26 Delicious High-Protein Lunch Ideas to Keep You Energized All Day

Orange Szechuan Chicken

With 37g of protein, these savory bites of chicken and tender bell peppers are cooked in an orange-ginger sauce in this delicious & flavorful dinner.

It makes great leftovers, too!

Red Lentils & Garlic Tadka

This masoor dal tadka recipe features aromatic spiced red lentils topped with crispy garlic oil.

It’s a reader favorite — it’s easy, flavorful, and make-ahead friendly with a generous 17g of protein per serving.

Fresh Salmon Salad

This chopped Salmon Salad recipe is bound to be a new favorite for lunch.

With fresh, flavorful ingredients and plenty of protein, you’ll love this lightly dressed alternative to tuna salad or chicken salad.

Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwich

You will love this Easy Chickpea Salad Sandwich Recipe filled with mashed chickpeas, avocado, Greek yogurt, fresh cilantro, green onion, and protein of course.

Make this sandwich vegan by leaving out the yogurt or try a vegan mayo.  

Yogurt-Marinated Chicken

Yogurt Marinated Chicken is the perfect way to grill chicken to create a tender, juicy and flavor packed meal.

The creamy yogurt and warm, rich spices mixed together creates a nice marinade for summer grilling and locks in the juices.

You can add whatever your favorite spices are into the yogurt marinade for the type of meal you are making! 

Pulled Buffalo Chicken and Rice Meal Prep

This easy buffalo chicken and rice meal prep with roasted garlic cauliflower makes for such a healthy, flavourful, and satisfying meal that you can make in advance and store for a quick and convenient meal.

Serve it up as a bowl or take it on the go!

The spicy shredded buffalo chicken is cooked in the crockpot and it’s so flavourful, you’ll want to eat it for lunch or dinner every day!

Mediterranean Chicken, Cucumber & Tomato Salad

This Mediterranean chicken, cucumber, and tomato salad is packed with veggies, protein, and fiber!

It comes together quickly, especially if using leftover chicken, for a quick summer lunch or dinner on a busy weeknight.

Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

This Italian grinder pasta salad is perfect for meat lovers!

It’s loaded with Genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese, pepperoncini peppers, tomatoes, red onions, and 19g of protein.

And tossed in a quick and easy creamy Italian submarine dressing.  It’s like your favorite Italian sub in pasta salad form.

One-Pan Mexican Quinoa

Do you love quinoa, easy recipes, and Mexican flavors?

Then, you’ve found the perfect spot on the internet!

This Mexican Quinoa is simple and tasty, ideal for a weekday dinner that will satisfy the whole family with 13g of protein per serving.

Chimichurri Chicken Salad

Loaded with fresh herbs and bright, zingy flavors, this Chimichurri Chicken Salad is here to shake up your lunch routine!  

This recipe skips the heavy mayonnaise of classic chicken salad in favor of heart-healthy olive oil, tangy red wine vinegar, and tons of bright, flavourful herbs.  

Mix up a bowl of this chicken salad in just a few minutes for a fresh update on the lunch counter classic.

Red Lentil Dahl w/ Butternut Squash & Cinnamon

Enjoy this red lentil and squash dahl recipe with a subtle flavor of cinnamon.

Simply delicious!

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Can there be such a thing as a perfect homemade Buffalo Chicken Salad?

Till I find a better one, this is it for me! To get started all you’ll need is some chicken, your favorite Buffalo sauce, and fresh garlic.

Tuna Salad

You will love this easy, homemade, sweet, and savory Tuna Salad recipe, and with each serving, you get 19g of protein.

Grilled Chicken Kale Caesar Salad

If you like Caesar salad then you should make this Kale Caesar Salad that’s topped with juicy sliced chicken breast and parmesan cheese.

Easy to make and perfect for lunch or light dinner option with 31g of protein per serving.

Copycat Taco Bell Mexican Pizza

Crunchy tortillas stuffed with a flavorful beef & bean mixture and topped with melty cheese. 

This easy Mexican pizza tastes a million times better than fast food and is healthier too, plus you get 32g of protein per serving. 

Wonton Tacos

Crispy crunchy wontons filled with flavorful chicken and creamy slaw.  These Wonton Tacos are sure to become your new favorite, and the 27g of protein is definitely a plus.

Veggie Tuna Salad (A New York Bagel Store Classic)

Veggie Tuna Salad is a classic New York bagel store and deli traditional recipe.

The creamy salad is loaded with crispy, chopped vegetables and 19g of protein.

This veggie tuna can be enjoyed on a bagel, bialy, wrap, or on a bed of greens.

Creamy Chicken and White Bean Chili Recipe

This comforting creamy chicken chili recipe combines tender chicken, creamy white beans, and a rich blend of spices to create a flavorful and satisfying chili that keeps your belly full.

Easy to prepare and packed with protein and fiber, this creamy chili not only delights your taste buds but also nourishes your body.

Harissa Chickpea Smash Sandwich

Looking for a quick and delicious lunch idea?

This Harissa Chickpea Smash Sandwich is a great option for a nutritious and satisfying lunch for you and your family.

The harissa chickpea mixture can be made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld together and giving you the convenience of a sandwich filling that is ready to go and perfect for busy weekdays.

Air Fryer Brown Derby Cobb Salad

You will love this air fryer version of the original Cobb salad.

Instead of lots of washing up, all the cooking comes together in the air fryer basket.

This will not only be the best-tasting cobb salad but also the fastest to prepare and super protein packed with 87g of protein per salad.

Easy Healthy Avocado Egg Sandwich

Make this egg and avocado sandwich for a delicious restaurant-style lunch at home!

It’s healthy, easy, and delicious. The combination of sliced avocado and hard boiled egg is what makes this sandwich pop, giving it a unique flavor and creamy texture.

Simple Delicious Greek Salad

This simple Greek salad is all about putting together a delicious and super-healthy protein-packed meal in a matter of minutes.

It’s simple, fresh, super healthy, and ready in 5 minutes.

Shrimp Cacciatore

Looking for a rustic, hearty, and easy comforting daily lunch idea?

This shrimp cacciatore totally fits the bill, plus it has 20g of protein!

Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl

This Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl recipe is so easy to make at home, that you can enjoy a taste of the islands any time the craving hits.

Comforting warm rice, homemade salmon poke in a creamy spicy sauce, fresh avocado, and a ton of delicious toppings make every bite memorable.

Cucumber Shrimp Salad

This cool & creamy Cucumber Shrimp Salad is a protein-packed recipe.

Plump juicy shrimp and crisp cucumbers in a creamy dill dressing is light & refreshing.

This delicious chilled seafood salad is the best lunch or side dish for shrimp lovers.

Instant Pot Salsa Chicken Meal Prep

I’m not going to say this is an authentic Mexican dish by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a fiesta for your taste buds and it’s going to add some flair to your meal prep roster.

Tender bites of chicken, fluffy rice, hearty black beans, and tangy green salsa take this make-ahead recipe to the next level.