During the week, I find it trickier to stick to my diet during lunch than dinner. I’m working with limited time and fielding the delicate dance of finding a meal that’s hearty enough to keep me full for hours without being too heavy and putting me into a food coma. These six-point Weight Watchers meals take less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish and give you a world-class, homemade lunch that will keep you from crashing at 3 p.m.
1. Chicken Parmesan Croissant Bread Loaf
This meal is comfort food defined, with flaky crescent rolls, juicy chicken, and several different types of cheese. It’s gooey goodness and only five points per serving, so you can snack guiltlessly while still getting your cheese fix. Plus, you probably have everything you need to make it in your pantry. It’s just Pillsbury crescent rolls, shredded chicken, Parmesan cheese, reduced-fat pasta sauce and shredded mozzarella, and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning to tie it all together.
2. Weight Watchers Ground Beef Taco Soup
This four-point soup is ideal if you’re craving Mexican food and perfect on a cooler day when you want something that will stick to your ribs and give you the energy to face the afternoon. Ground beef provides plenty of flavor and mixes perfectly with crushed tomatoes, fiber-rich black beans, corn, garlic, and a sprinkle of paprika and taco seasoning. I like to crown my soup with a dollop of fat-free sour cream and a sprinkle of green onions, but it’s perfectly good without any garnish.
3. Chinese Chicken Salad
This ultra-flavorful salad takes just half an hour to prepare and is loaded with smart proteins, plenty of nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits, and a tasty homemade dressing that comes together in a snap. It also only has four Weight Watchers points. It’s also an excellent way to use leftover cooked chicken breast. I like to use Chinese and purple cabbage for visual contrast, spiralized carrots, chopped lettuce, and very thinly sliced scallions for the vegetable base, but you can use whatever you have in the crisper. Juicy, sweet tangerine and a soy sauce, sesame, and ginger dressing amp up the flavor and make this one of my go-to salads.
4. Salmon Skewers
These salmon skewers are loaded with good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids and will set you back zero points, making them a smart lunch choice. Thread a skewer with cubes of fresh salmon, red bell pepper, zucchini, red onion, and tangy lime. The dressing is super simple and bright, too: a sprinkle of taco seasoning, oregano, lime juice, and a bit of olive oil. I like to put together a quick yogurt tartar sauce with plain Greek yogurt, a few pickles, dill, and lemon juice.
5. Air Fryer Falafel
Homemade falafel is easier than you think, as this zero-point recipe proves. Plus, you can get an addictive, crisp exterior and creamy interior without excess oil, thanks to the magic of your air fryer. For the falafel patties, you’ll need chickpeas, garlic, onion, dried spices, lime juice, and olive oil. I also like to include some fresh parsley for brightness and a touch of freshness. Chickpeas are super high in plant protein and very good for you, so these crunchy patties are as healthy as they are scrumptious.
6. Mexican Three-Bean Salad
If you have fifteen minutes, you can make this two-point salad packed with heart-healthy beans and full of complex flavor, which only gets better the longer it sits. Use canned beans and corn to cut back on time, but be sure to drain and rinse them. Fresh vegetables include bell peppers, red onion, and jalapeno. I like to use a mixture of different colored bell peppers because it makes the presentation pop, but you can use whatever you have on hand. Toss everything in a simple marinade, and you’re ready to feast.
7. Pizza Muffins
These muffins are just two Weight Watchers points per serving, making them an excellent way to treat yourself on those days when nothing but cheesy, meaty pizza flavors will get you through the afternoon. Using two different types of cheese—mozzarella and Parmesan—center-cut bacon and pepperoni, and traditional pizza seasoning, these muffins are the perfect portion to target your cravings and leave you satisfied but never guilty.
8. Maroulosalata Greek Salad
This Greek salad is an ultra-clean celebration of vegetables, rich ricotta cheese, and a few choice seasonings. I love it as is, but you can also add fresh vegetables for a multi-layered, nutritionally dense powerhouse for lunch. The freshest ingredients, like butterhead and romaine lettuce, fennel, and emerald-green chives, are the key to making this salad shine. You can also mix a touch of lemon zest into the ricotta cheese for even more brightness and taste contrast.
9. Cauliflower Nachos
These twenty-minute meat-free, vegan nachos come with a sneaky serving of nutritious vegetables and are just four Weight Watchers points per serving. Cauliflower florets stand in for chips in this recipe, and when dusted with Mexican seasoning, you might prefer them to the original. I use kidney beans for a dose of fiber, top mine with plenty of fiery chili peppers, and make a super satisfying “cheese” with nutritional yeast and sunflower seeds. Whether you’re vegan or not, you’re bound to find these nachos utterly satisfying.
10. Parmesan Bacon Ranch Potato Salad
Make this thirty-minute three-point recipe when you’re craving something comforting and cheesy that only tastes that it will torpedo your diet. This dish hits on all the high points: delicious potatoes piled high with center-cut bacon, Parmesan cheese, and a rich, creamy dressing of reduced-calorie mayo, ranch dressing, onion powder, and Dijon mustard.
11. Chicken Tortilla Soup
With just one Weight Watcher point per serving and twenty minutes from start to finish, this soup is the best meal to make when you’re short on time and want something nutritious, delicious, and super simple. Thanks to the garlic and tomatoes, it’s packed with robust antioxidants and has healthy proteins from the black beans and chicken. I like to top it with some chopped cilantro because I love it, but if you’re on the other side of this polarizing herb, leave it out.
12. Simple and Quick Blackened Chicken
This dish is incredibly versatile, has two Weight Watchers points, and comes together in a flash. Pair your chicken with a gently dressed salad or some sauteed vegetables for a full meal. What I adore most about this dish is that it elevates the humble chicken breast with easy but effective spices, like paprika and cayenne pepper for a fiery but balanced dish that can also do double-duty as a quick and tasty dinner.
With these marvelous Weight Watchers lunch recipes, you won’t be tempted to order in or hit up the vending machine. Each dish is six points or under and takes just half an hour from start to finish. These are the recipes I make again and again, and with so much variety, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t fully fit your cravings.
