oOn lazy days, ordering delivery is a no-brainer. No dishes, no cooking, no problems. But when those hefty upcharges start coming up, finding a way to get lunch on the table quickly (without breaking the bank) is a must.
That's when I turned to some of my favorite food bloggers who have artfully created countless plant-based, protein-rich lunch recipes.hello, walnut “chorizo” nachos, and deli-better “tuna” salad that require very little prep work. In fact, your lazy lunch dreams really do come true.
Here are a few of our favorite quick, high-protein lunch recipes that give a whole new definition to the term “quickie.” Yes, it's ready in 15 minutes.
4 Quick High-Protein Lunch Recipes with Minimal Prep
1. Heart of Palm “Tuna” Salad
of course. Your local bagel place has the best tuna salad you've ever had. But is it plant-based? In most cases, this isn't the case. That's one of the many reasons we can't stop drooling over this easy Core Palm Vegan “Tuna” Salad recipe from Feast at Home. It contains some delicious ingredients. Think of a typical tuna salad with lots of dill, mayonnaise, and red onions. But instead of canned fish, the main ingredient in this “tuna” salad is hearts of palm, which give this recipe extra crunchiness.
The best part? This “tuna” salad can be served in a variety of ways: wrapped, in a bowl, on its own, or even thawed. Of course, if you're looking for a little extra protein, you can always up the ante by adding a few handfuls of chickpeas. According to the description, one cup of chickpeas contains a whopping 14 grams of protein and 12 grams of fiber. Nutritionists suggest eating about 30 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per meal. These quick, high-protein lunch recipes can help.
Get the recipe: Heart of Palm Tuna Salad
2. Walnut “chorizo” nachos
This is definitely an average lunch with nachos (ha!). In contrast, Feast at Home's Premium Walnut “Chorizo” Nachos are high in protein and full of fun (aka tons of delicious toppings). The key, protein-rich source is in our homemade walnut “chorizo” (a heart-health superstar) flavored with tons of anti-inflammatory spices like paprika, cumin, and chili powder, and you'll be thanking us in just a few minutes. To your trusty food processor.
Once you're ready, simply top your favorite tortilla chips (mine are Siete's nixtamalized corn tortilla chips) with any toppings you like, including vegan cheese, beans, tomatoes, avocado, and cilantro. Just pop it in the oven, melt it, and lunch is ready. Easy sebum, lemon squeegee. And as far as nutrition goes, these vegan nachos have nearly 10 grams of protein and 9 grams of fiber per 1.5-cup serving.
Get the recipe: vegan nachos
3. Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower “Wings”
Want to enjoy some good American classics? Wholesome Yum's 4-Ingredient Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower “Wings” are exactly what you've been looking for. A reimagining of game day wings, these 10 cauliflower bites are spicy, tangy, and crunchy. For a boost of protein, serve with a vegetarian-friendly cottage cheese dipping sauce like this one from Detoxicista. After all, cottage cheese contains more than 11 grams of protein per 100 grams.
Get the recipe: Buffalo Cauliflower
4. BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
Thinking about barbecue? Don't say more. This BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich is a vegan take on the perfect pulled pork sandwich and the perfect lunch for a busy day. This recipe from Love and Lemons calls for homemade barbecue sauce, but save extra prep time by using your favorite vegan barbecue sauce instead. Then simply cook the chopped jackfruit in your favorite sweet and tangy barbecue sauce, mimicking the texture of pulled pork, to soak up all the flavor. When you're ready, assemble your sliders by layering the sandwich bread with “barbecue” jackfruit, more barbecue sauce (you can never have too much, right?), and a simple homemade cabbage slaw. faint.
Get the recipe: BBQ Jackfruit Sandwich
Shall we have dinner next time? This vegan *bit* bourguignon is calling your name: