Recipes | Lunch Recipes

45 Easy and Comforting Winter Lunch Ideas

There’s something about cold winter days that makes a sandwich or salad straight from the fridge seem a lot less appealing. I’m much more likely to want something warm for lunch, even if it’s just a bowl of soup with some crusty bread.

If you’re the same, there are loads of ideas here. I’ve included plenty of soups, but there are also sliders, quesadillas, flatbreads, rice bowls, toasted sandwiches and a few other bits thrown in too.

Some are really quick and easy, while others are good if you’ve got a bit more time or want something that’ll keep you full for the rest of the afternoon. Have a look through and see what takes your fancy!

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

Lots to choose from – There are 45 different ideas here, so hopefully you’ll find a few new lunches to try.
Proper winter comfort food – Think warming soups, toasted sandwiches, cheesy quesadillas and plenty of other cozy favorites.
Easy enough for lunch – I don’t want to spend ages making lunch, so I’ve included plenty of easy options.
A good mix – There are lighter lunches as well as the really hearty ones for those days when you’re absolutely starving.
Family-friendly ideas – Lots of these work well if you’re making lunch for everyone rather than just yourself.

Table of Contents

1. Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

This is just the kind of lunch I want when it’s cold outside. It’s warm, filling and packed with chicken, veggies and rice in a lovely creamy broth.

2. Chicken Noodle Soup

You can’t go wrong with a big bowl of this on a cold day. It’s simple, warming and filling without being too heavy for lunchtime.

3. Chicken Meatball Soup

Those little chicken meatballs make this one a bit different from your usual bowl of soup. It’s lovely and warming for lunch, with plenty of veggies in there too.

4. Marry Me Chicken Soup

If you love creamy soups, this is definitely one to try. It’s packed with chicken and plenty of flavor, and it makes a really comforting lunch on a cold winter day.

5. Potato, Leek and Bacon Soup

Bacon makes an already cozy bowl of soup even better. This one is creamy, hearty and just what I fancy for lunch when it’s cold and miserable outside.

6. Loaded Baked Potato Soup

This one is definitely for the days when you want a really hearty lunch. It’s thick, creamy and topped with all the good stuff like bacon and cheese.

7. Crockpot Sausage Potato Soup

Pop everything in the slow cooker and you’ve got a lovely warming lunch waiting for you later. It’s creamy, filling and packed with sausage and potatoes.

8. Italian Sausage Soup

There’s loads going on in this one, with sausage, pasta, veggies and plenty of Italian flavors. It’s a good hearty option for those really cold winter days.

9. Cannellini Bean Sausage and Kale Soup

Sausage and beans make this filling enough to see you right through the afternoon. There’s plenty of kale and veggies in there too, making it a great winter lunch.

10. Turkey Taco Soup

If you fancy something with a bit more flavor at lunchtime, give this one a go. It’s packed with turkey, beans and all those lovely taco flavors, and it’s really filling too.

11. Beef Enchilada Soup

This has all those lovely enchilada flavors but in a big warming bowl instead. The beef and beans make it really filling, and you can pile your favorite toppings on too.

12. Slow Cooker Chicken Minestrone

A big bowl of this is just what I fancy for lunch when it’s freezing outside. It’s packed with chicken, veggies, beans and pasta, so it’ll definitely fill you up.

13. Ground Turkey Rice Bowl

Not every winter lunch has to be soup, and this is a really easy alternative. You’ve got seasoned turkey, rice and veggies all in one bowl, so it’s nice and filling too.

14. Southwest Chicken Bowl

For something a bit different from all the soups and sandwiches, this is a good one to try. It’s loaded with chicken, rice and plenty of Southwest flavors, so there’s loads going on in every bowl.

15. Street Corn Chicken and Rice

If you fancy something really tasty and filling for lunch, this is a good one. The creamy street corn works so well with the chicken and rice, and it’s super easy to throw together.

16. Reuben in a Bowl

This is a nice change if you love a Reuben but don’t fancy a sandwich. It’s really filling and has loads of flavor from the corned beef, sauerkraut and melted cheese.

Servings: 6

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. deli sliced pastrami
1/2 lb. deli sliced corned beef
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 medium onion, sliced
6 slices swiss cheese
1 1/2 (16 oz.) bags of coleslaw mix
1 1/2 cups saurkraut
Italian dressing for topping
Green onions for topping

Instructions:

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes, until it starts to become translucent.
Add the coleslaw mix and cook for another 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Roughly chop the sliced meat into smaller pieces.
Add the sauerkraut and chopped meat to the skillet and stir everything together.
Cook for another 2–3 minutes, until everything is heated through and the coleslaw mix is cooked to your liking.
Add the sliced Swiss cheese, reduce the heat to low, and cover the skillet with a lid. Cook until the cheese has melted.
Spoon into bowls, drizzle with Italian dressing, and sprinkle with sliced green onions before serving.

17. Marry Me Chicken Salad

Salad might not be the first thing you think of for a winter lunch, but this one is definitely worth making. It’s packed with chicken and lots of lovely Marry Me flavors.

18. Southwest Chicken Salad

Here’s another salad that’s got plenty going on, so it doesn’t feel like a boring lunch. The chicken and Southwest flavors make it really tasty and filling.

19. Chicken Taco Salad

I’m always happy with anything taco-inspired, even in the middle of winter. This is a really tasty lunch with chicken, plenty of salad and all your favorite toppings.

20. Apple, Walnut & Blue Cheese Salad

For a lighter winter lunch, this is a lovely one. You get the sweetness from the apple, a bit of crunch from the walnuts and plenty of flavor from the blue cheese.

21. Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork is always popular in our house, especially piled into a soft bun with plenty of BBQ sauce. Make a big batch in the slow cooker and you’ve got lunch sorted for a couple of days.

22. Turkey Avocado Sandwich

Sometimes a good sandwich is all you really want for lunch. Turkey and creamy avocado are really good together, and it’s quick to make when you don’t fancy cooking anything.

23. Patty Melt

For the days when a regular sandwich just isn’t going to cut it, this is sooo good! You’ve got juicy beef, melted cheese and onions tucked between slices of toasted bread.

GET THE RECIPE

24. Monte Cristo Sliders

I love these for lunch when I fancy something a bit different. They’re filled with ham and gooey cheese, and that little bit of sweetness works so well.

25. Hot Honey Apple Cheddar Turkey Sliders

Hot honey, apple and cheddar might sound like an unusual combination, but it really works! Add in the turkey and you’ve got a really tasty little lunch that’s lovely served warm.

26. Crockpot Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

These are a great way to use turkey, especially around the holidays when you might have leftovers to use up. The cranberry and BBQ sauce give them loads of flavor, and the slow cooker does most of the work.

27. Pizza Sliders

These are always a fun lunch and they’re really easy to make too. They’re basically little pizza sandwiches with plenty of sauce, pepperoni and melted cheese.

28. Mini Grilled Cheese

You really can’t beat grilled cheese on a cold day, especially with a bowl of soup on the side. Making them mini somehow makes them even better too.

Servings: 18

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon parsley
1 package Hawaiian rolls
9 slices American cheese, cut into six pieces

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Stir together the butter, garlic, and parsley until well blended.
Cut each Hawaiian roll into three equal pieces.
Spread the butter mixture on one side of each piece of bread.
Place half the bread slices butter side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Top each slice with a piece of cheese.
Place the remaining bread slices on top of the cheese with the butter side facing up.
Bake the sandwiches for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through the cook time.

29. Mozzarella Pesto Smoked Turkey Croffle Sandwiches

These are a bit different and really good for lunch. The crescent roll croffles are filled with smoked turkey, pesto and mozzarella, then warmed until the cheese melts.

GET THE RECIPE

30. Slow Cooker Dill Pickle Sloppy Joes

If you love pickles, you need to try these. They’re messy, tasty and really easy to make in the slow cooker.

31. Chicken Quesadillas

Quesadillas are one of my go-to ideas when I want a quick hot lunch. These are stuffed with chicken and plenty of melted cheese, and they only take a few minutes to make.

32. Turkey Quesadillas

Got some turkey that needs using up? Throw it into a quesadilla with plenty of cheese and you’ve got a quick, hot lunch in no time.

33. Steak Quesadillas

Steak makes these feel a bit more substantial for lunch, especially when you’re really hungry. Add plenty of melted cheese and they’re hard to resist.

34. Garlic Butter Honey BBQ Chicken Tacos

The sauce is what really makes these tacos, with garlic butter, honey and BBQ all mixed together. Add the chicken and your favorite toppings and you’ve got a really tasty lunch.

35. Chicken Caesar Flatbread

I love a Caesar salad, but putting it on a flatbread makes it much more of a proper lunch. You’ve got chicken, plenty of Caesar flavor and a crispy base underneath.

36. Chicken Alfredo Flatbread

Creamy Alfredo sauce works so well on a flatbread, especially with plenty of chicken and cheese on top. It’s a nice easy lunch when you fancy something warm.

37. BBQ Chicken Flatbread

BBQ chicken is one of my favorite flatbread toppings. Add plenty of cheese and you’ve got an easy lunch that doesn’t take long to throw together.

38. Chicken Alfredo Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is good enough on its own, but loading it up with creamy Alfredo chicken makes it even better. This is definitely one for when you’re really hungry at lunchtime.

39. Sheet Pan Pizza

Making pizza on a sheet pan is really easy and you can add whatever toppings everyone likes. It’s great for lunch when you’re feeding the whole family too.

40. Hot Honey Pizza

That drizzle of hot honey at the end is so good with the pepperoni and creamy ricotta. It’s sweet, spicy and cheesy, and makes a really good hot lunch.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 (13–16 ounce) tube refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
4 ounces sliced pepperoni
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
2–3 tablespoons hot honey, for drizzling
1 tablespoon olive oil (for the pan)

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch rectangular baking pan with olive oil.
Press the refrigerated pizza dough evenly into the prepared pan, gently stretching it to the corners. If the dough springs back, allow it to rest for 5–10 minutes before continuing.
For a thicker, fluffier crust, cover the dough and let it rise in the pan for 30–60 minutes before adding toppings.
Spread the pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauce. Arrange the pepperoni slices across the top of the cheese.
Bake for 17–20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown, the cheese is melted, and the pepperoni edges begin to crisp.
Remove the pizza from the oven and then add spoonfuls of ricotta cheese across the surface of the pizza. Scatter fresh basil leaves over the top.
Finish with a generous drizzle of hot honey over the entire pizza before slicing and serving.

41. Crockpot Chicken Nachos

Nachos for lunch are always a good idea as far as I’m concerned. The chicken cooks away in the slow cooker, then you just need plenty of chips, cheese and your favorite toppings.

42. Crockpot Birria Nachos

Birria takes nachos to a whole other level. The slow-cooked beef is packed with flavor, then you can pile it onto tortilla chips with plenty of melted cheese and whatever toppings you fancy.

43. Spicy Tuna Kimbap Rolls

These are a nice change when you’re getting bored of the same old lunches. The spicy tuna gives them plenty of flavor and they’re great for making ahead too.

GET THE RECIPE

44. Chicken Broccoli Patties

These little patties are an easy way to get some chicken and broccoli into lunch without making anything too complicated. Serve them with your favorite dip or add a few simple sides.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 lb ground chicken
1 cup blanched broccoli florets
1 egg
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

Add the ground chicken, egg, salt, spices, and finely chopped onion to a bowl.
Finely chop the broccoli and stir it into the mixture.
Mix well until all the ingredients are evenly combined and form a uniform mixture.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Scoop the mixture by the tablespoon and gently shape it into small patties.
Place the patties in the skillet and cook for 4–5 minutes on one side. Flip, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for another 4 minutes until cooked through.
Transfer the patties to a paper towel-lined plate and let them rest for 4–5 minutes to absorb any excess oil. Serve with your favorite sauce and fresh herbs.

45. Sausage Cream Cheese Pinwheels

I could quite happily eat a plate of these for lunch. They’re filled with sausage and cream cheese, wrapped in pastry and baked until golden.

Hopefully this has given you a few ideas for lunch over the winter months. I always get a bit bored of having the same things, so it’s nice to have a few different recipes to choose from when it’s cold outside. Let me know which ones you try!

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