269 lunch recipes

Avocado chef salad piled with red leaf lettuce, watercress, mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, Swiss cheese, julienned ham or turkey, cubed avocado, and a tangy vinaigrette. A protein-packed lunch in five minutes.

Grilled vegetable tortilla wraps with basil-garlic mayonnaise and fontina cheese, rolled tight and sliced into spiral pinwheels. A colorful make-ahead lunch or party appetizer.

Make-ahead baguette sandwiches stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, capers, anchovies, and watercress. Mediterranean flavors wrapped tight for picnics, road trips, and packed lunches.

Pita pizza wedges with smoked turkey, tomato, fresh basil, diced cucumber, and melty cheddar. A clever split-pita sandwich that travels well in a lunch box.

Salmon and pasta stuffed tomatoes: chilled macaroni salad with canned salmon, yogurt, dill, cucumber, and carrot, spooned into fresh tomato cups. A no-cook summer lunch.

Broiled lime shrimp with cilantro, jalapeño, and a zippy lime-garlic dressing. Served cool over cucumber slices for a bright low-fat appetizer or light lunch.

Cheesy pita sandwiches with microwave-melted Swiss cheese stuffed with an Italian-dressed salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts, and peppers. A quick vegetarian lunch in 5 minutes.

Elegant baked monkfish and shrimp in individual ramekins with a curried saffron cream custard. A stunning starter or light lunch for two when doubled up. Serves 4.

Pita chicken sandwiches with sauteed breast, caramelized onions, and a cool yogurt-cucumber sauce, chilled and wrapped for portable eating. A make-ahead lunch or picnic sandwich.

Jellied fruit soup combines orange and pineapple juice with lemon gelatin, chilled and cubed. Vintage 1950s aspic-style cold soup served in bouillon cups for elegant lunches.

Pizza roll-ups made with pizza dough spread with ground turkey, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning. Sliced pinwheels baked until golden. Freezer-friendly and perfect for lunch boxes.

Open-faced tuna melts pile canned tuna, mayo, dill pickles, and onion onto a toasted bun, then broil with melty cheese on top. Five-ingredient lunch ready in 10 minutes flat.

Hot sandwiches stuffed with SPAM, melted cheese, and crisp vegetables get wrapped in foil and baked until steaming for easy lunch boxes, camping trips, or retro comfort food.

A quick smoked turkey bagel sandwich layered with cheddar cheese and green pepper, wrapped in wax paper and warmed in the microwave. Lunch-ready in under 10 minutes.

Light chicken salad sandwich filling with shredded carrots, celery, grated onion, and light mayo. Make it ahead and stash it in the fridge for quick lunches all week.

No-cook chicken tortilla roll-ups with salsa, cheddar, and light sour cream wrapped in flour tortillas. Ready in 20 minutes for lunch boxes, snacks, or party platters.