10 Quick Holiday Lunch Ideas

Last Updated on December 13, 2022 by Amanda P. Brown

The holiday is a very important day when people get a break from bustling life and unwind themselves from the tedious and monotonous life. So, there are many ideas to remove monotony, bustle, and tedious life. Holiday lunch ideas are one of the best ways to make your holiday enjoyable and interesting. When you celebrate your holiday lunch with your family and friends, you will easily get rid of monotony and boringness. 

With our following holiday lunch ideas, you will be able to spend your holiday full of satisfaction and enjoyment as well. 

Holiday Lunch Ideas

So, here 10- best easy recipes to cook on holiday are given below:

1. Spicy Seafood Stew With Tomatoes and Lime
2. Tom Yum (Hot and Sour) Soup With Prawns
3. Salmon, Squash, and Prawn Laksa
4. Spanish Seafood Rice
5. Sushi Rice Bowl With Beef, Egg, and Chili Sauce
6. Thai Red Curry
7. Griddled Chicken With Quinoa Greek Salad
8. Pork Meatballs in Hoisin Broth
9. Whitefish With Spicy Beans and Chorizo
10. 10-minute Couscous Salad

1. Spicy Seafood Stew With Tomatoes & Lime

This food item is very delicious and warming. It is a very easy recipe to cook on holiday. 

Ingredients

• 700ml Chicken Stock
• 500g Boiled and Halved Small New Potato
• 1-Chopped Avocado
• 2-Dried Guajillo Chillies or Ancho
• 1-Tsp Ground Cumin
• 1-Tbsp Olive Oil
• Baked and Sliced Corn Tortillas
• 2-limes (Juice)
• 1-large Chopped Onion
• 300g Clam
• Small Red Onion, Finely Diced
• 250g Chopped Tomato
• Lime Wedges
• 1-Tsp Smoked Hot Paprika (Pimentón) or 1 Tsp Chipotle Paste
• 300g Other Firm White Fish Fillets or Halibut, Cut Into 2.5cm Pieces
• A Handful of Coriander Leaves
• 4-Chopped Garlic Cloves
• 200g Large Peeled Raw Prawn

Instructions

1. Toast chilies in a hot pan. Then stem and deseed chilies and soak for 15 minutes in boiling water.
2. Heat some olive oil over medium heat in a large pan and add garlic and onion and cook a few minutes. Then add the stock, reconstituted chilies, tomatoes, chipotle paste, and cumin and fry for 5 minutes. Then grind in the blender and pour it into a pan and boil for 10 minutes in low heat.
3. After that, add fish fillets, potatoes, prawns, and clams and cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Finally, add red onion, lime juice, avocado, tortilla chips, lime wedges, and coriander and serve. 

Nutrition ( Per Serving)

• Protein 44g
• Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 1g)
• Sugars 7g
• Salt 1.1g
• Carbs 28g
• Fiber 4g, and
• 347 Kcal

2. Tom Yum (Hot & Sour) Soup With Prawns

It is the best item for holiday lunch. Its taste is really good and easy to cook.

Ingredients

• 700ml Chicken Stock
• 6-Chopped Small Green Chilies
• Lemongrass Stalk
• Torn Lime Leaves
• 1-Tbsp Lime Juice
• Thick Slices Galangal
• 6-large Shelled Prawns
• 3- Coriander Roots or 6 -stems
• 3-Tbsp Thai Fish Sauce

Instructions

1. Firstly, boil stock in a medium-sized pan. Then add galangal, lime leaves, lemongrass, and coriander and simmer for 2 minutes.
2. After that, add chilies, prawns, lime juice, and fish sauce and again boil. Finally, add coriander leaves for garnish and serve. 

Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Protein 17g
• Sugar 1g
• Fat 1g (Saturated Fat 0g)
• Salt 5.8g
• Carbs 5g
• Fiber 2g and
• 90 Kcal

3. Salmon, Squash & Prawn Laksa

It is very delicious and having gorgeous flavors. It is also very simple and easy to make.

Ingredients

• 185g Jar Laksa Paste
• 200g Tail-on Prawn
• 600ml Chicken Stock
• Lime Wedges
• 300g Pack Beansprout
• Coriander Leaves
• Small Butternut Squash
• Sliced Spring Onions
• 400g Coconut Milk
• 400g Skinless Salmon Fillet
• 140g Medium Soaked and Drained Rice Noodle

Instructions

1. Heat the laksa paste in a large pan and fry the squash for 2 minutes. Then pour in the stock and coconut milk and cook for 10 minutes. After that, add beansprouts and drained noodles.
2. Then turn off the heat and put it in a container for freezing. I eat this food now, then add prawns and salmon and cook for about 4-5 minutes. 
3. After defrosting in the fridge, then again put to a large pan and add prawns and salmon and cover and boil for 1-2 minutes. Finally, add spring onions, lime wedges, and coriander leaves for garnish and serve.

Nutrition ( Per Serving)

• Protein 29g
• Fat 23g (Saturated Fat 11g)
• Sugar 9g
• Salt 1.18g
• Carbs 34g
• Fiber 3g and
• 445 Kcal

4. Spanish Seafood Rice

Spanish seafood rice is super healthy food. It is very suitable for holiday lunch and of course easy to cook.

Ingredients

• 250g Paella Rice
• 1-Tbsp Olive Oil
• ½ Small Lemon (Juice)
• 850ml Hot Vegetable Stock
• Finely Chopped Onion
• Roughly Chopped Small Handful Flat-leaf Parsley
• Sliced and Deseeded 1- Yellow and 1- Red Pepper
• 400g Seafood Mix
• 2-Sliced Garlic Cloves
• Pinch Saffron

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pan and add onion, garlic, and pepper and cook for 6-7 minutes. Then again, add paella rice and cook for a minute. Then pour in the stock and add saffron. 
2. And boil. Cook for 20 minutes until the rice is tender. 
3. Finally, add lemon juice and seafood and cook for about 2 minutes. Now it is ready to serve.

Nutrition( Per Serving)

• Protein 23g
• Sugar 6g
• Fat 7g (Saturated Fat 1g)
• Salt 1.05g
• Carbs 58g
• Fiber 7g, and
• 369 Kcal

5. Sushi Rice Bowl With Beef, Egg & Chili Sauce

This food is very delicious and sticky. This tasty food is very easy to make.

Ingredients

• 2-Tbsp Sesame Oil
• 140g Sushi Rice
• Sugar
• 2-Tbsp Spicy and Sweet Chili Sauce
• 250g Thinly Sliced Rump Steak
• 2-eggs
• 1-Chopped Garlic Clove
• 1-large Courgette
• 1-Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 1-Large Carrot

Instructions

1. Firstly, boil sushi rice with plenty of water for about 8-10 minutes in a large frying pan and set aside. 
2. Then mix the steak with soy sauce, a grind of black pepper, sugar, and garlic. After that, fry eggs and set them aside+. On the other hand, brown the beef for about 1-2 minutes in another frying pan. Put vegetables in the frying pan and fry for a minute. Then, add rice and cook for a few minutes.
3. Last of all, divide the rice between beef and veg 2- bowls. Then slide the eggs and sprinkle with chili sauce. One can toss everything all together so that the yolk can mix with the sauce and hot rice.

Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Protein 41g
• Sugar 8g
• Fat 23g (Saturated Fat 5g)
• Salt 3.2g
• Carbs 63g
• Fiber 2g, and
• 621 Kcal

6. Thai Red Curry

Thai red curry is a very fantastic recipe. It is very simple and easy to cook within 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 800ml Coconut Milk
• 1-Tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1-Tsp Brown Sugar
• 1 -sliced Red Chili ( Diagonally)
• 1-Tbsp Garlic Paste and Ginger
• 2-Tbsp Fish Sauce
• Cooked Jasmine Rice
• 5-6 Tbsp Red Curry Paste
• Ginger, Thumb-sized
• 8-Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
• Coriander or Basil
• Kaffir Lime Leaves
• ½ Small Pack Thai Basil

Instructions

1. Heat vegetable oil over medium heat in a large frying pan. Then add garlic paste, ginger, and red curry paste and fry for 2 minutes. After that, pour coconut oil and boil until the oil rise to the surface. 
2. Add 8- boneless, skinless chicken things and kaffir lime leaves and cook for about 12 minutes. Again, add brown sugar and fish sauce and boil. Then turn off the heat and add Thai basil.
3. Finally, add red chili, basil leaves, and ginger and serve with jasmine rice.

Nutrition ( Per Serving)

• Protein 27g
• Sugar 4g
• Fat 32g (Saturated Fat 17g)
• Salt 2.4g
• Carbs 8g
• Fiber 2g, and
• 425 Kcal

7. Griddled Chicken With Quinoa Greek Salad

It is the best holiday for lunch ideas. This recipe is very tasty and very easy to cook within 20 minutes.

Ingredients

• 400g Mini Fillets Chicken
• 1 -sliced Red Onion
• Crushed Garlic Clove
• 225g Quinoa
• Zest and Juice ½ Lemon
• Handful Pitted Black Kalamata Olive
• Chopped Mint Leaves
• 1 -chopped and Deseeded Red Chili
• 100g Crumbled Feta Cheese
• 1½ Tbsp Extra-virgin Olive Oil
• 25g Butter
• 300g Chopped Vine Tomato

Instructions

1. Cook the quinoa and rinse in cold water. Then mix garlic, chili, and butter into a paste. After that, toss the chicken fillets in olive oil, put in a hot griddle pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes. Next, put to a plate and sprinkle the spicy butter.
2. Then, tip onion, tomatoes, mint, olives, and feta into a bowl and add cooked quinoa. Lemon juice and zest and the remaining olive oil also be added. Finally, serve with a sprinkle with buttery chicken juices and chicken fillets on top.

Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Protein 37g
• Sugar 8g
• Fat 20g (Saturated Fat 8g)
• Salt 1.4g
• Carbs 35g
• Fiber 2g, and
• 473 Kcal

8. Pork Meatballs in Hoisin Broth

This item is very tasty and flavorful with low calories. It is also very easy to make.

Ingredients

• 500ml Chicken Stock
• 500g Pack Lean Pork Mince
• Bunch Spring Onions
• 3-Tbsp Hoisin Sauce
• 2-Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 300g Pack Beansprout
• 2 -tbsp Cornflour
• 8 Chinese Leaves, Leaves Shredded, Thick Part Sliced
• 1-Tsp Chinese Five-spice Powder
• Shredded, Thumb-sized Piece Ginger
• 225g Can Water Chestnut, Half Sliced, Half Finely Chopped, Drained
• 12. 2 -large Carrots

Instructions

1. Mix the mince with black paper, soy sauce, five-spice, chopped water chestnuts, and cornflour into a bowl and shape into meatballs.
2. Then, pour the stock into a deep, wide frying pan and stir in the ginger and hoisin. After that, add meatballs and cook for 5 minutes. Again, add Chinese leaves, sliced chestnuts, beansprouts, carrots, and spring onions, and cover and cook for 5 minutes. Finally, transfer into bowls and sprinkle spring onion and serve.

Nutrition ( Per Serving)

• Protein 32g
• Sugar 11g
• Fat 14g (Saturated Fat 5g)
• Salt 2.5g
• Carbs 29g
• Fiber 4g, and
• 366 Kcal

9. Whitefish With Spicy Beans and Chorizo

This recipe is very delicious and quick. Easy to cook within 15 minutes.

Ingredients

• 1-Chopped Onion
• Pinch Sugar
• 25g Chopped Chorizo or Another Spicy Sausage
• 4- Skinless Chunky Fillets Cod or Haddock
• 200g/7oz Shredded Green Cabbage
• Fat Crushed Garlic Cloves
• Chopped Small Rosemary Sprig Leaves
• 410g Cannellini Bean in Water
• 1-Tbsp Olive Oil
• 700g/1lb 9oz Bottle Passata

Instructions

1. Firstly, heat the oil and add onion in a large pan for 5 minutes. Then add garlic, chorizo, and rosemary and fry for a few minutes. Then, tip in the cabbage, passata, sugar, and beans and cook for 5 minutes again. 
2. After that, add fish and sprinkle sauce, then cover and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Finally, serve with crusty bread.

Nutrition ( Per Serving)

• Protein 36g
• Sugar 11g
• Fat 6g (Saturated Fat 1g)
• Salt 1.23g
• Carbs 27g
• Fiber 0g, and
• 304 Kcal

10. 10-minute Couscous Salad

It is a very quick holiday meal to make. It is very tasty.

Ingredients

• ½ Cucumber
• 2-Tbsp Pine Nuts
• 1-Red Pepper
• 200ml Hot Low Salt Vegetable Stock
• 2-Tbsp Pesto
• 2 -spring Onions
• 50g Cubed Feta Cheese
• 100g Couscous

Instructions

1. Put the couscous into a bowl and pour it into the stock. Then cover and wait for 10 minutes to fluffy and absorbed all the stock.
2. After that, add cucumber, pepper, and onion to the couscous, crumble in the feat, fork through the pesto, and finally drizzle pine nuts and serve.

Nutrition

• Protein 13g
• Sugar 7g
• Fat 17g (Saturated Fat 5g)
• Salt 0.88g
• Carbs 33g
• Fiber 2g, and
• 327 Kcal

FAQs

Should Holiday Lunch Be Healthy?

Of course, a holiday lunch should be healthy. Different types of food items are selected for holiday lunch. Every item has its nutritious value. You should consider every food element, such as as- proteins, vitamins, fat, fiber, carbs, etc., to choose your holiday lunch. 

Should Holiday Lunch Needs to Be More Expensive?

Actually, it depends on one’s preference and choice. Many holiday lunch items are not as expensive but having a good nutritious value. You can get different tasty and healthy holiday lunch items at reasonable prices as well.

Final Verdict

Holiday lunch ideas are always entertaining and enjoyable. Here, we have discussed many holiday lunch ideas, which are very tasty, delicious, and simple. You can make these items very quickly as well.