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    Home » Lunch

    11/17/2022

    Easy Hot Lunch Ideas (Fast to Make)

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    We love Hot Lunch Ideas as they’re nutritious and comforting, so much better than cold salads and sandwiches. If you are running out of inspiration for lunch, you’ve come to the right place. From lunch pizza to teriyaki chicken to grilled cheese, we’ve rounded up the best quick and easy hot lunch recipes that will satisfy the pickiest eaters! 

    For the days you can come home for lunch, why don’t you cook up a warm and satisfying hot lunch? They are fast, budget-friendly, and most importantly, they’re so delicious and comforting.

    Table of Contents Show
    Quick and Easy Hot Lunch Ideas
    Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls
    Easy Miso Ramen
    Chicken Pad Thai
    Pesto Pasta
    Best Lunches That Are Fast and Delicious
    Grilled Cheese Sandwich
    Chicken Lo Mein
    Microwave Mac and Cheese
    Spaghetti and Meatballs
    Homemade Lunch Ideas for Adults and Kids
    Fried Rice
    Beef Stir Fry
    School Pizza
    Easy Texas Burger
    Chicken Fried Rice
    Texas Chili
    Easy Hot Lunch Idea: Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl Recipe

    Quick and Easy Hot Lunch Ideas

    Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls

    Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls

    This delicious rice bowl is a quick and easy Japanese meal that can also be enjoyed at lunchtime. Your kids will love how every bite is loaded with tender chicken smothered in a rich, garlic teriyaki sauce.

    Easy Miso Ramen

    Easy Miso Ramen

    This hot, flavorful ramen will satisfy your cravings with a savory chicken broth, hearty ramen noodles and toppings like soft-boiled eggs and green onions.

    You can easily make this delicious, authentic miso ramen at home in less than 30 minutes – it’s even better than the one from the restaurant!

    Chicken Pad Thai

    Chicken Pad Thai

    This recipe is perfect for those busy weekdays. Featuring salty, sweet, nutty and spicy flavors, the best part of this dish is that it comes together in less than 20 minutes!  

    Pesto Pasta

    Pesto Pasta

    Whether you make homemade pesto or buy it from the grocery store, this dish is a must-try

    ! Pesto pasta takes about 5 minutes to prepare and just 15 minutes to cook. The result is a hot lunch your kids will love!

    Best Lunches That Are Fast and Delicious

    Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    Grilled Cheese Sandwich

    These easy grilled cheese sandwiches combine your favorite bread with delicious cheese, all cooked to golden cheesy perfection.

    They’ll take your love for grilled cheese to a new level!

    Chicken Lo Mein

    Chicken Lo Mein

    With just 20 minutes to prepare, this go-to recipe will make your stir-fried noodles shine! You’ll love this dish so much that you’ll forget all about ordering takeout.  

    Microwave Mac and Cheese

    Microwave Mac and Cheese

    Who doesn’t love a piping hot bowl of mac n’ cheese? This rich and creamy dish is made from scratch in the microwave!

    Easy to prepare in just 15 minutes, your kids will be asking for it day after day. 

    Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Featuring a homemade marinara sauce, this spaghetti and meatballs dish is perfect for lunch! It’s made with tender, juicy meatballs and a rich sauce.

    Be sure to include a bun for big eaters! 

    Homemade Lunch Ideas for Adults and Kids

    Fried Rice

    Fried Rice

    If you love Benihana, you’ll love this dish! Loaded with veggies and scrambled eggs, this Japanese restaurant-style dish is easy to make and totally customizable!

    Add some chicken, shrimp, or steak to suit your taste!

    Beef Stir Fry

    Beef Stir Fry

    Loaded with tender beef, this stir fry is absolutely delicious! The sauce is a tasty combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and beef broth.

    If you’re using a tougher cut of beef, a marinade will help to tenderize the meat and maximize the flavor.

    School Pizza

    School Pizza

    If you’re searching for a nostalgic meal, it doesn’t get any better than old-school cafeteria pizza. Remember when Friday was Pizza Day and the cafeteria ladies would serve up rectangular slices of cheesy, doughy pizza?

    Now, you can recreate this classic hot pizza at home, or customize it with your favorite add-ins and make it into school breakfast pizza or school lunch pizza. 

    Easy Texas Burger

    Easy Texas Burger

    The state of Texas is known for its love of Tex-Mex food.

    Popular dishes include fajitas, nachos, and chili con carne. Another favorite dish is the Texas burger, consisting of perfectly seasoned ground beef patties topped with creamy guacamole.

    Chicken Fried Rice

    Chicken Fried Rice

    The best thing about this recipe is that you can throw together delicious fried rice with the ingredients you already have on hand. It will be ready in 20 minutes and taste better than your favorite takeout spot.

    You can use leftover chicken, ham, beef, pork, and vegetables.

    Texas Chili

    Texas Chili

    Known for its spicy, smoky flavor, this copycat Texas red chili recipe is a two-meat treat for those who want a warm bowl of hearty comfort.

    You May Also Like

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    • High Protein Lunch Ideas
    • Best School Lunch Ideas
    • Keto Lunch Recipes
    Find out the best Japanese Foods to try: from Teriyaki Chicken to Dragon Sushi Roll, to Ramen and Mochi dessert. We’ve rounded 28 of the most popular Japanese food recipes for you to try. You’ll find simple recipes that you can make at home which will taste just as good as if you had ordered from a restaurant.

    Easy Hot Lunch Idea: Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl Recipe

    This delicious rice bowl is a quick and easy Japanese meal that can also be enjoyed at lunchtime. Your kids will love how every bite is loaded with tender chicken smothered in a rich, garlic teriyaki sauce.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Izzy

    Ingredients 

    • 1 1/2 lb chicken breasts cubed
    • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    • 3 tablespoons honey or sugar
    • 1/4 cup soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

    For Serving:

    • steamed rice
    • broccoli

    Instructions 

    • Mix together soy sauce, honey, vinegar, garlic, cornstarch, and optional ginger powder in a small bowl.
    • Heat a large pan on medium-high heat. Add oil.
    • When the oil is hot, add chicken breasts. Fry for about 3 minutes per side (5-6 in total) until golden brown.
    • Add teriyaki sauce to chicken and stir until the sauce thickens.
    • Remove from heat. Serve the chicken on top of rice in a bowl with steamed broccoli. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Nutrition info doesn’t include broccoli or steam rice.
    Author: Izzy
    Course: Lunch
    Keyword: Hot Lunch Ideas
    Tried this recipe?Follow or tag us on Pinterest @izzycooking

    Filed Under: Lunch, Recipes, Roundups Tagged With: Hot Lunch Ideas

    About Izzy

    I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Gwyn L says

      August 20, 2022 at 7:59 pm

      You have honey in the directions but you don’t show it in the ingredients list. How much honey? Sounds delicious.

      Reply
      • Izzy says

        August 23, 2022 at 1:40 pm

        Hi Gwyn, I’ve updated the ingredients. Thanks for catching this.

        Reply
    2. imogen says

      September 06, 2022 at 8:28 am

      5 stars
      THIS IS DELICIOUS!!!! i think i’ve got a new favourite lunch 🤩🤩🤩

      Reply

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    Hi, this is Izzy! On my blog, you will find easy and delicious recipes for the everyday home cook, with easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step photos.

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