Lunch in a Flash: 26 Tasty 10-Minute Ideas

Rather than an in-between meetings lunch that is quickly consumed, ten minutes would be reasonable for a full lunch break. The most important thing is to use intelligent time-saving methods such as: pre-packaged salad, canned legumes, grains you can prepare in the microwave, and a handful of delicious sauces. Below are 26 ideas to help you get out of the rut of eating the same disappointed lunch at your desk every day. Feel free to add to or adjust the list however you would like.

1) Veggie Wrap with Hummus

Spread some hummus across the whole tortilla and put some of the crunch veggie mix on top. If you wanna mix up the flavor, add some spinach or arugula. To add more of a “lunchy” feel, roll it up tight and cut it in half. If you want more spice, add some chili crisp or hot sauce before you roll it up!

2) Caprese Pita

Make your veggies the star of the show! If you have it, a few basil leaves would be great. To make your pita pocket, start with some sliced mozzarella, and then add some sliced tomatoes. Drizzle a little olive oil and some balsamic vinegar on top, and then sprinkle salt and pepper. It’s a simple dish, but it’s definitely not boring! You’ll also get some fruit or a few chips.

3) Tuna Salad Toast

Combine canned tuna with either mayonnaise or Greek yogurt, then mix in a splash of lemon juice with some salt. If you have it, chop up pickles or celery and mix them in for some added crunch. Spread it onto toast or scoop some out with crackers. It only takes a few minutes, even in the midst of a busy day.

4) Chicken Salad Bowl

You could use rotisserie chicken, salad kit or bagged greens with assorted toppings like croutons, sunflower seeds, cheese, and tomato. Dress with the kit or oil and vinegar. It looks like you tried when you actually didn’t.

5) Scrambled Egg and Cheese

First, break two eggs into a mug and add a splash of milk along with salt and pepper to taste. Fork it and mix the ingredients. Then, microwave it a few times, stirring once or twice, until the eggs are set. Put cheese in it at the end so it doesn’t melt and become rubbery. You can eat it directly from the mug or put it in a piece of bread to make a sandwich.

6) Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Mix Greek yogurt with salt and pepper and a bit of Dijon mustard. Then, mix it with leftover or rotisserie chicken. Add grapes or dried cranberries. For crunch, add either celery or nuts. Satisfying but not overly so. Enjoy it with some crackers, in a wrap, or on a bed of greens.

7) Avocado Toast

Mash your avocado and spread it on the toasted bread. Season with salt, pepper, and everything seasoning. A squeeze of lemon keeps it bright. If you want to boost the protein, add a fried egg or some smoked salmon (if you have any). It is satisfying, effortless, and no recipe is needed.

8) Turkey Cheese Roll-Ups

You can secure the roll with toothpicks if you would like. Mustard for dipping is included. You may also add pickles or cherry tomatoes on the side. If you want to avoid bread, this is a great option. It’s also a great way to use up any leftover bits and pieces from the deli.

9) Savory Oatmeal

Cook your quick oats in the microwave and do not forget the seasoning. You should treat it like it is rice, so add some black pepper, a little bit of sesame oil, and some soy sauce. You can place a soft egg, some leftover chicken, or even some edamame on top. It is good for lunch and is quick and easy.

10) Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

11) Cottage Cheese Bowl

Add some black pepper to the cottage cheese along with the tomatoes and cucumber. Then, you can use a light drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of flaky salt. You can enhance the dish by combining it with toast or crackers for a crunchy element. If you want protein and prefer not to cook, it is a good option.

12) Peanut Noodles

Prepare instant noodles (ramen can be used, but do not add the seasoning packet) and mix with peanut butter and soy sauce. To thin the sauce, add some hot water. For a slightly tangy flavor, add lime or vinegar. If desired, top with scallions or sesame seeds. It is quick, easy to scale, and inexpensive.

13) Black Bean Quesadilla

Place some black beans, corn, and shredded cheese (and anything else you want) on a tortilla and fold it in half. If you have a skillet, put it on there for a few minutes on each side. If all you have is a microwave, that’s fine too. You can use yogurt, hot sauce, or salsa as a dip. This is great for pantry clean-outs.

14) Smoked Salmon Bagel

Cream cheese, of course, goes on a toasted bagel, and then you add smoked salmon. If you want added crunch, you can use capers, red onion, or cucumber. To finish, lemon adds a nice freshness. Not to mention, you can skip the cooking!

15) Chickpea Salad

Chickpeas can be drained and rinsed if you like. Then, combine them with diced cucumber, red onion, and some parsley. For the dressing, combine lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. You can serve this in a bowl, use it to fill a pita, or even use it to top a piece of toast. It keeps well, so it’s great to make once and eat twice.

16) Pesto Melt

Spread some pesto on the bread and add mozzarella cheese. Then, either broil or toast the sandwich until the cheese has melted. If you want it to taste like pizza, add some slices of tomato. Just be careful because the cheese can burn pretty quickly after it’s melted. This pairs well with some salad or with a piece of apple.

17) Snack Plate Lunch

Using your ingredients, put together a basic spread containing cheese, an assortment of fruits, nuts, and crackers. If you want to include something salty, consider adding pickles or olives. While this may appear basic, it is quite unique. This is beneficial on days when you feel cooking is not an option.

18) Stir Fried Rice

Slightly different than other meals, leftover rice can be done faster than other options. Frozen mixed veggies cook the same way as rice, just with some added soy sauce for taste. Just get the omelet mixture and go straight to the pan. It’s warm and easy and a great way to finish off little scraps of food.

19) BLT Lettuce Wraps

Using pre-cooked bacon, or bacon that you have made before, makes the use of the lettuce wraps quick and easy. You can even just put some mayo on the crunchy lettuce, add the bacon and chopped tomatoes, and you have a BLT minus the bread. Having a side of chips takes it to the next level.

20) Loaded Baked Potato

Using a fork, poke the potato several times. If you remember, make sure to flip the potato when it is in the microwave until it is soft. You can cut it open and put in some chili that is good and sour cream, cheese, and salsa. Use your potato as a blank canvas to create your masterpiece using all the ingredients in your fridge and pantry. This meal is a classic ‘I have nothing’ lunch.

21) Miso Soup

Take a miso paste and mix it with hot water to create a quick broth. Add in some diced tofu and some spinach or any other green so that it can wilt. If you have some, sprinkle scallions or sesame seeds on top. If you want something else to fill you up, adding a snack plate or a bit of rice to the meal will certainly do it.

22) Turkey Pesto Sandwich

Grab a slice of bread and spread some pesto on it. If you have any, put on some turkey, arugula, and sliced tomatoes on there as well. Pesto is very flavorful so you won’t need to add anything fancy to it. You can even further elevate the sandwich by putting it in the pan to heat it up. You can do a lot with a simple deli sandwich.

23) Egg Salad

If you can, use some precooked eggs or hard boiled eggs from the fridge. Mix the eggs with some mayo or greek yoghurt, add in some mustard, salt and pepper to taste. If you want a more sophisticated and intentional flavor, add in some paprika and/or dill. You can serve this on some toast, crackers, or in lettuce cups.

24) Fish on Toast

You can easily make a protein-rich lunch using canned mackerel or sardines. You can make sandwiches and top them with lemon and black pepper or mix the fish with some mayonnaise and mustard. To enhance the dish, you might consider adding some crunchy elements, like cucumber or pickles. If you’re sampling the fish for the first time, you can select the boneless skinless varieties; they’re milder.

25) White Bean Salad

Once the white beans have been rinsed, combine them with chopped tomatoes, some olive oil, and a little vinegar or lemon juice. Remember, beans must be salted in order to gain any flavor. Add any herbs you may have, whether fresh or dried. This is really good eaten from a bowl or even scooped up with some of the toasted bread!

26) Ramen Upgrade

Feel free to customize the seasoning for your ramen. For extra protein, you can also easily add some leftover chicken, a frozen veggie mix, or an egg (added to the broth as it cooks). Soy sauce or a dab of chili paste will give it that restaurant-quality flavor. To keep your lunch prep time to a maximum of 10 minutes, we recommend limiting your enhancements to 1 or 2.