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Our contest brought in some amazing ideas from school nutrition pros just like you. We’ve rounded up 19 delicious, student-approved recipe submissions to spark your next menu masterpiece. From bold flavors to smart twists on classics, these ideas are sure to keep your students excited about what’s on their tray!


Cheez-Cuterie
1 oz sliced Pepperoni
2 oz cubed Cheese
1.2c Red Grapes
.75 oz Cheez-its
Layer pepperoni, cheese, and grapes in a parfait cup.
Fill the insert with Cheez-its
Place the insert in the cup and cover.
Refrigerate until service.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Recipe By Asbury High School
1 and 1/2 cups rice
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom
2 cups milk
1 cup water (according to rice you use may need more liquid)
1 pk. Onion soup mix
Stir together all ingredients. Put in greased pan. Sprinkle with 1 and 1/2 cups cheddar cheese. Place boneless skinless chicken in mixture.Season to taste. Cover dish with foil cook. Ten minutes before done crush Cheez its sprinkle on top leave foil off and cook for remainder of time. 350 degrees about 1 and 1/2 hours.

Chicken Pot Pie with Cheez-It® Cracker Topping
Recipe By Decatur Township School of Excellence
4 c frozen mixed veggie blend
2 grilled chicken breasts (thawed & diced)
1 tablespoon italian seasoning
10 oz chicken gravy
9 oz crushed Cheez-It®
Mix the first 4 ingredients and steam at 250 degrees for 10 mins. Pull it out & top with crushed Cheez-It® crackers and cover with foil. Bake at 400° degrees for 12 minutes, pulling off the foil for the last 5 minutes. Portion size is 8 oz scoop.

Cheez-It® Buffalo Blast
Recipe By MSD Decatur Township Schools
4 oz broccoli mac n cheese topped with crushed Cheez-it®: Chicken breast fillet that is dipped in hot sauce and pressed into crushed Cheez-It® with parm. Make the mac n cheese and add roasted broccoli. Mix well. Place in a full size steam pan and top with the crushed Cheez-It® topping and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350°.
Chicken Breast: press the thawed chicken breast into the Cheez-It® mix and bake on a lined sheet tray at 350° for 15-20 minutes, flipping them over halfway through the cook.
Assemble: 4 oz scoop of broccoli mac alongside a chicken breast fillet.

Cheez-It® Charcuterie Meal
Recipe By Mason City Schools
This fun meal includes Cheez-It®, pretzels, cheese cubes, salami and grapes! It looks fresh and inviting for sophisticated students of all ages.

The Cheez Rancher
Recipe By Hernando
8 packages of .75 oz Cheez-It®
4 Tbsp Margarine-melted
2 Tsp ranch seasoning
1 tsp no salt garlic and herb seasoning
Mix all ingredients together. Place on lined sheet pan. Spread out to a single layer.
Bake at 250 F for 25-30 minutes.
Cool and Enjoy!

The Triple Cheez Salad
Recipe By Floral City Elementary
1 C. washed and chopped Romain lettuce
6 to 8 vibrant red cherry tomatoes (halved)
½ cup of fresh broccoli florets
¼ cup of crispy cooked bacon ( about 4 strips) cooled and crumbled
2 oz cubed cheddar cheese
2 oz shredded mozzarella
One pack (.75 oz ) of Cheez-It® whole grain crackers

Crunchy Buffalo Green Bean Casserole
Recipe By Oasis Elementary
This bold twist on the classic green bean casserole keeps all the comforting flavors you love, but turns up the heat with a spicy kick! Featuring zesty Boom Boom Sauce, fiery Buffalo Cheez-It®, and our traditional holiday recipe, this revamped dish brings excitement to the table and spice to the season.

Hawk Box Charcuterie Snack Pack
Recipe By Decatur Middle School
A colorful, grab-and-go snack box with all the flavors you love - balanced, fun, and full of variety!
Ingredients (per box)
Cheez-It® crackers
Cheese: 6 cubes of cheddar, 1 string cheese (cut into bites)
Meat Sampler: 3 kinds of deli meat (turkey, ham, turkey salami, chicken, or pepperoni), cut into bite-sized cubes or rolls
Veggies: 5 mini carrots, 3 slices of cucumber, 2 mini sweet peppers (sliced)
Protein Boost: ½ hard-boiled egg (sliced in half)
Dip: 2 Tbsp hummus (or ranch as an option)
Directions
Layer the Base: Start by adding your Cheez-It® crackers.
Add the Cheese & Meats: Place cubed cheese, string cheese bites, and meat cubes in small clusters - just like a mini charcuterie board.
Fresh Crunch: Tuck in carrots, cucumber slices, and sweet pepper strips around the edges for color and crunch.
Protein Topper: Add half a hard-boiled egg on the side.
Dip Station: Spoon hummus (or ranch) into a little cup and set it in the box.
Close & Go: Snap the lid shut and you've got a grab-and-go Hawk Box ready to enjoy!

Cheez-It® Crusted Honey Chipotle Chicken
Recipe By Douglas Middle
CHICKEN
3 C Cheez-It® crackers crushed
2 large eggs
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
CHIPOTLE SAUCE
2 tbsp honey
2 chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 tbsp adobo sauce from the can
1 tbsp lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
2 tbsp olive oil
Prepare chicken by mixing dry ingredients. Put egg in separate pan. Dip in egg wash. Dip in Cheez-It®. Coat well. Cook at 425° for 15-20 min.
Prepare sauce. Combine all ingredients and blend. Chill 30min

Kickin'™ Chicken Cheez-It® Wrap
Recipe By MSD Decatur Township Schools
Grilled chicken breast
2 oz BBQ sauce
2 tbsp Nashville hot seasoning blend
2 oz parmesan
6 oz Cheez-It® ( crushed )
10 in tortilla wrap
Optional toppings: sliced red onion, lettuce, shredded cheese, and pickles
Instructions- Coat your chicken with the BBQ sauce. Mix your Cheez-its, Parm and seasonings in a separate bowl. Press the chicken into the dry mix and coat both sides of the chicken. Bake at 350 on a lined sheet tray for 15-20 minutes, flip the chicken over halfway through the cook. To Assemble- wrap,lettuce, cheese, cut chicken breast in half and place on the bed of lettuce and cheese, add red onion and pickles. wrap and cut in half.

Crunchy Buffalo Chicken Salad
Recipe By Sahuaro Ranch Elementary
The base is our typical salad base with romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. The meat is our chicken salad mixture recipe. The topping is the Cheez-Its Spicy Buffalo Crackers.

Cheesy Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders
Recipe By Colonial School District
A taste of home when you're away from home: chicken tenders breaded in Cheez-It® cracker crumbs and a blend of spices.
Close & Go: Snap the lid shut and you've got a grab-and-go Hawk Box ready to enjoy!

Chicken Cheezee Wrap
Recipe By Cherokee County Schools
Dip Precooked Chicken Tenders into a mixture of crushed Cheez-It® Crackers and egg. Bake. Place in a Wrap. Add Sour Cream, Lettuce, Diced Tomatoes. Place on bed of lettuce. Cut in wrap in half, top with diced tomatoes , Crushed Cheez-It® crackers and drizzle with melted white cheese.

Mac and Cheez-It®
Recipe By Crystal River High Schools
JTM mac and cheese baked with Cheez-It® crackers on top. You can use different flavors like buffalo, etc.

Squash and Cheez-It® Casserole
Recipe By Fairview Elementary
Sliced yellow squash and zucchini are mixed with onions, cheddar cheese, margarine, and seasonings, then blended with crushed whole-grain Cheez-It®. The mixture is placed in a hotel pan, topped with more crushed Cheez-It®, and baked until warmed through with a golden, toasted crust.

Crunchy Mac and Cheese With Bacon
Recipe By Chester Middle School
Prepare macaroni and cheese in shallow pan then top with a mixture of bacon, crushed Cheez-It® crackers and melted butter.
Bake @ 375 for 25 minutes

Peanut Butter Bistro Box
Recipe By Valparaiso High School
The Peanut Butter Bistro Box is a convenient, grab-and-go meal that students love. Smooth, creamy peanut butter is portioned for easy dipping and paired with crisp celery sticks, fresh apple slices, and crunchy pretzel twists for variety and balance. The star of the box is the iconic Cheez-It® crackers from Kellanova, delivering the bold, cheesy crunch kids recognize and crave. Each item is neatly arranged in a compartmentalized box, making it simple for staff to prepare while providing students with a fun, nutritious, and satisfying option that fits perfectly into busy school days.

Mealton's Lunchbox Turkey & Cheese Sandwich
Recipe By Crystal River High Schools
Our district has an official School Nutrition mascot named Mealton the Meerkat. At the elementary-level, we will offer a daily Mealton's Lunchbox, which will feature some type of cold item like a sandwich or wrap. We always include a small snack, like Cheez-It® or Kellogg's® SCOOBY-DOO! Sticks. This particular recipe includes a Turkey and Cheese Sandwich, a 2 oz. bag of apple slices, and Cheez-It® Crackers. This lunchbox consist of a reimbursable meal; students may also select a milk and 2 vegetables.
Contest Overview

Who Can Participate:
Open to K-12 School Nutrition operators across the U.S. (not affiliated with Chartwells, Sodexo or Aramark).
How to Enter:
1. Start with one or more of the participating Cheez-It® Made With Whole Grain or Kellogg's® Graham crackers (see full list of participating products in Contest Rules below).
2. Incorporate the crackers as a primary ingredient into a recipe or concept for your School Breakfast, National School Lunch, A La Carte Smart Snack or Afterschool Snack menu.
3. Submit your entry through the Entry Form below by September 26, providing:
-
- Up to two images of the completed recipe
- The recipe name
- A short description (up to 100 words) of the preparation method
Finalist Selection:
Submissions must be compliant with USDA School Breakfast, National School Lunch, Smart Snacks or Afterschool Snack requirements.
Finalists will be selected from all submissions based on:
- Receiving a clear quality photo of a single serving of the prepared concept (50%)
- Concept captures the deliciousness of the featured brand (i.e., participating product/s) through the recipe image and/or recipe name (25%)
- Culinary creativity of the recipe (25%)
How to Cast Your Vote:
Once finalists are selected, their submission photo and recipe will be posted to the Kellanova Away From Home K-12 website (from October 6, 2025 to October 17, 2025) and you can cast your vote for your favorite submission.
List of Participating Products:
24100-79263 Cheez-It® Made with 9g Whole Grain Crackers, Original 175ct/ 0.75oz
24100-10480 Cheez-It® Made with 12g Whole Grain Crackers, Original 60ct/ 1oz
30100-12956 Kellogg's®Scooby-Doo!™ Baked Graham Cracker Snacks Chocolate- 210 ct. / 1 oz.
30100-50689 Kellogg's®Scooby-Doo!™ Baked Graham Cracker Snacks Cinnamon- 210 ct. / 1 oz.
30100-55644 Kellogg's® Bug Bites®Cinnamon Grahams- 210 ct. / 1 oz.
30100-40213 Kellogg's® Tiger Bites Granola Grahams Original / Honey- 150 ct. / 1 oz.
30100-12695 Kellogg's® ChatSnax Vanilla Crunch Grahams- 210 ct. / 1 oz.
38000-29476 Eggo® Original Grahams Crackers- 100 ct. / 1.74 oz.
38000-24520 Eggo® Cinnamon French Toast Grahams Crackers- 100 ct. / 1.76 oz.
30100-91822 Kellogg's® Honey Grahams- 3 ct. - 150 ct. / 3 ct.
30100-91829 Kellogg's® Original Grahams 3 ct. - 150 ct. / 3 ct.
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Participating Products Include:
Recipe Voting Form
Entry Form Countdown
How Do You Crunch? Recipe Contest Entry Form

Important Notices:
KELLANOVA® K-12 HOW DO YOU CRUNCH? CONTEST
Abbreviated Rules. Contest entry begins on 7/14/25 at 12:00:00 AM (ET) and entry ends on 9/26/25 at 11:59:59 PM (ET); and Public Voting ends on 10/17/25 (“Contest Period”). Open only to foodservice operators (K-12) that are not affiliated with Chartwells, Sodexo or Aramark; purchase and sell any of the Participating Products; are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia; are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry; and are in good standing with the Sponsor during the Contest Period and at the time of awarding of any prize. Go to info.kellanovaawayfromhome.com/how-do-you-crunch for how to enter, prize descriptions / restrictions and complete Official Rules. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Kellanova, One Kellogg Square, South Tower, Battle Creek, MI 49016.
© 2025 Kellanova