41 lunch recipes

See our easy lunch recipes below, then try our quick and healthy recipes for dishes all ready in under 30 minutes, including salads, pasta dishes and stir-fries. If you are feeding a smaller crowd, try our easy dinner ideas for two.

Lunch recipes

Crispy chickpeas on green toast

Get a double legume hit with this simple lunch, where smashed peas are spread onto the toasted sourdough then topped with crispy chickpeas, tahini, a sprinkle of za’atar and lemon zest. It's a healthy dish which counts as your beans, greens and seeds for the day, plus it only takes 25 minutes to assemble.

Mediterranean frittata

Bring sunny Mediterranean flavours to the table with this healthy frittata, containing minimal carbs but plenty of protein. The salty feta works well with spinach and tomatoes.

Chopped salad with crispy rice and herby kefir dressing

Ping a bag of rice in the microwave then mix into a fresh chopped salad for a flavourful lunch with a great crispy texture. Feel free to use any seasonings you like to coat the rice with.

Chicken kyiv salad

One of our easiest lunch recipes to date, this warm chicken kyiv salad uses shop-bought shortcuts to save you time and effort. Breaded chicken saves making croutons and the garlic butter adds an extra punch.

Honeyed halloumi and borlotti bean salad

Elevate your lunch game with this nourishing veggie salad, combining grilled honeyed halloumi with roasted tomatoes, magnesium-rich leafy greens and gut-healthy borlotti beans – what’s not to love?

Multivitamin gut-nourish bowl

Looking for a super healthy lunch to add to your rotation? Try this beautiful, diverse, high-fibre and high-protein dish, a bowl of vitamins and minerals that work simultaneously to nourish your gut and feed your hormones.

Beetroot, herb and nutty grain salad with feta dressing

Upgrade your lunch without much effort required thanks to this herby grain salad. Ready-cooked pouches of rice and grains make a great cheat’s base for salads – look for ones with a mixture of types for contrasting textures and flavours.

Halloumi toastie with harissa and honey

For ultimate comfort to carry you through the afternoon, try Sabrina Ghayour's take on the classic cheese toastie. Filled with salty halloumi, rose harissa and honey for a touch of sweetness, this toastie is too delicious for words.

Curried chickpea baked potatoes

For a new and exciting way to jazz up your spuds, try this curried chickpeas variation – chickpeas, sultanas and nuts bring more fibre to the party and make a substantial lunch.

Prawn and watermelon salad

Update your lunch repertoire with this vibrant, refreshing salad. It can easily be made vegetarian by using soy sauce instead of fish sauce, and omitting the prawns – it's even better the next day.

Salmon and avocado rice bowls

Dig into this super-fresh salmon bowl for a lunchtime treat. It can help you make use of whatever you already have in the fridge – radishes, peas, blanched broccoli, carrot ribbons or pepper make great alternative toppings.

Halloumi wraps

Refresh your lunch rotation with these flavour-packed veggie wraps, stuffed with salty halloumi and a fresh and bright salad for a quick, nutritious midweek meal.

Chicken burrito bowl

Get into the practice of meal-prepping with this tasty chicken burrito bowl – it keeps well overnight in the fridge, plus it's packed with veg. Make it for a filling lunch.

Panzanella

Level up your lunch game with this hearty, no-cook panzanella salad. Offering a real taste of summer, it’s good value because it can be eaten on its own or goes well with just about anything; grilled fish, chicken, prawns.

Honey chicken and broccoli stir-fry

Try this easy stir-fry for a quick, protein-rich lunch, where hunks of chicken breast are coated in a sweet, sharp honey and sesame sauce and paired with long-stem broccoli.

Fatteh (crispy pitta, chickpea and yogurt salad)

Give this Middle Eastern fatteh salad a go for a lunch you won't be forgetting in a rush– crunchy, golden pitta, crisp chickpeas and walnuts are tossed together in a tahini yogurt dressing then topped with pomegranate, herbs and sumac.

Chicken fried rice

Throw together this chicken fried rice for when time is of the essence. Ready on the table in just 20 minutes, it's ideal for using up leftover rice or chicken, too.

Prawn caesar salad

Take your love of caesar salad to new heights with this prawn variety, offering crunchy texture and fresh, zingy summer flavours.

Vegan leek and potato soup

Incorporate more vegan meals into your diet with this plant-based version of a classic soup. It's just as creamy as the original.

Pea and halloumi fritters with charred lemon dip

Do something a little different for lunch with these quick and easy halloumi fritters, flavoured with mint and chilli flakes for a little kick. You can use fresh or frozen peas to make these.

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Chuck a few storecupboard staples together to make this vibrant, nutritious orzo pasta salad with roasted red peppers, black olives and protein-packed tuna. All for under 300 calories.

Waldorf salad

When you only have 15 minutes to spare, rustle up a fast and delicious Waldorf salad. It's sweet, savoury, crunchy and creamy all at the same time, and we've added leafy kale for added nutrients.

Healthy spinach omelette

Top an omelette with creamed spinach and juicy cherry tomatoes for a satisfying, healthy veggie lunch – we've lowered the fat by replacing cream with light soft cheese and milk.

Chicken Caesar salad

A chicken caesar is a popular choice for a reason: the dressing is creamy and zingy, croutons are fresh and craggy and the lettuce cold and crunchy. You can add a softly boiled egg, a few crispy bacon rashers or some sundried tomatoes for an extra-posh lunch. The left-over dressing will keep, chilled, for three days.

Sriracha salmon power bowls

Zhuzh up lunchtime meals with this beautifully diverse, high-fibre and high-protein power bowl. Use wild-caught salmon for its potent omega-3 fats.

Turmeric fried eggs and kale salad

Pair turmeric-spiced fried eggs with crunchy kale and chickpeas in this divine veggie salad, finished with a drizzle of speedy tahini sauce.

Healthy beans on toast

Beans on toast gets a healthy makeover, so you can enjoy comfort food with nourishment to boot. We've used ezme – a condiment flavour bomb made with juicy tomatoes, sweet peppers, chilli heat and tangy pomegranate molasses, with the freshness of herbs, too.

Smoked mackerel caesar salad

Try this mackerel twist on a caesar for an upgraded classic that also makes a lovely summery lunch. The caesar dressing also works well with chicken salads, new potatoes or salmon.

Sweet potato soup

Enjoy a bowl of silky smooth sweet potato soup for a satisfying lunch which uses just four ingredients. Dunk with a crispy ciabatta, for contrasting texture.

Easy pesto pasta

Tuck into a bowl of pesto pasta for a fuss-free lunch which takes just 25 minutes to put together. Our version includes fresh, homemade pesto – whizzing it up takes seconds.

Chicken, wild rice and carrot salad

This chicken, wild rice and carrot salad is uplifted with lime pickle, adding a sour, salty, fragrant note to the dressing which becomes more than the sum of its parts.

Sweetcorn, pickled chilli and coriander fritters

Pep up sweetcorn fritters with easy pickled chillies which, when served with bacon and hot sauce, make a great light lunch.

Truffle mushroom toast

Turn to this truffle mushroom toast for an elegant lunch which will soon become a staple. Mushrooms are fried in butter until golden then laced with a whisper of truffle oil and topped with an oozing poached egg.

Warm freekeh salad

Make this hearty and wholesome salad for a lunch packed with flavour, colour and texture. The freekeh lends nutty, smoky notes, while lemon and leafy green herbs add freshness and zing.

Potato soup

Turn your hand to this easy potato and spring onion soup for a vegetarian lunch that's low in calories and ready in 30 minutes.

Kale salad with tadka dressing

Looking for a hearty salad with buckets of flavour to boot? This is the answer: firm, rich kale leaves are tossed with sliced avocado and slicked in a dressing of honey, vinegar, garlic and chilli, topped with crisp, golden croutons made from punchy garlic and coriander naan bread.

Roasted cauliflower salad with pistachio pesto dressing

Roasted cauliflower florets are coated in a punchy pistachio pesto in this levelled-up salad. This will make more pesto than you need – try stirring it through pasta for tomorrow's lunch.

Broccoli pasta

Easy, vegan and ready in just 20 minutes – this super-green, 5-ingredient broccoli and garlic linguine is ideal for a fast midweek lunch.

Salmon poke bowl

This colourful salmon poke bowl makes a healthy lunch with a difference. Match salmon, red pepper and sushi rice with a spicy dressing made from soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, sriracha and lime juice.

Tomato pasta sauce

If you're working from home, try making a rich slow-roast tomato sauce to toss through your pasta of choice. Ripe tomatoes, garlic, decent extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil and a little black pepper is all you need.

Caprese salad

Sweet tomatoes and creamy mozzarella are a match made in heaven, and a classic caprese salad proves it. Try it for a light, summery lunch that's full of fresh Mediterranean flavours.

Healthy jacket potato

We've found proof that you can still enjoy a crispy, fluffy jacket potato while feeling healthy and nourished. We've stuffed it with a classic French niçoise salad for a high-protein, low-calorie lunch.