Whip up a satisfying meal in 20 minutes flat with these quick and easy lunch recipes. Each dish is fresh, full of flavor and won't heat up your kitchen!
24 Quick Summer Lunches Ready in 20 Minutes
Updated on Feb. 28, 2024
1/24
Spicy Asian Ham Sandwiches
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 sandwiches
From the Recipe Creator:
We love these sandwiches with ham, but you can use leftover cooked pork instead, if desired. —Janice Elder, Charlotte, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 271 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 962mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein.
2/24
Meatless Taco Salad
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This colorful entree combines popular taco ingredients—minus the ground beef. And you won't miss the meat at all! I top each serving with a creamy guacamole dressing, crunchy corn chips and cheese. —Kimberly Dray, Pflugerville, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 486 calories, 33g fat (12g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 849mg sodium, 34g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 9g fiber), 16g protein.
3/24
Crab Cakes
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Our region is known for good seafood, and crab cakes are a traditional favorite. I learned to make them from a chef in a restaurant where they were a bestseller. The crabmeat's sweet and mild flavor is sparked by the blend of other ingredients. —Debbie Terenzini, Lusby, Maryland
Nutrition Facts:
1 crab cake: 282 calories, 22g fat (3g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 638mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 14g protein.
4/24
Egg-Topped Avocado Toast
Total Time
20 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We always have avocados on hand, so it's easy to make this quick breakfast toast for my husband and me. It's really tasty! —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 open-faced sandwich: 313 calories, 21g fat (7g saturated fat), 211mg cholesterol, 492mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 15g protein.
5/24
Avocado Turkey Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Grape tomatoes and avocado chunks add pretty color and fresh flavor to this main-dish salad. In a pinch, substitute half-and half or milk for the whipping cream, adding a teaspoon at a time until you get the desired consistency. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/3 cups: 225 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 141mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 16g protein.
6/24
Kimchi Fried Rice
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Forget ordinary fried rice! Kimchi fried rice is just as easy, but it packs a flavorful punch. This is a fantastic use for leftovers too. You can freeze the fried rice for up to three months. When cooking your defrosted rice, add a little extra soy sauce so it doesn't dry out. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup fried rice with 1 egg: 331 calories, 14g fat (2g saturated fat), 186mg cholesterol, 546mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein.
7/24
Chicken Caesar Wrap
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 wraps
From the Recipe Creator:
This classic handheld with tender chicken, Parmesan cheese and chopped Caesar croutons features the perfect amount of dressing for a tasty meal any night. Nancy Pratt - Longview, TX
Nutrition Facts:
1 wrap: 337 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 730mg sodium, 29g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 4g fiber), 27g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.
8/24
Hasselback Tomato Clubs
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This no-fuss, no-bread riff on a classic is perfect during tomato season. Make it for lunch or pair it with pasta salad for a light dinner. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
2 stuffed tomatoes: 272 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 48mg cholesterol, 803mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 21g protein.
9/24
Chinese Spinach-Almond Salad
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This recipe combines power-packed spinach, a good source of vitamins A and K, with other veggies, lean meat and crunchy, heart-healthy almonds. Reduced-fat dressing adds a light Asian flavor and touch to each hearty serving.
Mary Ann Kieffer - Lawrence, Kansas
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 244 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 500mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch.
10/24
Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls
Total Time
12 min
Servings
2 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a hand-held version, leave out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients into a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 433 calories, 25g fat (4g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 1355mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 6g fiber), 8g protein.
11/24
Lemon Shrimp with Parmesan Rice
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I grew up in Biloxi, Mississippi, where rice, garlic and seafood are staples of Gulf Coast cuisine. This easy shrimp and rice dish is a longtime family favorite that's ready in minutes. —Amie Overby, Reno, Nevada
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup shrimp with 3/4 cup rice: 438 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 191mg cholesterol, 908mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 27g protein.
12/24
Tailgate Sausages
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
You’ll need just a handful of ingredients to fix these tasty sandwiches. Fully cooked sausages are placed in buns with cheese and topped with giardiniera, then wrapped in foil so they’re easy to transport and a breeze to grill. —Matthew Hass, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 sausage: 584 calories, 33g fat (15g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 1401mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 31g protein.
13/24
Cherry Chicken Croissants
Total Time
10 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I had a similar chicken salad at a restaurant and created my own version. It may seem like an odd combination, but the ingredients work really well together. My children love it, and it only takes a few minutes to cut everything up—so easy!
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 616 calories, 39g fat (12g saturated fat), 92mg cholesterol, 613mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.
14/24
Refreshing Shrimp Salad
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Avocado, strawberries and shrimp are wonderful together in this filling yet light salad. Balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette dressings go well with the salad, as do Asian-inspired dressings. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
3 cups: 239 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 172mg cholesterol, 181mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 6g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fruit.
15/24
Focaccia Sandwiches
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Slices of this pretty sandwich make any casual get-together more special. Add or change ingredients to your taste. —Peggy Woodward, Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 113 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.
16/24
Crab-Stuffed Avocado
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
These boats are wonderful with tortilla chips, beans or rice. You can also cover them, pack them on ice, and take them to a picnic or potluck. Straight from the oven or cold, they're always delicious. —Frances Benthin, Scio, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 filled avocado half: 325 calories, 28g fat (6g saturated fat), 57mg cholesterol, 427mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 6g fiber), 13g protein.
17/24
Asian Chicken Rice Bowl
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This super flavorful, nutrient-packed dish makes use of supermarket conveniences like coleslaw mix and rotisserie chicken. This recipe is easily doubled or tripled for large families. —Christianna Gozzi, Asteria, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 429 calories, 15g fat (2g saturated fat), 62mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 5g fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
18/24
California Roll Wraps
Total Time
20 min
Servings
6 wraps
From the Recipe Creator:
I love the California rolls I get at sushi restaurants and wanted to capture those flavors in a sandwich I could take to work. I started with the standard ingredients, added a few others and came up with a hit. —Mary Pax-Shipley, Bend, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 wrap: 365 calories, 18g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 647mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 7g fiber), 13g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat.
19/24
Sausage Squash Kabobs
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Expect a crowd to gather around the grill when these flavorful kabobs are cooking. The zesty honey-mustard glaze gives a lovely sheen to the sausage and veggies. —Lisa Malynn Kent, North Richland Hills, Texas.
Nutrition Facts:
2 kabobs: 385 calories, 7g fat (2g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 1491mg sodium, 58g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 3g fiber), 22g protein.
20/24
Tilapia with Cucumber Relish
Total Time
15 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband isn't big on fish, but he enjoys this mild-tasting tilapia. The relish adds garden-fresh flavor and pretty color to the browned fillets. —Mary VanHollebeke, Wyandotte, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 fillet with 1/4 cup relish: 181 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 90mg cholesterol, 384mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 1 fat.
21/24
Black Bean Burrito
Total Time
10 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My neighbor and I discovered these delicious low-fat burritos a few years ago. On nights my husband or I have a meeting, we can have a satisfying supper on the table in minutes. —Angela Studebaker, Goshen, Indiana
Nutrition Facts:
1 burrito: 395 calories, 16g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 610mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 7g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2-1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 lean meat, 1 fat.
22/24
Apple ‘n’ Prosciutto Sandwiches
Total Time
20 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Prepared on an indoor grill, this apple prosciutto sandwich are spread with homemade rosemary pesto. They’re wonderful on a cool day with a bowl of butternut squash soup. —Elizabeth Bennett, Mill Creek, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 sandwich: 336 calories, 21g fat (6g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 668mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein.
23/24
Tomato Walnut Tilapia
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Tomato, bread crumbs and crunchy walnuts dress up pan tilapia fillets in this favorite recipe. I serve it with cooked julienne carrots and green beans. —Phyl Broich-Wessling, Garner, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
1 fillet: 202 calories, 10g fat (4g saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 251mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 fat, 1/2 starch.
24/24
