20 Easy 5-Minute Low Carb Lunch Ideas

Whether you’re having a hectic day and need something quick or just feeling a little lazy, these low carb lunch ideas will take all the stress out of lunchtime.

Included are both no-cook lunch ideas and ones that require a minimal amount of cooking, so they’ll still be ready fast.

These quick low carb lunches are perfect for when you’re short on time or need something easy to pack for work.

Meatballs

Ingredients

• Frozen meatballs*
• No sugar added tomato sauce or tomato paste
• Pre-shredded parmesan cheese
• Basil or oregeno

Quick Directions

• Follow the directions on the package for microwaving meatballs.
• When you have about 40 seconds left, open the microwave and add a couple of spoonfuls of tomato sauce and parmesan cheese on top of the meatballs.
• Finish it off with fresh or dried basil or oregano.

* Be sure to check the net carbs on the frozen meatballs. It can vary a bit, and some are higher in carbs than others.

Another option is topping the meatballs off with premade pesto.

Mini Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards don’t have to be a big spread; make a mini version for yourself.

Here are some ideas for low carb charcuterie items:

• Salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, or other cold cuts of your choice (Opt for no sugar or low sugar to keep it low carb.)
• Pre-sliced and pre-cubed cheese
• Olives
• Low carb nuts
• Berries
• Low carb pickled veggies
• Parmesan crisps and low carb crackers

How To Serve

If you’re eating this at home, you could spread everything out on a wooden serving board or plate.

But, if you’re taking this to go, pack them in food prep containers.

Premade Buffalo Wings With Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing

Most deli sections at the grocery store have premade buffalo wings. If you buy a big enough pack, you could have it for lunch the next day, too.

Serve them with ranch or blue cheese dressing and a side of celery. Yum!

Italian Sub Salad

Some Italian sub salad recipes have even more ingredients, but this one is simple to save time.

Ingredients

• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Pepperchinis (banana peppers pre-sliced rings in a jar)
• Romaine or lettuce leaves of your choice
• Cherry tomatoes (or cut regular tomatoes if you have time)
• Italian vinaigrette dressing or Italian dressing
• Cheese (See below about cheese choices)
• Italian seasoning (optional)

Directions

• Combine all ingredients and use quantities of your liking.
• Add dressing and toss.

Cheese Options

Cheese options that would be great in this salad include:

• Shredded provolone
• Shredded Italian cheese
• Mozerella pearls (mozzarella balls)
• Shredded mozzarella

To save time, buy pre-shredded cheese, or if you have more time, shred the cheese beforehand.

Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocados

This list is filled with quick lunch ideas you can throw together fast.

Also included are some premade lunch ideas from the grocery store that you can pick up in a pinch.

Ingredients

• Canned tuna
• Avocado
• Celery
• Mayo

Directions

• Cut your avocado in half, remove the pit and scoop out all the avocado into a bowl.
• Mash the avocado and mix it with a can of drained tuna, mayo, and celery.
• Stuff the avocado skin with the mixture you just made.
• If you have more time to prep, you can add chopped red onions, tomatoes, and herbs.

Easy Low-Carb Quesadilla

Ingredients

• Pre-shredded cheese
• Low carb tortilla
• Precut and cooked chicken or meat of choice (optional)

Toppings (Pick your favorites)

• Premade guacamole
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Jalapeños 

Directions

• Microwave quesadilla.
• Top with your favorite toppings.

Super Fast Cheeseburger

Ingredients

• Precooked frozen microwavable burger patties
• Cheese of your choice
• Romaine lettuce
• Ketchup (no sugar added)
• Mustard
• Mayo

Directions

• Follow the microwave directions on the package and add cheese for the last 30-60 seconds.
• Wrap in lettuce and add your favorite condiments.

Deconstructed Caprese Salad

Ingredients

• Cherry tomatoes
• Small mozzarella pearls (or mozzarella balls)
• Basil leaves
• Drizzle of olive oil
• Drizzle of balsamic vinegar

Directions

• Place the tomatoes and mozzarella balls on a plate.
• Add olive oil and balsamic vinegar to your taste.
• Add fresh basil.
• Mix everything together.

To make it even more filling, add some precooked chicken.

Low Carb Hot Dogs In a Lettuce “Bun”

Microwave a couple of hot dogs and serve them in a piece of romaine lettuce instead of a carb-filled bun.

Top hot dogs with your favorite low carb hot dog toppings.

Low Carb Hot Dog Toppings

• No sugar added ketchup
• Mayonaise
• Mustard (Honey mustard is higher in carbs.)
• Sauerkraut
• Relish (Sweet relish is higher in carbs.)

Egg Salad

Pick up some premade egg salad in the grocery store’s deli section for an easy low carb lunch idea on the go.

Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Cucumber Bites

Ingredients

• Smoked Salmon
• Cream Cheese
• Cucumber Slices

Quick Directions

• Spread cream cheese on cucumber slices.
• Top off with some tasty smoked salmon.

Make enough of these or pair them with something else to keep you satisfied and full.

Sausage & Eggs

Eggs and sausage don’t have to be for breakfast only, it’s an amazing high protein lunch too.

Ingredients

• Precooked sausage
• Eggs
• Spinach (optional)
• Seasoning (Black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Everything Bagel Seasoning, etc.)

Directions

• Heat the precooked sausage in the microwave or on the skillet.
• Cook eggs in the skillet.
• You can add some spinach to the skillet as well. Spinach cooks very fast and is a great way to get some healthy greens in your diet.
• Season the eggs to taste.

Rotisserie Chicken

Most grocery stores carry rotisserie chicken in the deli section. If you shop at Costco, they’re only $5, which is incredibly cheap.

To make it more filling, eat it with a side salad or veggies.

Low Carb Fajita Steak Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• Packaged fajita seasoned steak or chicken (already cooked)
• Precut red bell peppers and onions (or prep ahead of time)
• Premade guacamole
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Lettuce

Directions

Combine all your ingredients.

If you don’t want to buy precooked packaged fajita steak, you can always prep it ahead of time.

You may notice the fajita veggies aren’t cooked; this is to save time.

Canned Soup

Another excellent low carb lunch option is canned soup. Just read labels to make sure they’re low carb.

Stay away from soups containing rice or noodles.

Below are some soups that are typically low-carb:

• Bone broth
• Beef and cabbage
• Vegetable and roasted chicken soup

Some soups are more filling than others. You can always have something on the side with the soup.

Pork Rind Microwave Nachos

On a low-carb diet, pork rinds are a great alternative to tortilla chips and are delicious with nacho cheese.

Ingredients

• Pork Rinds
• Nacho cheese or shredded cheese

Toppings (Pick some of your favorites.)

• Sour cream
• Premade guacamole
• Jalapeños 
• Precooked chicken or meat of your choice
• Olives
• Salsa

Directions

• Spread a couple of handfuls of pork rinds onto a plate
• Add your desired amount of nacho cheese or shredded cheese
• Microwave for about a minute. Check if the shredded cheese is melted, and make sure the nacho cheese is warm enough.
• Microwave another 15-30 seconds if needed.
• Top with your favorite nacho toppings.

Make sure you don’t microwave them too long because the pork rinds will get soggy.

Tuna & Celery

Combine a can of drained tuna and mayo in a bowl.

Serve in celery, or you can chop up the celery and eat everything out of the bowl.

Hard Boiled Eggs

Either boil a big batch of eggs ahead of time to save time or buy them already hard boiled at the grocery store.

Pair other items with hard boiled eggs to make a complete meal.

Here are some ideas:

• Low carb nuts
• Jerky or beef sticks
• Cheese slices
• Berries
• Low carb crackers

Taco Salad

While you need to prep the taco meat ahead of time, an entire batch can be used for multiple lunches.

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Taco seasoning packet
• Premade guacamole pack
• Sour cream
• Shredded Mexican blend cheese
• Salsa
• Lettuce
• Jalapeños 

Quick Directions

• Cook the ground beef (you can also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork) and follow the cooking directions on the taco seasoning packet.
• Combine all ingredients.

Keep all your ingredients separate until you assemble your salad each day. Throwing together all the ingredients should only take about five minutes.

More Premade Grocery Store Lunch Ideas

Some of the lunches on this list have been premade things you can pick up at the grocery store. Below are a couple more premade lunch ideas.

Premade Cesear Salad Bowl (Omit Croutons)

Caesar salad is typically low carb if you leave out the croutons. Just be sure to double check the nutritional info.

Meat & Cheese Snack Packs

Single-serve packs of meat, cheese, and sometimes nuts are usually located in the lunch meat section.

Bonus Idea: Leftover Low Carb Casseroles

While casseroles take longer to make, you can cook one for dinner and have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Make one of these 40 low carb casserole recipes for lunch prep for the week.

The low carb pizza casserole will become your new favorite lunch to pack for work.