24 Recipes We Learned from Teachers

Peanut Butter Cookie Cups

I'm a busy schoolteacher and pastor's wife. I wouldn't dare show my face at a church dinner or bake sale without these tempting peanut butter treats. They're quick, easy to make and always a hit. —Kristi Tackett, Banner, Kentucky

County Fair Cherry Pie

This cherry pie is so easy! I'm a teacher and a Navy wife, so simplicity and quickness are both mealtime musts at our house. —Claudia Youmans, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Bacon-Sausage Quiche Tarts

As a teacher, I attend many meetings and also have special celebrations with rest of the staff. The other teachers are very fond of this treat and often request that I bring it to our functions. —Jackie Milliken, Pittsboro, North Carolina

Skillet-Roasted Lemon Chicken with Potatoes

This is a meal I have my students make in our nutrition unit. It has a delicious lemon-herb flavor and is simple to make. —Mindy Rottmund, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Cranberry Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

When I place a pan of these bars in the teachers' lounge and come back after the last bell, the pan is always empty. I'd say that's a good thing. White chocolate chips and cranberries make them extra special. —Mirella Hackett, Chandler, Arizona

Sizzling Chicken Lo Mein

All the high school students at the school where I work love this scrumptious chicken dish. It is the most requested recipe I have. —Kris Campion, Marshall, Minnesota

Hot Cheese Dip

When a colleague brought this cheesy dip to school for a teachers potluck, I immediately gave it an A+. I had to have the recipe for this irresistibly creamy dish! —Ardyce Piehl, Poynette, Wisconsin

Tomato Hamburger Soup

As a full-time teacher, I only have time to cook from scratch a few nights each week. This slow-cooker soup recipe makes a big enough batch to feed my family for two nights. —Julie Kruger, St. Cloud, Minnesota

Orange Dreams

A fellow teacher shared this recipe with me. We have several great cooks on our teaching staff, and each of us takes turns bringing special treats to the lounge. These moist, chewy cookies with a pleasant orange flavor are a favorite.—Susan Warren, North Manchester, Indiana

Spanakopita Pinwheels

I'm enthralled with spanakopita, and this spinach and feta pinwheel recipe was a quick and easy way to enjoy it. I have used this for teacher get-togethers and family events. —Ryan Palmer, Windham, Maine

Cheese Crispies

For years I’ve taken these crispy, crunchy snacks to work. They get high marks from everybody in the teachers lounge. —Eileen Ball, Cornelius, North Carolina

Quick Carbonara

Carbonara is a dinnertime classic, but my version cuts down on the time it takes to make. Loaded with ham, bacon, olives, garlic and Parmesan, it certainly doesn't skimp on flavor. —Carole Martin, Tallahassee, Florida

Mediterranean Turkey Panini

Panini are sandwiches that are pressed and toasted. I love making different panini recipes for my fellow teachers and friends. For potlucks, make several and cut them into fourths. The turkey panini sandwiches work well as an appetizer for any occasion. —Martha Muellenberg, Vermillion, South Dakota

Rich Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake

When I was a teacher, this recipe was recommended by one of my student's parents. I've made it so many times, I can't imagine hosting a brunch without it. Chocolate chips add sweet bursts of flavor to the rich and tender coffee cake. —Michelle Krzmarzick Torrance, California

Slow-Cooker Creamed Corn

I’m a teacher, and this is one of my go-to recipes for faculty potlucks. It’s perfect for holidays, too, when you’re looking for an easy, comforting dish that has just a little bit of bite. —Shelby Winters, Bonner Springs, Kansas

Meatballs in Barbecue Sauce

This recipe came from my home ec teacher in high school. I enjoy making it because you can throw it in the oven and still have time to do other things.—Yvonne Nave, Lyons, Kansas

Dipped Brownie Pops

I had to have a quick fundraiser at school for a student organization, so I made these brownie pops. The kids loved them and I sold over 200 in an afternoon. For s'mores brownie pops, add crushed graham crackers to the dipped chocolate. —Jamie Franklin, Murtaugh, Idaho

Hearty Sausage Minestrone

As a teacher, I appreciate quick and easy recipes. If I make this for just my husband and me, we have leftovers for lunches. But when there are more people at the table, every bit is eaten. —Tami Stoudt, Evans, Colorado

Sweet & Sassy Baby Back Ribs

My family loves this recipe and I always have to triple it when the entire gang is home. I usually have to make three to four slabs, because my family loves this and any leftover ribs taste great when reheated.—Terri Kandell, Addison, Michigan Teacher, Brooklyn Elementary, Brooklyn, Michigan

Apricot-Filled Sandwich Cookies

I bake these delightful cookies every year for Christmas and when I share a tray of my homemade treats with the faculty at school, these are always the first to disappear! I've even had requests to make them for wedding receptions.—Deb Lyon, Bangor, Pennsylvania

Veggie Sausage Strata

As a retired home economics teacher, I've made quite a few recipes through the years. This hearty casserole is a favorite in my family. —Dorothy Erickson, Blue Eye, Missouri

Turkey Salsa Bowls with Tortilla Wedges

Delicious and nutritious, this dish was a favorite of the kids who participated in the junior chef classes I taught at my church. The recipe encouraged creativity and healthy eating as students designed their own salsa bowls using whole grains, vegetables and lean protein. —Jean Gottfried, Upper Sandusky, Ohio

Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This recipe is so flavorful and fresh tasting. The teachers and staff at my school love it because it's fun to put together. —Laureen Pittman, Riverside, California

Crunchy Apple Mixed Greens Salad

Whenever our staff celebrates a birthday or a special occasion, "Mary's Apple Salad" is always at the top of the wish list! The ingredients can also be prepared the day before and put together in a flash for our teachers' 20 minute lunch time.—Mary Robertson, Louisville, Kentucky