19 30-Minute High-Protein Lunches for Heart Health

Thirty minutes is all you’ll need for this delicious lunch! They’re all high in protein, with at least 15 grams each. Packed with nutritious ingredients like legumes, vegetables and whole grains, they’re a healthy choice. except for those who want to support their heart health while watching their sodium and saturated fat intake. With options like Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Sweet Dressing and Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas, there’s no shortage of lunch inspiration to help you reach your health goals.

Green goddess salad with chickpeas

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese, and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made with avocado, buttermilk, and herbs. The extra dressing is great to use with roasted vegetables.

Lemon Shrimp and Orzo Salad

Consider making two batches of this easy pasta salad—it’s delicious the next day. The orzo will absorb the dressing as it sits, so add a little olive oil and lemon juice if you like.

Beef & Bean Sloppy Joes

This healthy copycat recipe swaps out the beans for some meat, minus 7 grams of fiber. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe to save you 12 grams. of added sugar.

Southwest Black-Bean Pasta Salad Bowls

In this Southwestern pasta salad, we use black bean pasta to bump up the fiber to an impressive 14 grams per serving, paired with seasoned chicken and sweet corn salad.

Superfood Chopped Salad with Salmon & Creamy Garlic Dressing

This healthy copycat recipe swaps out the beans for some meat, minus 7 grams of fiber. We also cut back on the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe makeover to save you 12 grams. of added sugar.

Spicy Slaw Bowls with Shrimp & Edamame

A quick 10-minute Spicy Cabbage Slaw serves as the low-carb base for this veggie-packed lunch. Topped with protein-rich edamame and shrimp, this satisfying lunch will get you through the afternoon.

Kale & Chickpea Cereal Bowls

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This veggie-heavy bowl is bursting with color and texture, thanks to crispy carrots and chickpeas, fresh kale and a delicious avocado dressing. It also provides more than 50% of your daily dose of fiber, the key to weight loss, energy and healthy digestion.

Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu and Peanut Dressing

Prepare a protein-rich lunch using just four ingredients from your grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad dressing as a base. Because this salad dressing is delicious, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors of this healthy salad to marry.

Vegan Superfood Cereal Bowls

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey


This nutrient-dense whole grain recipe comes together in 15 minutes with the help of a few simple food shortcuts like baby kale, microwavable quinoa and pre-cooked beets. Make these ahead of time to keep on hand for an easy lunch or dinner on a busy night.

Strawberry-Balsamic Arugula Salad

This fruity green salad with chicken offers an explosion of flavors in each bite. The flavors of sweet strawberries, peppery arugula and tangy feta cheese are enhanced by a strong balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Chimichurri Noodle Bowls

We combine whole-grain spaghetti with zucchini noodles to add volume and save calories in these easy, flavor-packed bowls that are prepared with a light sauce and herby chimichurri. Leftover chicken, tofu or canned beans can be substituted for the shrimp.

Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken

This healthy cooked salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked meat. You can save half a hard-boiled egg for a snack.

Tofu & Snow Pea Cost-Fry with Peanut Sauce

A quick dinner recipe perfect for busy weeknights, this easy recipe will become a favorite in no time. To save time, use pre-cooked rice or cook the rice the next day.

Chickpeas and Crispy Roasted Pepper Lettuce with Tahini Dressing

A delicious tahini dressing combines no-cook ingredients like canned peas and roasted red peppers for these easy lettuce wraps. Make these wraps ahead of time for lunch or dinner. A few warm pita wedges complete the meal perfectly.

Spinach and Egg Scramble with Raspberries

Jane Causey

Cover Veggies with Cilantro Hummus

These healthy multi-grain wraps are filled with mixed greens, diced cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion, along with feta cheese and homemade cilantro hummus. As a time saver, hummus can be prepared up to 3 days ahead, and refrigerated until you’re ready to make the wraps.

Red Beans and Rice with Chicken

High-fiber red beans, whole-grain brown rice, and skillet-cooked chicken breast are ready in just 20 minutes.

Food-Prep Curried Chicken Bowls

Curry doesn’t have to take hours to prepare. With the help of our paper-pan chicken (see related recipe) and cooked grains, you can make these meal prep bowls in minutes! Keep them in the fridge for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight or for healthy lunches throughout the week.

#30Minute #HighProtein #Lunches #Heart #Health

Health Editorial Team: Our content is created, researched, and medically reviewed by writers with experience in health communication, nutrition education, and safety awareness. Articles are based on peer-reviewed medical sources including the CDC, NIH, Mayo Clinic,AfroLongevity and WHO guidelines. Our goal is to translate complex medical information into clear, practical advice readers can safely apply in everyday life. This website does not replace professional medical consultation. Readers are encouraged to consult qualified healthcare professionals for diagnosis and treatment.

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