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These flavorful lunch recipes are some of our best, having earned 4- and 5-star ratings from our readers! To help keep you feeling full, they are high in fiber or protein (or both)with 6 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein per serving. They are also lower in calories, which can support weight loss, and are made with delicioussummer producelike zucchini and bell peppers. Try our Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch and Veggie & Hummus Sandwich for a tasty and nutritious lunch perfect for a midday meal this summer.
01of 22Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado RanchThis healthy, super-fast salad recipe swaps out romaine for kale, giving you more than 10 times the vitamin C. Easy flavor hacks like store-bought ranch and pickled jalapeños help make a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything from salad to sliced veggies and shredded poached chicken.View Recipe
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Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch
This healthy, super-fast salad recipe swaps out romaine for kale, giving you more than 10 times the vitamin C. Easy flavor hacks like store-bought ranch and pickled jalapeños help make a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything from salad to sliced veggies and shredded poached chicken.
View Recipe
02of 22Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon DressingWe’ve replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad for a satisfying meal that takes just 20 minutes to make.View Recipe
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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing
We’ve replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad for a satisfying meal that takes just 20 minutes to make.
03of 22Veggie & Hummus SandwichPhotographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe DickeyThis mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables, depending on your mood.View Recipe
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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey
This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables, depending on your mood.
04of 22Chickpea Tuna SaladPhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).View Recipe
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Chickpea Tuna Salad
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
05of 22Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa BowlsThese shrimp, pesto and quinoa bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. Feel free to add additional vegetables and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, tofu or edamame.View Recipe
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Charred Shrimp, Pesto & Quinoa Bowls
These shrimp, pesto and quinoa bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. Feel free to add additional vegetables and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, tofu or edamame.
06of 22No-Cook Black Bean SaladThe dressing for this vegan black bean salad gets its creaminess from blended avocado. Any mix of salad greens will work well, but try arugula if you want to give this hearty salad a peppery kick.View Recipe
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No-Cook Black Bean Salad
The dressing for this vegan black bean salad gets its creaminess from blended avocado. Any mix of salad greens will work well, but try arugula if you want to give this hearty salad a peppery kick.
07of 22Green Goddess Salad with ChickpeasIn this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.View Recipe
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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.
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Chimichurri Noodle Bowls
09of 22Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito BowlThis flavorful burrito bowl features grilled chicken coated in a spicy chipotle glaze. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthier meal.View Recipe
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Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl
This flavorful burrito bowl features grilled chicken coated in a spicy chipotle glaze. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthier meal.
10of 22Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus DressingThis hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.View Recipe
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Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.
11of 22Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita BowlsSkip the tortillas in favor of this warm fajita salad, which features a nutritious medley of chicken with roasted kale, bell peppers and black beans. The chicken, beans and vegetables are all cooked on the same pan, so this healthy meal is easy to make and the cleanup is easy too.View Recipe
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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
Skip the tortillas in favor of this warm fajita salad, which features a nutritious medley of chicken with roasted kale, bell peppers and black beans. The chicken, beans and vegetables are all cooked on the same pan, so this healthy meal is easy to make and the cleanup is easy too.
12of 22Chicken Quinoa Fried RiceRegular fried rice gets a protein boost when rice is swapped for quinoa in this healthy dinner recipe. Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand—broccoli, green beans and mushrooms are all good options in this quinoa fried rice. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.View Recipe
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Chicken Quinoa Fried Rice
Regular fried rice gets a protein boost when rice is swapped for quinoa in this healthy dinner recipe. Feel free to use any vegetables you have on hand—broccoli, green beans and mushrooms are all good options in this quinoa fried rice. Serve with hot sauce, if desired.
13of 22Chopped Cobb Salad with Creamy Garlic DressingJoy HowardIn place of bacon, this satisfying salad uses store-bought crispy chickpeas for lower saturated fat and less prep time. Using fresh herbs, bright citrus and a creamy base of yogurt and mayonnaise for the dressing gives it a flavorful finish.View Recipe
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Chopped Cobb Salad with Creamy Garlic Dressing
Joy Howard
In place of bacon, this satisfying salad uses store-bought crispy chickpeas for lower saturated fat and less prep time. Using fresh herbs, bright citrus and a creamy base of yogurt and mayonnaise for the dressing gives it a flavorful finish.
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Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad Bowls
15of 22Spicy Ramen Noodle Cup SoupPhotographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell RoysterIn just 15 minutes, you can make three jars of vegetarian ramen cup soup that you can bring to work or school. These cup soups are not only a time-saver, but are also packed with protein from hard-boiled eggs, which will help keep you satisfied until your next meal.View Recipe
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Spicy Ramen Noodle Cup Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
In just 15 minutes, you can make three jars of vegetarian ramen cup soup that you can bring to work or school. These cup soups are not only a time-saver, but are also packed with protein from hard-boiled eggs, which will help keep you satisfied until your next meal.
16of 22Chicken Hummus BowlsThe spiced chicken atop these bowls is ready fast with the help of the broiler. Serve with warm whole-wheat pita for scooping up extra hummus at the bottom of the bowl.View Recipe
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Chicken Hummus Bowls
The spiced chicken atop these bowls is ready fast with the help of the broiler. Serve with warm whole-wheat pita for scooping up extra hummus at the bottom of the bowl.
17of 22Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & EdamameThe quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base in this veggie-packed lunch recipe. Topped with high-protein edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will help you power through the afternoon.View Recipe
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Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame
The quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base in this veggie-packed lunch recipe. Topped with high-protein edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will help you power through the afternoon.
18of 22Salmon-Stuffed AvocadosPhotographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia PurcellCanned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy, omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.View Recipe
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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy, omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.
19of 22Lemony Lentil Salad with FetaJason DonnellyThis delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pitas, if desired.View Recipe
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Lemony Lentil Salad with Feta
Jason Donnelly
This delicious and healthy lentil salad comes together in just 30 minutes and makes a wonderful hot-weather meal. Serve with whole-wheat pitas, if desired.
20of 22Spring Roll SaladThis healthy spring-roll inspired salad is bursting with the colors of the rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.View Recipe
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Spring Roll Salad
This healthy spring-roll inspired salad is bursting with the colors of the rainbow from generous amounts of fresh vegetables, shrimp and whole grains all topped with a peanut dressing for the ultimate satisfying salad.
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White Bean & Avocado Sandwich
22of 22Black Bean-Quinoa BowlPhotography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe GrecoThis black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.View Recipe
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Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco
This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We’ve loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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