Easy Healthy Cheap Lunch Ideas
Lunch doesn’t have to cost a lot to taste great. You can make something that is easy on the wallet but still taste great. These kinds of meals are all about making the most of what you’ve got, like leftovers, simple ingredients, and a few tricks that make everything feel a little bit more special.
In this post you will find lunch that is less about fancy recipes and more about quick, satisfying options that you can whip up in your kitchen without much fuss.
Tips for Cheap Lunch Ideas
- Use What You Already Have: Take a peek in your fridge and pantry. You’d be surprised what you can put together with a can of beans, some frozen veggies, or leftover chicken.
- Keep It Simple: You don’t need ten ingredients or fancy sauces. A good sandwich, wrap, or rice bowl with a little seasoning goes a long way.
- Pack Your Lunch: Bringing food from home helps avoid the daily temptation of pricey takeout. Toss leftovers into a container, add a piece of fruit, and you’re good to go.
- Go Meatless: Beans, lentils, tofu, eggs, and whole grains all bring protein that keep you full without meat. Add in some healthy fats like avocado or olive oil, and you’ve got a solid meal.
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
This recipe makes the best egg salad sandwiches that are perfect for a really easy lunch or dinner. Fast and delicious, this recipe is both easy to be flexible with and budget-friendly, plus it comes together in about 30 minutes.
Egg salad can be a great sandwich to send in your kid’s lunchbox as long as it is kept in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack.
Get the full recipe from: On My Kid’s Plate
Image Credit: onmykidsplate
Apple walnut chicken salad is a great lunch or light dinner recipe that your family will love to eat! Packed full of flavor, and quick to put together, this is the type of recipe that becomes an old family favorite.
Whether you’re packing a lunch for a lunchbox, or just need a quick lunch for the family, this apple walnut is quick and easy for a delicious lunch or even a light dinner. This recipe comes together pretty fast.
Get the full recipe from: On My Kid’s Plate
Image Credit: savoringthegood
Hawaiian pasta salad is the perfect ham and pineapple pasta salad recipe for using up leftover ham. Served it cold on a hot day for an easy side dish that everyone will love.
This cold pasta salad is perfect for summer picnics or a pack with a cold ice pack for an allergy-friendly school lunch option.
Get the full recipe from: Savoring the Good
Image Credit: strengthandsunshine
Breakfast, lunch, or snack, PB&J is good for any time of day! These Mini Gluten-Free Peanut Butter & Jelly Waffle Sandwiches are vegan, fun for kids & adults, healthy & protein-packed!
A recipe for all peanut butter lovers and anyone who wants to shake up their boring sandwich routine! Perfect and suitable for breakfast or a power-packed lunch (or after school snack!)
Get the full recipe from: Strength and Sunshine
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
With easy and flavorful ingredients and quick to whip up these Tuna Salad Sandwiches is a great lunch or dinner recipe that you can enjoy all year round!
These Tuna Salad Sandwiches are great for lunch, dinner, picnics, etc. It is one of those classic sandwich recipes that everyone who loves tuna should have in their recipe box.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thissillygirlskitchen
When you combine creamy egg salad, pimento cheese, and soft bread, you get our delicious Pimento Cheese Egg Salad Sandwiches, which are hard to resist.
Whether you’re packing a quick lunch for school or enjoying a light dinner, a perfect egg salad sandwich is always a good idea.
Get the full recipe from: This Silly Girl’s Kitchen
Image Credit: thesoccermomblog
Forget frozen pizza! These easy and cheesy pizza quesadillas are ready in 10 minutes or less and kids love them! Quick, easy, and a fun twist on classics, these Pizza Quesadillas are a family-friendly meal that is also super fast to make!
With as few as 5 ingredients and only 10 minutes of total time, this is a fast and easy dinner that everyone will love. Mix it up with your own toppings and make them again and again!
Get the full recipe from: The Soccer Mom Blog
Image Credit: thesoccermomblog
Kids will love these star-shaped mini ham sandwiches! A wholesome and fun snack or lunch box idea! All you need are a couple cookie cutters and you can create these super cute hamster sandwiches!
One of the favorite kids recipes because you only need a few simple ingredients and you have a delightful meal ready in minutes!
Get the full recipe from: The Soccer Mom Blog
Image Credit: yuminthekitchen
Tuna Melt Sandwiches are a quick and delicious meal that’s perfect for a busy weekday lunch. The creamy tuna salad with a hint of Dijon mustard and the gooey melted cheddar cheese create a mouthwatering combination that will satisfy your cravings.
Whether you need a quick weekday lunch, a comforting dinner, a party appetizer, or a budget-friendly meal, this recipe has got you covered.
Get the full recipe from: Yum in the Kitchen
Image Credit: strengthandsunshine
The best vegan tuna salad made with chickpeas! This easy chickpea tuna salad is gluten-free, allergy-free, and made with real plant-based ingredients!
A simple recipe that’s ready in 5 minutes; perfect for healthy lunches or quick dinners when served as a sandwich or in a salad bowl! It’s customizable, kid-friendly, protein-packed, and ideal for meal prepping!
Get the full recipe from: Strength and Sunshine
Image Credit: inthekidskitchen
Kid-friendly chicken quesadillas are a quick and easy meal made with simple ingredients. Chicken and cheese are layered in a flour tortilla and cooked until golden brown and melty.
Quesadillas are easy to customize to make use of what you have on hand in the fridge. They’re perfect for using up leftover chicken too! Make it a full meal by adding your favorite toppings, such as cheese, salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Get the full recipe from: In The Kid’s Kitchen
Image Credit: inthekidskitchen
Kids will love these mini biscuit pizzas! They’re easy to make with canned biscuit dough baked in a muffin tin! These cute little biscuit pizzas are not only thrifty, but they’re easy to make too!
Not only do these mini kids pizzas make an easy dinner on a busy weeknight, they are also great for packing in a lunchbox.
Get the full recipe from: In The Kid’s Kitchen
Image Credit: cookingwithcarlee
This classic ham salad recipe is perfect for sandwiches. It’s also great on crackers or lettuce wraps. Make it for lunch, bring it on picnics, or enjoy it as a snack.
Whether you are looking for a way to use up leftover ham or you are just hungry and need something delicious, this ham salad recipe is for you. It is simple but really makes the best sandwiches.
Get the full recipe from: Cooking with Carlee
Image Credit: cookingwithcarlee
This classic egg salad recipe is perfect for sandwiches. It’s also great on crackers or chips. Make it for lunch, bring it on picnics, or enjoy it as a snack.
Whether you are looking for a way to use up extra hard boiled eggs or you are just hungry and need something delicious, this egg salad recipe is for you. It is simple but really makes the best sandwiches.
Get the full recipe from: Cooking with Carlee
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
This phenomenal, one-pot Lentil Soup Recipe is anything but boring. Made with dried lentils, flavorful spices, and fresh vegetables, the result is a nourishing, delicious, and much-loved soup for the whole family!
Simple, flavorful spices, fresh lemon, and slow-cooked veggies are all it takes to elevate boring Lentil Soup from bland to irresistible.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: theforkedspoon
Ready in less than 20 minutes, this delicious Cabbage Stir-Fry Recipe is flavored with soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil. Nutritious and versatile, it’s the perfect dinnertime side dish.
It’s easy to overlook cabbage when browsing the aisles at the grocery store or meal planning dinners for the upcoming week.
Get the full recipe from: The Forked Spoon
Image Credit: thesoccermomblog
Crisp lettuce, sweet honey ham, and creamy pimento cheese — these Keto Ham and Pimento Cheese Wraps are the perfect fresh and easy lunch for spring and summer!
These ham and cheese wraps are inspired by Granny’s special sandwiches. They’re portable, low carb, delicious, and nutritious — the perfect fresh and easy lunch for spring and summer!
Get the full recipe from: The Soccer Mom Blog
Image Credit: simplystacie
This Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich promises to take any boring lunch to a whole new level. Packed with delicious spice and bursting with flavor, you’ll never look at a sandwich the same way again!
You’ll need to put in a bit of effort when it comes to roasting the jalapenos, it’s so worth it. They truly melt in your mouth and release a gorgeous level of spice that you simply can’t beat.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: simplystacie
Egg Salad Sandwiches are a quick and easy lunch recipe that is creamy and flavorful. Serve as a salad or on a croissant or bread to make a sandwich for a simple, yet satisfying meal.
Great recipe for lunch (including kid’s school lunches) and for parties. You can easily make it ahead and store it in the fridge when you need to make a quick lunch.
Get the full recipe from: Simply Stacie
Image Credit: deliciouslyhomecooked
Turkey fried rice is a quick and flavorful way to transform leftovers into a satisfying meal. Perfect for using up leftover turkey roast, this easy fried rice recipe combines simple ingredients for a dish the whole family will enjoy.
Like Turkey noodle soup, this recipe is the perfect example of a simple meal that’s super easy to make and can full of flavor
Get the full recipe from: Deliciously Home Cooked
Image Credit: xoxobella
This spicy tuna rice bowl recipe is a flavor explosion that combines tender, protein-packed tuna with crisp vegetables, creamy avocado, sauces, and more, all nestled on a comforting bed of leftover rice.
You can make this tasty no-cook dish in about 20 minutes, making it ideal for a quick lunch or simple dinner. This delicious, budget-friendly recipe will become a regular in your meal rotation!
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: xoxobella
A chicken Caesar avocado wrap makes an easy lunch or snack with its Caesar classic flavors all bundled up in a warm wrap. This is a super convenient recipe and a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken.
Chicken Caesar wraps are always a hit – everyone loves the creamy homemade dressing and soft chicken with crunchy leaves. Whip these up in around 20 minutes and watch them disappear!
Get the full recipe from: Xoxo Bella
Image Credit: ihearteating
Roasted Garlic Edamame Hummus is a creamy, flavorful dip made with edamame (young soybeans) instead of traditional chickpeas. It’s blended with roasted garlic, tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil for a smooth, slightly nutty taste with a hint of sweetness.
The roasted garlic adds a rich depth of flavor, making it a perfect snack or spread for crackers, veggies, or sandwiches.
Get the full recipe from: I Heart Eating
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
This Best Italian Pasta Salad is a favorite salad with little flavor bombs throughout the salad like salami, mozzarella, veggies, olives, basil, and more!
Simply made with your favorite Italian dressing (we love Olive Garden), nothing could be easier and faster! Bringing some great salads like this one to your next BBQ or gathering will have everyone excited.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing with the Nolands
Image Credit: noshingwiththenolands
A delightful ham salad that is delicious as a sandwich but could also work as a wonderful spread for appetizers. You will want to be making this all summer long!!
This ham salad can be served up on crackers as a spread or served as we have it today on a sandwich, either way, it will be gobbled down.
Get the full recipe from: Noshing with the Nolands
Image Credit: cheerfulcook
This Chipotle Chicken Wrap is a delicious and easy way to make a restaurant-style chicken wrap at home. This lunch-perfect wrap has chicken, tomato, and avocado with some spice from the chipotle mayonnaise!
This is a great little recipe for lunch or a quick dinner on a busy day. If you are tight on time, you can make your own or use a store-bought version.
Get the full recipe from: Cheerful Cook
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
This crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is made with cabbage, carrots, onions, and a delicious sweet and tangy dressing.
Not only does this Ramen Noodle Salad taste delicious, but it is pretty to look at. The colors are fresh and vibrant and are the perfect summer recipe. The salad is often a hit at gatherings and potlucks.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks and Fun
Image Credit: foodfolksandfun
This Leftover Turkey Noodle Soup recipe is a great way to use up leftover turkey. It’s a hearty soup that’s perfect for weeknight dinners any time of the year.
This soup is quick and easy to make and comes together in just about an hour. It’s hearty, filling, and perfect for cold evenings. It is full of flavor with veggies and seasonings.
Get the full recipe from: Food Folks and Fun
Image Credit: easybudgetrecipes
This easy and satisfying burger bowls recipe is for you. Packed with flavorful ground beef, crisp veggies, and a tangy homemade sauce, it’s a deconstructed burger that will have everyone begging for seconds.
Kids and adults alike will love the fun, deconstructed take on a burger. Plus, they’re easy to customize, so everyone in the family gets exactly what they want.
Get the full recipe from: Easy Budget Recipes
Image Credit: thepurplepumpkinblog
This salad is a quick and simple recipe that tastes amazing! It uses a mix of salad ingredients: crisp lettuce, red peppers, and red onions, some store-cupboard staples: canned corn and black beans, herbs, spices, and Cojita cheese.
A creamy avocado dressing and crunchy tortilla strips transform this salad into a delightful mix of textures and flavors that will leave you wanting more!
Get the full recipe from: The Purple Pumpkin Blog
Image Credit: thefoodolic
Chickpea and Beetroot Salad is a colourful vegetarian bowl of chickpeas, beetroot, feta, scallions, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and toasted almond bits drizzled with a simple dressing.
It’s a healthy and fulfilling lunch or side dish that can be made beforehand. It is perfect for bringing to work, picnics, or as a side dish.
Get the full recipe from: The Foodolic
A good lunch doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. With just a little planning and some basic ingredients, you can keep your midday meals satisfying, easy, and stress-free. It’s not about perfection, it is about making the most of what is already in your kitchen and turning it into something satisfying.
So next time you’re thinking of grabbing something pricey on the go, take a moment to check what you already have. Save a few bucks, eat well, and keep it real.
