21 Easy Lunches with Soup and Sandwiches

Lunchtime just got a whole lot easier. These 21 easy lunches with soup and sandwiches cover everything from melty sliders and crispy sandwiches to fresh wraps and steaming bowls of soup. Pick a craving, grab the recipe, and lunch is handled.

The handheld hall of fame. Buttery buns, golden crusts and fillings worth writing home about — these are the lunches that never get old.

1

Ham and Cheese Sliders

Baked and Buttery

Sweet ham and melty swiss tucked into soft rolls, brushed with buttery poppy-seed glaze and baked until golden. Made for sharing — good luck with that.

You need: slider rolls, deli ham, swiss cheese, butter, Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, Worcestershire sauce

Make it: Layer ham and cheese in halved rolls in a baking dish. Whisk butter, Dijon, Worcestershire and poppy seeds, brush over the tops and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Prep 10 minCook 15 minServes 6

2

Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Crunchy and Juicy

Craggy buttermilk-fried chicken with lettuce, tomato and creamy sauce in a toasted brioche bun. Fast-food favorite, homemade better.

You need: chicken thighs, buttermilk, flour, paprika, garlic powder, brioche buns, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise

Make it: Marinate chicken in buttermilk 30 minutes, dredge in seasoned flour and fry until deep golden. Assemble on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Prep 15 minCook 15 minServes 4

3

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich

Sweet and Smoky

Slow-cooked pulled pork tossed in tangy BBQ sauce, piled high with creamy coleslaw on a toasted bun. Sweet, smoky, messy perfection.

You need: pork shoulder, BBQ sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, buns, coleslaw mix, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar

Make it: Rub pork with spices and slow cook 8 hours until shreddable. Toss with BBQ sauce, pile onto buns and top with quick coleslaw.

Prep 15 minCook 8 hrsServes 8

4

Classic Grilled Cheese

Golden and Gooey

Buttery sourdough with a shattering crunch around molten cheddar. Three ingredients, zero competition.

You need: sourdough bread, sharp cheddar, butter

Make it: Butter the outsides, layer cheddar thick, and grill low and slow until golden on both sides.

Prep 5 minCook 10 minServes 2

5

Turkey Club Sandwich

The Triple-Decker

Juicy turkey, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato stacked three high on toasted multigrain. A deli legend for a reason.

You need: sliced turkey breast, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, toasted multigrain bread

Make it: Crisp the bacon and toast the bread. Spread mayo, layer turkey, bacon, lettuce and tomato, then stack and slice.

Prep 10 minCook 5 minServes 2

6

Tuna Melt

Bubbly and Golden

Zesty tuna salad under a blanket of bubbling cheddar on grilled sourdough. Fifteen minutes to melty perfection.

You need: canned tuna, mayonnaise, celery, red onion, Dijon, sharp cheddar, sourdough, butter

Make it: Mix tuna with mayo, celery, onion and Dijon. Pile on buttered sourdough, top with cheddar and grill until bubbling.

Prep 10 minCook 8 minServes 2

7

Ultimate BLT

Crispy and Fresh

Thick-cut bacon, juicy tomato and crisp lettuce on toasted bread with a swipe of mayo. Simple done right.

You need: thick-cut bacon, ripe tomatoes, crisp lettuce, mayonnaise, toasted sandwich bread

Make it: Crisp the bacon, toast the bread, spread generously with mayo and stack bacon, lettuce and tomato.

Prep 5 minCook 10 minServes 2

8

Caprese Panini

Fresh and Melty

Creamy mozzarella, ripe tomato and basil pressed in ciabatta until warm and melty. Italy’s greatest cheese moment.

You need: ciabatta rolls, fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, basil pesto, olive oil

Make it: Spread pesto in ciabatta, layer mozzarella, tomato and basil, then press until golden and melted.

Prep 10 minCook 8 minServes 2

Crisp, colorful and endlessly packable. When lunch needs to travel or feel a little lighter, a wrap is the answer.

9

Turkey and Veggie Wrap

Fresh and Filling

Sliced turkey, crunchy lettuce, juicy tomato and cheese rolled snugly in a soft tortilla. The lunchbox hero that never disappoints.

You need: large flour tortillas, sliced turkey, lettuce, tomato, cheddar, mayonnaise or mustard

Make it: Spread tortillas with mayo or mustard, layer turkey, cheese, lettuce and tomato, roll tightly and slice on the diagonal.

Prep 10 minCook 0 minServes 2

10

Veggie Hummus Wrap

Rainbow Crunch

Creamy hummus, crunchy cucumber, sweet peppers and salty feta. A no-cook wrap that eats like a garden in the best way.

You need: large flour tortillas, hummus, cucumber, bell pepper, baby spinach, feta, lemon

Make it: Spread hummus over tortillas, layer vegetables, spinach and feta, roll tightly and slice.

Prep 10 minCook 0 minServes 2

Steam rising, spoons ready. From Italian-inspired bean soups to fragrant pho, these bowls turn any lunch into comfort food.

11

Tuscan White Bean and Kale Soup

Rustic and Hearty

Creamy white beans, tender kale and savory italian sausage in a garlicky tomato broth. Rustic Italian comfort in a bowl.

You need: cannellini beans, kale, italian sausage, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, chicken broth, parmesan

Make it: Brown the sausage, soften onion and garlic, add broth, tomatoes and beans and simmer 20 minutes. Wilt in the kale and top with parmesan.

Prep 10 minCook 25 minServes 6

12

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Zesty Crowd-Pleaser

Smoky cumin, sweet corn and black beans with shredded chicken, finished with avocado and crispy tortilla strips.

You need: shredded cooked chicken, black beans, corn, fire-roasted tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin, chili powder, avocado, tortilla strips, lime

Make it: Simmer broth, tomatoes, beans, corn, chicken and spices 20 minutes. Top with avocado, tortilla strips and lime.

Prep 10 minCook 25 minServes 6

13

Scallop Corn Chowder

Sweet and Luxurious

Sweet corn and tender potatoes in a creamy chowder, crowned with golden seared scallops. Restaurant-worthy, weeknight-easy.

You need: sea scallops, corn kernels, potatoes, onion, celery, heavy cream, butter, vegetable broth, fresh herbs

Make it: Simmer potatoes, corn and aromatics in broth until tender, stir in cream. Sear scallops hard and fast and rest them on top.

Prep 15 minCook 25 minServes 4

14

Pozole Rojo

Bold and Festive

Chewy hominy and tender pork in a deep red chile broth, with all the crunchy fresh toppings. A celebration in a bowl.

You need: pork shoulder, hominy, dried guajillo chiles, onion, garlic, oregano, cabbage, radishes, lime

Make it: Simmer pork until tender, blend soaked chiles with onion and garlic into the broth, add hominy and serve with cabbage, radish and lime.

Prep 20 minCook 90 minServes 8

15

Beef Pho

Fragrant and Slurpable

Silky rice noodles in an aromatic star-anise broth with thinly sliced beef and a garden of fresh herbs. Pure comfort, Vietnamese style.

You need: beef sirloin, rice noodles, beef broth, star anise, cinnamon, ginger, fish sauce, bean sprouts, basil, lime

Make it: Simmer broth with charred ginger, onion and spices 30 minutes. Pour over noodles and paper-thin beef, top with herbs and sprouts.

Prep 20 minCook 30 minServes 4

16

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Silky and Bright

Sweet tomatoes blended silky with basil and cream. Simple, nostalgic, and perfect with anything grilled and cheesy.

You need: canned San Marzano tomatoes, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, fresh basil, heavy cream, parmesan

Make it: Soften onion and garlic, add tomatoes and broth and simmer 15 minutes. Blend with basil, stir in cream and parmesan.

Prep 10 minCook 20 minServes 4

17

Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Cheesy Comfort

Velvety broccoli folded into sharp cheddar creaminess. Serve it in a bread bowl and watch it vanish.

You need: broccoli florets, sharp cheddar, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, heavy cream, butter, flour

Make it: Make a roux, whisk in broth, add broccoli and simmer until tender. Blend partly and melt in cheddar and cream.

Prep 10 minCook 20 minServes 4

18

French Onion Soup

Deeply Savory

Jammy caramelized onions in rich beef broth under a golden gruyere crust. Worth every minute of the slow caramelization.

You need: yellow onions, beef broth, butter, thyme, bay leaf, baguette slices, gruyere cheese

Make it: Caramelize onions low and slow, add broth and herbs and simmer 20 minutes. Top with baguette and gruyere and broil.

Prep 15 minCook 45 minServes 4

19

Classic Minestrone

Garden in a Bowl

Beans, pasta, zucchini and spinach in a rich tomato broth with parmesan. A rainbow of nutrition in every spoonful.

You need: kidney beans, small pasta, zucchini, diced tomatoes, vegetable broth, onion, garlic, spinach, Italian seasoning, parmesan

Make it: Sauté aromatics and zucchini, add broth, tomatoes, beans and seasoning and simmer. Cook pasta in the pot, wilt in spinach.

Prep 15 minCook 25 minServes 6

20

Red Lentil Soup

Protein-Packed

Red lentils simmered with warming spices and bright lemon. Budget-friendly, freezer-friendly and deeply nourishing.

You need: red lentils, carrots, onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric, vegetable broth, lemon, olive oil

Make it: Sauté onion, carrot and spices, add lentils and broth and simmer 20 to 25 minutes. Blend and finish with lemon.

Prep 10 minCook 25 minServes 4

21

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup

The Feel-Good Bowl

Tender chicken, slurp-worthy egg noodles and sweet vegetables in a golden thyme broth. The undisputed champion of cozy soups.

You need: chicken breast, egg noodles, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, chicken broth, thyme, bay leaf, parsley

Make it: Simmer chicken in broth with aromatics, shred, then add vegetables and noodles and cook until tender. Finish with parsley.

Prep 15 minCook 25 minServes 4