Eating Paleo is all the rage these days and for good reason. The paleo diet has been shown to improve blood sugar levels, decrease inflammation, and promote weight loss. But what about paleo lunches? This blog post will give you plenty of paleo lunch ideas that are easy to make and delicious!
What is a paleo diet?
A paleo diet is a way of eating that mimics the palaeolithic era, which was about 2.6 million years ago. It wasn’t until about 10,000 years ago that humans began to consume grains and dairy products. The paleo diet takes the approach that over time, our bodies have evolved to depend on certain foods to meet certain nutrients that are hard to get from other sources. Continuing with this diet will help you better align with what your body needs.
There are several reasons why one may choose paleo as their diet. For example, paleo avoids processed foods which means you’ll avoid things like white bread or pasta, fried foods, or added sugars.
Avocado toast with a fried egg
This recipe is super easy and quick to make. You can even use paleo bread for added convenience, or optionally add a side of veggies!
Ingredients:
- Avocado (sliced) (One)
- Bread of choice (toasted), paleo if possible
- Egg (x1)
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Toast your paleo bread, then slice your avocado up. Once you have done this heat oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot crack an egg into the pan and fry. Season the egg with salt and pepper. After a minute or two, place your fried egg on top of your paleo bread and avocado toast!
Spaghetti squash with ground turkey and tomato sauce
In these lunch ideas, You can use paleo spaghetti squash to replace traditional noodles. This recipe is simple and requires very little cooking knowledge!
Ingredients:
- Spaghetti squash (halved)
- Ground turkey, lean with no added sugars or preservatives (500g)
- Tomato sauce of choice (make sure it’s paleo if you’re following this diet!)
- Mixed herbs to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat your spaghetti squash in oil and salt and pepper, then add it face up on a baking tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until soft all the way through (poke with a fork). While that’s cooking, brown your turkey in a pan over medium-high heat while stirring occasionally. Once finished, add your tomato sauce and mixed herbs. Stir until evenly combined, then let simmer for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to blend together. Once spaghetti squash is done baking take it out of the oven and use a fork or spoon to scrape away long strands that resemble noodles! Add this paleo spaghetti into your pan with the sauce and meat, stir to evenly coat.
Chicken salad
These paleo recipes just keep getting better but this one is my favourite! This chicken salad can be customized to your liking! Don’t like chicken? Use another paleo-friendly protein source. Not a fan of tomatoes or cucumbers, try something else instead. See what you have lying around in the fridge and get creative! The one thing that makes this recipe great is that it calls for paleo mayonnaise. Now on to the ingredients of your chicken salad.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast (x as many you want to make)
- Tomatoes (3) sliced up small
- Cucumber(1), cut into chunks or rounds
- Romaine lettuce leaves for salad base
- Paleo mayonnaise of choice (one tablespoon per chicken breast)
Instructions:
Grill your paleo-friendly protein on medium heat with a bit of salt and pepper. While the chicken is grilling, mix up paleo mayonnaise in a bowl using ingredients (mayonnaise base + olive oil). Once finished cooking place your grilled meat into the sauce to coat evenly before layering it on top of your salad base (lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers).
Now enjoy your chicken salad!
Roasted cauliflower soup
These lunch recipes all seem like summer recipes but what about winter? This paleo recipe is great for lunch on a cold day.
Ingredients:
- Cauliflower (250g) cut into chunks or rounds
- Carrots, sliced up small
- Onion, diced up fine
- Veggie broth of choice (unsalted) (600ml)
- Paleo-friendly oil of choice (coconut oil works great)
Instructions:
Heat your paleo-friendly oil in a large pot before adding your onions and carrots. Let this cook for about five minutes or until the veggies start to soften up. While that’s cooking, place cauliflower florets into a roasting pan and coat with paleo-friendly oil. Mix to evenly coat, then add salt and pepper to taste. Once the veggies are soft, pour in your vegetable broth and bring to a boil before letting simmer for 20 minutes or until cauliflower is completely cooked through. Use an immersion blender (or food processor) once finished cooking and blend just enough so chunks of vegetables remain intact. Add salt and pepper to taste, then serve warm!
If you enjoy veggie recipes why not check out our easy vegetarian meals?
Chicken quinoa bowl
If you are on your lunch break and don’t have a lot of time maybe try this paleo recipe out? This lunch recipe is simple to make, but incredibly delicious.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thigh or breast (x as many you want to make)
- Quinoa of choice (uncooked, one cup per chicken piece)
- Coconut oil for cooking on the pan
- Seasoning of choice – salt and pepper recommended
Instructions:
Begin to boil your paleo-friendly quinoa in water, then reduce the heat to medium and let simmer until all of the liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes). While that’s cooking, place chicken pieces on a pan with oil and salt/pepper. Cook each side for five minutes or so, depending on the size of your chicken. Once finished cooking, place paleo quinoa into a bowl and top with cooked chicken to serve warm!
Tuna melt sandwiches on gluten-free bread
This paleo lunch recipe is great for those who miss the nostalgia of a tuna melt sandwich and it is also really good for meal prep!
Ingredients:
- Tuna can (x as many you want to make)
- Onion, diced up fine
- Garlic clove(s), finely chopped or pressed through a garlic press
- Celery stalk, sliced up small
- Cheddar paleo-friendly cheese slice (x as many you want to make)
- Gluten-free bread of choice, sliced up in rounds
Instructions:
If using canned tuna, place drained fish into a bowl and mix with a paleo mayonnaise base. Add diced onion, celery stalk and garlic clove. Mix to evenly coat the tuna, then place paleo-friendly cheese on top of round cutouts of gluten-free bread. Place in oven at 350 degrees for about five minutes or until paleo-friendly cheese has melted and/or begins browning up a bit around the edges.
Place drained tuna into a bowl and mix with a paleo mayonnaise base.
Add diced onion, celery stalk and garlic clove. Mix to evenly coat the tuna. Place paleo-friendly cheese on top of round cutouts of gluten-free bread (x as many you want to make).
Place in oven at 350 degrees for about five minutes or until paleo-friendly cheese has melted and/or begins browning up a bit around the edges. Remove from pan and enjoy warm!
Place drained tuna into a bowl and mix with a paleo mayonnaise base. Add diced onion, celery stalk and garlic clove. Mix to evenly coat the tuna. Place paleo-friendly cheese on top of round cutouts of gluten-free bread. Place in oven at 350 degrees for about five minutes or until paleo-friendly cheese has melted and/or begins browning up a bit around the edges. Remove from pan and enjoy warm! Server with tortilla chips for an extra crunch!
Paleo Curry Chicken Salad
This paleo lunch recipe is a great one to make ahead for lunches throughout the week. This recipe is also dairy-free!
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs or breast, cooked and chopped (x2)
- Cauliflower rice of choice (x250g)
- Paleo-friendly mayonnaise base (x as many you want to make)
- Seasoning of choice – salt recommended
- Curry paleo-friendly spice blend (x as many you want to make)
Instructions:
Begin by cooking your chicken thighs or breast, then place in the fridge until chilled. Next, add paleo mayonnaise base into a bowl and mix with the desired amount of paleo curry powder/spice blend. Add paleo-friendly cauli rice and chopped paleo chicken thighs/breast to the bowl. Mix until evenly coated, then serve as is or with paleo bread of choice!
Avocado and Egg Breakfast Wrap
Paleo eating can be confusing sometimes but this will help make things a bit easier. This paleo lunch idea is perfect for those who love avocado and easy-to-eat food items.
Ingredients:
- Eggs scrambled with (x as many you want to make)
- Avocado slices/pits, chopped up small (x1)
- Seasoning of choice – salt recommended
- Coconut paleo-friendly oil (x as many you want to make)
Instructions:
Begin by cooking your eggs, then place them in the fridge until chilled. Combine with chopped avocado and desired paleo seasonings. Warm coconut paleo-friendly oil on a pan or stovetop over medium heat. Once warmed, place paleo breakfast mixture into pan and spread around evenly. Allow to cook for a few minutes, then use a spatula or large spoon to flatten out the mixture as much as possible across your cooking surface. Flip over once one side has browned up slightly – this should only take about two-three minutes total! Repeat on another side, then remove from heat. Add all the food into the wrap and enjoy!
Spicy Sausage and Sweet Potato Hash
This paleo lunch idea is great for those who love spicy foods and want something hearty to keep them full throughout the day.
Ingredients:
- Spicy sausage of choice (x as many you want to make)
- Sweet potatoes, chopped up small (x250g)
- Coconut paleo-friendly oil (x as many you want to make)
- Seasoning of choice – salt recommended
Instructions:
Place chopped paleo sweet potatoes into a bowl full of paleo-friendly oil, then mix around until evenly coated. Add desired paleo seasonings and spread out on a baking sheet/pan with sides. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until soft and slightly browned around the edges. Meanwhile, begin cooking your sausage of choice until it’s cooked through and well-browned up on the outside. Once paleo sweet potatoes are finished baking, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding them into a pan or stovetop over medium heat along with paleo spicy sausages. Allow to cook for a few minutes, then use a spatula or large spoon to flatten out the mixture as much as possible across your cooking surface. Flip over once one side has browned up slightly – this should only take about two-three minutes total! Repeat on another side, then remove from heat and enjoy with paleo bread or paleo tortillas!
Grilled Salmon with Coconut Lime Sauce
This paleo lunch idea is perfect for those who love something fresh with a bit of added flavour.
Ingredients:
- Salmon fillets (x as many you want to make)
- Coconut paleo-friendly oil (x as many you want to make)
- Seasoning of choice – salt recommended
- Lime juice (x as many you want to make)
- Coconut paleo-friendly milk (x as much you desire – about half a cup is recommended)
Instructions:
Begin by marinating your salmon fillets in the desired amount of lime juice and salt. Place into the fridge until well chilled. Next, add paleo-friendly milk and desired amount of paleo coconut oil into a bowl or small saucepan over medium heat until warmed up slightly – this should only take about two minutes max! Once the mixture has been heated through, remove from heat and stir in your seasoning(s) of choice (we recommend salt!). Place salmon fillets into a pan or stovetop over medium heat and allow to cook for about five minutes. Once one side has browned up, flip fillets carefully using a spatula or large spoon – this should only take two-three minutes total! Repeat on the other side until paleo salmon is cooked through. Serve alongside your preferred paleo bread or paleo tortillas along with the paleo coconut lime sauce for dipping!
Tuna Melt with Roasted Veggies
This lunch idea is perfect for those who love tuna melts and want to try something paleo-friendly.
Ingredients:
- Tuna (x as much you desire)
- Roasted veggies of choice – we recommend broccoli, cauliflower or zucchini (x as many you want to make)
- Coconut paleo-friendly oil (x as much you desire)
- Seasoning of choice – salt recommended
- Lemon juice (optional)
Instructions:
Begin by marinating your paleo tuna in the desired amount of lemon juice and paleo seasonings. Place into the fridge until well chilled. Next, begin cooking your paleo roasted veggies until soft and slightly browned along the edges. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before setting up your paleo tuna melt by placing paleo-friendly oil into a pan or stovetop over medium heat, then adding in paleo marinated tuna once warmed through – this should only take about three minutes max! Once paleo tuna is warm and slightly browned, add paleo roasted veggies of choice evenly on top. Add desired paleo cheese onto the top (we recommend pepper jack). Allow cooking for two minutes or until melted down, then use a spatula or large spoon to flatten out the mixture across your cooking surface. Flip over once one side has browned up slightly – this should only take about two-three minutes total! Repeat on another side, then remove from heat and slice into paleo sandwich triangles. Serve with paleo bread or paleo tortillas!
Final Thoughts
You can’t go wrong with these easy, healthy Paleo lunch ideas. If you want more inspiration on what to pack for your next meal prep session, We hope that this list has helped get you started in planning out your week’s lunches and we look forward to hearing from all of our readers!
