Lunch Ideas for One or Two
Lunch can be a tricky meal when you’re cooking for just yourself or one other person. It’s tempting to grab something quick and pre-made, but homemade options are often fresher, more satisfying, and more tailored to what you’re craving. I’ve found that having a handful of lunch ideas designed for smaller portions makes all the difference—less waste, less effort, and more variety.
Some of my favorites include quick crab fried rice and fresh salads like a simple Santa Fe Salad. These recipes are easy to prepare, don’t require fancy ingredients, and can often be made in under 20 minutes. Whether it’s a creamy tomato soup for a cozy afternoon or a hearty chicken avocado melt with a side of fruit, these meals are just the right size to fill you up without leaving you stuck with leftovers you don’t want.
Cooking lunch for one or two also gives you a chance to try new flavors without committing to a big batch. Veggie-topped ground pork tacos or a personal pizza with a light homemade pizza sauce with fresh tomatoes can turn a regular lunch break into something special. These recipes are flexible, quick to clean up, and perfect for keeping your midday meal interesting and fresh. Once you try them, you might never go back to pre-packaged lunches again!
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Teriyaki Noodles15 Minutes
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Dairy Free Mac and Cheese35 Minutes
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Crock Pot Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker2 Hours 10 Minutes
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Vegan Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes1 Hours
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Air Fryer Roasted Roma Tomatoes18 Minutes
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders27 Minutes
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Crab Fried Rice20 Minutes
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Ground Pork Burgers40 Minutes
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Shrimp Macaroni Salad15 Minutes
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Easy Broccoli Salad with Bacon17 Minutes
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Frito Chili Pie35 Minutes
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Chicken Skewers Kabobs in Air Fryer30 Minutes
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Ham Grilled Cheese8 Minutes
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Maryland Crab Cakes50 Minutes
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Air Fryer Tuna Melt20 Minutes
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Broccoli Cheese Soup in a Crock Pot4 Hours 10 Minutes
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Filipino Spaghetti with Sweet Meat Sauce40 Minutes
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Cranberry Brie Grilled Cheese Sandwich15 Minutes
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Lemon Butter Sauce for Salmon26 Minutes
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Hawaiian Roll Sliders with Ham and Cheese25 Minutes
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Air Fryer Pork Belly (Lechon Kawali)14 Hours 30 Minutes
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Ground Pork Tacos25 Minutes
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Wet Burrito25 Minutes
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Turkey Roll Ups Pinwheel Bites10 Minutes
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos in Crock Pot3 Hours 10 Minutes
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Easy Beef Stew1 Hours 30 Minutes
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Chipotle Chicken Avocado Melt (Panera Copycat)15 Minutes
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Popcorn Chicken20 Minutes
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Grilled Shrimp Skewers (Air Fryer or Grill)30 Minutes
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Seafood Pasta Salad25 Minutes
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Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets25 Minutes
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Easy Shrimp and Corn Soup Bisque35 Minutes
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Frozen Pot Pie In Air Fryer53 Minutes
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Best Salmon Salad15 Minutes
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Easy Chopped Greek Salad10 Minutes
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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings45 Minutes
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Carne Asada Mexican Steak Pizza15 Minutes
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Santa Fe Salad10 Minutes
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Easy Italian Minestrone Soup1 Hours
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Seafood Pot Pie40 Minutes
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Beef Quesadillas with Carne Asada Steak25 Minutes
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Crock Pot Chili For Two4 Hours 8 Minutes