If it weren’t for peanut butter sandwiches or turkey and ham sandwiches, my daughter would maybe never have lunch. I’ve always stared at Pinterest Bento box ideas in awe, thinking that the moms who organize those must have special super powers.
In the past, our family has also been on the go. My daughter goes to preschool, and we eat many meals on the road, so I try to pack her lunch in order to save money. Now that I’m pregnant with triplets, my schedule has slowed down, but I’m not able to cook a complicated meal.
While on the hunt for new quick and easy ingredients for my daughter’s lunch, I discovered Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken. In refrigerated and frozen varieties, I felt like I was able to have my pick of items to use in my recipe. Are you in need of a new quick recipe for your little one’s lunch? Whether you are prepping for a lunch on the go, packing a lunch box, or whipping up a quick lunch at home, these two recipes are sure to provide your child a yummy, protein-packed meal. And best of all? These two recipes use the exact same ingredients!
Kids’ Mini Pizza Shapes
Ingredients
- Tyson Refrigerated Grilled & Ready Chicken Strips (I picked out the original variety. My daughter is a pre-schooler, and her picky eater status means she wouldn’t be fond of a seasoned variety. I also chose the refrigerated kind over the frozen because the refrigerated version would heat up quickly in the oven.)
- Large Biscuits
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 jar of pizza sauce
- Assorted cookie cutters
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Begin by flattening out the biscuits to at least a 6″ round.
Use a cookie cutter to cut out shape.
Place the shape on an ungreased pan.
Depending on the size of the shape, spread 1/2 tsp. to 1 tsp. of pizza sauce onto each shape.
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on each shape. The amount depends on how cheesy your child prefers his or her pizza.
Dice a few refrigerated Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Strips. Sprinkle these onto each shape.
Place in the oven for 8-12 minutes or until the dough is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve for lunch or pack in your child’s lunchbox for a great meal. Be sure to pair it with a cup of fruit, yogurt, or other side.
Oh, and just a plug for Valentine’s Day- wouldn’t this be an ideal lunch idea for that special day?
Kids’ Mini Pizza Calzones
Ingredients
- Tyson Refrigerated Grilled & Ready Chicken Strips (I picked out the original variety. My daughter is a pre-schooler, and her picky eater status means she wouldn’t be fond of a seasoned variety. I also chose the refrigerated kind over the frozen because the refrigerated version would heat up quickly in the oven.)
- Large Biscuits
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1 jar of pizza sauce
- Assorted cookie cutters
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Begin by flattening out the biscuits to at least a 6″ round.
Spread 1 1/2 tsp. pizza sauce onto the biscuit. Be sure to leave a small amount of dough around the edge.
Sprinkle 2 tsp. of mozzarella cheese onto the center.
Half a few of the refrigerated Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Strips. Place these in the center of each biscuit round.
Fold over one edge of the biscuit round to meet the other. Use fingers or fork to press together the edges until they are sealed.
Place in the oven for 10-12 minutes until the dough is a golden brown.
How easy is that? I love that this recipe uses biscuits. I purchased a large can of biscuits, made a few for breakfast, and then used the rest for a fun lunch recipe. I also played my cards right and had a few Tyson Chicken strips left over for a lunch salad for me.
My daughter enjoyed both recipes. The mini calzones went into her lunch box to school, so I wasn’t able to see her eat those. But she gave the Mini Pizza Shapes a thumbs up during a lunch here at home.
She usually eats cheese-only pizza, but she loved the texture and taste of the chicken on these. And I loved that I’m able to make her a quick, easy meal that is tasty AND complete with needed protein for her day. I will definitely be going back to purchase more refrigerated Tyson Grilled & Ready Strips for her lunch.
Thankfully, these chicken strips are easy to find at my local Walmart. I found mine in the Meat & Poultry section in the Quick & Easy Meals section. They were only $2.50 a pack!
Here’s a look at a few of the refrigerated varieties Walmart carries:
During my shopping trip, I also picked up a few frozen Tyson Grilled & Ready varieties for me.
For a closer look at my shopping trip, check out my Google Plus album!
Have you tried Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken strips? I’ve love to know if you do, or you if make one of these delicious recipes for your child!
Learn more about the Tyson line at their Facebook page!
I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson. #cbias #SocialFabric #MealsTogether All opinions, as always, are my own.
What a CUTE idea for those shaped pizzas! Looks yummy!!
Those are so cute, and I love how easy they are to make! I will definitely give these a try. I think we have all the ingredients!
I absolutely LOVE the idea of using biscuit dough. Holy time saver! Same goes for the chicken. I know my daughter would love these for lunch. Beats the same old sandwich for sure!
What a great idea!
Those mini shaped pizzas are adorable, and a really fun meal idea. Thanks for sharing!
You just decided what we are having for dinner! Thx
Yummo! We sometimes get those, tear them up a bit, and dip them in KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce first, then put them on top of our pizza for BBQ chicken pizza. It works great for hubby since he can’t have the cheese; he just has sauce and BBQ ckn on his pieces!
This is a great idea. Thank you for sharing..
I may have to try these for Valentine’s Day!
Cute idea!
What a great idea, thanks!
What a cute idea! They look fantastic!
Charly @ Adorned From Above
Great idea! Cool way to make a kid feel special. Lynaea @ EverydayBloom.com
Some great lunchbox ideas there Melanie!
Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
Hope you have a fabulous week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success
http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/
Adorable! Isn’t it funny how kids enjoy their food more when it’s fun shapes? My three year old always asks me to cut her sandwiches into Mickeynheads, aka “Mousekatools”. Too fun!
I love that she gave it two thumbs up!! Great idea for V-day and the mini calzones would be perfect for our next movie night!! I’m all about the easy meals.
Those are soooo cute, Melanie! I love the idea of using the heart shaped pizzas for Valentine’s Day!
That’s such a cute idea for making mini pizzas!! Love it 🙂
That’s such a cute idea for making mini pizzas. Love it!
What a fun idea! I’d totally do this :o)
I love those ideas and it’s so fun and quick and easy.
Simply genius!! I would have never thought about making shaped pizzas!! Or Calzones for that matter…now I know what we are having tomorrow for lunch! 😀
Thanks for he calzone idea. I made similar piazzas last year before my son became picky. Now he loves calzones without sauce. I might mince some chicken shhh
I stare at the Bento boxes too! There are so many out there that are so creative!
The tyson precooked chicken is much used in this house too. I make chicken enchiladas and chimichangas with them. We also make chicken quesadillas. Now I’m thinking about putting them on homemade pizza.
Thanks for the share! Your daughter’s thumbs up picture is precious. What a great food critic! 😀
What a cute idea Melanie!! Love it!
Barbara at Chase the Star
These are so cute!
Those look super yummy! My kids would love that!
I love the calzone idea! I bet my daughter would love to take these for lunch. Thanks for the ideas.
YUMMY! I LOVE LOVE LOVE calzones! thanks for sharing!
Hello!
I found you from the Mop it up Mondays link up. I would love to have you come share your post with my readers over at Sassy Little Lady’s Show and Tell Saturday. Hope to see you there!
Kathie
http://www.sassylittlelady.com/blog/show-and-tell-saturday/show-and-tell-saturday