Fresh seasonal ingredients combined in simple delicious ways are a great way to make your lunchtime more enjoyable this summer. With these summer lunch ideas, you can get out of the kitchen and back to enjoying the sunshine in no time.
Summer is a delicious time of year, but it’s also a time when I’m not eager to stand in the kitchen over the hot stove at dinner time, let alone at lunch time too!
Thankfully, seasonal produce is abundant this time of year, and it makes whipping up these delicious summer lunch ideas easy and fun. With this list, you’ll find tons of ideas on ways to add flavor and variety to your summer lunch menu, without spending too much time in the kitchen to do it.
Keep Summer Lunch Fun and Easy with These Tips
Enjoying the flavors of summer doesn’t have to mean washing, cutting, or even cooking everyday! Here are some of my favorite ways to cut down on kitchen time without sacrificing flavor or freshness.
- Wash and chop once – Seasonal summer produce is often delicious raw, and can be sliced ahead of time for easy use. Keep cut veggies layered between damp paper towels for up to 3 days.
- Meal planning can save cooking time – If salads with quinoa are on your menu, then prep a large batch and also toss it into wraps, or make it into savory quinoa cakes.
- Keep things simple – Include a variety of no prep, low prep, and cold ideas to keep cooking time to a minimum and keep your summer menu fresh and delicious.
Get ready to plan your menu with these fantastic summer lunch ideas. Forget long cook times and hot ovens, and use these light and seasonal ideas to enjoy all the flavors of summer.
1. Summer Quinoa Salad
Celebrate the flavors of summer with this healthy and fresh vegetarian Summer Quinoa Salad! Featuring avocado for creaminess, strawberries for sweetness, walnuts for crunchiness, feta for that extra kick of flavor, and quinoa to make it more hearty, this salad has it all. An amazing maple lime mustard dressing is like a cherry on top!
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
2. Falafel Wrap with Tzatziki Sauce
Filling but also light and nutritious, this falafel wrap makes a perfect healthy vegetarian lunch or even dinner. It’s stuffed with crunchy falafel, fresh vegetables, pickled red cabbage, and topped with creamy tzatziki sauce. So good!
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
3. Brie Grilled Cheese
Kick up your grilled cheese with fresh summer strawberries and gooey Brie. This gourmet sandwich takes only minutes to put together!
Recipe by: That Skinny Chick Can Bake
4. Strawberry Poppy Seed Pecan Chicken Salad
This Crunchy Strawberry Pecan Chicken Salad is a great way to celebrate berry season and beyond! Crisp celery, pecans and poppy seeds give this simple chicken salad a fun twist on the traditional chicken salad recipe.
Recipe by: Lemons And Zest
5. Tuna and Green Bean Pasta Salad
This green bean, potato, and tomato packed Tuna Pasta Salad ticks all the boxes. It’s healthy and super nutritious, it’s light but filling at the same time, and it’s so delicious you will rush to thank me after tasting it. A perfect summer dinner!
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
6. Indian-Style Tea Sandwiches
For all the crust-hating sandwich lovers, you’ll love these finger foods that are packed with different chutneys and flavor from Indian cuisine. These three different varieties of Indian-style tea sandwiches are inspired by British afternoon tea time and best served with friends and family over a glass of champagne or a hot cup of tea.
Recipe by: Masala And Chai
7. Tuna Veggie Wraps with Hummus
This tuna veggie wrap with hummus offers a hefty dose of protein with a generous serving of veggies. It’s the perfect nutritious lunch!
Recipe by: Killing Thyme
8. Fattoush Salad
Fresh and easy, this Fattoush Salad is delicious as a side dish or a light summer lunch. This healthy salad recipe is anything but boring with a ton of veggies and a tasty lemon mint dressing.
Recipe by: The Honour System
9. French Rustic Tomato Tart With Puff Pastry
Juicy, ripe tomatoes, fresh summer herbs and tangy delicious mustard packed in flaky puff pastry: this French rustic tomato tart is the ultimate “Summer in a bite” for me.
It literally tastes like summer time and has now officially been elected my most favorite dish of Summer.
Recipe by: Seven Roses
10. Healthy Halloumi Wraps
Who said that healthy food can’t be delicious? These halloumi wraps are literally an all-around powerhouse of nutritious things and they taste so good you will be hooked immediately. Halloumi, quinoa, spinach, avocado, bell pepper, and a secret ingredient – fig mustard!
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
11. Easy Lemon Pasta
This Easy Lemon Pasta is fresh, light and delicious! Make ahead for easy summer lunches and feel free to add in some grilled chicken!
Recipe by: The Wooden Skillet
12. Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans
This super simple chicken salad recipe is on repeat in my kitchen all summer! It’s tossed with a light mayo dressing, grapes, and pecans and comes together in just 10 minutes. I make it with homemade poached chicken but it’s also delicious with leftover rotisserie chicken! It’s great on it’s own but even better as a chicken salad sandwich.
Recipe by: Barley And Sage
13. Arugula Watermelon Salad
If you are looking for a perfect summer salad, look no more. This Arugula Watermelon Salad is super healthy and it will make you sexier. Arugula is a powerful aphrodisiac! This salad also features feta cheese, olives, mint, and pistachios! So refreshing, so good!
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
14. Smoked Turkey Pinwheels with Fresh Herb Cream Cheese
Delicious Pinwheels are a perfect party appetizer, light lunch, after school snack or game day nosh. They are easy to make too. This version has fresh herb cream cheese, smoked turkey, baby spinach and some grated cheddar cheese for the win!
Recipe by: Boulder Locavore
15. Chicken Rice Paper Rolls
Is it possible for a snack to be super delicious and healthy at the same time? You bet. These low-calorie Rice Paper Rolls are a perfect example. Stuffed with chicken, loads of veggies, and served with a creamy peanut dipping sauce, these little guys will make you fall in love.
Recipe by: Yummy Addiction
16. Zesty Quinoa Salad with Mint
Minty & Zesty Quinoa Salad is the perfect summer salad or side dish with refreshing mint and bright citrus flavors paired with crisp veggies, garbanzo beans and chopped mint – vegan and full of plant-based protein! Serve in the summertime for a crunchy side salad at your next BBQ or picnic or just enjoy as a filling snack thanks to the fiber and protein.
Recipe by: Monica Nedeff
17. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wraps
Super easy & delicious healthy buffalo chicken caesar wraps. Ready in 15 minutes, this easy on-the-go lunch or dinner recipe is perfect for meal prep, fitness lovers, and families. They are loaded with chicken, avocado, buffalo sauce, caesar dressing, and lots of fresh veggies! Made gluten free, dairy free, paleo, high protein, and low fat.
Recipe by: Healthful Blondie
18. Orzo Salad with Kale Walnut Pesto, Corn, and Asparagus
Everyone loves a good pesto pasta salad, and this one is packed with summer veggies, herbs, and crumbly feta cheese. It makes the perfect lunch with some grilled bread!
Recipe by: The Powdered Apron
19. Summer Grain Bowl with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
A grain bowl loaded with the best produce that summer has to offer like juicy blueberries, ripe tomatoes and sweet corn is the best lunch you could dream of! A zippy lemon basil vinaigrette takes it over the top!
Recipe by: Simple Spoonfuls
20. Lemon Quinoa Salad with Feta
This Lemon Quinoa Salad with Feta is packed with bright lemon flavor, creamy feta, crunchy almonds, and fresh chopped herbs. Whether made as a main dish or side, the quinoa is easy to make in the Instant Pot or on the stove. Plus it’s a healthy dish that’s perfect for meal prep or making ahead!
Recipe by: Borrowed Bites
21. Smoked Trout and Snap Pea Pasta Salad
If you want a fun new take on a pasta salad—this is your dish! Crisp sugar snap peas, smoked trout and farfalle pasta all tossed with a creamy and light dressing. This pasta salad is a great side dish for barbecues and picnics, or an easy lunch!
Recipe by: Carolyn’s Cooking
22. Best Greek Lentil Salad
This Greek Lentil Salad is full of fresh summer flavors! It’s a great lunch option that can also be prepped ahead of time.
Recipe by: It’s a Veg World After All
23. Tuna Potato Salad With Dill Buttermilk Dressing
This tuna potato salad recipe is a complete meal that is perfect for lunch or a light dinner. A satisfying combination of baby potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and red onion all tossed together with a delicious dill buttermilk dressing.
Recipe by: Maple + Mango
24. California Grilled Cheese
Creamy California style grilled cheese made with mashed avocado, tomato and pepper jack cheese. Perfect as a fun summer lunch!
Recipe by: Chef Savvy
25. Avocado Green Goddess Turkey Burgers with Feta Cheese
These avocado green goddess turkey burgers are no ordinary sandwich. Up your lunch game with these juicy turkey burgers layered with crunchy green veggies and slathered with a delicious green goddess sauce!
Recipe by: The Powdered Apron
26. Southwest Chicken Salad
This Southwest Chicken Salad recipe is easy enough to throw together for a busy weeknight meal or to make ahead of a busy week for lunches and meal-prep. Served with grilled chicken, black beans, sweet corn, and pickled red onions, this is sure to be your favorite summer salad!
Recipe by: Chef Savvy
27. Chicken Hummus Naan Wraps
Need a quick & healthy lunch? Fix these easy chicken wraps in just 15 minutes with simple ingredients like shredded chicken, hummus, chopped fresh veggies, red wine vinaigrette, and crumbled cheese all piled onto a piece of soft & chewy naan bread.
Recipe by: The Rising Spoon
28. Vegan Asian Brown Rice Salad
This super refreshing brown rice salad is both light and filling at the same time! Only simple ingredients required and ready in no time.
Recipe by: My Plantiful Cooking
29. Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich
Buffalo Chickpea Sandwich is an extremely delicious, vegan, and gluten-free sandwich, which just takes 15 minutes to make. This chickpeas recipe is perfect with a spicy dip for breakfast, light lunch, or just in between!
Recipe by: Get Set Vegan
30. Easy Asparagus Pesto Tart
This asparagus tart is made with puff pastry and pesto for an easy and flavorful lunch or snack. Feel like you’re on a fancy vacation and enjoy the flakiness of this spring tart. If you love smoked salmon, top the tart with it for an even more delicious and fancy meal!
Recipe by: Food Banjo
31. Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe
Healthy Chicken Cobb Salad Recipe loaded with spicy greens, creamy avocado, boiled eggs, fresh tomatoes, corn, delicious grilled chicken, and topped with a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles.
Recipe by: Jar Of Lemons
32. Whole30 Tuna Salad (No Mayo)
Whole30 Tuna Salad (No Mayo) made with apples, bell peppers, tahini, fresh herbs, and spices. Loaded with protein, healthy fats, and lots of flavors, it makes an easy and healthy lunch or snack made in minutes!
Recipe by: Eat the Gains
33. Vegan Rice Paper Summer Rolls (Goi Cuon Chay)
These summer rice paper rolls are filled with crunchy veggies and crisp pan fried tofu. A great summer lunch to have.
Recipe by: My Plantiful Cooking
34. Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps
Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps are the perfect low-carb summer lunch or light dinner, and this is so quick and easy to make!
Recipe by: Kalyn’s Kitchen
35. Roasted Summer Veggie Salad Bowls Recipe with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette
This easy roasted summer veggie salad bowls recipe makes a delicious dinner or a tasty meal prep lunch for the work week.
Recipe by: Randa Derkson
36. French Tomato Tart
Perfect for the summer, a delicate light tart using fresh tomatoes, mustard and Comte cheese.
Recipe by: End of the Fork
37. Garden Spaghetti Salad
Garden Spaghetti Salad is a creamy blend of spaghetti, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, pesto, and cheese. It’s a vegetarian cold salad you’ll crave when garden veggies are at their peak.
Recipe by: Quiche My Grits
38. Lentil salad
Easy spicy lentil salad is perfect cold lunch idea for summer! Delicious, healthy and vibrant dish, especially good for a busy week lunches.
Recipe by: Cooking Journey Blog
39. Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad (Paleo/Whole30)
Quick and easy Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad, this healthy chicken salad only calls for 5 ingredients and 5 minutes to make. Paleo, dairy free, and Whole30 compliant.
Recipe by: Eat the Gains
40. Raw Tacos With Walnut Filling (Vegan)
Raw tacos are loaded with flavor, and you don’t have to heat up the house to make them.
Recipe by: Cadry’s Kitchen
41. Tuna and Orzo Pasta Salad
A light and flavorful cold pasta salad made from canned olive oil packed tuna, orzo, dill, lemon and just enough mayo to make it creamy. An easy summer lunch!
Recipe by: Kitchen Skip
42. Smoked Salmon Panini with Lemon Dill Mayonnaise
Delicious, satisfying and easy to make in 10 minutes, this smoked salmon panini sandwich makes a terrific gourmet lunch. It’s perfect for a warm summer day!
Recipe by: The Spice Train
43. Turkey Wraps
These tasty turkey wraps are a fun way to eat lunch and are filled with deli turkey slices, bacon and sliced cheese. Perfect for packing into a cooler and taking to the beach or on a picnic.
Recipe by: Beyond the Chicken Coop
44. High Protein Black Bean and Corn Salad (10 Minutes, Vegan)
High Protein Black Bean and Corn Summer Salad. Simple recipe ready in just 10 minutes, bursting with summery flavours, protein, fiber and iron.
Recipe by: Hurry the Food Up
45. Summer Salad with Goat Cheese and Lemon Vinaigrette
Does anything say summer like a big summer salad topped with a ton of fresh fruit? This salad is light, crunchy and topped with a tangy lemon vinaigrette! It’s my absolute favorite quick lunchtime salad!
Recipe by: Barley & Sage
46. Easy Summer Pasta Salad
Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe. This is loaded with summer produce and an incredible parsley dressing with NO MAYO for a light and healthy plant based meal. Perfect for meal prep, pot-luck, picnics, lunch or dinner.
Recipe by: Debra Klein
47. Turkey Avocado Sandwich
Everyone loves this Turkey Avocado sandwich made with oat bread, honey mustard, smoked turkey, avocado and sprouts! It’s just the thing to pack into a cooler for a picnic this summer.
Recipe by: Healthy Seasonal Recipes
48. Vegetable Millet salad
This millet salad is an easy and quick vegan, gluten-free recipe that has the goodness of veggies along with cooked millet. Enjoy this salad with your summer veggies!
Recipe by: Everyday Nourishing Foods
49. Spinach Artichoke Pinwheels
Tender flatbread filled with creamy spinach and artichoke dip and rolled into bite sized pinwheels.This easy appetizer is the perfect addition to your next party, family gathering or luncheon!
Recipe by: Spend with Pennies
50. Cajun Maque Choux Macaroni Salad
This Cajun salad recipe with crispy bacon and corn, is a must-try, new go-to, summer-loving must-do. Inspired by the classic, Maque Choux, this Cajun macaroni salad recipe is easy, approachable, make-ahead, kid friendly, and pot-luck perfect.
Recipe by: Erica’s Recipes
51. Cold Soba Noodle Salad
Rich, velvety sauce lightly coats the chicken and noodles in this Cold Soba Noodle Salad for the perfect light lunch, and it only takes minutes to prepare!
Recipe by: Cooking With Curls
52. Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
You’re gonna flip for this Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad. If you love Elote, then you’ll love all the sweet and spicy flavor in this easy, creamy, pasta salad recipe that’s drizzled in a tasty chile lime dressing.
Recipe by: The Travel Palate
53. California Club Croissant Sandwich
California Club Croissant Sandwich recipe is an easy lunch or dinner croissant sandwich recipe with 2 types of cheese and 3 kinds of lunch meat in one flavorful sandwich!
Recipe by: I Heart Eating
54. Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
This fresh salad comes together in less than 15 minutes and makes the perfect summer side dish.
Recipe by: Delicious Meets Healthy
55. Chicken Avocado & Mango Summer Rolls
Juicy mango, lush avocado, shredded chicken, crunchy veggies, and fresh herbs wrapped and sealed off in a sheet of rice paper with a super simple coconut peanut dipping sauce for good measure!
Recipe by: A Saucy Kitchen
