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Let’s be real. Between family, work, school and a social life, most days you just don’t have time to whip up a five-star, Gordon Ramsey approved meal for lunch. But with our quick and tasty lunch recipes, you’ll find that making a delicious midday meal isn’t so hard after all.
No matter if you’re learning to cook or have been cooking for over a decade, these 10 easy lunch recipes for beginners will satisfy your eegee’s craving (until the next time you come of course!).
While it’s not always possible to replace the freshly baked bread you find at eegees, or some of the condiments, you can still make yourself (and your kids) a great sandwich.
To start, you’ll want to add your favorite bread to your grocery list. You can even use hotdog or hamburger buns if you’re in a pinch. We know how it can be!
Slip in your favorite lunch meat, like turkey and ham, then add in the cheese. Don’t add too much cheese though. Cheese can be sneaky and will dominate the sandwich if given the chance. Place some pickle slices on top for an extra crunch. And no matter what, don’t forget your favorite condiments! Sauce can make any sandwich into a masterpiece. Mayo is a staple, but if you want to cut the calories go with a Dijon or yellow mustard. Some eegee’s ranch is a must for that extra tang. Now, press down, and you’re ready to go.
Tuna is a great, hearty meal to go with. It’s also far easier to make than you might realize. Grab a can of tuna (if you really want to go big on flavor grab one that’s soaked in olive oil). Drain the water/oil and add in mustard, mayo or eegee’s ranch. Mix in the can, then dollop out on some cut sub bread. Add over top something crunchy to improve the texture, like crisp pickles, lettuce, or even celery. Now you’re ready to go.
Sometimes after a long morning all you want is hot meal to fill your belly. What better way to warm your soul than with a meatball sub? You don’t even need to make the meatballs yourself! You can find some good ones in the frozen food section of the grocery store. Put several of these meatballs in a bowl and pour over your favorite marinara sauce. Pop the bowl into the microwave and heat.
When ready, take the meatballs out and place into a sliced sub bread. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over then pop it into the oven (or toaster oven) for a few minutes until the cheese starts to melt. It’s a tasty sub that doesn’t need to take more than a few minutes to make. Some could say it’s easy peasy lemon eegee’s!
Wait, chicken hot dogs are a thing? Yes, you might be surprised. At the grocery store look for chicken dogs. Chicken is packed with protein and a fun change to a regular hot dog. You probably won’t even notice a difference in taste. Add some ketchup and mustard and any other of your favorite toppings, and you’re good to go.
Want to feel like you’re in the Windy City without leaving the friendly confines of Arizona? Whip up a Chicago Dog. Sadly, the poppy seed hot dog buns can be tricky to find around here, but you can easily make them yourself. All you need to do is brush melted butter on a regular hot dog bun, then sprinkle poppy seeds on top and bake for just a few minutes. Now, add in a hot dog, apply yellow mustard, green relish (Chicagoland folks will tell you the more neon the better), and tomato slices. Yup, not ketchup, tomato slices. Finish it off with some sport peppers (you’ll find them in the condiment section. It’s usually a red bottle with small yellow peppers inside). There you go. A Chicago Dog that’s quick and easy.
Yeah, you could go to great lengths to make chili from scratch, but there are some pretty solid canned chili options out there. Pick up your favorite, then sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. You can even go the extra step to make a chili dog. If you’re really feeling creative, try the Midwestern approach! Ditch the pasta sauce and pour the chili over your noodles instead (for a classic Cincinnati lunch that’s perfect for the dead of winter).
Kids love mac and cheese (as do adults – there’s no shame). But why not make it keep you fuller longer than regular Kraft Mac & Cheese? You can find noodles at the grocery store made from lentils. These have more protein so you don’t have to eat as much to feel full. Use your favorite cheese on the noodles, and you can even sneak in some canned diced tomatoes to include more veggies for picky eaters.
You have some options with this. You can either buy French fries in the frozen food section (we know you’ve got a stash) or make them yourself. Then all you have to do is bake them in an oven, pour eegee’s ranch on top as well as sprinkle on some bacon bits! To make it vegetarian you can use non-dairy ranch substitutes, as well as vegan bacon bits.
If you want to make your own fresh fries then pick up some russet potatoes, slice them up in the style of French fries you like, then soak in water. Wait a few minutes, and you’ll find the water has turned a murky brown. This is the starch coming out of the fries. Drain and repeat this process until the water is clear. Removing the starch will give you the crispiest fries you’ve ever had when you bake them.
It doesn’t always taste the same when you make it at home. So when you want the real deal, just head to your nearest eegee’s for some Ranch Fries.
Turn store bought items into a chef salad. Grab a pre-made salad mix from the store as well as pre-made hard-boiled eggs. Dice up the eggs, place over top, sprinkle on some ham, and bam! You’ve got yourself a chef salad.
Want to ditch the carbs with your sandwich? Trade out the bread for a sandwich wrap. Some of these are made using tomato or spinach, which cuts the carbs even further. Make your sandwich just like you would any other way, but don’t over-stuff. If you do it won’t close.
Of course, you can always just go to eegees for some great tasting food. But if for whatever reason you can’t, these are 10 great, easy to make foods that will satisfy even the pickiest eater.
