These light, easy, and delicious recipes come together in a snap thanks to puff pastry and a few inspired ingredients. Many of them are portable, so you can pack them for the office and warm them up for a home-cooked treat. I also love how versatile these recipes are because I can experiment with different ingredients and come up with new spins on the original. Skip the take-out and pull out the puff pastry instead. You won’t be disappointed.
1. Spinach and Cheese Hand Pies
These hand pies make an excellent snack or savory lunch, especially when you pair them with a lightly dressed salad. They’re also Weight Watchers friendly and bursting with nutrient-rich spinach, plenty of creamy cheese, and a touch of lemon and garlic for brightness. I like to amp up the flavor with some red pepper flakes, but you can always omit them if you’re sensitive to spice.
2. French Onion Sausage Rolls
These ultra-portable rolls are excellent for a lighter summer lunch and are super easy to make in a batch. All you need are some sheets of puff pastry, minced pork, French onion soup mix, and some seasoning to create pub-worthy sausage rolls you’ll enjoy for lunch all week. Each bite is bursting with perfectly seasoned meat and flaky puff pastry, and they’re bound to neutralize all of your take-out cravings.
3. Cheesy Mushroom Spinach Puff Pastry
This light and cheesy vegetarian option is packed with nutrient-dense spinach, plenty of flavorful mushrooms, and cheddar cheese for the ultimate elevated comfort food. I like to use extra garlic to give it a zesty flavor and play off the mushrooms. Other than that, you just need a bit of butter, black pepper, and salt to make this dish sing.
4. Puff Pastry Pizza
Did you know that puff pastry gives you one of the flakiest buttery pizza crusts you can imagine? This puff pastry pizza is exceptional because you can top it with virtually anything you’d like, and it bakes up beautifully in just about 20 minutes. I enjoy experimenting with the sauce, swapping in pesto or BBQ sauce for a different flavor profile and a dish that can power me through my afternoon hours.
5. Ham and Cheese Puff Pastry
Ham and cheese is a match made in culinary heaven, and puff pastry is the perfect foil for these outstanding ingredients. Gruyere cheese works well with thinly sliced ham, and a sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning gives it a ton of flavor. Don’t skimp on the fresh thyme; it lends some freshness to the dish and really takes it to the next level.
6. Tomato Tartlets with Puff Pastry
If you want to celebrate one of the best ingredients of summer, you need to try out these tomato tartlets. You’ll have a delectable dish in just about half an hour, with each portion studded with miniature heirloom tomatoes. A blend of Ricotta and Parmesan cheeses provides a silky base for your fresh tomato, and basil complements the taste and uses one of the summer’s other favorite flavors.
7. Spicy Chicken Rolls
Chicken gets an unexpected and delightful spicy kick from taco seasoning and paprika in these lunch-ready rolls. The combination of minced chicken, flaky puff pastry, zesty taco seasoning, and some cheese of your choice is an inspired one. You can give them a boost of flavor with some finely chopped parsley, too, and even adjust the taco seasoning and paprika to fit your spice tolerance.
8. Puff Pastry Hot Dogs
If you love pigs in a blanket, you need to try puff pastry hot dogs. Since you’ll get a bigger portion, they’re ideal for lunch, and they come with a homemade, ultra-easy sauce using ingredients that you likely have in your refrigerator. Brush your defrosted puff pastry dough with water and egg, then cut it into rectangles. Roll your dogs in the pastry, chill, then bake. Top with some cheese and serve with mayonnaise, mustard, or ketchup sauce.
9. Potato and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
This one is a winner if you want to treat yourself to an elegant lunch with refined flavors that use seasonal herbs. It makes a big tart that you can portion out. I love the combination of new potatoes and Gruyere cheese, especially when you combine it with a spicy hit of Dijon mustard. Fresh dill and chives give it a bit of color and flavor. It’s self-care on a plate.
10. Monte Cristo Puff Pastry
I love a good Monte Cristo sandwich, and this puff pastry riff delivers those crave-able flavors in a flaky shell. Ham, turkey, and two kinds of cheese give you a melty and marvelous filling that perfectly offsets the pastry. Eat your updated Monte Cristo with some raspberry preserves to balance the creaminess of the cheese and the richness of the meat.
11. Broccoli Cheddar Hand Pies
This comfort-food lunch treat is ideal for busy days when you simply want a tried-and-true combination. Plus, since they’re portioned out, you won’t be overly full after lunch. Each hand pie is filled with broccoli, garlic, onion, and spices, all smothered in a mixture of cream and cheddar cheeses. Each bite has the ideal ratio of filling to crust, making it a delightful light lunch on a jam-packed day.
12. Puff Pastry Mushroom Tart with Goat Cheese
The smooth mildness of goat cheese works perfectly with robust mushrooms in this delicate but intensely flavored tart that tastes just as tasty, hot, or cold. I use shallot instead of onion because it provides a more mellow and refined taste and a mixture of mushrooms for visual interest. Since your base ingredients are so harmonious and delicious on their own, you don’t need a ton of seasoning. A sprinkle of salt and pepper and a bit of fresh parsley will do the trick nicely.
13. Puff Pastry Stromboli
Stromboli is one of my comfort food faves, but I often find that the store-bought stuff is way too heavy, especially for a light summer lunch. This recipe gives you all that coveted flavor in a much lighter package and is easy to make. Use shallot instead of onion; it plays well with the other ingredients. Combined with canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and some seasoning, it makes a quick, homemade pizza sauce that you can spread on your puff pastry and layer with gooey Mozzarella, pepperoni, crumbled cooked sausage, or vegetables. If I’m feeling extra-fancy, I’ll also toss in some fresh herbs.
14. Cheese and Onion Pasties
The combination of cheese and onion is a classic because it works. Paired with a few diced potatoes and wrapped in puff pastry, these lunch-sized pasties offer plenty of flavor and are a great way to use any leftover onions and potatoes you might have. I like sharp cheddar cheese in this recipe because it complements the potatoes perfectly. You can also play around with portion size, making bigger pasties for lunch and smaller ones for snacks or appetizers.
The balmy and breezy summer months call for light, flavorful, and mouthwatering meals that will keep you full but not bog you down. Try out one or more of these puff pastry lunches, and you’ll be amazed by the results.
