30 Healthy No Cook Lunches (Because It's Just Too Hot Outside!)

Quality ingredients make all the difference here. Use premium canned or jarred white tuna, the best fruity olive oil you have, and garden-fresh veggies. We chop up the olives and capers and mix them into the tuna for a briny flavor hit that won’t slip out of your sandwich as you eat. Niçoise are small French black olives; kalamata olives will work just fine in their place.

Leftover chicken makes a perfect hearty protein for a quick, no cook lunch. Here, we combine it with sliced radishes, baby bok choy, and dried apricots, for a delicious Asian salad packed with fresh flavor.

Toast the leftover torn bread from the baguette for breadcrumbs (which you can freeze), or add to soup for a slightly thicker soup.

Be sure to toss the salad gently so the pieces of orange and avocado keep their shape. Pair with a fall chili or tacos.

Pair this simple chickpea-stuffed sandwich with a mixed green salad or cup of soup for an effortless no cook lunch.

Fresh tarragon infuses this picnic-perfect chicken salad with lovely anise notes. However, feel free to separate part of the salad into a bowl before adding the tarragon for a couple of kid-friendlier servings.

If watermelon wedges are a mainstay at your summer cookouts, try dicing for this instant, gorgeous salad. The sweetness of the fruit pairs beautifully with the smoky rotisserie chicken and fresh mint to create a summertime staple that will keep the family asking for seconds.

This is the perfect lunch to make ahead of time and pack for a long trip. Serve these turkey and Swiss wraps with a carrot salad for a healthy and kid-friendly lunch. The wholesome, balanced lunch will keep you fueled and ready for the day.

Nothing is quite as comforting as a bowl of noodles, especially when it doesn't require you to boil a pot of water. These no-cook brown rice noodles (also known as Maifun) are drizzled with a sweet and spicy sauce and get topped by fresh vegetables for an extra crunch. 

The Hawaiian dish of poke is a classic no-cook recipe. Ahi tuna is tossed with fresh citrus for a tangy lettuce cup filling that will make you dream of tropical getaways. Avocado adds a creamy texture while toasted sesame seeds contribute a toasty flavor. 

Sure, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a time-saving stand-by, but the bread aisle is bursting with so many new varieties of spreads and nut butters. It’s hard not to buy jars and start experimenting. That’s exactly what we did, actually, and from those taste tests, we created fun and tasty nut butter sandwiches that will make no-cook lunches (or quick dinners) anything but boring. Start with 2 (1-ounce) slices of whole-grain bread; pile on the goods.

This Thai Chicken Peanut Crunch Sandwich is a flavor sensation. One bite reveals a burst of cucumber, carrot, and red onion. That's quickly met by a kick of heat from Sriracha and a creamy cool down from the peanut butter.

Make this fast no-cook sandwich, and you'll be transported back to your Thanksgiving table. (Even better, use your leftover Thanksgiving turkey to make a lighter lunch the next day.) All the flavors of this favorite fall holiday are here—turkey, cranberry, and greens. But we've elevated it with a warm and toasty spread of walnut butter. Nut butters like walnut butter add roasted, earthy notes to basic meat-and-cheese sandwiches. We know you're busy and need the ease of fast sandwiches, so make sure you elevate your easy lunch options with these big-impact flavorful foods.

The classic ham and cheese sandwich gets new life thanks to creamy almond butter. Almond butter? On your ham sandwich?! Yes. Be prepared to be amazed how a simple ingredient can make a dramatic difference.

The beauty of nut butters is how quickly they can elevate your basic meat-and-cheese sandwich. Don't be afraid to experiment. Pecan butter is a great example of this truth. A roasted, toasted spread, pecan butter warms up any dish that uses it. In this no-cook sandwich, it's especially delicious with buttery brie and luxurious prosciutto. Spinach leaves add a great crunch—pile on a few extra leaves if you have them. A burst of warmth comes from pepper jelly, and it's a great complement to the earthy pecan butter.

Use up leftover pork tenderloin and caramelized onions from last night's dinner for this easy no-cook sandwich. It's quick to put together at your desk or stack up several sammies while your crew is headed out the door for practice. Serve with a simple salad or a bowl of fruit to round out the meal.

Dried cherries are a natural partner for the lean pork tenderloin, but feel free to use dried cranberries or even cherry preserves if you can't find dried cherries. Peppery arugula is a great contrast to the sweet fruit, but we also like crunch Bibb or leafy Butter lettuces.

The bold flavors of red onion, piquant capers and kalamata olives, and peppery arugula elevate hum-drum tuna salad to new heights. If your budget allows, try a premium jarred tuna, like Ortiz, which is rich, firm, and meaty. And purchase precooked, peeled eggs from your supermarket. You can also substitute arugula with baby spinach.

You'll find colorful, mini sweet peppers in 8-ounce bags in the produce section.

Delightfully simple to prepare, these spicy no-cook wraps make for a quick lunch or light dinner. Combining chili-flavored rotisserie chicken with sweet pineapple makes for a world of contrasting flavors. 

For you: Top bread with a cashew spread, sprouts, radishes, avocado, arugula, and more to make this fresh and flavorful sandwich.

For the kids: Spread reserved 2 tablespoons cashew spread over 2 (1-ounce) slices toasted whole-wheat bread (1 tablespoon per slice). Top 1 slice with 1⁄2 sliced Fuji apple, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, a dash of black pepper, and remaining bread slice. Cut in half diagonally.

Being a no-cook recipe doesn't mean you have the skip on the fanciness. Channel your inner French food connoisseur with this fresh spin on a tartine. Earthy beets combine with fennel, which adds notes of anise to the dish, for a unique flavor that will bring you back for more. When buying ingredients, be sure to choose sustainably harvested salmon. 

Lunch to go never looked so good. Try these portable veggie wraps with any flavor of hummus you like and whatever crisp veggies you have on hand.

Incorporate healthy eating essentials–fresh veggies and seafood protein–for a hearty salad that the whole family will love. The best part? This no-cook lunch is loaded with protein, and you didn't even have to turn on the oven.

This no-cook dinner recipe is packed with colorful vegetables and gets a flavor kick from its zesty vinaigrette. Amp up your can of packed tuna by adding it to a bowl of greens and white beans rather than settling for another mayonnaise-based tuna salad.

During the summer, peaches are at their peak. What better way to enjoy them than topping your salad with the softest and juciest slices? Finished with a few bold boosters, like crumbled blue cheese and thinly sliced prosciutto, this healthy option will surely make a supper to savor for seasons to come.

Bright, refreshing grapefruit pairs surprisingly well with nutty-earthy toasted sesame oil. This meal is full of satiating heart-healthy fats that will keep you full for a long time, which makes it great for breakfast. But we also really love this for an easy and healthy no-cook lunch. The slight bitter tang of grapefruit combines with salty prosciutto and creamy avocado for a dish we can’t get enough of in the warmer months.

Fresh, tasty, and delicious is how this 5-star Avocado Chicken Salad is commonly described. Mrs. Hartzell raves, “So delicious and easy! I could seriously eat this every day!” You’re not alone. We could, too. This particular recipe uses vinaigrette instead of mayonnaise but doesn’t lose its creamy texture, thanks to avocado. Salsa and fresh cilantro give this chicken salad its south-of-the-border flavors. So, instead of layering over a bed of greens, serve with tortilla chips for scooping and an added crunch.

Red onion and celery add crunch to this quick chicken salad. Blueberries have thick skins, so they won't break apart when tossed with the chicken.

This seafood wrap will have you scoffing at the days of plain turkey sandwiches. Buy cooked lobster and save yourself the hassle of boiling it. Flatbread replaces buttered rolls in this take on the New England classic.

Get Asian flavor on the go with these no-cook, make-ahead, easily portable wrap sandwiches. Deli roast beef is dressed up with a sesame-and-lime dressing in a three-minute sandwich that will make you and your child the envy of your lunchrooms. Make a batch and stick them in the fridge for a great grab-and-go supper on busy nights or a picnic lunch on warm afternoons.

Chickpeas are a popular component of Southwestern cooking, as is the herb cilantro. To allow time for the flavors to develop, allow this salad stand for an hour before spooning it over the lettuce leaves.