14 High-Protein Lunches Ready in 5-Minutes

a recipe photo of the Cucumber and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Photo: Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Skyler Myers, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Lunchtime is easier to enjoy when these delicious recipes take only five minutes to make. These lunches are not only quick and easy to make, but they also provide you at least 15 grams of satisfying protein to help you stay full for longer, support muscle growth and maintain healthy digestion. Simple recipes like our 3-Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas and Cucumber & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Wrap are flavorful ways to keep yourself fueled through the afternoon.

01 of 14

3-Ingredient Chicken Salad Tostadas

3 ingredient chicken tostadas
Carolyn Hodges, M.S., RDN

For this three-ingredient dinner, a premade salad kit is the perfect shortcut because it has everything you need in one bag, including the dressing. Swap in canned black beans for the chicken to make this vegetarian.

02 of 14

Egg Salad Avocado Toast

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It's like egg salad and avocado toast had a baby in this 5-minute healthy breakfast.

03 of 14

Shrimp, Avocado & Feta Wrap

Shrimp, Avocado & Feta Wrap

This easy wrap makes a great healthy lunch to pack for work. Buy cooked shrimp in the seafood department at most supermarkets and grocery stores, or check the freezer section for tailed and deveined shrimp that are easy to thaw and steam. Salty feta and chopped fresh vegetables keep this easy lunchtime wrap flavorful and satisfying.

04 of 14

Mason Jar Power Salad with Chickpeas & Tuna

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This power salad will keep you fueled for hours, thanks to 26 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Tossing the dressing and kale, and then letting it stand in the jar, softens it enough so you don't need to massage or cook it to make it tender.

05 of 14

Cucumber & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Wrap

a recipe photo of the Cucumber and Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Skyler Myers, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This easy vegetarian wrap makes a great grab-and-go lunch for work or school. Roasted red pepper hummus adds color and a little extra flavor, but any flavor hummus will work well here. Cucumber, sprouts, salad greens or spinach all add a refreshing crunch. For a peppery kick, try using arugula.

06 of 14

3-Ingredient White Bean & Cherry Tomato Salad

a recipe photo of the White Bean & Cherry Tomato Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
07 of 14

Black Bean-Avocado Wrap

recipe photo of the Black Bean Wrap
Sara Haas

Plain yogurt is a great base for dressing. Pairing it with prepared salsa is an easy way to add flavor to canned black beans, which can be a bit bland. An added boost of herby cilantro and slightly spicy pepper Jack cheese ensures this healthy, five-minute lunch idea packs plenty of flavor.

08 of 14

3-Ingredient Green Goddess White Bean Salad

3-Ingredient Green Goddess White Bean Salad
Carolyn A. Hodges, R.D.

Bagged salad and slaw blends are great shortcut ingredients for adding variety without needing to wash and chop lots of different vegetables. Toss a kale-and-broccoli slaw mix with canned white beans and yogurt-based green goddess dressing for a crunchy main-dish salad in minutes.

09 of 14

Turkey-Cranberry Wrap

Turkey-Cranberry Wrap

This wrap is quick-and-easy to prepare and is the perfect lunch solution for all of those Thanksgiving leftovers.

10 of 14

Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken

Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken

This healthy chopped salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. You can reserve the remaining hard-boiled egg half for a snack.

11 of 14

Avocado Toast with Burrata

Avocado Toast with Burrata

Burrata (cream-filled fresh mozzarella cheese) takes this avocado toast recipe to the next level for a decadent, yet weekday-friendly breakfast.

12 of 14

3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad

3-Ingredient Creamy Rotisserie Chicken Salad
Carolyn Hodges

We put a flavor twist on the classic chicken salad by using a lemon-herb mayonnaise. Try other mayo varieties, like roasted garlic or chipotle lime, in this fast, no-cook lunch recipe. Serve this rotisserie chicken salad recipe with whole-grain crackers.

13 of 14

Turkey BLT Wraps

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This delicious kid-friendly twist on a classic BLT includes turkey. The extra protein makes a filling, healthy lunch to pack up for school or work.

14 of 14

Antioxidant-Packed Black Forest Smoothie Bowl

a recipe photo of the Black Forest Smoothie
Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

Celebrate the classic combo of chocolate and cherries with this spoonable smoothie bowl. Tangy dark cherries provide a tart blunt to sweet bananas and creamy whole-milk yogurt. Unsweetened cocoa provides all the earthy goodness of chocolate without any additional sugar. Plus, cocoa and cherries are both rich with antioxidants, which may improve heart health and support healthy aging, respectively. Top with dark chocolate curls for a beautiful topping, or sprinkle on cocoa nibs for a faster finish.

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