The Pioneer Woman Makes These 'Portable Lunches' During Busy Family Days & The Prep Only Takes 15 Minutes

As our plans ramp up this time of year, it feels like we’re going out to eat more than ever. And sometimes, we just want an on-the-go lunch that is homemade (and saves extra cash for more holiday gifts!). Ree Drummond (aka, The Pioneer Woman) has a go-to recipe for busy days with her family, and it only takes 15 minutes to whip up before an outing. Yes, please!

Because we don’t always have time to run home and prepare something in the middle of the day, Drummond says, “portable lunches always come in handy” in a video on Food Network’s YouTube Channel. She shared one of her go-to recipes (and one of her husband’s “favorite”): 5-Star Ranch Chicken Sandwiches!

Start by frying bacon on the stove until it’s “just barely crisp.” Take it off the heat and let it drain, while preparing Drummond’s honey mustard marinade for the chicken. This includes honey, lemon juice, paprika, and more ingredients, which Drummond whisks together. She adds four chicken breasts (sliced in half) to the marinade and takes them to the grill. “I love this marinade,” she says, adding how the ingredients give it “sweetness,” “a nice tang,” and “a little bit spicy.”  

As the chicken grills, she adds some bacon grease from earlier to the top, and we’re practically salivating over our screens because this sounds so good. The bacon and freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese goes on top as the chicken finishes grilling, which will make them melty and good. When it’s done, she puts the chicken on a whole wheat bun and wraps it in foil to stay hot. It’s perfect to bundle up before getting in the car or bringing for your lunch at work!

In the comments, people shared that the sandwiches look “delicious,” but many people had one tweak: that she add some ranch dressing to the buns. Like one person put it, “She forgot about the ranch dressing, trying to get those sandwiches out to her hungry family! That’s ok, they enjoyed the sandwiches and that’s all that counts !” Of course, you can put ranch on yours or any other sauce if you want the sandwich to be extra moist.  

While regular snack lunches are fine, we love this hot and delicious option from The Pioneer Woman that’s both easy to prep and easy to eat on the go. Get Drummond’s full 5-Star Ranch Chicken Sandwich recipe HERE.

Before you go, check out Ina Garten’s easy weeknight dinner recipes below: