18 15-Minute Lunches You Can Make With Your Eyes Closed

Transform your lunchtime routine with these quick and easy recipes.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published December 10, 2025
Theodora Kaloudis
Toasted bread topped with melted cheese and tuna mixture on a baking tray

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Ever find yourself staring into the fridge at lunchtime, hoping something you actually want to eat will magically appear? Well, get ready to elevate your lunch game! We’ve curated a list of quick and effortless lunch recipes that can be whipped up in 15 minutes or less. Enjoy a classic tuna or chicken salad sandwich, indulge in a luxurious bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans, or delight in a hearty Sicilian Chopped Salad. Whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong with these options.

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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 perfect in this sandwich. It adds more protein, plus creaminess and richness.” —Simply Recipes Editors

  • Italian-Style Tuna Salad

    Overhead view of a bowl of italian-style tuna salad on a plate with lemon slices and lettuce

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    “The trick is to refrain from draining the tuna. The olive oil in the can has tons of flavor and serves as half of the dressing for the salad. I add just a tablespoon of lemon juice to balance out the oil, and the dressing is done.” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer

  • British Cheese Toastie

    Hands pulling apart a grilled cheese sandwich on a green plate

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “You can customize your toasties and get creative by adding any fillings you like; these are some of my favorite pairing options to go along with the cheese: black pepper-crusted turkey or smoked ham, fig or apricot jam, cooked bacon, sautéed mushrooms, pesto and prosciutto, sliced peaches and jalapeños, and caramelized onions” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Salad with Grapes

    Chicken Salad with Grapes sandwich cut in half

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    “This recipe is based on meat from a whole-roasted or grocery store rotisserie chicken, but you can use leftover chicken of any kind. When I don’t get a rotisserie chicken or roast my own, I will always opt for juicy chicken thighs over breasts.” —Lou Perseghin, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 18 below

  • Black Bean Toasts

    Black Bean Toasts

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas 

    “I typically cover my baking sheets with foil or parchment to save time when it comes to cleanup. If you don’t mind doing an extra dish, then you can skip this step.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Sicilian Chopped Salad

    Bowl of Sicilian chopped salad with utensils on the side

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Any dressing will work on this salad, but the Italian authenticity really comes from the barely measured oil, vinegar, and herbs. Substitute the red wine vinegar in the dressing with white vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you need to; just use a little less, as both have quite a kick.” —Checka Ciammaichelli, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient White Bean and Tomato Salad

    White bean and cherry tomato salad with basil leaves

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “When I make this salad, I enjoy it two ways: I’ll eat a portion of it in a bowl for lunch, then spoon the rest onto crostini to share with my family at dinnertime. The garlicky toasts complement the salad so well, it’s like they were meant to go together!” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • 15-Minute Couscous Skillet

    A skillet containing couscous, arugula, roasted vegetables, and cheese crumbles, with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne

    “The secret ingredient is couscous, which has the superpower of only needing five minutes in hot liquid to become tender and plump. If you are unfamiliar with couscous, it’s easy to think it’s a kind of whole grain, like quinoa or rice. It’s actually a tiny pasta made from semolina wheat.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer

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  • Marv ‘n’ Joe Tomato Sandwich

    Marv'n'Joe tomato sandwich on a plate at a table setting with tomatoes on a cutting board, a glass of water, and a bread knife

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “I make a batch of garlic butter and keep it in my fridge in a mason jar. Mix 1/2 cup of softened butter with 1 teaspoon garlic salt and 1 tablespoon chopped parsley.” —Claudia Cash, Recipe Developer

  • 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

    “Two things set this recipe apart from the other beans and greens out there. First, some beans are mashed before they’re added, and second, I make use of an oft-discarded ingredient: the bean liquid, aka ‘aquafaba.’ Both lend a velvety body to the dish and give it a rich, creamy texture.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Dill Pickle Tuna Salad

    Dill Pickle Tuna Salad sandwich halved on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss

    “My favorite way to eat dill pickle tuna salad is on wheat bread with tender butter lettuce. It’s also delicious on crackers or even as a topping for a big, leafy salad.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer

  • Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

    Ground Beef Hummus Bowl and pita chips

    Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz

    “One of the meals I keep coming back to whenever I’m in a rut is ground beef hummus bowls. It’s got a lot going for it—ten minutes to prepare, customizable enough to please every family member, and absolutely loaded with protein.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

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  • Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans

    Overhead view of a stoneware bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Creamy Beans next to a spoon and all on a white background

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “You just need five ingredients (plus a little oil) and 15 minutes to make this dish from start to finish. You’ve got protein from the beans and cheese, and a nice dose of vegetables from the broccoli. Eat it as-is, or pair it with a little crusty bread.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Tuna and Butter Bean Stew

    15-Minute Tuna and Butter Bean Stew in a bowl with spoon, bread on the side

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “I was delighted to find I was able to create a facsimile of the rich, layered flavors in this dish using common pantry ingredients (including my secret weapon, Better Than Bouillon) and hardy winter herbs. The dish gives big, cooked-all-day flavor, but in reality, it comes together in just 15 minutes—perfect for a cozy lunch.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Loaded Veggie Sandwich

    Loaded Veggie Sandwiches and Chips on Two Plates

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    “My favorite bread for veggie sandwiches is a rustic country loaf or sourdough. It provides a crisp crust, soft interior, and nice flavor. It’s also sturdy enough to hold up to the many fillings, unlike store-bought sandwich bread.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • 15-Minute Tuna Melt Toasts

    Toasted bread topped with melted cheese and tuna mixture on a baking tray

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    “As for the cheese, while I recommend nutty Gruyère or salty cheddar for these toasts, truly any cheese that melts well will work. Try Comté, Emmental, Swiss, Monterey Jack, provolone, or fontina. And you can use preshredded cheese if you don’t feel like grating your own.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

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  • Chickpea Panini

    Chickpea Panini on Parchment Paper over Wooden Board with a Lemon Wedge Next to It

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    “Feel free to riff on the recipe using any of the following ideas: Instead of the carrots, use diced celery or fennel. Replace the arugula with a couple of lettuce leaves or thinly sliced cucumber. If you aren’t fond of goat cheese, use whipped cream cheese. Use sliced sourdough or whole-wheat bread instead of a baguette. The spread is also tasty spooned onto whole-grain crackers for a snack. Use cannellini beans instead of chickpeas, if you want.” —Katie Morford, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Curry Chicken Salad

    Curry chicken salad sandwich on a green plate

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “You can just snag a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store or even poach a couple of chicken breasts for this salad. I like to shred the chicken by hand, but you could also dice it. From there, it’s just a matter of mixing in mayo, curry powder, and lemon juice.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

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