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  6. 20 Easy High-Protein Lunch Recipes

20 Easy High-Protein Lunch Recipes

portrait of Dani
Danielle DeAngelis Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD July 30, 2022
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Citrus Lime Tofu Salad

These lunches will be sure to give you a midday energy boost when you need it most. With at least 15 grams of protein per serving, these lunches can help you meet your needs for this nutrient that's important for a variety of functions including nutrient digestion, promoting healthy aging and supporting healthy immunity. Plus, these lunches are easy to prepare and make great leftovers so you can have a nourishing meal on even the busiest of days. Recipes like these Salmon-Stuffed Avocados and Citrus Lime Tofu Salad are tasty and filling midday meals.

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Citrus Lime Tofu Salad

Citrus Lime Tofu Salad
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This veggie-packed salad has plenty of protein and fiber, so you'll feel full and satisfied. Prep the ingredients ahead of time for an easy vegan lunch idea to pack for work.

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Mediterranean Pasta Salad

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You might not think to use hummus as a pasta sauce, but the creamy dip makes the perfect backdrop to the bold flavors of this healthy Mediterranean-inspired pasta salad.

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3-Ingredient Chickpeas with Kale & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

3 ingredient chickpea, kale pepper salad
Credit: Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.
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Oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes pull double duty in this recipe. Use the oil from the jar to cook the kale, then stir in the sun-dried tomatoes to add flavor and texture to the dish.

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Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in, so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.

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Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches

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Lighten up classic egg salad by swapping in creamy avocado instead of using mayonnaise. Sandwich it between toasted whole-wheat bread and you've got an easy, packable lunch ready for work or school.

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Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

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This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.

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BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw

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This zippy, creamy slaw is so good you might find yourself making it for other sandwiches. Still, it pairs beautifully with the tangy pulled chicken for an incredibly quick dinner you can make even on your busiest nights. To save even more time, use a preshredded coleslaw blend.

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Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce

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This vibrant bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department.

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Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
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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.

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Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

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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.

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3-Ingredient Bell Pepper & Cheese Egg Cups

3-Ingredient Bell Pepper & Cheese Egg Cups
Credit: Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN
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Requiring just three main ingredients—bell peppers, eggs and shredded cheese—these portable baked eggs are simple to assemble and perfect for meal prep. Store them in the fridge for up to 4 days to reheat on demand.

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Cabbage, Tofu & Edamame Salad

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Craving crunch? Bite into this salad loaded with crisp red cabbage, edamame, bamboo shoots, and chow mein noodles. This salad is slightly sweetened with baked tofu, mandarin oranges and sesame vinaigrette.

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Kale Turkey Wraps

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Using kale leaves instead of bread to wrap your filling makes this healthy turkey lunch recipe low-calorie. If you can't find lacinato, also known as Tuscan kale, try cabbage for your wrap.

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Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing

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Prep four days' worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can't find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.

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Chickpea Salad Sandwich

Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Credit: Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
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This vegan chickpea salad sandwich is lemony, bright and surprisingly delicious. It's got all the flavors of a classic tuna salad sandwich—dill, lemon and a bit of garlic—but with chickpeas instead to add a vegan source of protein and a healthy boost of fiber. Celery brings a nice crunch.

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Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps

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We love the retro vibe of these egg salad lettuce wraps. Iceberg lettuce makes a perfect low-carb swap for bread to serve the egg salad.

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Spinach & Feta Scrambled Egg Pitas

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This meatless dinner comes together in only 15 minutes, thanks to the convenience of frozen chopped spinach and crumbled feta. We've added a flavorful burst of sun-dried tomato tapenade to spread over the whole-wheat pita before nestling the scrambled eggs inside. If you can't find it, basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto also work well.

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Mushroom French Dip

Mushroom French Dip
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Meaty portobello mushrooms have just the right amount of earthy, savory flavor and the perfect texture to replace beef in these vegetarian French dip sandwiches.

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Tofu Poke

tofu Poke
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This fast vegan version of poke (the traditional Hawaiian salad of diced raw fish tossed in a soy-sesame sauce) swaps in extra-firm tofu for fish while loading your bowl with vegetables and crunchy toppers like pea shoots and peanuts. Serve over brown rice instead of the zucchini noodles to add a hearty boost of fiber.

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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

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This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

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    1 of 20 Citrus Lime Tofu Salad
    2 of 20 Mediterranean Pasta Salad
    3 of 20 3-Ingredient Chickpeas with Kale & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
    4 of 20 Chopped Power Salad with Chicken
    5 of 20 Avocado Egg Salad Sandwiches
    6 of 20 Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata
    7 of 20 BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw
    8 of 20 Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Tahini Sauce
    9 of 20 Salmon-Stuffed Avocados
    10 of 20 Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
    11 of 20 3-Ingredient Bell Pepper & Cheese Egg Cups
    12 of 20 Cabbage, Tofu & Edamame Salad
    13 of 20 Kale Turkey Wraps
    14 of 20 Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing
    15 of 20 Chickpea Salad Sandwich
    16 of 20 Egg Salad Lettuce Wraps
    17 of 20 Spinach & Feta Scrambled Egg Pitas
    18 of 20 Mushroom French Dip
    19 of 20 Tofu Poke
    20 of 20 Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

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    20 Easy High-Protein Lunch Recipes
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