work-from-home break and good enough to look forward to.
Updated October 2026 · ranked by popularity
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1. Classic grilled cheese
Buttery, golden grilled cheese with melty American and sharp cheddar, cooked low and slow so the crust gets crisp just as the middle turns gooey.
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2. Copycat P.F. Chang's chicken lettuce wraps
Ground chicken with mushrooms and crunchy water chestnuts in a hoisin glaze, spooned into cool lettuce cups. Inspired by P.F. Chang's, ready in 15 minutes.
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3. Copycat Chick-fil-A chicken sandwiches
Our take on the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich: crisp chicken with a pickle-brine tang and a hint of sweetness, on a buttered toasted bun. Under 20 minutes.
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4. Copycat Chipotle burrito bowls
Smoky chile-lime chicken, cilantro-lime rice, black beans and a fresh corn salsa, inspired by the Chipotle burrito bowl. Microwave rice makes it fast.
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5. 20-minute chicken noodle soup
Proper chicken noodle soup without the all-day simmer: soft carrot and celery, shredded rotisserie chicken and egg noodles in a lemony, thyme-scented broth.
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6. Copycat Panera broccoli cheddar soup
Our take on Panera's broccoli cheddar soup: tiny florets and shredded carrot in a thick, velvety half-and-half and sharp cheddar base, done in 20 minutes.
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7. Quick potato salad
Small potatoes cut small so they cook in 10 minutes, tossed in a classic mayo-mustard dressing with celery, dill pickles and chopped hard-boiled egg.
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8. Classic coleslaw
Crunchy shredded cabbage and carrot in a creamy, tangy mayo and cider vinegar dressing with a touch of sugar and celery seed. Ready in 10 minutes.
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9. Copycat Olive Garden salad
Our take on the Olive Garden house salad: crisp lettuce, tomato, red onion, olives, pepperoncini and croutons in a tangy, slightly creamy Italian dressing.
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10. Egg drop soup
Silky ribbons of egg swirled through a gently thickened ginger chicken broth with white pepper, sesame oil and scallions. Ten minutes, start to finish.
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11. Greek salad (horiatiki)
The real village salad: chunky tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, red onion and Kalamata olives under a whole slab of feta, with oregano and good olive oil.
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12. Mexican street corn salad (esquites)
Charred, smoky corn tossed warm with lime, mayo, chile, red onion and cilantro, then showered with crumbly cotija. Esquites in a bowl, ready in 15 minutes.
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13. Chicken Caesar salad
Golden seared chicken over crisp romaine with skillet croutons, shaved parmesan and a punchy homemade Caesar dressing with no raw egg.
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14. Speedy tomato and basil soup
A silky, bright tomato soup from two cans, a softened onion and a big handful of basil, finished with a swirl of cream. Ready in under 20 minutes.
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15. Italian pasta salad
Rotini tossed in a tangy homemade Italian vinaigrette with salami, mozzarella pearls, cherry tomatoes, olives and pepperoncini. Built to travel.
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16. Italian grinder subs
Toasted sub rolls loaded with salami, capicola, ham, pepperoni and melted provolone, topped with a creamy, tangy chopped grinder salad with pepperoncini.
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17. Classic tuna melt
Creamy tuna with celery, pickles and dill, sealed in buttery sourdough with melted cheddar and fried golden in the pan. The diner classic in 15 minutes.
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18. Turkey and cheese pinwheel sandwiches
Soft tortillas spread with cream cheese, layered with turkey, cheese and baby spinach, rolled up tight and sliced into pinwheels. A no-cook lunch kids love.
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19. Cuban sandwiches
Roast pork, ham, Swiss, dill pickles and yellow mustard pressed in a buttery roll until crisp and melty. A Miami-style Cubano in under 20 minutes.
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20. Reuben sandwiches
Deli corned beef, tangy sauerkraut, melted Swiss and a quick homemade Russian dressing, griddled on buttered rye until crisp. Deli-counter classic at home.
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21. Broccoli salad with bacon
Crunchy raw broccoli with crisp bacon, sharp cheddar, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries in a creamy sweet-and-tangy dressing. A potluck classic.
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22. Copycat Panera mac and cheese
Tender pasta shells in a silky, tangy white cheddar sauce that's smooth, not grainy. Our 18-minute take on Panera Bread's mac and cheese.
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23. Classic BLT
Crisp bacon, juicy ripe tomato and cool lettuce stacked on toasted sourdough with plenty of mayo. The simple sandwich, done properly.
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24. Cobb salad
A classic Cobb salad in tidy rows: rotisserie chicken, crisp bacon, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, tomatoes and blue cheese with a red wine vinaigrette.
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25. Watermelon feta mint salad
Cold, juicy watermelon with salty crumbled feta, fresh mint, lime-softened red onion and a drizzle of olive oil. Sweet, salty and very refreshing.
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26. Buffalo chicken wraps
Rotisserie chicken tossed in buttery buffalo sauce, rolled up with crisp romaine, celery and ranch, then seared in a skillet until golden.
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27. Chicken Caesar wraps
Store-bought roast chicken, crisp romaine and parmesan rolled up in a garlicky, lemony Caesar dressing. All the salad, none of the knife and fork.
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28. Upgraded instant ramen with jammy egg
Instant noodles leveled up: a garlicky miso and sesame broth, wilted bok choy, corn, a soft jammy egg and chili oil. Better than takeout in 15 minutes.
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29. Kimchi fried rice with a fried egg
Leftover rice fried hard with tangy kimchi and gochujang until the edges catch, then topped with a crispy-edged fried egg and a runny yolk.
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30. Monte Cristo sandwiches
Ham, turkey and Swiss sandwiches dipped in egg and pan-fried in butter like French toast, dusted with powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam.
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Many of these pack well for the next day. Keep dressings and crunchy toppings separate until you eat, so nothing goes soggy.