Bbq pork.

Or smoked brisket. Over wood like a real man would do it, not the fake yuppie smokers.

I usually do bbq chicken or grilled chicken sausages

BBQ meatballs and Mac and cheese we always pair together.

Anonymous wrote:Pulled pork, which can be made ahead, roast chicken, or bbq brisket. Agree with PPs who suggested barbecue and comfort food meals that you often see paired with mac and cheese.

Yes, this is good and as PP said, can be done ahead so easily.

Anonymous wrote:You might as well go full basic and do hotdogs.

Ketchup on it all!

We do steak kabobs with bell peppers and onions.

I would do ham with leftovers available for sandwiches.

You might as well go full basic and do hotdogs.

Anonymous wrote:Ham.

This is what we do!

Or mac n cheese is lunch all by itself.

Anonymous wrote:If you go to the bother of making meat. Just skip the mac. Their loss. Greedy kids. Cheese is a proten. They will get full. Toads.

Let me guess, you have one 5 year old girl.

OP here. Thanks for so many good ideas. I’ll plan to make meatloaf or bbq pulled chicken- both will make for good lunch leftovers if it turns out everyone is happy with just mac and cheese. Thank you for the speedy replies!

I would check with your sister. Your husband would be wrong for my family. Kids would feast on Mac and cheese.

We don't often make protein with mac and cheese, but when we do it's either crockpot bbq chicken (2 lbs of chicken, bbq sauce, and a little maple syrup, cider cinegar, chipotle in adobo, garlic, and onion - on high for about 4 hours then low for a few more...you often need to add sauce. I like when it starts to get browned on the top edges.)

I have also been known to get a 30 pack of chicken nuggets from ChikFilA (you might do 30 + 12 or 30 x 2 depending on how much everyone eats).

I serve with a huge salad.

08:36 again. Or a can of spam. Or a pack of bologna.

If you go to the bother of making meat. Just skip the mac. Their loss. Greedy kids. Cheese is a proten. They will get full. Toads.