20 Cozy Fall Lunch Ideas
These lunch ideas are basically as cozy as your favorite sweater.
If there's anything we take seriously, it's lunchtime. A nice packed lunch can be the ultimate day-maker while you're working, or a time to bond with the fam on the weekend. And these fall lunch ideas are the coziest of the bunch. Sure, dinner and breakfast often get all the good PR, but these 20 ultra-comforting fall lunch recipes (which features all the greats like chili and reuben squares) will more than prove that it's the most important meal of the day.
Fall is, in our opinion, the ultimate soup season. But with soup, you must also have a sandwich; it's basically the law of lunch! And who are we to go against that? Luckily, we've got plenty of ideas on how to create the best soup and sandwich combos right at home. As it turns out, you don't even need to stop at Panera Bread to get the best You-Pick-Two duo when you try out some of our copycat Panera Bread recipes. Try our copycat Panera Frontega chicken panini with a side of our curried butternut squash soup next time you feel like ordering delivery. You'll be so glad you did! If you, like us, also experience that yearly pumpkin-mania, try our pumpkin tomato soup with grilled Swiss cheese dipping sticks for the ultimate soup dip experience.
With fall comes some of our favorite produce as well, like apples, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash. Don't let the season pass you by without bringing all that bounty to lunch time, especially with these recipes for butternut squash curry, cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles, and cranberry apple quinoa salad.
Classic Chili
If you’re looking for a hearty, comfort food meal to eat during a long fall workday, this is the recipe for you. While many chili recipes call for simmering for at least an hour (sometimes even more), our best-ever beef chili can be made in just 40 minutes (!!).
Get the Classic Chili recipe.
Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad
We don’t believe in boring salads at Delish, and crunchy apples and tart cranberries bring a lot of life to this one. The slightly sweet and lemony dressing is easy to make, so do yourself a favor and make extra to pour over everything.
Get the Cranberry Apple Quinoa Salad recipe.
Italian Sub Squares
Like our sheet-pan Italian subs, these are full of your favorite sandwich fillings, this time layered between sweet, golden sheets of crescent roll dough. These savory squares are the perfect app to feed a hungry crowd, to serve for an on-the-go dinner, or eat as a midday snack.
Get the Italian Sub Squares recipe.
Baked Feta Soup
Though we can basically never say no to pasta, on a cold, fall day, we often start craving tomato soup, and this easy-to-make, creamy soup is the answer to our prayers. Simply prepare the sauce as you usually would for baked feta pasta (with a bit less feta), add some chicken broth, blend, and get ready for creamy tomato soup without the cream.
Get the Baked Feta Soup recipe.
Turkey Salad
Making turkey salad is just as quick and easy as making chicken salad or egg salad. And just like all those other salads, you can always add your favorite mix-ins to make this fit your taste. P.S.: You can use turkey breast instead of leftover turkey in this recipe!
Get the Turkey Salad recipe.
Grandma Pizza
Grandma pizza has a thin, crispy crust topped first with cheese, then dolloped with a garlicky tomato sauce. It's not the usual way of assembling pizza, but the cheese melting right into the crust really makes some magic happen.
Get the Grandma Pizza recipe.
Reuben Squares
Is your ideal sandwich a perfect Reuben? Ours too. Corned beef, Russian dressing, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese—what’s not to love? It’s why we made these melty Reuben squares: They’re kind of like the giant grilled cheese version (complete with a toasty buttery top) that’s perfect for sharing.
Get the Reuben Squares recipe.
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Soup season is our favorite time of year and this one is always first on our list to make. It's a vegan soup but you would never guess, because it's satisfying enough to be the main course (or for dipping a BLT).
Get the Curried Butternut Squash Soup recipe.
Panera Thai Chicken Salad
If you were shocked and dismayed when Panera Bread discontinued their Thai Chicken Salad, today’s your lucky day. Featuring chicken breast, blistered vegetables, and that iconic peanut sauce drizzle, our copycat version of this beloved Panera classic allows you to enjoy it at home any time you like.
Get the Panera Thai Chicken Salad recipe.
Chicken Caesar Wraps
A chicken Caesar salad is a timeless classic, only made better (and more portable!) in a wrap. Our best tips for greatness: Make your own croutons, but use store-bought Caesar dressing.
Get the Chicken Caesar Wraps recipe.
Pumpkin Tomato Soup With Grilled Swiss Cheese Sticks
While we love classic tomato soup, we sometimes want to shake things up a bit when fall comes around. This soup gets an extra creamy dose, not only thanks to sweet pumpkin puree, but with heavy cream and sharp Parmesan.
Get the Pumpkin Tomato Soup With Grilled Swiss Cheese Sticks recipe.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad
The roasted cauliflower here is perfectly spiced with just a little bit of heat, and the creamy avocado dressing helps balance everything out. This salad good enough to be a main dish but is easy enough to make a great, simple side too.
Get the Roasted Cauliflower Salad recipe.
Pumpkin Curry
Earthy, sweet pumpkin is the perfect base for a spicy, Thai-inspired coconut milk curry. We begin by roasting the pumpkin to provide some caramelization and nuttiness that adds a lot to the final dish. Then we take some of the roast pumpkin and actually blend it into the curry sauce, which adds another layer of pumpkin flavor. 😋
Get the Pumpkin Curry recipe.
Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles
Looking to convert a spiralized veggie skeptic? Make them these cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles. Tossed in buttery black pepper sauce and showered with Parmesan and Pecorino, these sweet potato noodles are so delicious that no one will even think about asking for “regular” pasta.
Copycat Panera Frontega Chicken Panini
We love a hot panini of any kind, but this homemade version of our favorite Panera Bread panini is extra-special. Smoky shredded chicken, melty mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes are pressed between focaccia—it's lunchtime heaven.
Pear Salad
This simple yet satisfying cold weather salad packs a flavorful punch with slightly smoky seared pears, creamy blue cheese, and ultra-crunchy candied pumpkin seeds. Tied together by a sweet-sour honey vinaigrette, it’s the perfect holiday side (or add some protein to make it a main!).
Get the Pear Salad recipe.
Thanksgiving Crunchwrap
Tired of the same ol' leftover Thanksgiving sandwich? This crunchwrap is the perfect way to shake things up. Don't have all the leftover ingredients? No worries! Just use what you've got. Everything short of pumpkin pie will work just fine. 😎
Get the Thanksgiving Crunchwrap recipe.
Steak Grain Bowl
A double-purpose chimichurri acts as a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for these bowls; the not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint—plus, its versatility means it can go on anything and everything (read: make extra, and put it on everything).
Get the Steak Grain Bowl recipe.
Cabbage Wrapped Brats
Though we’re all for a good sandwich or flatbread, oftentimes it’s actually just the tasty fillings we’re after. These simple (but delicious) cabbage-wrapped beer brats are proof.
Get the Cabbage Wrapped Brats recipe.
Butternut Squash Curry
This variation of curry is a one-pot meal fulfilling the carb, vegetable, and dairy-like needs you crave. Butternut squash is toothsome and savory, kale is earthy and green, and coconut milk wraps everything together in a creamy sauce.
Get the Butternut Squash Curry recipe.
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