It's summertime and the lunching is easy. Or at least it should be! Thankfully, these 45 easy summer lunch recipe ideas are so quick and simple, they'll get you back in the pool/in the ocean/to your pickle ball game, etc. (you'll see where we're going here ASAP). Summer is just not the time to wait in line at the beach snack bar, settle with a mushy sandwich, or deal with lukewarm takeout; these easy salads, bowls, sandwiches, and BBQ-friendly lunch ideas all require very little time in the kitchen, so you can spend that time working on your base tan instead. Just promise us you'll wait 30 minutes after chowing down on a chicken salad sandwich before doing that cannonball. đ
If your summer plans include a lot of lugging that beach cooler across the sand, we've got plenty of packable beach lunches that'll help you keep your clutch spot in the sun. We've never met a club sandwich or chicken Caesar wrap we didn't love. Other honorable mentions include our curried chickpea salad and extra-crispy Buffalo chicken nugget burritos. Be sure to bring enough for everyone, because you will be inciting some serious lunch envy if not! And don't forget to round out your picnic with our Thai peanut chicken pasta salad. It only gets better with time, meaning it's a summer cooler MVP.
Summer is the time of year we most want to carpe the diem (and by "diem," we mean "all that summer produce" and "all the lobster rolls/hot dogs/burgers"). Our recipes for summer panzanella, lobster salad, and Big Mac crunchwraps are sure to be lunches you'll want to eat well past Labor Day, guaranteed.
Best Chicken Salad
When it comes to chicken salad, we'd argue that our balance of add-ins here is the pinnacle, but once you nail the chicken and the dressing, you can feel free to spread your wings and give it your own personal flair. Whatever you add, chicken salad is just as perfect eaten on its own as it is piled on a croissant with a side of pasta salad at a BBQ, or dolloped on a bed of leafy greens at brunch.
Get the Best Chicken Salad recipe.
Burrata Salad
Think of burrata salad as caprese salad's fancy cousin. Peak-summer tomatoes are topped with luscious burrata cheese (think a shell of mozzarella filled with a soft, creamy filling) and garnished with a shower of peppery basil leaves and savory chives. đ
Get the Burrata Salad recipe.
Fish Taco Bowls
When youâre craving the flavors and textures of a fish taco, but need some vegetables in your life, this salad is perfect for you. Crispy fish and a creamy, spicy slaw are the base of these veggie-packed takes on everyoneâs favorite taco. The sweetness from the diced mango and creaminess from cool avocado blend perfectly with the drizzle of a spicy crema, making this summer salad an instant staple.
Get the Fish Taco Bowls recipe.
BLT Dogs
These are 100% proof that wrapping almost anything in bacon (hot dogs included) makes it infinitely better. Hot tip: To ensure the bacon stays wrapped while the dogs cook, secure ends with toothpicks. (Just remember to remove them before serving!)
Get the BLT Dogs recipe.
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
While weâre all about switching things up, when we want a tried-and-true perfect meal, we always go back to the chicken burrito bowl at Chipotle. Itâs classic, reliable, and, best of all, completely customizable depending on our mood. Weâve included copycat recipes here for all our favorite burrito bowl toppings, but feel free to swap them in and out for yours!
Get the Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl recipe.
Thai Chicken Peanut Pasta Salad
This pasta salad has a creamy peanut dressing and is full of fresh, crunchy veggies with no mayonnaise in sight. Itâs super-simple to make and is as delicious hot as it is cold, which means you can easily make it ahead of time (and the leftovers are BOMB).
Blackened Shrimp Bowls
If you're looking for summer in a bowl, turn to these blackened shrimp bowls. Not only delicious, these bowls are also a filling powerhouse. It's also the perfect meal-prep meal: Make all the ingredients ahead of time, then prepare your bowls as you please throughout the week! Filled with whole grains, protein, and fresh veg, these are the perfect bowls if you're looking for an easy, healthy lunch or satisfying weeknight dinner to enjoy all summer long.
Get the Blackened Shrimp Bowls recipe.
Extra-Crispy Buffalo Chicken Nugget Burrito
With chicken nuggets and a crispy shell, this burrito gives Buffalo chicken wraps a run for their money. If you love Buffalo chicken but need an easy chicken dinner or packable lunch fast, using chicken nuggets speeds up the process, soaking up all of the delicious sauce in every bite. Crisping the burrito in a skillet not only adds a crunchy texture, but also helps to seal the seam of the burrito closed. Itâs our go-to trick when preparing breakfast burritos in advance for camping, and it works particularly well here in this crispy Buffalo chicken nugget burrito.
Copycat Panera Bread Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
As much fruit salad as it was green salad, Panera's beloved salad featured a juicy orange and onion poppyseed dressing and pops of fresh fruit, like strawberries, blueberries, Mandarin oranges, and pineapple. Weâre hoping itâll one day return to the Panera menu so we can order it alongside other faves, but in the meantime, itâs easy to make at home so you can enjoy it whenever you want.
Get the Copycat Panera Bread Strawberry Poppyseed Salad recipe.
Big Mac Crunchwrap
Craving fast food come lunch time, but trying to avoid the processed foods (and the lines!)? Make a Big Mac Crunchwrap at home instead. It's everything you love about both fast food treats, all in one.
Get the Big Mac Crunchwrap recipe.
Summer Panzanella
Panzanella is one of those recipes that truly tastes like summer. It's one that you want to make in peak seasonâwhen the tomatoes are extra juicy, the squash slightly sweet, and the basil extra cheap. To give this classic dish more flavor and make it even more summery, we grill the bread, zucchini, and onion until charred, then toss those with the remaining ingredients.
Get the Summer Panzanella recipe.
BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches
The grill adds subtle, almost bacon-like smoky flavor to these tempeh steaks, but there's no meat in sight. Add a whiskey-infused homemade BBQ sauce, a cooling, creamy coleslaw, and a toasted buttered bun for the perfect summer sandwich.
Get the BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches recipe.
Coronation Chicken
Although it originated in the United Kingdom during Queen Elizabeth IIâs coronation, coronation chicken is much like the chicken salad we all know and love here across the pond. It has all the makings of a classic dishâjuicy pieces of chicken, a well-seasoned mayonnaise-based sauce, celery, scallions, and lemon juice for bright, fresh flavor.
Get the Coronation Chicken recipe.
Egg Salad
While we love our variations, (lookinâ at you, Cobb egg salad), itâs always a good idea to have a tried-and-true recipe up your sleeve. Our standard centers around just 6 core ingredients; use it as a base for creative mix-ins and variations, or enjoy as is for a truly classic recipe.
Get the Egg Salad recipe.
Taco Salad
When it comes to healthy salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying lunch. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Lobster Roll
Fun fact: There are two types of lobster rolls: Maine style and Connecticut style. If you're more of a Maine person, let us direct you to our lobster salad recipe. It's dressed with mayo and would be delicious in a buttered, top-split hot dog bun, as per tradition. This lobster roll, on the other hand, is Connecticut-style. That means absolutely no mayo in sight, just melted butter and some chives for freshness that really makes the lobster flavor shine.
Get the Lobster Roll recipe.
Best-Ever Burger
There are about a million ways to top a hamburger, and we're not here to tell you what goes onto your patty. It is our duty to make sure that you're cooking burgers as best as you possibly can. Our golden rules: Be sure to let the meat come to room temperature and season generously with salt and pepper before you grill up.
Get the Best-Ever Burger recipe.
Roasted Chickpea And Avocado Salad
We love a hearty, studded salad with a good dressing, and this one is just that. Chickpeas get roasted plain so that they have a real chance to dry and become extra crispy. If you have an air fryer, use it to cook your chickpeas for the ultimate crisp. The tahini ranch is a lightened-up dressing that is better than any bottle you could buy and makes this whole salad meal-worthy. Itâs a perfect summer salad for lunch or a picnic!
Ultimate Veggie Sandwich
There's something so special and refreshing about a sandwich that is absolutely packed to the gills with veggies. The miso eggplant in here makes this one extra-special.
Get the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich recipe.
Carne Asada Tacos
Your hunt for the perfect carne asada taco is over. This flavorful handheld food has it allâtender marinated skirt steak, an aromatic corn tortilla, and all of the classic street taco toppings. Served for lunch or dinner, these are delicious with a hearty side of refried beans and rice, or you can keep it light with corn salad.
Get the Carne Asada Tacos recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine and if wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.