10 Kid-Friendly Potato Recipes for Your School’s Lunch Menu
Potatoes are a tasty and cost-effective food for school lunch dishes. School food service departments can use potato recipes for schools to create meals that kids love to eat and meet meal requirements from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). We’ve gathered several healthy and kid-approved potato recipes to revamp your lunch options.
1. Hash Brown Pizzas
Hash brown pizza uses a crispy hash brown instead of a pizza crust for a savory and filling alternative. After cooking the hash browns, top them with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and other pizza toppings, like pepperoni, bacon, sausage, bell pepper or onion. Let the cheese melt and serve two per student.
Alternatively, you could make the hash browns on a sheet pan by shredding whole peeled potatoes and baking them before adding the pizza ingredients, baking again, slicing and serving.
2. Vegetable Breakfast Burrito
This vegetable breakfast burrito recipe makes hearty and filling wraps filled with kids’ favorite breakfast foods. Combine fries or wedges, avocado, bell pepper, onion, egg and cheese in a tortilla. Fold the wrap tightly and warm before serving.
3. White Bean, Bacon and Corn Chowder
This chowder recipe is full of protein and fiber and makes a filling, warm lunch for students. This creamy, rich chowder features healthy ingredients like corn, white beans, bell pepper, carrot, onion and potatoes and is seasoned with salt, garlic and thyme.
4. Cheeseburger Stuffed Potato Skins
Kids love cheeseburgers, so this cheeseburger stuffed potato skins recipe will surely be a hit. It uses classic burger ingredients on potato skins instead of a burger bun. To make this recipe, assemble ground beef, tomato, pickle, cheese sauce and lettuce onto a baked potato skin. Two half-shells make one serving.
5. Homestyle Mashed Potato and Meatball Bowl
The mashed potato and meatball bowl combines several comfort foods for a warm and filling lunch. Make these bowls with a portion of homemade mashed potatoes on the bottom, then add meatballs, green beans, shredded cheese and brown gravy on top.
6. Chicken Bacon-Loaded Fries
This chicken bacon-loaded fries recipe features crispy wedges or fries, white cheese sauce, diced chicken, chopped bacon and ranch dressing. Bake the fries, lay a serving in a bowl and top with the remaining ingredients.
7. Chili Stuffed Baked Potato
The stuffed baked potato combines hearty ingredients with a fluffy potato to turn this dish into a filling meal. After preparing the baked potatoes, top them with heated chili beans, sour cream, shredded cheese and parsley.
8. Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a healthy potato recipe with starchy, filling meats and vegetables. Make shepherd’s pie by sauteing ground beef, onion and celery, then thickening it with a flour and water paste. Top with mashed potatoes and grated cheese and bake.
9. South of the Border Mashed Potatoes
These mashed potatoes put a spicy twist on the classic lunch menu side dish. Its flavor comes from a blend of vegetables like bell pepper, tomato, black beans and corn. After preparing homemade mashed potatoes, fold sauteed vegetables in. Serve the mashed potato dish with chunky salsa for more flavor.
10. Scalloped Potatoes and Ham
Scalloped potatoes and ham is a comfort food you can serve as the main course or a side dish. Assemble this meal by placing sliced potatoes, ham and homemade sauce in a casserole dish. Top with cheese and bake until the potatoes are tender.
Use Keystone Potato Products for School Food Service Recipes
Make these K-12 potato recipes with fresh potatoes from Keystone Potato Products. We work with many school food service professionals in Pennsylvania and beyond to provide all-natural whole peeled potatoes, fresh-cut potatoes, and potato flakes and flour. Request a sample or learn more about our products by contacting our team online.
