Commander in Chef!

Commander in Chef! Recipes inspired by our nation’s presidents

George Washington | Cornmeal Pancakes

Cornmeal pancakes, also known as hoe cakes or Johnny cakes, were staples in colonial America — and a favorite of George’s. Time-travel back to the American Revolution with this easy recipe!
Make cornmeal buttermilk pancakes with blueberry-pear syrup

Barack Obama | Obama Burgers

Current prez Barack Obama popularized hamburger places like Five Guys and former Top Chef contestant Spike Mendelsohn’s Good Eats restaurant. In fact, he caused such a stir at Spike’s eatery that they named this blue cheese burger after the president.
Make Obama burgers

FDR | Grilled Cheese

It’s said that some of FDR’s favorite eats in the White House were fish, scrambled eggs, and the all-American grilled cheese (we hope not all at once!). Even those on a diet can enjoy FDR’s beloved sandwich with this skinny grilled cheese.
Make skinny grilled cheese

Ronald Reagan | Mac and Cheese

All that presidential work demands some comfort food! Ronald Reagan loved classic macaroni and cheese, so we’ve got eight ways for you to whip it up. It’s for historical research, right?
Make mac and cheese 8 ways    

Lyndon B. Johnson | Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows

LBJ reportedly enjoyed sweet potatoes with marshmallows during his term as president. Get the same flavors of a sweet potato casserole and avoid all that chopping and mashing with this easy, baked recipe.
Make baked sweet potatoes with marshmallow pecan topping    

Gerald Ford | Crockpot Pot Roast

While former president Gerald Ford’s favorite dessert was butter pecan ice cream, his dinner of choice is said to have been pot roast and red cabbage. Make your own version (even if you don’t have the skills of a White House chef) by letting ingredients simmer all day in a slow cooker.
Make crockpot pot roast

Jimmy Carter | Grits

While in the White House, the Carter family entertained guests with plenty of Southern hospitality — and grits were a staple. (Plus, Carter and VP Mondale were often referred to as “Grits and Fritz”.) Act like the Carters did, and serve up this hearty meal for breakfast or dinner.
Make shrimp and grits

George H. W. Bush | Huevos Rancheros

Native Texan George H. W. Bush was reportedly a big fan of hot sauce, putting it on everything from eggs to pork rinds. On Sundays, he managed to sneak more spice into his diet with huevos rancheros. We’ve lightened the dish up a bit, but it’s still got a kick to it.
Make healthy huevos rancheros  

Dwight D. Eisenhower | Vegetable Beef Soup

Eisenhower was huge fan of a simple, meaty vegetable soup. Make your own version at home, using all the veggies you have left in the fridge!
Make Italian vegetable beef soup

Thomas Jefferson | Sweet Potato Biscuits

The nation’s second president was said to be the first to grow sweet potatoes in the U.S. Eat like one of the founding fathers with these sweet potato biscuits. They’re vegan, so even dairy-free patriots can enjoy!
Make sweet potato biscuits    

John F. Kennedy | Clam Chowder

The Kennedy family history is long entrenched in Massachusetts, where JFK was born, attended Harvard, and got his start in politics — so it’s no surprise that New England clam chowder was often his choice for lunch in the White House. Whip up this hearty “chowdah” and break out your best “Bahston” accent to celebrate our 35th president!
Make clam chowder

Bill Clinton | Portobello Cheeseburgers

Bill Clinton was notorious for turning his nose up at the healthy meals prepared by the White House chef in favor of greasy fast food cheeseburgers. Of course, Clinton also underwent a quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 — so we’d recommend this healthier recipe for Portobello cheeseburgers instead of a trip to Mickey D’s.
Make Portobello cheeseburgers

Andrew Jackson | Kale and Cheddar Strata

Andrew Jackson reportedly served a 1,400 pound wheel of cheddar cheese at his presidential inauguration in 1829. Even more shocking, the entire wheel was consumed in less than 2 hours! Embrace Jackson’s taste (but not his extravagance) with this healthy kale and cheddar strata — a perfect make-ahead dish for any meal.
Make kale and cheddar strata

Abraham Lincoln | Gingerbread Cupcakes

Although he was far from a foodie (and often had to be reminded to eat!), Lincoln had fond memories of his modest upbringing in rural Kentucky and, particularly, his mother’s gingerbread. These star-topped gingerbread cupcakes are especially festive for President’s Day!
Make gingerbread cupcakes