Easy French Lunch Ideas: 6 Simple Recipes for Everyday Lunches

The French know how to do lunch 

In France, lunch is more than just a meal squeezed between two meetings. The French are champions of the lunch break, taking time to sit down, enjoy good food and step away from their desks. With busy modern schedules, rather than heading to a restaurant for a plat du jour, many French people now bring a homemade lunch. However, that doesn’t involve hours in the kitchen! French cuisine is full of simple, practical dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and enjoyed at work or on the go. Here are some delicious lunch recipes to bring a little à la française style to your everyday routine. 

6 Easy French Lunch Ideas to Try 

French Potato Salad 

Light, fresh and tangy, this French Potato Salad is a simple everyday lunch made with tender French grenaille potatoes, Dijon mustard vinaigrette, French shallots, chives and cornichons. Unlike creamy potato salads, this classic French version is fresh and versatile, making it ideal for a packed lunch or picnic. 

Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Pistou 

For an easy vegetarian lunch, try this colourful Pasta Salad with Grilled Vegetables and Pistou, combining pasta with Mediterranean vegetables including French tomatoes and a fragrant basil pistou from Provence. It's a delicious French-inspired lunch recipe that can be prepared ahead and enjoyed cold or at room temperature.  

French Lentils Salad with Fourme d'Ambert 

Puy Green Lentils, Fourme d'Ambert blue cheese, French pears and crunchy greens come together in this satisfying French Lentils Salad. It's an easy, hearty lunch idea that brings plenty of classic French flavours to a simple salad, without relying on lettuce as the main ingredient. 

Lunch Bowl with French Goat’s Cheese 

Give the lunch bowl a French twist with this French-style recipe, featuring crispy, melting Rocamadour PDO goat cheese with quinoa, cherry tomatoes, lettuce and a poached egg. Finished with homemade savoury granola, it's a creative lunch idea that's particularly well suited to a lunch box. 

Quiche Lorraine 

Few dishes say French cuisine quite like the classic Quiche Lorraine. This classic French dish combines crisp pastry with eggs, crème fraîche and lardons, and is an excellent make-ahead option that can be served warm, at room temperature or cold – perfect for an easy everyday lunch. Quiche is also wonderfully versatile: with the same simple base, you can switch up the fillings with seasonal vegetables, different cheeses or leftover ingredients for a delicious twist on this French favourite. 

Baguette Sandwich with Bayonne Ham and Ossau-Iraty 

For a truly French packed lunch, keep things wonderfully simple with a crusty baguette filled with Jambon de Bayonne PGI and Ossau-Iraty PDO cheese. This classic combination makes an effortlessly delicious sandwich for any lunch on the go.  

Don't be afraid of classic French dishes! 

Easy French cooking doesn't have to mean sticking only to salads and sandwiches. Don't be scared to cook classic French dishes such as beef bourguignon, blanquette de veau or coq au vin – they can be much easier to prepare than you might (and can also be a great way to use leftover red wine). These comforting dishes are also perfect for batch cooking: make a generous pot, enjoy some for lunch and save the rest for another day or freeze it. In winter especially, a big casserole of slow-cooked French food is a wonderfully practical way to prepare several satisfying meals at once.  

Easy French Desserts to Finish Your Lunch 

And what would a French lunch be without a little something sweet? While preparing your very own café gourmand to take to the office might be a little ambitious, there are plenty of easy French desserts that can be prepared ahead of time. Try a classic mousse au chocolat, which can be prepared ahead and kept chilled, or a rustic French clafoutis with plums for a simple fruit-filled bake. Both are excellent examples of how French desserts can be elegant without being complicated – the perfect sweet ending to an everyday lunch inspired by French cuisine.