21 Best Healthy Lunch Recipes
Real food. No sad desk lunches.
Lunch should keep you full, focused, and out of the 3 p.m. crash zone. These recipes are balanced, protein-forward, and easy enough to prep ahead or throw together between meetings. Every recipe below is complete and built with normal ingredients you can find anywhere.
1. Grilled Chicken Power Bowl
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 cup roasted vegetables (broccoli, carrots, zucchini)
Instructions
- Season chicken and grill or pan-sear until cooked through.
- Slice and serve over rice with vegetables.
2. Turkey Avocado Wrap
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 whole wheat tortilla
- 4 slices turkey breast
- ½ avocado, sliced
- Lettuce
- Mustard or hummus
Instructions
- Layer all ingredients on tortilla.
- Roll tightly and slice.
3. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes
- ¼ cup cucumber, diced
- ¼ cup feta cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Lemon juice, salt, pepper
Instructions
- Toss all ingredients in a bowl.
- Chill or serve immediately.
4. Salmon & Quinoa Bowl
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets
- Salt, pepper
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 1 cup steamed green beans
Instructions
- Bake salmon at 400°F for 12–15 minutes.
- Serve over quinoa with green beans.
5. Chicken Caesar Lettuce Wraps
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, chopped
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt Caesar dressing
- Romaine lettuce leaves
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Toss chicken with dressing.
- Spoon into lettuce leaves and top with parmesan.
6. Tuna Protein Bowl
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 can tuna, drained
- 1 tbsp Greek yogurt
- ½ avocado
- Cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Mix tuna with yogurt.
- Serve with avocado and tomatoes.
7. Ground Turkey & Veggie Stir-Fry
Serves: 3
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 cups mixed vegetables
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Soy sauce or coconut aminos
Instructions
- Brown turkey in oil.
- Add vegetables and sauce.
- Cook until tender.
8. Lentil & Spinach Soup
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry lentils
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup spinach
- Garlic, onion, salt
Instructions
- Simmer lentils, broth, garlic, and onion for 30 minutes.
- Stir in spinach before serving.
9. Egg Salad with Greek Yogurt
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 4 boiled eggs
- 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
- Mustard
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Chop eggs.
- Mix with yogurt and mustard.
- Serve on whole grain bread or lettuce.
10. Shrimp Rice Bowl
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 lb shrimp, peeled
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Garlic
- 1 cup cooked jasmine rice
Instructions
- Sauté shrimp with garlic and oil until pink.
- Serve over rice.
11. Chicken & Sweet Potato Meal Prep
Serves: 3
Ingredients
- 3 chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 sweet potatoes, cubed
- Olive oil, salt, paprika
Instructions
- Roast chicken and potatoes at 400°F for 30 minutes.
- Divide into containers.
12. Veggie & Hummus Pita
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 whole wheat pita
- ¼ cup hummus
- Bell peppers, cucumbers, spinach
Instructions
- Spread hummus inside pita.
- Fill with veggies.
13. Beef & Broccoli Skillet
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 12 oz flank steak, sliced
- 2 cups broccoli
- Olive oil, garlic, soy sauce
Instructions
- Sear beef in oil.
- Add broccoli and sauce.
- Cook until tender.
14. Cobb Salad
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 1 grilled chicken breast
- 2 boiled eggs
- ½ avocado
- Blue cheese
Instructions
- Chop and layer all ingredients.
- Add dressing of choice.
15. Turkey Chili
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- Chili seasoning
Instructions
- Brown turkey.
- Add beans, tomatoes, seasoning.
- Simmer 25 minutes.
16. Zucchini Noodle Chicken Bowl
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 2 cups zucchini noodles
- 1 cup cooked chicken
- Olive oil, garlic
Instructions
- Sauté zucchini lightly.
- Add chicken and season.
17. Sardine & Avocado Toast
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 1 slice whole grain toast
- 1 can sardines
- ½ avocado
- Lemon juice
Instructions
- Mash avocado with lemon.
- Top toast with sardines.
18. Chicken Fried Rice (Healthy Version)
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 cup diced chicken
- 2 eggs
- Mixed veggies
Instructions
- Scramble eggs in pan.
- Add chicken, rice, veggies.
- Stir-fry until heated.
19. Black Bean & Rice Bowl
Serves: 2
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 can black beans
- Salsa
- Cilantro
Instructions
- Warm rice and beans.
- Top with salsa and cilantro.
20. Chicken Soup
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 6 cups broth
- Carrots, celery, onion
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Simmer everything 30–40 minutes.
- Shred chicken before serving.
21. Simple Protein Plate
Serves: 1
Ingredients
- 4 oz grilled protein (chicken, steak, or tofu)
- 1 cup vegetables
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Grill protein.
- Serve with vegetables and drizzle olive oil.
Final Thought
Healthy lunches don’t need reinvention. They need structure. Protein first, vegetables second, carbs that earn their spot. If you can batch-cook two proteins and one carb on Sunday, lunch stops being a decision for the rest of the week.
