All of these high protein lunch ideas can satisfy your hunger and keep you full for hours after you eat. Eating protein helps prevent cravings that lead to bad snack choices at work or at home.
Protein foods are essential for a healthy diet. They provide energy and help build and repair muscles.
Wide Variety of High Protein Foods
There are many flavorful protein foods that can be included in your lunchtime meal plan. Some of my favorites include grilled chicken, salmon, steak, black beans, lentils, and eggs.
These foods are all packed with protein and flavor, making them perfect for a satisfying lunch. With so many delicious options to choose from, you’re sure to find something to love!
Another good thing about protein is that it also keeps you feeling full between meals, which means that you will not be tempted to eat junk food when the next meal comes around.
Protein can slow down how quickly sugar enters into your blood stream after eating a carbohydrate-rich food, preventing a blood sugar spike and keeping insulin levels more consistent.
This is important because insulin spikes can cause your body to store more fat.
Consuming high-protein meals also helps keep bones healthy and strong as you age. So, make sure to include some high-quality protein in your lunchtime meal plan!
Delicious High Protein Lunch Ideas
Here are 15 healthy high protein lunch ideas. Each is fast and easy to prepare, even on a busy day.
Chili Con Carne Recipe
Packed with protein, this delicious chili recipe is perfect for dinner and then again for lunch the next day.
Chickpea Salad
A quick and easy high protein lunch that is perfect for a busy day. If you don't have chickpeas, you can substitute black beans or kidney beans that are also loaded with protein.
Instant Pot Black Beans
You can add these delicious beans to soups, salads, or eat them with a slice of your favorite bread. Cooking them in an Instant pot keeps you from having to soak the beans or wait all day for them to cook.
Chicken Salad
This easy to make chicken salad recipe is delicious as a salad or between two slices of either whole wheat or gluten-free bread. Since chicken is packed with protein, it will keep your hunger at bay all day. Make it with rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, or leftover chicken from the night before.
Homemade Bean Soup
There's nothing more comforting than a bowl of hot homemade bean soup. Beans are loaded with protein and fiber, making them a great option for any meal of the day.
Best Turkey Sandwich Ever
Here's a delicious and easy sandwich that will satisfy your hunger. It's perfect to make with leftovers after the holidays. But you don't have to wait until them. Next time you're at the deli, pick up some delicious turkey for sandwiches.
Mexican Chicken and Rice Bowl
Enjoy some delightful South-of-the-Border flavors in this high protein dish. It's easy to make and provides the energy you need to get you through a busy day.
Easy Quinoa Bowl
This delicious treat is good for either breakfast or lunch! Quinoa might taste more like a grain, but it's a great protein that tastes as good as it is nutritious. The Greek yogurt also adds protein, so this is a win-win meal for anyone.
Instant Pot Lentil Soup Recipe
Make a big pot of lentil soup for dinner and enjoy the leftovers for lunch the next day. It's delicious and satisfies your hunger without leaving you feeling stuffed. This soup is also proof that healthy food can be delicious.
Salmon Macaroni Salad
This is an easy to make high protein salad that mixes macaroni, mayonnaise, salmon, and a few other delicious ingredients. It's also perfect for a picnic or pot luck. If you prefer, you can use tuna instead of salmon for a deliciously different version of a tuna salad.
Taco Salad Recipe with Catalina Dressing
Enjoy this tasty high protein salad made with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions, beans, corn, and so much more. The Catalina dressing added to the taco seasoning or chili powder helps bring out all of the flavors of the meat and fresh veggies. For a little extra kick, add some cayenne pepper.
Ham Potato Kale Soup Recipe
Next time you’re in the mood for soup, try something different. This delicious ham potato kale soup from Julia’s Simply Southern is absolutely delicious! And just as important, it’s nutritious!
Easy Southern Egg Salad Recipe
Some people always have a bowl of delicious egg salad in their fridge for those times when they need a quick boost and and some protein. It tastes wonderful, is budget-friendly, and takes very little time to make.
Fish Tacos Recipe with Best Fish Taco Sauce!
These yummy fish tacos from Natasha’s Kitchen will delight your taste buds all kinds of ways! They’re easy to make and wonderful to eat, making them the perfect meal when you want lots of flavor while you satisfy your hunger.
Slow Cooker Mediterranean Beef Stew Recipe
This versatile one-pot meal is so good you’ll want to make it over and over. And each time you do, swap out some of the ingredients or add more … like Brussels sprouts that are super good for you. Make a big batch and freeze it for meals when you don’t have time to prepare something from scratch.
Make Protein a Priority
High protein lunches can help you stay fuller longer and provide the energy you need to power through the rest of your day.
These 15 high protein lunch ideas are all easy to make and delicious.
With so many options to choose from, you’re sure to find a few recipes that will become your go-to favorites. Enjoy!
Thank you for reading my suggestions for high protein lunches. I hope you found it helpful and informative.
When you feel like creating your own high-protein recipes, consider some of these ingredients:
- Almond flour
- Cream cheese
- Cottage cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Goat cheese
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Chicken
- Beef
- Eggs
- Peanut butter
- Almond butter
- Hummus
Mix any of them with crunchy veggies, sweet potatoes, cauliflower rice, and come up with some delicious meals that are packed with important nutrients.
Don’t forget to include some high-protein snacks. I like to make my own trail mix with nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Or if you’re on a low carb diet, leave out the dried fruit.
Another thing you can do is add a boiled egg to any meal. Either peel it and eat it or chop it up and mix it into whatever else you’re having.
More Delicious High-Protein Recipes
There are so many satisfying foods that are delicious and nutritious. Here are some of my favorites:
Coffee Smoothie Recipe – Drink this before you leave for work, on your way to your first appointment, or at the office. It’s delicious and has a lot of nutritious goodies, including 11 grams of protein, that will keep you smiling throughout the day.
Chicken Breasts – Prepare these chicken breasts in your air fryer and use them in recipes throughout the week. This super easy meal prep can keep you from losing your mind when you need something good in a hurry. Serve it on salads, in sandwiches, or over brown rice.
Pesto Chicken – Loaded with flavor, this dish from Back to My Southern Roots will delight the entire family. Make a couple extras for lunch the next day.
Barbecued Pork Chops – Whether you cook these in the air fryer or in the oven, these yummy pork chops are good for any meal of the day. If you cook these air fryer pork chops for dinner, make sure you have leftovers for lunch the next day.
Final Word on High Protein Lunch Ideas
High protein helps develop lean muscle and increase metabolism, which in turn increases your body’s ability to burn calories to aid in weight loss or stay fit.
Eating enough protein for lunch means you’ll be less hungry for the rest of the day than if you had eaten something low in protein but high in carbs.