17 Lunch Recipes Ready in 15 Minutes or Less

When you're in a midday rush, these recipes have your back.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published March 25, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Black bean toast on a plate next to another plate with a serving and a bowl of lime slices

Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

There's nothing worse than feeling rushed and stressed during your lunch break. Whether you're at the office or working from home, a midday lunch should feel like a safe, reserved space to sit and relax while you enjoy a meal.

These 17 recipes take just 15 minutes or less to put together. Save your favorites and replenish your energy at lunchtime!

  • Noodles with Cucumbers and a Lot of Chili Crisp

    Two bowls of spicy noodles with cucumbers and chili crisp.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "There isn’t a noodle that wouldn’t work for this recipe. Udon, soba, ramen, mei fun, rice, and somen noodles are typically what I have around and use. The noodles are the starchy vehicle for the chili crisp to cling onto, so even spaghetti, angel hair, or fettucine would be delicious." —Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director Myo Quinn

  • Black Bean Toasts

    Black bean toast on a plate next to another plate with a serving and a bowl of lime slices

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The bread is the base for all of the goodies, so it needs to be sturdy but also tasty. I usually splurge on a nicer loaf from the bakery department at my local grocery store or farmers market. Whole grain or sourdough are great options." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

  • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with garlic

    Simply Recipes / Molly Adams

    "If olives are not your thing, swap them with chopped canned artichokes or a tablespoon or two of rinsed capers for the same brininess." —Simply Recipes Contributor Molly Adams

  • Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

    Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    "If you’re not already familiar with the hummus bowl, it’s a bowl of hummus topped with seasoned ground beef (or ground lamb! Or chicken! Or tofu!) and your favorite garnishes. I like chickpeas, feta, olives, pickles, tomatoes, and fresh parsley, but really, anything goes!" —Simply Recipes Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz

    Continue to 5 of 17 below

  • Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

    Angled view of a pink plate with two halves of a sandwich made from curried chickpea salad and greens all on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Alexandra Shytsman

    "I particularly love a bean recipe that requires zero cooking, like this one. Lightly mashed canned chickpeas are spruced up with a handful of flavorful ingredients, including yellow curry powder, shallots, golden raisins, and (of course) mayo, making it the plant-based answer to chicken or egg salad." —Simply Recipes Contributor Alexandra Shytsman

  • 10-Minute Creamy White Beans and Greens

    Overhead view of a bowl of beans and greens with a chunk of bread all next to a spoon and resting on a blue cloth napkin

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    "You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they tend to have a softer texture that works really well here. Make sure to drain the beans in a sieve set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba." —Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud

  • 3-Ingredient Baked BBQ Chicken

    Overhead view of a baking sheet of four bbq baked chicken breasts topped with cheese and green onions on parchment paper

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "It’s important to use only the most delicious barbecue sauce and cheese. They’ll be adding the flavor to your dish, so go for the good stuff." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

  • Wonton Soup

    wanton soup in a bowl (close-up)

    Simply Recipes / Kris Osborne

    "Toss in some ramen, soba, udon, or rice noodles for a heartier, more filling meal." —Simply Recipes Contributor Kris Osborne

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  • Tuna Salad Sandwich

    Open Face Tuna Salad Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Cottage cheese might seem like a strange addition to tuna salad, but trust us when we say it's a perfect in this sandwich. It adds more protein, plus a creaminess and richness. You can use non-fat or light cottage cheese, if you're worried about the extra calories." —Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer

  • Loaded Veggie Sandwich

    Closeup of a Loaded Veggie Sandwich

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "If you like your condiments to have a lot of personality, try using your favorite, like pesto, tapenade, chili crisp, or chipotle mayo on this sandwich." —Simply Recipes Senior Editor Laurel Randolph

  • Gordon Ramsay’s Chicken Stir-Fry

    stir-fried noodles on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Kat Lieu

    "If you have a bit of time to spare, try marinating the chicken with cornstarch, soy sauce, chicken bouillon powder, and rice wine." —Simply Recipes Contributor Kat Lieu

  • Smashed Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

    Three slices of a quesadilla on a plate along with lime slices at a table setting with a small plate of cilantro and a drinking glass

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "I buy whole pinto beans because I like to season them myself. You could shave off a few seconds of prep time if you use refried beans in their place. Just be aware that many varieties of refried beans can be heavily salted, so you’ll need to adjust your seasoning accordingly." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

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  • Marv ‘n’ Joe Tomato Sandwich

    Marv'n'Joe tomato sandwich on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Beyond sourdough (my favorite), you could use a split bagel, Texas toast, ciabatta, naan, or whatever bread you have on hand." —Simply Recipes Contributor Claudia Cash

  • Creamy Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

    "This salad makes a nice, casual weekday lunch with some grilled chicken and a handful of bagel chips. For the ultimate bagel inception, toast a bagel and top it with this salad. Sounds like everything and more to me." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Tane

  • 4-Ingredient Trader Joe's "Wrap Thingy"

    Trader Joe's 4-ingredient wrap

    Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Sarah Crowder / Myo Quinn

    "My family raves about these even though it's truly a shortcut meal that relies heavily on pre-made ingredients." —Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director Myo Quinn

  • Tajín Egg Salad

    bowl of egg salad with a piece of lettuce on the counter next to a plate with bread and lettuce, salt and pepper shakers, and large spoon on a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Getty Images

    "This egg salad is great with tortilla chips, served in a lettuce leaf, in a tortilla, or in between two slices of bread." —Simply Recipes Contributor Robin Asbell

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  • Easy Beef Krapow

    close up of a bowl of Beef Krapow bowl with a fried egg

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available." —Simply Recipes Contributor Frank Tiu

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