I look forward to lunch all morning but definitely need something healthy that will fuel me for the rest of the day. If you can relate and are looking to add some tasty high-protein lunch ideas to your routine, you will love this list.

It is filled with healthy and yummy recipes that all come in under 500 calories.

1. Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowl

Cottage cheese is a secret weapon for me when it comes to meeting my protein goals. These Cottage Cheese Pizza Bowls taste like pepperoni pizza but are so much lighter and healthier, making them an excellent lunch option.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 462
• Fats: 22g
• Protein: 43g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 6.1g
• Sugar: 14g

2. Southwest Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a regular in my lunch rotation, but sometimes I want to make it more interesting, which is where this flavorful Southwest Chicken Salad comes in.

It gives you all of the traditional flavor of a regular chicken salad but with a bit more pizzaz and protein from black beans, Greek yogurt, jalapenos, and chili powder.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 354
• Fats: 7.2g
• Protein: 33g
• Carbs: 42g
• Fiber: 9.5g
• Sugar: 6.2g

3. Crockpot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

I adore a crockpot soup because it is so easy! Besides being stress-free, this Crockpot Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup is also nutritious and comforting.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 334
• Fats: 4.6g
• Protein: 36g
• Carbs: 36g
• Fiber: 2.9g
• Sugar: 3.7g

4. Cottage Cheese Tomato Soup

Tomato soup has been one of my favorite dishes since childhood. This recipe adds a bit of extra protein from cottage cheese, which will help you stay full and get through the afternoon without any trouble!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 206
• Fats: 4.7g
• Protein: 15g
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 6.5g
• Sugar: 18g

5. Cottage Cheese Chicken Salad

Here is another great way to use cottage cheese in a lunch recipe. Adding some cottage cheese to your chicken salad will increase your protein so that you stay full and feel good for longer!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 316
• Fats: 15g
• Protein: 38g
• Carbs: 9.1g
• Fiber: 2.2g
• Sugar: 4.1g

6. Chicken Corn Rice Bowls

Looking for an easy and tasty high-protein recipe? These Chicken Corn Rice Bowls are excellent for lunch.

They are so yummy, super customizable, and take less than a half hour to make. These bowls are great to meal prep in containers like this!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 434
• Fats: 13g
• Protein: 34g
• Carbs: 48g
• Fiber: 4.1g
• Sugar: 8.1g

7. Chicken Meatballs Meal Prep

I have always loved meatballs, and these Chicken Meatballs are so yummy and have a bit of a kick for spice lovers. If you need a great meal prep idea for your weekday lunches, you will love this one!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 400
• Fats: 24g
• Protein: 30g
• Carbs: 21g
• Fiber: 7g
• Sugar: 7.3g

8. Burger in a Bowl

I often find myself craving a burger at lunchtime, but don’t like the heavy feeling they give me in the middle of the day. These low-calorie burger bowls will help you meet your health goals while getting all the flavor you desire!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 360
• Fats: 21g
• Protein: 26g
• Carbs: 17g
• Fiber: 5.5g
• Sugar: 7.7g

9. Italian Chicken Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is a perfect lunch food, in my opinion. If you love it too, I know you will be so happy with this Italian Chicken Pasta Salad recipe.

It has so much protein and flavor from rotisserie chicken, red onion, basil, bell peppers, & mozzarella cheese. My favorite part of this dish is the olives!

If you need some good black olives to make this pasta salad, I recommend these ones.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 456
• Fats: 19g
• Protein: 22g
• Carbs: 49g
• Fiber: 3.6g
• Sugar: 4.5g

10. Shrimp Buddha Bowls

These Shrimp Buddha Bowls pack in both the protein and the flavor in every bite! Paprika, sweet potatoes, kale, quinoa, and asparagus make this a nutritious and colorful lunch that will satisfy your tastebuds while keeping you nourished.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 323
• Fats: 12g
• Protein: 30g
• Carbs: 23g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 7.5g

11. Creamy Chicken Pasta Soup

Soup is an excellent lunch idea, especially when it is as creamy and comforting as this Chicken Soup. The pasta in this dish makes it so cozy.

You can use any small pasta that you have on hand to make this soup, but I love using elbows like this.

Enjoy these other high protein soups!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 454
• Fats: 29g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 18g
• Fiber: 1.4g
• Sugar: 3.2g

12. Salmon with Asparagus and Lemon Sauce

Source: cushyspa.com

I like to eat fish at least a few times a week, and salmon is a lunchtime favorite of mine. The lemon sauce in this dish is to die for and makes for a light, yet satisfying and tasty meal to break up your day.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 337
• Fats: 26g
• Protein: 19g
• Carbs: 8.4g
• Fiber: 1.9g
• Sugar: 3.9g

13. Chicken Taco Soup

Source: cushyspa.com

Here is another amazing soup recipe to add to your lunch rotation. This one is zesty and packed with protein from chicken and black beans.

It’s a wonderful and easy comforting meal that will keep you cozy on cold days.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 463
• Fats: 9.8g
• Protein: 47g
• Carbs: 52g
• Fiber: 14g
• Sugar: 10g

14. Pizza Bowls

Thinking about ordering a pizza for lunch but don’t want to feel heavy & tired afterward? If so, try out these low-calorie pizza bowls that are light yet packed with traditional pizza flavors.

Ground chicken, salami, and mozzarella cheese make this lunch recipe so satisfying and filling. You will need a good marinara sauce for this recipe.

I recommend using something low in sugar like this option.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 267
• Fats: 18g
• Protein: 16.33g
• Carbs: 4.2g
• Fiber: 1.03g
• Sugar: 1.77g

15. Honey Garlic Shrimp Meal Prep

I am a big fan of honey garlic shrimp and making it at home is super easy. This lazy lunch recipe is so delicious and will give you plenty of meals for weekly prep!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 436
• Fats: 6.2g
• Protein: 26g
• Carbs: 72g
• Fiber: 7.5g
• Sugar: 17g

16. Sweet Potato Black Bean Rice Bowl

Sweet potatoes and black beans are so filling. They go together perfectly in this flavorful rice bowl that will give you energy all day long!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 308
• Fats: 5.5g
• Protein: 12g
• Carbs: 55g
• Fiber: 13g
• Sugar: 4.2g

17. Buffalo Chicken Cottage Cheese Bowl

Source: cushyspa.com

Buffalo chicken has tons of scrumptious flavor. Combining it with cottage cheese, carrots, and celery turns it into a yummy and filling lunch bowl.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 483
• Fats: 23g
• Protein: 56g
• Carbs: 9.9g
• Fiber: 1.4g
• Sugar: 6.5g

18. Hawaiian Pizza Chicken Bowls

Are you a big fan of Hawaiian Pizza? I am too, but don’t always want to indulge in pizza at lunchtime.

These Chicken Bowls are the perfect solution. They let me enjoy the traditional sweet and savory flavors of a Hawaiian Pizza but give me so much more protein and nutrition.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 446
• Fats: 14g
• Protein: 57g
• Carbs: 22g
• Fiber: 5.6g
• Sugar: 9g

19. Keto Chicken Salad

I often eat Keto because it just makes me feel lighter and more energized, and this Chicken Salad is one of my favorite lunches when I want to cut carbs. It is easy, delicious, and nutritious.

This recipe calls for boiled eggs, which are a breeze to make in a Rapid Egg Cooker like this!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 88
• Fats: 3.4g
• Protein: 12g
• Carbs: 1.3g
• Fiber: 0.3g
• Sugar: 0.9g

20. Buttered Cod

This Buttered Cod is healthy, tasty, and light. It is great on top of a salad for lunch.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 297
• Fats: 19g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 1.2g
• Fiber: 0.3g
• Sugar: 0.3g

21. Spicy Pineapple Chicken Meal Prep

Can’t decide on meal prep lunches for this week? You can’t go wrong with this Spicy Pineapple Chicken dish which includes the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors.

It is a cinch to prepare and will keep you fueled all week long!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 324
• Fats: 10g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 29g
• Fiber: 1.8g
• Sugar: 23g