To celebrate the occasion, we invited School Lunch Heroes from across the country to submit their best recipes. Here are some of our favorites.
National School Lunch Hero Day is May 1, 2026.
Drumroll, Please…
BREAKFAST CHAMPION
SUNRISE POCKET
USING #16206 HAWAIIAN ROLLS
Give students an A+ start to the school day, wrapped and ready to go! This recipe uses soft Rich’s Hawaiian Rolls to hold savory breakfast fillings in a handheld format that fits right into busy morning service.
🏆 Demarcos Blow – Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA
MEATLESS MASTER
VEGETARIAN MEATBALL SUB
USING #22260 NO PROOF MINI SUB ROLL DOUGH
Here’s a meatless option that feels anything but! A hearty vegetarian meatball blend and freshly baked Rich’s Mini Sub Rolls come together to create a lunch entree that checks all the boxes for comfort, flavor and convenience.
🏆 Amy Reade – Hamilton Southeastern School District, IN
MVPIZZA
COWBOY STAR PIZZA
USING #21973 6” FRESH ‘N READY DOUGH
There’s a new pizza in town. Eye-catching presentation, familiar ingredients and Rich’s Fresh N Ready Dough make this a fun, student-friendly twist on a classic pepperoni pizza that’s easy to serve and hard for kids to pass up.
🏆 Anthony Brasberger – Coppell ISD, TX
WORLD WONDER
THAI BEEF FLATBREAD
USING #25340 WG FLATBREAD
This Thai-inspired lunch using WG Flatbread is a great opportunity to bring global flavors to your menu without overcomplicating prep work. No need to travel far—students can simply pick it up and enjoy!
🏆 Vickie Coffey – Richland Bean Blossom Edgewood Schools, IN
INNOVATION WARRIOR
CHEESY MAC BITE RANCH BAKE
USING #23400 CHEESY MAC BITES
A creative take on a lunchtime favorite. Rich’s Cheesy Mac Bites are combined with fajita chicken, tomatoes and ranch to make a one-pan baked dish that looks familiar at first glance…until you take a bite!
🏆 Ashley Robbins – East Central ISD, TX
HONORABLE MENTIONS
WE’RE COOKING UP THE WINNING RECIPES
Watch our latest webinar, Rich’s Lunchtime Live: School Lunch Hero Challenge, on Rich’s Academy. Earn 1 CEU upon completion of the webinar. Chef Carol Valencic will walk through each of our School Lunch Hero Challenge winning recipes step-by-step—sharing tips and tricks you can bring right back to your kitchen.
SEE YOU IN CHARLOTTE FOR ANC!
We’re looking forward to connecting with School Lunch Heroes from across the country at SNA’s Annual National Conference this July. Stop by Booth 2913 to see these winning recipes in action and swap ideas with the team!
EXPLORE ALL OUR K-12 SOLUTIONS
Contact a K-12 Specialist
Product information, recipe inspiration, or simply someone to talk things through with — we are here for you. Let us know how we can help.
THIS TIME ON THE LUNCHTIME BITE
We’re setting off on an exciting journey into the first (maybe best) meal of the school day: breakfast. National School Breakfast Week is right around the corner, and this year’s theme is “The Quest for School Breakfast.” So brace yourself—we’re about to enter a fantastical world of flavor and fun.
DRAGONFIRE BREAKFAST PIZZA
Bold flavors like a dragon’s fiery breath! Whole grain crust with scrambled eggs, turkey sausage, pepper jack cheese and roasted red peppers. Drizzle sriracha on top for extra heat.
KNIGHT’S SWORD DIPPERS
Look out, Excalibur! These swords come with On Top® Whipped Topping and berries. We think King Arthur would approve.
MAPLE CHICKEN CASTLE
This fortress of flavor starts with a breaded chicken patty sandwiched between two biscuits and topped with syrup. Then, take 4 plastic toothpicks—each with a strawberry, green grape and blueberry—and stick them in the top of the biscuit as if they’re the towers of a castle.
CROWN JEWELS CHURRO PARFAIT
A breakfast fit for royalty. Take a clear cup with berry jam or compote on the bottom, then add plain Greek yogurt, top with 4 churro bites and banana slices and sprinkle with cinnamo
EXPLORE ALL OUR K-12 SOLUTIONS
THE BEST QUESTS HAVE PLOT TWISTS
Kids often prefer foods they are familiar with, but they also enjoy when those foods are presented with a new twist or in a fun way (Datassential Kids’ Menus). Building themed menus inspired by National School Breakfast Week is a great way to keep things fresh for your students.
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH HERO CHALLENGE
National School Lunch Hero Day is on May 1, 2026, and we’re celebrating with a special opportunity for K-12 professionals. Submit your best recipe in one of five categories for a chance to win a free Annual National Conference (ANC) registration. Submissions must be sent to Katie Iglewski at [email protected] by 3/6/26 with your name, school district and contact information.
ACCESS FREE ON-DEMAND TRAINING
With Rich’s Academy, K-12 operators can earn free continuing education credits by learning from Rich’s chefs and culinary experts in ANFP-certified courses.
Get in touch with a K-12 specialist.
Contact
k-12 resources all in one place
From recipes to product handling videos and continued education courses we’ve got you covered.
Resource Center
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
Join our mailing list for our latest
innovation, recipe inspiration,
news, and more!