A brilliant and comprehensive collection of recipes that will ensure you'll never waste leftovers again.
My first thought combing through Tonight’s Dinner, Tomorrow’s Lunchbox was the vast amount of recipe options. With so many dishes to explore, from old faithful favourites to intriguing newbies, the decision paralysis is real. But first world problems aside, this cookbook from George Georgievski, the face behind @schoollunchbox, is nothing short of genius. The concept, which takes the leftovers from the dinner recipes and transforms them into lunch-friendly alternatives, stands out in the saturated cookbook market for good reason. It reduces waste without forcing the reader to eat the same meals on repeat, and aligns with Georgievski’s budget-friendly approach to cooking.
The recipes are categorised into six chapters: Fast Sub-20 Minutes, Fakeaway, Kickin’ Chicken, Only Pans, Around the World, and Roast Rituals. Each chapter features dinner recipes that are then transformed into lunch-ready recipes using leftovers, and some real creativity. For example, the Bolognese recipe (page 94) turns into Italian Tacos (page 97), and Stuffed Peppers for the Soul (page 129) becomes Sausage Rolls, Kind Of (page 130). Few people might have thought to elevate leftovers like this, but it works.
Naturally, this is the kind of cookbook that is useful for the head of a busy household, trying to plan for multiple dinners and lunches at once. The dinners can please a crowd of fussy eaters, while the lunches are lunchbox-friendly. However, even if no one in your house is going to school, the assortment of hot and cold dishes, from a range of cuisines, makes this book a keeper. The recipes are also presented with easy, conversational instructions and suggestions, allowing the reader to adapt as they see fit.
Satay chicken (it’s peanut butter really) (page 76)
We love recipes that look impressive on the plate but take little to no effort in the kitchen. Enter Georgievski’s version of satay chicken. Literally ready in minutes, this dish was bursting with nutty notes. I didn’t have any fish sauce, which was optional, but found that there was enough flavour without it. To turn this into lunch, the author recommends Satay Chicken Puri (page 79), which is a variation of the popular deep-fried Indian street food.
Aussie BC (Butter chicken) (page 65)
This had a delicious depth of flavour. Not one for the lactose-intolerant, it was rich and creamy, and an ideal addition to the winter warming rotations. The chef’s note recommends thigh for the tastiest protein, but I went with breast and didn’t find it dry at all. This was another quick one, other than the time you should allow for the chicken to marinate, so it’s definitely going into the weekly food planning. For lunch, the leftovers can become Butter Chicken Pies (page 66) with additions of puff pastry, naan bread, and more butter, because why not?
It’s GYG-Style Beef Tacos, Baby (page 50)
An oldie but a goodie, beef tacos will forever be a Tuesday staple. Georgievski’s version takes inspiration from Guzman Y Gomez with the spicy flavouring of the taco shells, which was a small but powerful difference that totally upgraded this dish. This is also a good one if you don’t want to use pre-packaged Mexican spice mixes, which can sometimes include preservatives. These tacos call for simple lettuce, tomato, and cheese toppings, but there are so many ways you could adapt this. Interestingly, the matching lunch recipe is GYG-Style Spring Roll Sandwiches (page 53) which the author describes as ‘unlike anything you have ever seen anywhere.’ The leftover taco mince is spread onto bread and rolled up, then coated in crushed corn chips for an incredibly innovative lunch.
Reviewed by Vanessa Elle
Instagram: @vanessaellewrites
The views expressed in this review belong to the author and not Glam Adelaide, its affiliates, or employees.
Distributed by: Murdoch Books
Released: August 2026
RRP: $29.99
