17 Lunch Recipes Ready in 15 Minutes or Less

There's nothing worse than feeling rushed and stressed during your lunch break. Whether you're at the office or working from home, a midday lunch should feel like a safe, reserved space to sit and relax while you enjoy a meal.

These 17 recipes take just 15 minutes or less to put together. Save your favorites and replenish your energy at lunchtime!

Noodles with Cucumbers and a Lot of Chili Crisp

"There isn’t a noodle that wouldn’t work for this recipe. Udon, soba, ramen, mei fun, rice, and somen noodles are typically what I have around and use. The noodles are the starchy vehicle for the chili crisp to cling onto, so even spaghetti, angel hair, or fettucine would be delicious." —Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director Myo Quinn

Black Bean Toasts

"The bread is the base for all of the goodies, so it needs to be sturdy but also tasty. I usually splurge on a nicer loaf from the bakery department at my local grocery store or farmers market. Whole grain or sourdough are great options." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives

"If olives are not your thing, swap them with chopped canned artichokes or a tablespoon or two of rinsed capers for the same brininess." —Simply Recipes Contributor Molly Adams

Ground Beef Hummus Bowls

"If you’re not already familiar with the hummus bowl, it’s a bowl of hummus topped with seasoned ground beef (or ground lamb! Or chicken! Or tofu!) and your favorite garnishes. I like chickpeas, feta, olives, pickles, tomatoes, and fresh parsley, but really, anything goes!" —Simply Recipes Contributor Stephanie A. Ganz

Curried Chickpea Salad Sandwiches

"I particularly love a bean recipe that requires zero cooking, like this one. Lightly mashed canned chickpeas are spruced up with a handful of flavorful ingredients, including yellow curry powder, shallots, golden raisins, and (of course) mayo, making it the plant-based answer to chicken or egg salad." —Simply Recipes Contributor Alexandra Shytsman

10-Minute Creamy White Beans and Greens

"You can use any canned white bean for this dish, but I prefer cannellini or butter beans as they tend to have a softer texture that works really well here. Make sure to drain the beans in a sieve set over a bowl as you’ll need the aquafaba." —Simply Recipes Contributor Devan Grimsrud

3-Ingredient Baked BBQ Chicken

"It’s important to use only the most delicious barbecue sauce and cheese. They’ll be adding the flavor to your dish, so go for the good stuff." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

Wonton Soup

"Toss in some ramen, soba, udon, or rice noodles for a heartier, more filling meal." —Simply Recipes Contributor Kris Osborne

Tuna Salad Sandwich

"Cottage cheese might seem like a strange addition to tuna salad, but trust us when we say it's a perfect in this sandwich. It adds more protein, plus a creaminess and richness. You can use non-fat or light cottage cheese, if you're worried about the extra calories." —Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer

Loaded Veggie Sandwich

"If you like your condiments to have a lot of personality, try using your favorite, like pesto, tapenade, chili crisp, or chipotle mayo on this sandwich." —Simply Recipes Senior Editor Laurel Randolph

Gordon Ramsay’s Chicken Stir-Fry

"If you have a bit of time to spare, try marinating the chicken with cornstarch, soy sauce, chicken bouillon powder, and rice wine." —Simply Recipes Contributor Kat Lieu

Smashed Bean and Cheese Quesadillas

"I buy whole pinto beans because I like to season them myself. You could shave off a few seconds of prep time if you use refried beans in their place. Just be aware that many varieties of refried beans can be heavily salted, so you’ll need to adjust your seasoning accordingly." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Haas

Marv ‘n’ Joe Tomato Sandwich

"Beyond sourdough (my favorite), you could use a split bagel, Texas toast, ciabatta, naan, or whatever bread you have on hand." —Simply Recipes Contributor Claudia Cash

Creamy Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

"This salad makes a nice, casual weekday lunch with some grilled chicken and a handful of bagel chips. For the ultimate bagel inception, toast a bagel and top it with this salad. Sounds like everything and more to me." —Simply Recipes Contributor Sara Tane

4-Ingredient Trader Joe's "Wrap Thingy"

"My family raves about these even though it's truly a shortcut meal that relies heavily on pre-made ingredients." —Simply Recipes Associate Editorial Director Myo Quinn

Tajín Egg Salad

"This egg salad is great with tortilla chips, served in a lettuce leaf, in a tortilla, or in between two slices of bread." —Simply Recipes Contributor Robin Asbell

Easy Beef Krapow

"This recipe calls for Thai basil, which has a minty floral aroma that is very distinctively delicious and iconic to this dish. If you cannot find it at your local Asian supermarket, feel free to use sweet basil since it is more readily available." —Simply Recipes Contributor Frank Tiu