• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The MacPherson Diaries
  • Home
  • Food
  • Recipe Index
  • Shop
  • Family
  • About
  • Contact Me

Winter Warmer Lunchbox Ideas – 4 Pasta Recipes

July 19, 2019 by themacphersondiaries Leave a Comment

Whilst my children aren’t at school yet, we are already well into lunchbox packing! If you’re anything like me it can be easy to get stuck in a rut, especially in winter! So I have 4 Winter Lunchbox Ideas featuring Pasta on the blog today. Because my kids LOVE pasta in its many shapes and forms!

I put my thinking cap on and hubby picked up my Click and Collect online order from Countdown with all the ingredients and I got cooking.

Winter isn’t so bad with these delicious lunch ideas to warm you up. There are so many specials on heaps of winter products right now at Countdown, make you look out for the yellow stickers online and instore.

A few notes before I get into it

  • My kids unfortunately don’t like onion so I haven’t included it in any dishes, but please do sauté onion and add it to where you feel its appropriate.
  • To save time you could always purchase premade options of cheese sauce, pasta sauce and teriyaki sauce from Countdown
  • I freeze pasta. Mic drop. I always cook extra pasta and freeze it. All you need to do is pour hot water over it to rehydrate it and heat it up. Game changer am I right?!
  • All of these dishes can be made the night before and reheated in the morning to put in insulated lunchbox options. I used these ones from Countdown

I hope you enjoy my child friendly, easily adaptable, affordable pasta lunchbox options.

Print

Mac n Cheese with Bacon & Peas

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 250 grams Macaroni Pasta
  • 4 rashers of Bacon – I used streaky
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas

Cheese Sauce

  • 2 ½ Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 ½ Tablespoons Flour
  • 1 ½ – 2 cups Milk
  • Pinch Salt
  • 110 grams Cheese – I used Colby grates
  • 1 teaspoon Oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta as per packet instructions. *OR use your precooked frozen pasta warmed up.
  2. While pasta is cooking cook bacon by heating oil in a frypan and cooking until browned on both sides. Chop once cooled slightly
  3. Now start the Cheese sauce.
  4. In a saucepan, Melt your butter. Add the flour and stir in for a minute or 2 with a wooden spoon to cook off the Flour. Now take the pan off the heat slowly and add ½ of your milk. Stir in the milk and add another ¼, if any lumps use a whisk. Put pack on the heat and gradually add the rest of your milk while stirring. You may not need the full 2 cups. Season with salt (and pepper if you desire, but my kids aren’t a fan so I leave it out). Turn the heat off and add ½ your cheese.
  5. Check your pasta and you can add your peas to the pasta to cook at the end. OR cook your peas separately in boiling water or in the microwave. Drain pasta and add the white sauce. Then the peas. Mix to combine.
  6. Add the bacon & top with cheese. Done!
Print

Pasta Shells with Sausage ‘Meatballs’ & Cheese

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 250 grams Pasta Shells
  • 4 Sausages – I used beef and rosemary flavoured
  • 1 teaspoon Oil for frying
  • Garlic – 2 cloves or 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • 1 can of crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon Tomato paste optional
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar/honey
  • Pinch Salt
  • 1 Beef stock cube
  • Herbs (optionaI used oregano
  • Cheese to put on top of the dish I used Tasty

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta as per packet instructions *OR use your precooked frozen pasta warmed up.
  2. While the pasta is cooking, heat oil on a medium heat in a frypan.
  3. Squeeze your sausages out of the casing and roll to make “meatballs” OR just slice if you prefer. And add to the pan. Once nicely browned, add the garlic and cook, watch it as you don’t want the garlic to burn. Add the canned tomato, beef stock cube & tomato paste. Season with salt and sugar/honey & oregano if using. Simmer until reduced and tastes lovely – about 5 minutes should do it. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed.
  4. Serve the sauce over the pasta and topped with grated cheese!
Print

Creamy Chicken w/ Pasta Bow Ties & Broccoli

Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 Chicken thighs – boneless skinless cut into small pieces easy for kids to eat
  • 300 mls Cream
  • 250 grams Pasta bow ties
  • 1 tablespoon Butter
  • ½ teaspoon Oil
  • Garlic – 2 cloves or 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
  • Salt
  • 1 teaspoon chopped Oregano – optional

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta as per instructions *OR use your precooked frozen pasta warmed up.
  2. Add butter & Oil to a frypan on a medium heat and cook the chicken thighs.
  3. When cooked add the garlic and cook gently so it doesn’t burn.
  4. Add the cream and salt and oregano
  5. Steam the broccoli
  6. Drain the pasta, mix through the sauce and broccoli and serve.
Print

Teriyaki Chicken w/ Udon Noodles & Edamame

Ingredients

  • Medium Hot Roast Chicken I used 1/3 of the chicken.
  • 2 packs of Udon Noodles
  • 1/3 pack of Edamame found in the frozen department
  • Sesame seeds as garnish
  • Salt

Teriyaki sauce

  • Sugar /
  • Mirin
  • Soy

Instructions

  1. Make teriyaki sauce by combining all ingredients in a pot over a medium heat and simmering until sugar has dissolved. About 3 minutes.
  2. Cut your chicken and shred with a fork or your hands.
  3. Cook your udon noodles as per packet instructions.
  4. Put your noodles into your serving containers and top with chicken pieces from your hot chicken, then top with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds
  5. Serve with warmed salted edamame on the side

Filed Under: Family, Food

Previous Post: « Tamarillo Breakfast Crumble
Next Post: Cedar Wrapped Ling with Parsnip Chips »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Hi, I’m Jana!

Hi, I’m Jana. I live in gorgeous Arrowtown with my 2 children, Hunter (6) and River (4), Husband Hamish, and a dog & a cat for good measure.

I love cooking and sharing recipes here with you. I am a home cook and enjoy making all sorts of dishes, as long as they are simple & delicious!

Here on the blog you will find recipes such as One Pan Coconut Chicken, Whole Orange Cake with White Chocolate Icing & Eggs Shakshuka.

When I am not in the kitchen or playing with my children by the local river, I can be found trekking the gorgeous walks on our doorstep, or sampling some of the incredible local wines.

Xx Jana Read More…

Subscribe now


Recent Posts

  • Fish Pie with Hash Bites
  • Chicken & Glass Noodle Salad
  • Potato Gratin
  • Pork Meatballs with Cheesy Polenta
  • Beef Satay – Slow/Pressure Cooker Version

Recent Comments

  • themacphersondiaries on Baked Chicken with Balsamic Glaze
  • Jodi on Baked Chicken with Balsamic Glaze
  • themacphersondiaries on Crispy Prawn Bao Buns
  • Paolo Sienna on Crispy Prawn Bao Buns
  • themacphersondiaries on One Pot Chicken & Coconut Rice

Archives

  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017

Categories

  • Family
  • Food
  • Homemade Gift Ideas
  • Janas Dinner Club
  • Lifestyle
  • Style
  • Uncategorized

Copyright © 2022 The MacPherson Diaries on the Foodie Pro Theme