17 Light Summer Lunch Ideas

Kachumber Gazpacho
Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Heat and humidity call for light summer meals with fresh vegetables, cold fruit, delicate dressings, and quick preparation. We've curated some of our favorite summer lunch ideas, including chilled soups, vibrant salads, tofu tacos, simple sandwiches, and fun flatbreads. Here's how to celebrate the season's produce and seafood with something satisfying any afternoon.

01 of 17

Strawberry Burrata Salad

Strawberry Burrata Salad

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

Creamy burrata is the centerpiece of this salad of strawberries marinated in a honey and balsamic vinaigrette and served over arugula and basil leaves.

02 of 17

Classic Club Sandwich

Classic Club Sandwich

Matt Taylor-Gross / Food Styling by Debbie Wee

It’s equal parts texture and flavor; crunch and salt and meatiness balanced by crisp lettuce and a lush tomato, all held together with a generous swipe of mayo. Few sandwiches hit the spot so completely and perfectly — and you can adjust the toppings to keep it as light as desired.

03 of 17

Barbecue Jackfruit Sandwiches with Cabbage Slaw

BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches
Photo by Jennifer Causey / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Thanks to a smoky, tangy, gently sweet sauce, these barbecue jackfruit sandwiches taste satisfyingly meaty (feel free to double the sauce to toss with smoked or braised pork shoulder as well).

04 of 17

Kachumber Gazpacho

Kachumber Gazpacho
Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Hetal Vasavada channeled her love for kachumber, a fresh, cucumber-based Indian salad, to inspire this exciting riff on the classic chilled summery soup. 

05 of 17

Citrus and Avocado Salad with Pickled Onions

Citrus and Avocado Salad with Pickled Red Onions
Sarah Crowder

Celebrate citrus with a bright salad of grapefruit and oranges plus pomegranate seeds for texture and avocado to cut through all the acid. Pickled red onions add one more hue to the refreshing dish.

06 of 17

Zucchini, Corn, and Shrimp Flatbread

Zucchini, Corn, and Shrimp Flatbread
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Thom Driver

Naan flatbreads get toasty on the grill, layered with mascarpone cheese, sweet shrimp, juicy corn, and tender ribbons of fresh zucchini.

07 of 17

Cold Cucumber Soup with Yogurt and Dill

Cold Cucumber Soup with Yogurt and Dill

Cara Cormack

This cool, refreshing cucumber soup from Andrew Zimmern gets tang and creaminess from Greek yogurt and big, summery flavor from lots of fresh herbs.

08 of 17

Cacio e Pepe Broccolini with Crispy White Beans and Burrata

Cacio e Pepe Broccolini with Crispy White Beans and Burrata
Victor Protasio

Hetty McKinnon captures the rich, elegant, simple flavors of the classic Italian pasta and rounds them out with bitter charred Broccolini and crispy, creamy, flash-fried white beans.

09 of 17

Grilled Summer Squash with Blue Cheese and Pecans

Grilled Summer Squash with Blue Cheese and Pecans
Eva Kolenko

For grilled squash with a uniformly crisp texture, chef Vivian Howard of Chef & the Farmer in North Carolina cuts her squash lengthwise into quarters and then removes the seedy interior. This gorgeous summer squash salad is tossed with a bright, lemony dressing.

10 of 17

Italian Tuna Salad

Roman-Style Tuna Salad

Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

This salad is full of flavors and textures. The crisp celery and quick pickled red onions, briny Castelvetrano olives, and vibrant sundried tomatoes accentuate the tuna.

11 of 17

Grilled Squash, Corn, and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette

Grilled Squash, Corn and Kale Salad with Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette
Adrian Gaut

The creamy sunflower seed dressing for this hearty summer salad is flavored with za'atar, the classic Middle Eastern spice mix that often includes thyme, oregano or marjoram, sesame seeds, tangy sumac, and often salt.

12 of 17

Fish Tacos with Tomatillo-Jalapeño Salsa

Fish Tacos with Tomatillo-Jalapeño Salsa

For her light and satisfying tacos, chef Deborah Schneider fills warm corn tortillas with meaty charred halibut and aguachiles, a brilliant, spicy, tart salsa.

13 of 17

Cold Saimin Salad with Soy-Ginger Grilled Pork

Cold Saimin Salad with Soy Ginger Grilled Pork
Victor Protasio

This Hawaiian-style cold ramen noodle salad recipe is topped with slices of savory, crispy pork shoulder, crunchy bean sprouts, tender ribbons of egg, shredded nori, and slices of Japanese pickled cucumber. A cooling dressing of dashi, rice wine vinegar, and sake brings it all together. It makes a refreshing lunch or a hearty side dish at a cookout.

14 of 17

Crunchy Tofu Tacos

Crunchy Tofu Tacos
© Con Poulos

Joe Kim playfully combines fried tofu and peanuts in this take on tacos.

15 of 17

Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad

Summer Bulgur and Green Bean Salad
© Maura McEvoy

This lovely side dish of light, fluffy bulgur studded with bits of toasted almonds and crisp green beans is a wonderful alternative to rice.

16 of 17

Crackly and Chewy Grilled Flatbreads with Herbed Cheese Spread and Tomatoes

Grilled Flatbreads
Victor Protasio

What turns a flatbread made with just four ingredients (flour, yeast, salt, and water) from everyday to extraordinary is the starter — a yeast, flour, and water base that ferments overnight and gives the bread its distinct flavor and chew. Here the starter gives the flatbreads a crackly texture that’s then burnished on the grill. Top and finish like a pizza with Herbed Cheese Spread and fresh tomatoes, or tear into pieces for dipping.

17 of 17

Lobster Bisque

Lobster Bisque
Victor Protasio

Lobster shells from the tail, claws, knuckles, and legs are full of flavor and, when very gently simmered in water, yield a clean-tasting, briny stock. Seasoned with mirepoix, sherry, and herbs, this classic bisque is thickened with fragrant jasmine rice. Serve it hot or cold for a knockout lunch or simple supper.

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