The Recipe of the Year competition celebrates the creativity, innovation and resourcefulness of school tuckshops. It showcases the delicious recipes that have been tried, tested and loved by school communities, all created with passion, ingenuity and often limited kitchen facilities.
The Recipe of the Year competition is funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland as part of the Healthier Tuckshops program delivered by QAST.
2026 Recipe of the Year winners
Congratulations to Camira State School tuckshop convenor Dana Sides, winner of QAST’s 2026 Recipe of the Year competition for her Karaage Chicken and Rice Bowl.
Dana was recognised on Wednesday, 16 September, alongside the QAST team, representatives from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the school principal, Pam, and Dana’s tuckshop team and volunteers.
For taking out top prize, Dana received a $2,000 Nisbets voucher, thanks to funding from Health and Wellbeing Queensland.
The winning recipe
Camira State School’s Karaage Chicken and Rice Bowl, created by tuckshop convenor Dana Sides, puts a healthier spin on a popular takeaway favourite.
This Japanese-inspired dish has become a sell-out Thursday special with students and staff. It sells for $5 for a small serve and $7.50 for a large serve.
At just $2.27 per bowl to make, the recipe also delivered on the competition’s small-budget brief.
Meet the runner-up
Runner-up honours went to Cannonvale State School tuckshop convenor Margaret Clark for her Chicken Ball Wrap.
The recipe takes a familiar student favourite, chicken nuggets, and gives it a fresh and nutritious tuckshop makeover. Margaret’s homemade chicken balls are served in a wholegrain wrap with fresh salad ingredients, creating a colourful meal students can easily eat on the go.
Judges praised the freshness, flavour and balance of crunchy chicken with fresh vegetables, with one judge describing the chicken meatballs as “full of flavour”.
Thank you, Margaret, for your commitment to your school and students.
Best Snack of 2026
Kalkie State School’s Melanie Verwimp took out the Best Snack category with her Ruby Red Banana Bread.
Melanie’s win marks her second time reaching the Recipe of the Year finals, after previously being named a finalist in 2024. Her latest creation puts a fresh spin on a much-loved tuckshop classic and highlights the creativity happening in school tuckshops across Queensland.
Judges described the banana bread as tasty and praised it as a “nice healthy spin on banana bread”.
Celebrating tuckshop creativity across Queensland
Thank you to every tuckshop convenor who submitted a recipe creation this year. The entries showcased the creativity, resourcefulness and commitment of school tuckshops across Queensland.
QUT nutrition and dietetics students Jordan and Phoebe worked behind the scenes to recreate eight shortlisted recipes for the judging panel to taste.
The 2026 judging panel included Di Farmer MP, students Elise and Theo from Sherwood State Primary School, Noah from St Andrews Catholic School, Jordan from Mt Maria College Mitchelton, Ferny Grove State High School Canteen Manager Megan, Jess from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, Lachlan and Tegan from the Queensland Department of Education, Aaron from Pronto Packaging, and QAST representative Katie.
2026 Finalists
2026 recipe finalists:
- Red Chicken Pasta – Labrador State School
- Chicken Balls Wrap – Cannonvale State School
- Lasagne Burrito – Ferny Hills State School
- Mexican Chicken Pasta – Nanango State High School
- Karaage Chicken and Rice Bowl – Camira State School
2026 best snack finalists:
- Strawberry Pancake Bites – Rochedale State School
- Ruby Red Banana Bread – Kalkie State School
- Chocolate Tahini Bliss Balls – Oonoonba State School
2026 Key Dates
Monday, 20 July – Entries open
Monday, 31 August – Entries close
Tuesday, 1 September – Finalists shortlisted
Wednesday, 9 September – Judging and final deliberations
Wednesday, 16 September – Winner announced
Congratulations to Coombabah State School tuckshop convener, Jennifer Munro, for winning our 2025 Recipe of the Year competition with their recipe for the Taco Roll.
Bursting with fresh veggies, lean protein, and a kick of Mexican-inspired flavour, Coombabah State School’s Taco Roll has taken out first place in the Recipe of the Year competition.
Inspired by the much-loved taco, this innovative creation by tuckshop convenor, Jennifer Munro, takes all the best bits – seasoned fillings, delicious vegetables, melty cheese and a hint of spice – and wraps them into a golden roll that’s both fun and convenient for busy school days.
2025 Runner-Up
Taking out second place was Mary Anne’s Fried Rice from Hatton Vale State School; a recipe that wowed judges with its fresh flavours, hearty serving of vegetables and student-friendly appeal.
Mary Anne’s Fried Rice is a fantastic example of how a simple, affordable dish can be transformed into a tuckshop favourite. It’s colourful, nutritious and absolutely delicious – the kind of meal that will keep students fuelled and focused for the day.
2025 Finalists
- Mac & Cheese – Logan Reserve State School (Logan)
- Taco Roll – Coombabah State School (Gold Coast)
- Colour Changing Edible Vermicelli Noodle Salad – St John’s Catholic School, Walkerston (Mackay)
- Easy Soy & Garlic Teriyaki Chicken Bowl – Oonoonba State School (Townsville)
- Healthy Two-Minute Noodles – Oonoonba State School (Townsville)
- Mary Anne’s Fried Rice – Hatton Vale State School (Lockyer Valley)
- Baked Potato with Savoury Mince – Yeronga State School (Brisbane)
Congratulations to Bayview State School tuckshop conveners, Candice and Lisa, for winning our 2024 Recipe of the Year competition with their recipe for Creamy Vegetable Pasta.
The win has proven third time lucky for Thornlands’ dynamic tuckshop duo who have been competition finalists for the last three years. The panel of judges applauded their clever use of vegetables to create an appealing, nutritious meal for Queensland kids, that doesn’t hurt the hip pocket.
Thank you to all the tuckshop convenors who submitted their recipe creations this year. We were inspired by your creativity and resourcefulness.
Our dedicated QUT nutrition and dietetics students, Sarah and Jane, worked behind the scenes to re-create 6 of the shortlisted recipes for our judges to taste.
The 2024 judging panel was comprised of Whites Hill College students, Jack, Ishani, Haylee and Blake, and Nina and Tristan from Buranda State School, plus tuckshop convenors Angelique from Southport State School and Kim from Yugumbir State School, Michelle from Bidfood, Sarah from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, and our QAST rep, Karen.
2024 Finalists
- Creamy Vegetable Pasta – Bay View State School
- Crustless Cottage Pie – Ipswich State High School
- Fish Burrito Bowl – Tannum Sands State School
- Pasta Bolognese – Kalkie State School
- Quiche Slice with Salad – Currumbin State School
- Teriyaki Chicken, Rice and Salad Bowl – Musgrave Hill State School
In the news
The 2024 Recipe of the Year was covered in media across Queensland, as well as nation-wide, including:
- ABC News
- ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast – Winner interview (1.41.24 onwards )
- Brisbane Times
- The Courier-Mail
- Education Daily
- Bundaberg Today
- ABC Radio – Brisbane Mornings with Steve Austin
Congratulations to Southport State School Tuckshop Convenor, Angelique, for winning the 2023 Recipe of the Year competition with her Butter Chicken.
Thank you to all the tuckshop convenors who submitted their recipe creations in 2023. We were inspired by your creativity and resourcefulness.
Our dedicated QUT students, Felicity and Lachlan, worked behind the scenes to re-create 6 of the short-listed recipes for our judges to taste. Take a look at the full list of finalists below or check out what the judges had to say about them in this video.
The 2023 judging panel was comprised of a tuckshop convenor at a large high school, a dietitian from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, a representative from Catholic School Parents Queensland, two of our longstanding QAST Management Committee members, and importantly, two high school students, who brought a youthful perspective to the competition.
In the news
The 2023 Recipe of the Year was covered in media across Queensland, as well as nation-wide, including:
- ABC News – Winner interview
- Gold Coast Mornings – ABC – Winner interview (40.40 – 51.56)
- Sunshine Coast Mornings – ABC (44.50 – 51.55)
- Brisbane Mornings – ABC – Winner interview (58.55- 1.03.00)
- 7 News Brisbane
- 7 News Gold Coast
- 7 News Townsville
- 7Life
- Courier-Mail
- ABC Brisbane Radio (1.15.50 – 1:22:14)
- ABC Gold Coast Radio (40.37 – 51.0)
- Sunrise
- The Bursar
2023 Finalists
Congratulations to the 2023 Recipe of the Year finalists:
- Mexican Beef and Rice – Bay View State School (Thornlands)
- Rainbow Chicken Stir-Fry – Bay View State School (Thornlands)
- Super Easy Burrito – Currajong State School (Townsville)
- Butter Chicken – Southport State School (Gold Coast)
- Mexican Mince Mini Cob – Highfields State School (Darling Downs)
- Ferny Nourish Bowl – Ferny Grove State High School (Brisbane)
2022 Winner
Congratulations to Dalby South State School Tuckshop Convener, Raelene Akers for winning our 2022 Recipe of the Year competition with her recipe for Sweet and Sour Chicken.
Raelene has won a commercial quality counter-top grill thanks to funding from Health and Wellbeing Queensland. We’re sure she will put it to great use in her tuckshop!
Thank you to all the tuckshop convenors who submitted their recipe creations this year. We were inspired by your creativity and resourcefulness.
Our dedicated QUT students, Merita and Sammie, worked behind the scenes to re-create 6 of the short-listed recipes for our judges to taste. Take a look at the full list of finalists below or check out what the judges had to say about them in this video.
The 2022 judging panel was comprised of representatives from Health and Wellbeing Queensland, P&Cs Qld, and the Department of Education. We were also thrilled to be joined by two local school students, Greer and Hugh, who brought a youthful perspective to the competition.
2022 finalists
We were blown away by the calibre of entrants in this year’s Recipe of the Year competition.
It was a hard task but after much deliberation, we narrowed it down to just 6 finalists to prepare and present to the panel of judges.
Check out the recipes:
- Beef Burrito – Bay View State School
- Kim’s Superfood Salad – Yugumbir State School
- Greek Chicken Bowl – Caravonica State School
- Moroccan Jewel Salad – Coombabah State School
- Chickpea and Sweet Potato Curry – Cavendish Road State High School
In the news
The 2022 Recipe of the Year was covered in media across Queensland, including:
- WIN News Toowoomba
- ABC Online
- Breakfast with David Iliffe – ABC Southern Queensland (38.47 to 46.26)
- Drive with Richard Glover – ABC Sydney (23:35 – 29:33)
- Studio 10 – 24 August 2022
The Recipe of the Year is funded by the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland as part of the ongoing Healthier Tuckshops program delivered by QAST.
