17 Quick 5 Minute Cold Lunch Ideas

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Are you looking for easy lunch options you can take to work or school? Find 17 Quick 5-Minute Cold Lunch Ideas that are perfect to make fast and take on the go.

5-Minute Lunch Ideas like salads, lettuce wraps, and turkey wraps

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Now that warm weather is officially here, I’ve been thinking about easy cold lunch ideas that I can make quickly this summer. Because let’s face it, mornings can definitely be chaotic as we try to juggle all the things….breakfast, cleaning, and preparing for the day ahead. It can be a lot. 

Since I’m already thinking of ideas for dinner in case I need to take something out of the freezer, I want to make preparing lunch as quick and simple as possible. So, I’ve gathered some of my go-to cold lunch recipes when I want something fast. 

Many of these recipes are great to take on the go, plus they are perfect if you are tired of having leftovers or don’t have time to prepare something hot. And, the best part is they don’t require any meal prep at the beginning of the week which can be so time-consuming Especially in the summer, when there are so many fun summer activities and picnics to enjoy instead.

So, whether you work from home and need lunch options you can make quickly, or you need a fast lunch to take to work or school, these 17 quick 5-minute cold lunch ideas are perfect for busy weekdays.

Looking for more easy and frugal lunch ideas?

17 Quick 5-Minute Cold Lunch Ideas

Try these simple and satisfying cold lunch ideas to help get you through the day until dinner time (or at least until your afternoon snack.)

Tuna Salad with Crackers

To make this super easy tuna salad, combine 1 can of tuna fish with about ¼ cup of mayonnaise (you can add more if you like) and 1 tbsp. sweet relish. You can also add some finely chopped red onion and celery if you want some extra crunch. Then, just add some wheat or Ritz crackers, and enjoy! Simple and delicious!

Chicken salad in a lettuce wrap on a white plate

Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

This chicken salad lettuce wrap is not only healthy but it can be completely customized to your liking. We like to keep it really simple by just combining  1 cup of shredded rotisserie chicken, ¼ mayonnaise, some chopped celery, and red onion. Then, just add in seasonings to taste such as salt, pepper, and garlic powder.  Add it to some romaine lettuce for a quick and tasty wrap.

Of course, instead of lettuce, you can use your favorite sandwich bread, or my favorite way to enjoy chicken salad is on a croissant. You can also change up your chicken salad by adding raisins, grapes, or apples. 

Looking for more rotisserie chicken recipes?

Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad is such a refreshing and light lunch option. It’s perfect for summer.  This 5-minute creamy cucumber salad from Feel Good Foodie is perfect to enjoy on its own or on the side of a sandwich or wrap.

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Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Salad with Croutons on White Plate

Rotisserie Chicken Caesar Salad

Salads are my go-to cold lunch option, especially in the summer months. This salad is a great make-ahead lunch idea.  Simply add romaine lettuce to a bowl and top it with shredded rotisserie chicken, croutons, shredded parmesan cheese, and Caesar dressing.

Honey Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

These easy honey ham and cheese pinwheels are the perfect 5-minute lunch option when you need something quick to take on the go. Combine a small amount of honey mustard with mayonnaise and spread on a tortilla shell, add a few slices of honey ham and cheddar cheese, and then just roll up tightly and cut into 1-inch slices. Serve with some fruit on the side.

Try these easy and quick dessert ideas:

Turkey and Cranberry Wraps on White Plate

Turkey and Cranberry Wrap

This tasty turkey and cranberry wrap is like Thanksgiving in a wrap. To make this tasty lunch, all you need is flour tortilla shells, sliced deli turkey, cranberries (such as craisins) a brick of cream cheese, lettuce, and Swiss cheese. 

Combine the cream cheese and cranberries (it helps to make sure the cream cheese is softened which you can do quickly in the microwave for 10-20 seconds if needed.) Then, spread the cranberry/cream cheese mixture on the tortilla shell, and add a slice of cheese, turkey, and lettuce. Then, just roll up tightly and enjoy.

BLT Salad

Love BLTs? Me too! And, I finally found a way to enjoy them as a cold lunch option that I can throw together in 5 minutes or less. Simply add your romaine lettuce to a bowl, with some cherry tomatoes, leftover bacon, or pre-cooked packaged bacon, croutons, and ranch dressing. 

Strawberry Salad

If you’ve never had a strawberry salad, you are missing out. This Strawberry Salad with Feta from Family Style Food is the perfect quick cold lunch option for summer. 

Related:38 Sweet and Savory Strawberry Recipes

Avocado salad with tomatoes, and red onions on white plate

Avocado Salad

Avocado Toast is one of my favorite 5-minute breakfasts. So, I wanted to find a way to combine all those tasty flavors into a quick salad I could enjoy at lunchtime. This salad is so easy to throw together when you need lunch fast. Simply combine a chopped avocado, red onion, and tomato with feta cheese (optional). Add croutons and Italian dressing for a zesty and satisfying salad you’re sure to enjoy.

Chicken Ranch Wraps

These Chicken ranch wraps can be made with breaded leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken. To make this quick lunch, combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp. ranch dressing, 1 cup rotisserie chicken, shredded parmesan cheese, and pre-cooked bacon. (I do a sprinkle of the bacon and cheese but you can put as much as you would like.) Spread on a tortilla shell and add lettuce and tomatoes. Then fold in the sides and roll it up tightly. Easy and delicious!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Roll-Up

Tired of plain old peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? How about adding your favorite PB&J to a tortilla shell instead?  Then, just slice it and enjoy it with some fruit and veggies. A quick lunch option for kids and adults.

Ham Salad Sandwich

Ham Salad is such a great cold lunch idea when you don’t have time for a big lunch. Plus, it’s so simple to make. We like to use leftover ham chopped up but you can also use canned ham to make this tasty sandwich. Then just add about ½ cup of mayonnaise to a pound of the ham. Once, that is mixed together, add in some chopped celery, about a tablespoon of sweet relish, and a squirt of Dijon mustard. 

Buffalo Chicken Roll-Up

If you are obsessed with buffalo chicken like we are, then you will love this easy 5-minute lunch. To make these buffalo chicken roll-ups, mix together ½ brick of softened cream cheese, ¼ cup ranch dressing, and ¼ cup hot sauce ( you can add more or less depending on how spicy you want) and beat until it’s smooth. Add the ¼ cup of shredded cheddar cheese and 1 cup of shredded rotisserie chicken. Then, spread it on a tortilla shell and roll it up.

Dill Pickle Garden Salad

This salad has been my go-to salad this summer. It’s not only tasty but can be made in 5 minutes or less. Add iceberg lettuce to a bowl and top with chopped dill pickles, red onions, feta or parmesan cheese, and Italian dressing. You can also add some tomato, pepperoni, or pepperoncini as well. 

Cucumber Sandwich

Cucumber Sandwiches are so simple to make and a nice refreshing lunch when you want something lighter. Combine ¼ cup mayonnaise, 4 ounces cream cheese (softened), and 1-2 tbsp. of ranch seasoning (I usually do this to taste.) Spread on both sides of the bread, then add sliced cucumbers and some black pepper.

Quick tip-Make sure to add the cucumbers in between the spread so that your bread doesn’t get soggy.

Smoothies

Although smoothies are generally enjoyed at breakfast, they can be a great option for lunch. Especially if they include peanut butter and are packed with protein to fill you up. This Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie from Chocolate Covered Kate is not only delicious but has over 10 grams of protein for a healthy and satisfying lunch that can be taken on the go.

Cheese plate for a quick 5 minute lunch

Cheese Plate with Fruit & Veggies

When all else fails, how about a cheese plate? Grab some of your favorite cheese, deli meat, and crackers. Then, just add in some cut-up fruits and veggies for a super easy cold lunch option when you don’t have time to cook.

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Hopefully, you have found some ideas you can make for lunch this week.  If you happen to have some hard-boiled eggs on hand, you can make egg salad sandwiches or throw together a cobb or chef salad for a quick lunch as well. 

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