The Lunch Lady

Recipes

The meals I cook at school, with recipes for your home kitchen.

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45 recipes to make at home

Penne and meatballs with red garden marinara, grated Parmesan and parsley on a lunch tray beside green beans and red grapes.

Penne and meatballs with garden marinara

About 1 hour 45 minutes

Penne and meatballs in a smooth marinara packed with roasted zucchini, squash and a full garden of vegetables. Everything for the sauce and the dinner is right here.

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A kitchen torch browning a marshmallow half on a large chocolate cookie, with more marshmallow-topped cookies behind it.

Mexican hot chocolate cookies

About 1 hour

Soft chocolate cookies with cinnamon, chocolate chips and an optional toasted marshmallow. A powdered sugar, cinnamon and ancho dusting makes an easy finish at home.

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Shredded guajillo chicken tacos with lettuce and sauce on a green tray beside carrots, rice and a marshmallow-topped chocolate cookie.

Guajillo-braised chicken tacos

About 2 to 2 1/2 hours

Tender shredded chicken in a toasted guajillo sauce, with Dutch oven and slow cooker options. Keep the chicken in its braising juices for tacos that stay juicy.

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Creamy mac and cheese on a green school lunch tray beside cucumber wedges, applesauce and a packet of gummy bears.

Protein mac and cheese

About 50 minutes

GOODLES Curveballs in a silky cheddar sauce with butternut squash, American cheese and cheddar powder. Creamy stovetop mac with the color and flavor kids expect.

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Chicken tikka masala

About 1 hour 5 minutes, plus at least 2 hours marinating

Yogurt-marinated chicken in a rich tomato sauce with Kashmiri chili powder, cream and dried fenugreek leaves. Serve over basmati rice with mango on the side.

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Creamy chicken pot pie filling with butternut squash and peas, topped with a golden drop biscuit on a lunch tray beside red grapes and applesauce.

Chicken pot pie bake with drop biscuits

About 1 hour 10 minutes

Creamy chicken pot pie filling with roasted butternut squash, peas and a golden Sunrise flour drop biscuit on top. Six generous servings, with extra biscuits for the table.

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Pancake breakfast bake bread pudding

About 1 hour 20 minutes, including a 10-minute rest

Leftover pancake bake soaked in vanilla custard, with a buttery cinnamon-brown-sugar top. Soft in the middle, golden at the edges, and a good reason to save a few breakfast squares.

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Achiote chicken on a school lunch tray with salsa, broccoli, rice and orange wedges.

Pollo asado with citrus finishing dressing

About 1 hour 20 minutes, including 30 minutes to marinate and 5 minutes to rest

Achiote-marinated chicken with orange, lime and warm spices, chopped and tossed with an olive oil dressing and a savory orange reduction.

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Carnitas tacos on a lunch tray with smoky hominy topped with crushed chile-lime tortilla chips at the upper right.

Smoky hominy with chile-lime crunchies

About 1 hour

Plump hominy simmered in a smoky tomato sauce, finished with apple cider vinegar and fresh lime. Crushed chile-lime rolled tortilla chips go on last for crunch.

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White chicken chili

About 1 hour 5 minutes

Chicken, Great Northern beans and sweet corn in a savory green-chile broth. Blended beans, their liquid and white miso make it creamy without dairy in the pot.

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Chicken drumsticks with Golden Ranch

About 1 hour 20 minutes, plus optional 8 to 24 hours dry brining

Crisp-skinned drumsticks with a garlic-paprika rub, lemon and a sweet, tangy Golden Ranch dip. A budget-friendly tray of chicken for a family dinner or a hungry crowd.

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Penne with bolognese, Parmesan and basil, beside a garlic bite, green beans and grapes.

Beef and pork bolognese pasta

About 2 hours 15 minutes

A straightforward meat sauce with beef, pork, tomatoes and Parmesan. Finish it with lemon and toss the pasta right in the sauce so every noodle gets coated.

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Golden garlic bread bites on a sheet pan being brushed with melted garlic butter.

Garlic bites

About 35 minutes

Soft, buttery garlic bread bites made with a bowl, a whisk and a thick Greek yogurt batter. No yeast or rising time, with muffin-pan and square-pan options.

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Greek yogurt with toasted granola and berries, beside a chocolate chip pancake muffin and strawberry jam.

Yogurt parfaits with toasted house granola

About 1 hour, including cooling the granola

Honey-vanilla Greek yogurt, berries and golden oat granola made with extra virgin olive oil. Keep the granola crunchy by adding it just before eating.

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Pancake muffins

About 35 minutes

Tender chocolate chip muffins made with Sunrise pancake mix, served with a bright strawberry spoon jam. A simple bowl-and-whisk breakfast with extra jam for toast.

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Guajillo barbacoa tacos topped with pickled red onions, cheese and herbs on a lunch tray.

Wagyu barbacoa tacos with guajillo sauce

About 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hours with prepared paste

Slow-braised beef in a rich guajillo sauce, with stovetop and Dutch oven methods. Save the braising juices for juicy tacos, rice bowls or crisp tacos with broth for dipping.

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Golden Bama bread in a sheet pan, with a butter-topped square and flaky sea salt.

Bama bread with whipped honey butter

About 50 minutes, plus a short rest before topping

Soft, buttery cornbread that eats like cake, topped with whipped honey butter, sparkling sugar and flaky sea salt.

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Sliced barbecue-rubbed chicken tenders with dipping sauce, Bama bread, carrots and green grapes on a lunch tray.

Barbecue chicken tenders with homemade dipping sauce

About 30 minutes with prepared ketchup, or about 50 minutes with homemade ketchup

Smoky, lightly sweet chicken tenders with a simple barbecue rub. Serve the sauce on the side, with a homemade ketchup base or a ready-made shortcut.

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Close-up of chicken Caesar penne pasta salad with shaved Parmesan and black pepper, served beside green salad and pepperoni pizza.

Pinocchio chicken Caesar pasta salad

About 35 minutes, plus chilling if serving cold

Chicken, al dente penne and a quick, creamy Caesar dressing with anchovy, Worcestershire and Parmesan. Serve it beside pizza or pack it cold for lunch.

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Two pulled pork sliders on Hawaiian rolls with barbecue sauce, potato salad, a fudgy brownie, applesauce and green salad.

Smoked pulled pork sliders

Season at least 24 hours ahead, then allow the cooking time for your chosen method and about 20 minutes to rest and shred

Juicy pulled pork on Hawaiian rolls, with three ways to cook it: all smoker, smoker to oven, or all oven. Keep the drippings for sandwiches, nachos and another easy meal.

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Sheet pans of freshly baked chocolate brownies on a kitchen rack, with an oven mitt holding the front pan.

Fudgy brownies

About 40 minutes, plus cooling before slicing

Fudgy cocoa brownies with melted butter and brown sugar, baked in a regular 9-by-13-inch pan.

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A bacon, fried egg and cheese bagel cut in half, with a yogurt and granola cup and mixed fruit on a lunch tray.

Bacon, egg and cheese bagels

About 30 minutes with fried eggs; about 50 minutes with baked eggs

Breakfast-for-lunch bagels with bacon, melted cheese and your choice of fried eggs or fluffy baked egg squares.

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Chicken shawarma in pita with Golden Sauce and Spidey Sauce, beside rice, shredded salad and green grapes.

Chicken shawarma with Golden Sauce and Spidey Sauce

About 1 hour, plus overnight marinating

Yogurt-marinated chicken tucked into warm pita with crunchy sumac salad, curry mayo and a roasted red pepper garlic sauce.

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Walking tacos topped with cheese, lettuce and cilantro, beside elote corn salad with crushed chile-lime chips, melon and pickled vegetables.

Walking tacos with roasted salsa and elote corn salad

About 1 hour 15 minutes for the full meal; about 30 minutes for tacos with prepared salsa and no corn salad

Seasoned beef over crunchy corn chips, with homemade roasted tomato salsa and a creamy elote corn salad finished with crushed chile-lime rolled chips.

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Split image of thick pizza batter being poured into a sheet pan and a finished pepperoni pizza being sliced.

Pourable pizza batter

About 1 hour 15 minutes, including the batter's rest

A home-sized take on the 1988 USDA school pizza crust, with a soft middle, crisp edges and a batter you spread right into the pan.

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Split image of fermented pizza dough in a container and baked cheese and pepperoni sheet-pan pizzas.

48-hour fermented sheet-pan pizza

About 51 hours, including 48 hours in the refrigerator and time to warm and stretch the dough

A chewy sheet-pan pizza with a crisp, browned base, made with a small amount of yeast and a two-day rest in the refrigerator.

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A Wagyu sloppy joe topped with crushed kettle chips on a school lunch tray, with salad, carrots, grapes and pickled vegetables.

Sloppy Joe Thomases

About 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes

Homemade Wagyu sloppy joes with soft vegetables, a deeply savory tomato sauce and salt-and-vinegar kettle chips on toasted buns.

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Chopped ranch chicken with a creamy sauce and fresh herbs on a school lunch tray.

Ranch chicken with homemade ranch

About 1 hour 15 minutes, including a 30-minute marinade

Roasted chicken tenders, chopped and tossed with ranch seasoning, lemon and finely chopped herbs. Serve with homemade ranch or lava sauce over rice or buttered noodles.

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Shredded chicken tacos with cheese and pickled onion, alongside pinto beans, a marshmallow-topped chocolate cake, chips and watermelon.

Chicken verde tacos

About 1 hour with the canned-bean option; about 1 hour 45 minutes with dry beans. Allow 20 minutes more for homemade salsa

Chicken gently cooked in tomatillo salsa, shredded and tucked into warm tortillas. Start with a jar of salsa, or roast your own tomatillos for the from-scratch version.

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Individual chocolate cakes topped with toasted marshmallow halves, with powdered sugar dusted across several cakes on a baking sheet.

Mexican hot chocolate cakes

About 1 hour 15 minutes, including cooling before topping

Little chocolate cakes with cinnamon, a pinch of ancho chile and toasted marshmallow tops, finished with powdered sugar and cinnamon. Chocolate chips go into the batter and over the top before baking.

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Glazed pork tenderloin with sesame rice, cucumber salad and edamame on a lunch tray.

Teriyaki pork tenderloin with cucumber salad

About 1 hour 15 minutes oven-roasted, or 1 hour 30 minutes reverse-seared, plus 2 to 12 hours marinating

Grilled or oven-roasted pork tenderloin tossed in a glossy ginger-garlic teriyaki glaze, with sesame rice and a crisp cucumber salad.

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Breakfast burrito halves with egg, sausage and cheese, beside salsa, a granola square, watermelon, blueberries and pickled vegetables.

Egg, sausage and cheese breakfast burritos

About 50 minutes, plus cooling if freezing; optional overnight rest for the sausage

Soft scrambled eggs, homemade maple-sage sausage, sautéed shallots and melted cheese in a warm tortilla. Make a batch for breakfast now and the freezer later.

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Chocolate chip granola squares

About 2 hours 15 minutes, including cooling and chilling

Oats, honey, olive oil and chocolate chips pressed into a pan, with flaky salt scattered over the top while it's hot.

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Tomato soup topped with herbs, two golden grilled-cheese halves and sliced red apples on a lunch tray.

Tomato soup and grilled cheese

About 50 minutes

San Marzano tomato soup with whipped ricotta, grilled cheese on Arnie's sourdough cheddar loaf and sliced Pink Lady apples. A warm bowl and a crisp sandwich for dipping.

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A square of pancake bake topped with blueberry compote, whipped yogurt cream, granola and rainbow sprinkles.

Sheet-pan pancake bake with blueberry compote

About 40 minutes; about 1 hour 10 minutes with homemade granola

A pancake bake made with Sunrise Flour Mill pancake mix, topped with blueberry compote, whipped yogurt cream and rainbow sprinkles. Cut it into squares and serve breakfast from one pan.

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Peruvian chicken and green herb sauce over rice, with cucumbers, carrots, broccoli and lime on a lunch tray.

Peruvian chicken with Awesome Sauce

About 1 hour 10 minutes, plus 2 to 12 hours marinating

Garlic-and-cumin chicken, chopped and folded with a creamy cilantro sauce. Serve it over bone-broth rice with lime-pickled cucumbers.

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Ground Wagyu tacos with lettuce, cheese and crema, served with beans, melon and a small frosted cake.

Wagyu beef tacos

About 40 minutes; about 1 hour 50 minutes with dry beans

Seasoned Wagyu beef thickened with blue corn masa harina, tucked into warm tortillas with cheddar, lime crema and avocado. Simple baking-soda beans make it a full meal. Regular 80/20 ground beef works well here, too.

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Baked ziti

About 2 hours 40 minutes, including resting

Beef sauce, ricotta folded through the pasta and mozzarella browned on top. This is my baked ziti, with roasted green beans alongside.

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Carnitas tacos

About 4 1/2 to 6 hours; optional overnight seasoning or chilling is extra

Pork shoulder cooked with orange, lime and warm spices, then crisped in a hot pan. Pile it into warm tortillas with cotija, crema and another squeeze of lime.

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Greek chicken

About 1 hour, plus overnight marinating

Chopped chicken with olive oil, lemon, fresh dill and sheep's milk feta. Serve it with lemon rice and cucumber salad. This one gets seconds.

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Fresh-baked flatbread cut into squares, with gloved hands holding a split piece to show the crumb.

Ham, egg and cheese on fresh flatbread

About 2 hours, including resting and cooling the bread

Fresh-baked Greek yogurt flatbread, split and filled with ham, egg and melted American cheese. I start this sandwich with the bread.

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Close-up of a Wagyu smash burger with crisp browned edges, melted cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickles on a toasted bun.

Wagyu smash burgers

About 45–50 minutes

Thin Wagyu patties with browned edges, melted American cheese and a quick pickle-and-mustard burger sauce. Stack them on a soft bun and have napkins ready.

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Chicken Rojo tacos

About 1 hour 45 minutes, plus optional overnight marinating

Shredded chicken in a rich red chile and tomato sauce, finished with fresh lime and quick pickled red onions. A little Worcestershire gives the sauce extra savory depth.

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Greek pork souvlaki

About 1 hour 15 minutes, plus overnight marinating

Pork tenderloin with fresh lemon, dill and homemade tzatziki. Roast it in the oven or take it outside to the grill, then serve with lemon rice and broccoli.

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Breakfast pizza

About 2 hours, including the rise

Homemade sheet-pan dough made with Sunrise Flour Mill Heritage Pizza Flour, topped with sausage gravy, maple-sage sausage, bacon and mozzarella. A soft crust with a golden bottom.

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What I keep on hand

Kitchen essentials

Pantry staples, favorite tools and a few things that make dinner taste better.