Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Seasonal Meals 37 Summer Lunch Ideas That'll Cool You Off on Hot Days No soggy sandwiches or limp lettuce here! By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 11, 2024 Close Photo: JENNIFER CAUSEY Summer lunches don't have to rely on the same old standbys. Now's the time to seek out some fresh summer lunch ideas, packed with the best summer flavors straight from your garden, local farm stand, or grocery store. Check out these ideas to help you break out of your lunch rut, whether you're packing lunches for the office, summer camp, a picnic—or just enjoying a hot summer day. (Bonus: Many of the recipes require little or no cooking, to help keep you cool.) What Vegetables Are In Season Right Now? Watermelon Poke Bowls Victor Protasio Looking for a new way to use watermelon this summer? Watermelon makes an ideal substitute for raw tuna in the classic Hawaiian dish, thanks to a soy sauce marinade. A sriracha mayonnaise lends a spicy kick to the bowl, keeping each bite interesting. GET THE RECIPE Loaded Tuna Salad Tartines Jen Causey This summertime lunch idea is super easy to make. Avocado, flavor-packed tuna salad, and herbs top fresh toasted bread to assemble a tartine that comes together in just 20 minutes. Swap the avocados for in-season sliced tomatoes and add radish slices for extra summery flavor. GET THE RECIPE Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur Marcus Nilsson Use that summertime staple, zucchini, in this hearty grain bowl lunch. This vegetarian dish comes together in just 20 minutes. Bulgar is a hearty, high-in-fiber whole grain that makes an excellent base for the bowl. GET THE RECIPE Rice Bowls with Chipotle Black Beans Gentl & Hyers Spicy black beans add heat to a veggie-packed summer lunch. Each bowl features a bed of white rice topped with red onions, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, and chipotle peppers, plus a dollop of sour cream and a couple of lime wedges on the side. If you need lunch in a rush, you can lean on this rice bowl which just takes 15 minutes to prepare. GET THE RECIPE Toasted Israeli Couscous With Corn and Herbs Greg DuPree Make full use of your herb garden in this summery grain bowl, with basil, dill, and chives lending their flavor to a combo of corn and couscous. In-season corn makes a welcome appearance, adding a refreshing crunch throughout. Carmelized onions provide a sweet-savory taste to the couscous. Eat this bowl alone, or pair it with chicken, shrimp, or juicy steak for extra protein. GET THE RECIPE Chicken and Avocado Rice Bowl Greg DuPree Prep the chicken and rice in advance, and you can have this lunch ready in just a few minutes. Watermelon radishes bring bold colors to this summertime bowl. Freshly sliced avocado ensures each bite is creamy. Drizzle your favorite hot sauce on top for heat and serve with lemon wedges. GET THE RECIPE Green Gazpacho With Grapes, Honeydew, and Cucumber Greg DuPree Gazpacho can be green, too—and this one features a few sweet and unexpected additions, thanks to grapes and honeydew. Surprisingly enough, ciabatta bread is blended into the gazpacho, which gives texture and thickness. In case you were wondering, a glass of white wine or rosé will complement the gazpacho perfectly. GET THE RECIPE Salmorejo With Prosciutto and Hard-Boiled Egg Jen Causey Prosciutto and hard-boiled eggs lend a little heartiness to a Spanish-style cold soup. No cooking is required, which means you can get through lunchtime without a sweat. Pair with a crusty bread like ciabatta to complete the meal and make it just that much more indulgent. GET THE RECIPE Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree This summer-perfect sandwich makes summer tomatoes the star of the show—and adds the big flavors of cheddar or gruyere cheese, peppery arugula, and crispy onions to accompany them. Pick up a freshly baked baguette from your local bakery for this sandwich—we promise fresh bread will take this recipe up a few levels. This recipe makes four full-sized sandwiches, so you can feed a small crew or have your lunch for the week made. GET THE RECIPE Speedy Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel This super-flavorful version of the Vietnamese sandwich is a great way to use pork tenderloin leftovers. You can also quickly cook up a tenderloin—it's ready in 20 minutes! While this sandwich doesn't require a side, you can pair it with a refreshing salad or some homemade potato chips. GET THE RECIPE Chickpea Salad Sandwich Alison Miksch This plant-based variation on the classic tuna salad is a perfect pack-along option for a summer camp lunch. You'll love that it only takes 10 minutes to prepare, so you can easily make one every day of the week. To make a lighter version, simply swap the mayo for yogurt. GET THE RECIPE Tuna Niçoise Baguette Jen Causey Pretend you're along the coast of France (even if you're just in the work lunchroom) with this hearty, yet summery sandwich. The ingredients for France's beloved Niçoise salad are stuffed into a crusty baguette for a satisfying summer lunch. You'll feel so fancy biting into this baguette, but be so happy knowing it only took you 20 minutes to make. GET THE RECIPE Tomato, Bacon, and Garlic Mayo Sandwich kcline/Getty Images A tasty garlic-mayo spread elevates a standard BLT for a perfect picnic lunch. Pick up tomatoes and lettuce from your local farmers market for the freshest taste. A quick toasting of the bread gives a delicious crunch to each bite. GET THE RECIPE Muffaletta-Grilled Cheese Sandwiches With Romaine Salad Fred Hardy Love grilled cheese? You'll love this variation, which adds ham and a flavor punch from olive salad. You'll pair the sandwich with a quick romaine salad topped with a lemony mustard and oil dressing. GET THE RECIPE Chicken-Pesto Flatbread Sandwiches Caitlin Bensel Pesto is the flavor of the summer—and this sandwich pocket is filled with it. Plus, this pesto is homemade, which amps up the freshness. Feel free to grab a few leaves from your summer herb garden. Each pizza dough pocket is filled with arugula, pesto-coated rotisserie chicken (hooray for shortcuts!), and mozzarella. GET THE RECIPE Crab Rolls Marcus Nilsson Lobsters aren't the only seafood worthy of a salad sandwich. Peppery radish and celery add crunch to a quick and easy lunch idea. Serve with sweet potato chips and a couple of pickle spears for a complete meal. GET THE RECIPE 3-Ingredient Venezuelan Arepas Getty Images This Venezuelan staple comes together quickly and with just three ingredients: precooked cornmeal, oil, salt, and water. You can stuff arepas with whatever you like, though traditional varieties are filled with Perico (scrambled eggs with onions and tomatoes), Reina pepiada (chicken avocado salad), or even ham and cheese. The best part is that it comes together in just half an hour. GET THE RECIPE Smashed Cucumber Salad With Spicy Feta and Olives Jennifer Causey Combine all the best parts of a Greek salad with this combo of cool cucumbers, spicy feta, and kalamata olives. The cucumbers become extra crisp by smashing, salting, and draining them. To smash them, you'll cut them lengthwise and go over them with a rolling pin. GET THE RECIPE End-of-Summer Salad Victor Protasio This easy summer lunch salad makes you almost glad for the end of summer by highlighting incredible end-of-season produce like corn, green beans, cherry tomatoes, and basil. Red pepper flakes give gentle heat, while fried onions lend a crispy, salty finish to the salad. Juicy shrimp pair well with the produce, adding protein and savory flavor. GET THE RECIPE Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad Greg DuPree Use thawed, frozen cooked shrimp to make this no-cook summer lunch idea in just 15 minutes. You'll want to save the soy-mayo dressing for the future, as it makes a delightful dipping sauce. Serve with sriracha and lime wedges. GET THE RECIPE Chickpea-Tuna Salad Photo by: Victor Protasio This Mediterranean-style salad is packed with protein, thanks to the combo of chickpeas and tuna. Plus, the salad requires no cooking, just a little time for the chickpeas to marinate in oil and vinegar. You'll serve it all over a bed of farro or arugula. GET THE RECIPE Nectarine-and-Burrata Salad Greg DuPree Who says you need a lot of veggies in a summer salad? Here, sweet-tart nectarines are paired with creamy burrata, crunchy Marcona almonds, pickled onions, and fresh mint for a perfectly balanced lunch. Serve with grilled chicken or fish to add protein to your plate. GET THE RECIPE Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad Caitlin Bensel Anchovies and smoked trout fill in for tuna in a fresh take on the Niçoise salad. Crunchy sugar snap peas and juicy cherry tomatoes, plus kalamata olives, contribute colorful freshness. Then, nutty chickpeas round out all the flavors. Be sure to serve with some crusty bread to soak up the remainder of the dressing. GET THE RECIPE Chicken Tortilla Crunch Salad Victor Protasio This Mexican-style salad has plenty of crunch from bell pepper, napa cabbage, and crushed tortilla chips. Though we use a grill to cook the chicken, for a quick lunch version, use rotisserie chicken, or cook chicken on the stovetop instead. Serve with a refreshing bubbly drink, like a lime-flavored sparkling water. GET THE RECIPE Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree Slice the squash and zucchini thinly and salt it, and you don't even have to cook it for this tasty summer salad. Throw it together with fresh, flat-leaf parsley, scallions, vinegar, serrano chile, and salted almonds to create the salad of your midsummer dreams. This might just be the easiest salad to throw together in the summertime, especially if you're one to already have produce on hand. GET THE RECIPE Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey Deconstruct the flavors of Mexican street corn for this salad, which features cotija cheese and corn. Pinto beans make sure the salad is filling enough to last you through dinner time, however, feel free to add in some grilled shrimp or chicken for more protein. Serve with grilled chicken and a basket of tortilla chips and salsa to elevate this meal. GET THE RECIPE Roasted Summer Vegetable Pasta Marcus Nilsson Bell peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes are the stars of this pasta dish. Use spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni for the pasta base. The veggies are roasted until tender and sweet, bringing out a rich and flavorful taste. Sprinkle the dish with freshly grated parmesan before serving. GET THE RECIPE Lemony Pasta Salad With Cucumber Greg DuPree Looking for a pasta salad that'll take the heat? This one features lemon vinaigrette and cucumbers for a fresh summer lunch idea. Toss in some chickpeas or tofu for a complete vegetarian dish. GET THE RECIPE Pasta With Zucchini and Goat Cheese John Kernick If your zucchini crop went bonkers, try this creamy pasta dish to use up some of your bounties. It's light enough for lunch, yet hearty enough to get you through till dinner. Plus, it just takes 20 minutes to whip up so you don't have to be in the kitchen for long. GET THE RECIPE Spaghetti Pasta Salad With Avocado-Basil Dressing Victor Protasio Avocado and basil combine for a flavorful dressing for this summery pasta salad dish. You'll sprinkle some almonds atop the pasta for extra crunch. Bursting with refreshing flavor, juicy cherry tomatoes complement the basil sauce perfectly. GET THE RECIPE Tortellini Basil Salad Jennifer Causey A summer-perfect pasta salad combo—basil and cheesy tortellini—is mixed with watercress, asparagus, and shallots for a picnic-worthy side. We created a basil oil to flavor the tortellini, which you'll want to keep on hand to drizzle on basically everything. Since this recipe takes an hour to make and creates six servings, save this lunch idea for a day when you have company and some extra time to spare. GET THE RECIPE Orzo Tomato Salad Jennifer Causey Roasting the cherry tomatoes gives this pasta salad a deeper, sweeter flavor. You'll cook the pasta, add in the vinaigrette, and throw in some Parmesan and toasted pine nuts. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve. GET THE RECIPE Tex-Mex Gazpacho Romulo Yanes Add a little extra spice to the standard gazpacho (and a pumpkin seed garnish) for a cool summer lunch idea that's ready in minutes. You'll want to serve with warm tortillas to sop up every last bite. Spoon on a dollop of sour cream before digging in. GET THE RECIPE Summery Corn Soup Tara Donne Want to make good use of in-season corn? Look no further than this delicious corn soup. Miso is an unexpected ingredient to give it a little umami. Miso also aids in gut health and digestion, so you can feel good about every spoonful you eat. GET THE RECIPE Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio Mix leftover rotisserie chicken with Dijon, tangy apple cider vinegar, celery seeds, crunchy almonds, and herbs to assemble these creamy chicken tartines easily. The mixture sits atop a slice of sourdough bread and is topped with thin radish slices for extra tang. GET THE RECIPE Salmon Burgers With Pesto Cream Sauce Greg DuPree In summer when you're working up a sweat, there's nothing quite like biting into a juicy burger. This salmon burger is so delicious (and healthy!) and will instantly satisfy your hunger cravings. Plus, it's extra refreshing, thanks to the cooling pesto-mayo mixture that is spread onto the brioche buns. GET THE RECIPE Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos Greg DuPree You're just 25 minutes away from whipping up these speedy tacos full of fresh ingredients. Salsa verde, avocado, red onion, lime, and cilantro ensure each bite bursts with flavor, while juicy chicken thighs guarantee you're fulfilled at the meal's end. Be sure to top with cotija cheese before serving. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit