20 Awesome Quick Sunday Lunch Ideas and Recipes
Sharing a tasty meal with your friends or family is an excellent way to pass the Sunday blues. Many people have made it a tradition to have lunch or dinner with their loved ones on Sunday and it usually helps to begin the next week on a positive note. If you are looking forward to such a day but don’t want to spend the entire day cooking, here are 20 amazing Quick Sunday Lunch Ideas you can try. They are very easy to make and will leave everyone at the lunch table satisfied and happy.
20. Smoked Salmon Dip
A combination of smoked salmon, lemon juice, cream cheese, and dill, a smoked salmon dip is a great low carb accompaniment for toasted bread. You will need toasted bread, of course, sour cream, crushed red pepper, smoked paprika, horseradish, lemon zest, capers, scallions, cream cheese, and smoked salmon. Then you need to:
- Throw in all the spices and creamy ingredients into a food processor.
- Puree.
- Add in the capers, green onions, and smoked salmon.
- Puree again until you achieve a consistency you like.
- Serve in a bowl with your toasted bread.
19. Easy Chickpea Spinach Salad
A chickpea spinach salad is easy to make, tastes amazing, and has great nutritional value. For this meal, you will need 1 cup dried quinoa, 1 medium sweet potato, olive oil, peeled and diced, 1 can chickpeas, several handfuls of baby spinach, dried cranberries, salt and pepper, chopped cashews, and diced red onion. The steps are as follows:
- Pre-heat your oven to 375°F.
- Toss the sweet potato, salt and pepper, and olive oil on a large sheet pan.
- Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes or until fork tender.
- Use the instructions on the package to cook the quinoa.
- In a bowl mix the potato, quinoa, spinach leaves, cashews, dried cranberries, and chickpeas.
- Season with salt, apply a dressing of your choice, and serve.
18. Grilled Fluffernutter
If you have all the ingredients you need, you can make a grilled Fluffernutter sandwich in about 5 minutes. You will need 1 batch of marshmallow fluff, 1 bag chocolate chips, 1 jar peanut butter, and a loaf of bread. With these at hand, you should then:
- Place a skillet over medium heat.
- Butter a single side on two piece of bread, preferably opposite sides.
- Place the bread sliced onto the skillet with the buttered sides facing down.
- Toast for several minutes.
- As fast as you can, add chocolate chips and a spoonful of peanut butter to one piece of bread and a dollop of marshmallow fluff to the other side. Leave some room around the edges.
- Use a spatula to flip one slice into the other.
- Press, remove from the skillet, and cut diagonally in half.
- Serve your sandwich.
17. Easy Quinoa Salad
If you have some leftover quinoa in your fridge, you can turn it into a salad within a few minutes. Just throw in all your favorite herbs, nuts, and fruits and lunch is served. Here are the steps:
- Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, and pomegranate juice in a small bowl.
- Add salt and pepper to taste then set aside.
- In a larger bowl, mic dried cranberries, pomegranate arils, green onion, parsley, walnuts, and your leftover quinoa. Spray some vinaigrette to taste and toss until everything is coated.
- Serve.
- Note: You can refrigerate your quinoa salad for 1 or 2 days.
16. Shaved-Egg Avocado Toast
This is the usual avocado toast with an added twist, salt, pepper, and a shaved hardboiled egg. You will need 2 hardboiled eggs, preferably cold so you can grate them, 1 avocado, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes, and 2 slices of toasted bread. Additionally, you can get prepare some lemon wedges to serve the sandwich with, a radish, and chopped chives. Here is how you make this meal:
- Using a cheese grater, create egg shavings from the cold hardboiled eggs.
- Mash the avocado in a bowl to your preferred consistency, add salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Spread the mixture on the slices of toast and top them with the egg shavings
- Add the chives, several radish slices, and a dash of salt and pepper.
- Place the other slice of taste over the mixture and spritz with the lemon wedge.
- Serve
15. Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Toast
Cinnamon sugar toast is a true classic and adding chocolate just makes it better. You will need ground cinnamon, granulated sugar, salted butter, chopped dark or semi-sweet chocolate, and 2 slices of bread. With your ingredients ready:
- Mix cinnamon and sugar in a bowl.
- Toast all the bread slices then butter the outsides.
- Sprinkle the buttered sides with cinnamon sugar.
- Place the chocolate between 2 bread slices with the sugared sides facing out.
- Cook the sandwich on a skillet over medium heat until the chocolate melts.
- Serve warm.
14. Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp tacos are all the rage and it’s hard not to see why. With a pep time of only 15 minutes, they make a great Sunday lunch and a delicious meal option.
- Place tortilla chips on a large microwave-safe plate.
- Sprinkle the chips with shredded cheese.
- Cook in the microwave for 45 to 90 seconds, until the cheese melts.
- Toss on the purple cabbage, mango, fresh lime, cilantro, and avocado for that extra burst of flavor.
- Serve with shrimp and enjoy
13. Honey Garlic Chicken
The honey garlic chicken takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare and a few more minutes to cook. Here is the simple procedure:
- Mix honey, garlic, and several of your favorite herbs and spices in a bowl.
- Coat your chicken pieces with the mixture and allow to rest.
- Bake them in an oven. The tender chicken will soak up the honey and garlic for a burst of flavor like you have never experienced before.
If you are feeling experimental, you can serve the chicken with a rice-based stuffing, some gravy, and a bowl of green vegetables.
12. Creamy Instant Pot Spaghetti
Spaghetti is always a solid choice when you do not know what everyone would like to eat or you have picky kids. Even better, this dish adds cream cheese to the mix to create an even creamier treat. You can prepare it in an instant pot to cut down the cooking time and have lunch ready for your friends and family in no time. All you need to do is:
- Boil water in an Instant Pot.
- Throw in the spaghetti and let it cook until it is soft.
- Remove the spaghetti and run it through cold water.
For extra flavor, consider seasoning your creamy spaghetti dish with sweet onion, which will infuse a rich flavor, tomatoes, basil, and light cream.
11. Double Grilled Cheese
Everybody loves a grilled cheese sandwich but this version has cheese on both sides of the bread – like an inside and out grilled cheese. Here are the simple steps to make it:
- Melt some butter and add a little cheese to it.
- Brush the mixture onto two bread slices, one side on each slice.
- Add one slice of bread to a hot pan with the butter and cheese side facing down.
- Sprinkle your favorite cheese to the top of the slice. This will form the inside of the sandwich.
- Top with the second bread slice with the butter and cheese side facing up.
- Flip as needed and cook the grilled cheese as you usually would.
- Serve and enjoy.
10. Stuffed Bell Peppers
Stuffed bell peppers are a wonderful way to feed your family and get them to eat their vegetables at the same time. The meal is tasty and eye-catching such that your picky kids will be begging to dig in and get started. For the full and healthiest experience:
- Wash your bell peppers and open them at the heads.
- Fill your bell peppers with cheese, ground beef, and rice.
- Arrange them on an oven-safe pan and bake.
You can use ground turkey if you prefer a lighter finish but either option will be satisfying and delicious.
Tip: To make a production out of your stuffed bell peppers, use a variety of pepper colors. This will go a long way in enticing picky eaters.
9. Watermelon Radish Salad
Watermelon radishes have an earthy and spicy taste but resemble watermelons in looks. This salad requires a watermelon radish, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, mixed greens, tomatoes, arugula, feta, chives, and golden beets. The steps to take are:
- Thinly slice the watermelon radish and golden beets.
- Slice the tomatoes and chop the chives.
- Mix the mixed greens and arugula in a large bowl.
- Toss everything together and dress with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
- Crumble some cheese on top.
8. Pressure-Cooker Ramekin Eggs
This recipe uses an Instant Pot to mix cream, mushrooms, and eggs into a scrumptious meal. You can eat it as-is or spread it on bread to make a sandwich. Here are the steps:
- Melt some ghee and sauté your mushrooms until caramelized and tender.
- Season with salt.
- Grease your ramekins and divide the cooked mushrooms into them.
- Top each one with a tablespoon of cream, a freshly cracked egg, and a teaspoon of chives.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the Instant Pot and position the trivet.
- Place the ramekins on top and cover the Pot.
- Set the pressure on low and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Pressure cook on low for 1-2 minutes.
- Allow the pressure to normalize and remove the ramekins.
7. Spinach-Artichoke Turkey Panini
A panini chocking with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach-artichoke dip, and fresh turkey. If you buy sliced turkey and pre-made dip, lunch should be ready in less than 10 minutes. Here are the instructions:
- Heat some olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add in chopped onions and cook for 5 minutes then throw in spinach and garlic.
- Cook the mixture for 3 minutes then set aside.
- In a bowl, mix sea salt, red pepper flakes, lemon zest, goat cheese, Greek yogurt, and artichoke hearts then add the mixture you set aside.
- Combine everything and spread on a slice of bread.
- Top the bread with turkey and cover the sandwich.
- Place in a panini press and cook until the artichoke mix is melty and warm and the bread is crispy and toasted.
6. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
A Greek Yogurt Chicken salad is easy to make and will produce great sandwiches for a lazy Sunday afternoon. All you need to do is combine the chicken with Greek yogurt and your favorite fruits and spices in a large bowl then serve on bread with lettuce. Although you can use any ingredients you want, you can start with the following:
- 4 leaves of lettuce
- Bread
- 2 cups leftover chicken
- Salt and pepper
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup almonds, slivered
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup grapes, halved
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup apple, diced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
5. Lasagna Roll Ups
If you love lasagna but do not have the time to prepare a full tray, you can roll up the ingredients you usually use to create lasagna roll ups. Here is how:
- Start by laying out your noodles and slathering them with ricotta cheese.
- Roll them up.
- When you are done, top them with tomato sauce and shredded cheese.
- Place the roll ups in the oven to bake.
If you are in the mood for a hearty meal, you can add in a layer of cooked ground beef before the tomato sauce and cheese.
4. Avocado Pasta
If you are a vegetarian or would prefer a meat-free lunch on Sunday, try making avocado pasta. It should be ready in about 15 minutes and all you need is olive oil, lemons, garlic, basil, avocados, and noodles. Here is how you make avocado pasta:
- Boil water in a pan and throw in your noodles when the water gets hot.
- Let the noodles cook until soft. This should take less than 3 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and toss the noodles in a bowl with olive oil, garlic, basil, and mashed avocado.
- Spritz some lemon on top for an extra zing.
3. BLT Pasta Salad
A BLT pasta salad is a refreshing way to end the week. You can skip the buns for a healthier meal and have lunch ready and served in no more than 15 minutes. You will need pasta, lettuce, bacon, tomatoes, red onions, sour cream, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, black pepper, and apple cider vinegar. The instructions are as follows:
- Use the instructions on the box to cook your pasta.
- Drain and rinse the ready pasta with cold water then set aside.
- Throw the salad ingredients into a large bowl (chopped or torn lettuce, chopped tomatoes, crispy bacon slices chopped, chopped red onion)
- Mix the dressing ingredients in a smaller bowl (ranch dressing, sour cream, mayonnaise, ground black pepper, and apple cider vinegar)
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until fully coated.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
2. 5-Minute Nachos
With pine nuts, sun-dried red peppers, tortilla chips, capers, and cheese, you can prepare this delicacy in five minutes. All you need to do is:
- Pour tortilla chips onto a large microwave-safe plate.
- Sprinkle the chips with shredded cheese.
- Slice the peppers and sprinkle them over the cheese along with the pine nuts and capers.
- Cook in the microwave for 45 to 90 seconds, until the cheese melts.
- Serve warm.
1. Mermaid Veggie Bowl
This is a great lunch idea for vegetarians. You can use any chopped vegetables you have in your kitchen and top with pickled ginger and seaweed salad. Essentially, you:
- Whisk honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil
- Pour the mixture over warm rice
- Place the rice at the bottom of a bowl and top with the vegetables in a rainbow pattern.
- Garnish with your favorite garnish.
Conclusion
Sundays are the best time to catch up with your family and friends and enjoy the last day of the weekend as you gear up for another week. These Quick Sunday Lunch Ideas ensure that you do not spend the entire day slaving away in the kitchen but that you and you loved ones enjoy a heaty meal together. If you wish to save even more time, you can prepare some of these meals on Saturday and throw them in the oven or crock pot for a few minutes on Sunday. You can also be sure that all these meals are healthy and delicious.
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