A Hearty Lunch Doesn't Have to Be Expensive or Time Consuming
Making lunch can take up a sizeable portion of your day if you’re not careful. Worse, it can really hit you in the wallet buying ingredients. Never fear! This list will give you 35 great ideas of what inexpensive dishes to have for lunch next, complete with short and snappy instructions.
Chickpea Sandwich
Chickpeas are good for you and this sandwich is so easy to make. Simply mash one can of chickpeas in a bowl, then mix in mayo. Add mustard, chopped celery, red onion, salt and pepper, and maybe a quick sprinkle of lemon juice. Spread over bread and you’re done.
Caprese Sandwich
The only “fancy” ingredient you need here is ciabatta bread – everything else you should have just lying around. Stack fresh mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, and basil on the ciabatta, then rizzle with balsamic glaze and olive oil.
Tuna Salad
Tuna is a food that boosts your brain, so try this if you’re feeling sleepy. Mix canned tuna with mayo, diced celery, onion, and a squeeze of lemon. Spoon into romaine leaves, then sprinkle with pepper to taste.
Chicken Quesadilla
Kids love this quick and easy lunch and adults enjoy it too. First, fill a tortilla with shredded rotisserie chicken, cheddar cheese, and chopped bell peppers. Then fold and pan-fry until golden on both sides. Slice and serve with salsa!
Egg Fried Rice
A delicious dish that comes to us from the East. To make it, sauté diced onion and frozen peas in oil, then add the rice. Move that aside, scramble two eggs in the pan, then stir all together and add some soy sauce.
Corn and Black Bean Salad
This is known as “cowboy caviar.” To make it, combine one can each of drained black beans and corn in a bowl. Add diced red bell pepper, chopped red onion, and fresh cilantro. Then, mix in two tablespoons of olive oil, one tablespoon of lime juice, salt, pepper, and maybe a pinch of cumin.
Tuna Melt Sandwiches
More tuna! Because the more tuna you or your kids eat, the better. All you gotta do is mix one can of tuna with mayo, diced celery, and a dash of pepper. Then spread on slices of bread and top with tomato slices and shredded cheddar cheese.
Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Broccoli and cheese, what could be better? To make this one, cook chopped onion and garlic in butter. Add chopped broccoli and three cups broth. Simmer until soft, then blend part of it, then return to pot. Stir in one cup of shredded cheddar and half a cup of milk or cream. There, you’re done!
Chicken Pesto Wraps
This is a really easy and delicious recipe. All you have to do is spread pesto on a large tortilla, then layer with sliced cooked chicken, shredded mozzarella, baby spinach, and sliced tomatoes. Roll the tortilla tightly into a wrap and toast until the cheese melts.
Hummus Veggie Sandwich
Most people know hummus as a dip, but it can be used in sandwiches as well. To make the best one, spread hummus on whole grain bread, then layer with cucumber slices, shredded carrots, spinach, tomato, and avocado. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Egg Salad Wrap
Egg salad is a good source of protein, and delicious to boot. Make an egg salad wrap by mashing two boiled eggs with mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper, then putting the mix on a tortilla with lettuce and tomato slices. Then, roll the whole thing into a wrap.
Greek Pasta Salad
A chilled pasta salad for chilled days. Cook and cool some pasta, then toss with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, and feta. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper. It’s a healthy and low-fat meal.
Avocado Egg Toast
This is another really easy one. All you have to do is mash one ripe avocado with salt and lemon juice, then spread on a piece of toasted bread. Top with a sliced or fried egg and sprinkle with pepper or red pepper flakes.
Turkey and Cheese Pinwheels
Pinwheels are always a favorite with the younger crowd, so you should give them a go. Just lay sliced turkey and cheese on a tortilla, then add a thin layer of cream cheese and a few spinach leaves. Then simply slice into pinwheels!
Lentil Soup
Lentils are something you can buy in bulk so you always have them on hand for making soup. To make it, sauté chopped onion, carrot, and celery in olive oil. Add one cup lentils, four cups broth, garlic, and some thyme. Simmer until lentils are soft.
Quinoa Bowl
Quinoa is hailed as a superfood, so you should work it into as many meals as possible. For this, combine cooked quinoa with chopped cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and crumbled feta, plus maybe some chickpeas for protein. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Here’s another great soup for you. To make chicken noodle soup, simmer chopped carrots, celery, and onion in chicken broth. Then add cooked shredded chicken and egg noodles, and season with salt, pepper, garlic, and a bay leaf.
Mediterranean Wrap
There’s a reason they live long in the Mediterranean – it’s because of their great diets. To make this healthy lunch, spread hummus on a tortilla and add sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and spinach.
Peanut Butter Banana Sandwich
A sweet and fruity lunch that’s an especially big hit with children. Just grab the jar of peanut butter, spread it on a sandwich, and add sliced banana. Maybe drizzle it with some honey as well for extra sweetness.
Beans on Toast
This comes to us from Britain, where it’s a very common lunch. Just take a can of baked beans, take some out, heat them up and pour them over buttered toast. Some people add grated cheese on top as well.
Spinach and Feta Omelet
Spinach is so good for you some people consider it a superfood, and now you can have it in your omelet. Simply beat two eggs, pour into a heated pan, then add chopped spinach and crumbled feta cheese. Some people serve this with fresh fruit on the side.
Tuna and Avocado Salad
Some people swear by avocados and put them in everything. Now you can do the same thing! To make this tuna and avocado salad, simply mix canned tuna with diced avocado, chopped red onion, and cilantro. Add lime juice, salt, or pepper if you’d like.
Tuna Nicoise Salad
To make this one, combine mixed greens, boiled baby potatoes, green beans, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and black olives in a bowl. Top with seared or canned tuna. Then, drizzle with a dressing made from olive oil, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
This isn’t as healthy as some of the other lunches on this list, but it will definitely fill you up. Just cook some pulled pork and mix it with BBQ sauce, which you can buy from the store. Pile on a bun and top with some delicious coleslaw.
Chickpea Curry Wrap
Another way to get more chickpeas into your diet! Cook chickpeas with curry powder, garlic, and tomato sauce. Once they’re done, leave to cool for a little while, and then spoon onto a tortilla with some spinach and wrap it up.
Cucumber and Cream Cheese Sandwich
Cucumbers are another thing that are very good for you and you should be eating plenty of. To make this easy meal, simply spread cream cheese (available from your local grocery store) over bread, and then add some thinly sliced cucumbers. Add a pinch of salt if you’d like.
Baked Sweet Potato With Black Beans
This is a great one for people who want a lunch without meat. Simply bake a sweet potato until tender, split it and fill with black beans, salsa, and a sprinkle of cheese. Some people choose to add the extra toppings of avocado, sour cream, or cilantro.
Eggplant Cheese Sandwich
Use inexpensive cheese for this one and it’s a cheap, easy lunch. Layer breaded, baked eggplant slices with marinara and mozzarella on a roll, and then toast in an oven until the cheese melts. Serve with salad if you want to!
Noodle Salad
Everyone loves noodles, and for good reason. They make a fantastic lunch. Toss cooked noodles with shredded carrots, bell peppers, and edamame, then add a dressing of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and honey. Make sure to chill before serving.
Ham and Swiss Croissant
Croissants are some of the best things ever to come from France, and you can stuff them with delicious fillings. For this one, simply cut some ham and some Swiss cheese and place them inside a cut croissant. Add some mustard if you’d like.
Homemade Pizza
Store-bought pizzas are often packed full of preservatives, so why not make your own? Buy a flatbread and add some tomato sauce and shredded cheese. Then you can throw on whatever toppings you want. If you’re a meat-eater, you could have pepperoni, if not, you could have olives.
Tomato Soup
A classic favorite that everyone loves. To make tomato soup, sauté chopped onion and garlic in olive oil. Add a can of crushed tomatoes, two cups vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar. Simmer for fifteen minutes and then blend until smooth.
Mac and Cheese
Don’t get your mac and cheese from a packet, make it! Use one pan to create cheese sauce by mixing grated cheese, butter, milk and flour, and use the other pan to boil the pasta. Then you just have to combine the two! You can add peas or onions for an extra kick.
BLT Sandwich
Why get a BLT sandwich from the store when you could make it yourself at home? Just fry some bacon and stick it in a sandwich alongside chopped tomato and some lettuce. You could even add some avocado if you fancy it.
Creamy Potato Leek Soup
What could be better during a long day than a nice bowl of creamy potato leek soup? Make it by first sautéing sliced leeks in butter until soft. Then, add diced potatoes and four cups of broth. Simmer until potatoes are tender and then add some salt or pepper to the mix.
