The Best Back-to-School Dinners for your busy weeknights. 30 minute dinner recipes, slow cooker recipes, kid-friendly casseroles, soup & chili recipes, and Instant Pot recipes. All these are family tested and approved. The best collection for quick and simple recipes, and dump & go recipes for weeknight dinners.
The Best Back To School Dinners
Welcome to this collection of easy, simple, dump & go, kid approved back to school dinner recipes! I have 4 kids in school this year plus all their after school activities like piano lessons and karate, so I know how crazy the weekdays can get! I always love having a list of recipes that I can count on for a quick dinner one night, or something that I can dump in the crock pot in the morning and then it's ready to go at dinner time.
I know this year is looking different for all of us so whether you are sending your kids back to school, doing online learning, or homeschooling, I truly hope this collection will help you.
The Ultimate Collection of Best Back To School Dinners
I have organized this huge collection of all the best recipes into sections to make it easier to navigate.
- 30 minute dinner recipes
- kid-friendly casserole recipes
- soup & chili recipes
- Instant Pot recipes
- slow cooker recipes
My #1 goal for this food blog is to help families eat together. I think it's so important to eat together even during busy weeknights. Maybe not everyone is there. Or maybe it's just one of those nights where the drive-through or takeout is the best you can do (which is just fine!) and you eat that together at the table. Trust me, we've done the fast food/takeout thing more times than I can count or care to admit 🙂
The point I am trying to make is that it does not matter what is on the table, home cooked meal or takeout, and it does not matter if there is fighting (hello welcome to my dinner table every night), or if the kids are whining about what they have to eat. What matters is that families eat together ♥ and that you try and make it a habit each night.
I have made each of these recipes dozens of time for my own family and I know your family will love them too.
- CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO BE TAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE RECIPE -
30 Minute Dinner Recipes
Family favorite, tried & tested, easy dinner recipes that all take 30 minutes or less! You can't beat a home cooked meal on a busy weeknight that is delicious and easy to make.
Some of our personal favorites are the pineapple teriyaki chicken meatballs, one pot turkey chili mac and cheese, and the baked parmesan chicken.
- CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD WRAPS
- BBQ BEEF PASTA SKILLET
- CHEESEBURGER BISCUIT CUPS
- HOMEMADE HAMBURGER HELPER
- PINEAPPLE CHICKEN TERIYAKI MEATBALLS
- PINEAPPLE TERIAYKI CHICKEN STIR FRY
- TURKEY TACO BURRITO BOWLS
- TERIYAKI TURKEY MEATBALLS
- 20 MINUTE CHICKEN STIR FRY
- BAKED HAM & CHEESE SLIDERS
- ONE PAN TACO PASTA
- TURKEY CHILI MAC & CHEESE
- GROUND BEEF TERIYAKI SKILLET
- BEEF TACO PASTA
- FRENCH BREAD PIZZA
- SANTA FE CHICKEN SALAD WRAPS
- BAKED GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN
- SKILLET CASHEW CHICKEN
- ONE POT CHICKEN ALFREDO PASTA
- EASY FISH TACOS
- QUICK & EASY CHICKEN FLAUTAS
- CHINESE CASHEW CHICKEN
- ONE POT CHICKEN BROCCOLI & RICE
- CHICKEN BURRITO SKILLET
- TERIYAKI CHICKEN RICE BOWLS
- GROUND CHICKEN BAKED TACOS
- CHEESY BEEF & RICE ENCHILADAS
- GREEN CHILI CHICKEN & CORN ENCHILADAS
- HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE
- FRENCH BREAD HOT CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
- ONE PAN CHICKEN TERIYAKI
- SKILLET CHICKEN RANCH FAJITAS
- CRISPY BAKED LEMON PARMESAN CHICKEN
- EASY GOULASH RECIPE
- CREAM CHEESE ALFREDO SAUCE
- FAJITA CHICKEN RICE BOWLS
- CRISPY SOUTHWEST SKILLET BURRITOS
- BAKED HONEY LIME CHICKEN TAQUITOS
- HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN & POTATOES
- 20 MINUTE BBQ BEEF RANCHERO TACOS
- BBQ TURKEY SLOPPY JOES
- HOMEMADE SPAGHETTI RECIPE
- TURKEY TACO RICE SKILLET
- PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLOPPY JOES
- CREAMY TOMATO BEEF PASTA
- PINEAPPLE CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES
- TURKEY TACO PASTA SKILLET
- BROCCOLI FETTUCCINE ALFREDO
- ONE POT PIZZA PASTA
Soup & Chili Recipes
With these soup recipes, stew recipes, and chili recipes dinner can be a hearty meal. I love to add some homemade 1 hour rolls or buy some rolls from your nearest bakery or grocery store.
My family cannot get enough of this hearty and rich minestrone soup and this fan favorite hamburger vegetable soup.
- MINESTRONE SOUP
- EASY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
- CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP
- CHEESY VEGETABLE CHOWDER
- BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP WITH VELVEETA
- CHICKEN TORTILLA VEGETABLE SOUP
- CREAMY CHICKEN WILD RICE SOUP
- TACO RANCH CHICKEN CHILI
- CHEESY TACO SOUP
- TURKEY CHII TACO SOUP
- TACO CHILI RECIPE
- 7 CAN CHICKEN TACO SOUP
- FAVORITE TACO SOUP
- EASY TACO SOUP
- CROCK POT CREAMY CHICKEN STEW
- SLOW COOKER POTATO SOUP
- CREAMY SOUTHWEST CHICKEN CHILI
- CREAM CHEESE CHICKEN SOUP
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN ENCHILADA SOUP
- BAKED BEAN & BEEF CHILI
- VEGETABLE BEEF NOODLE SOUP
- SLOW COOKER BEEF STEW
- PASTA FAGIOLI SOUP
- TOMATO HAMBURGER VEGETABLE SOUP
- CHEESEBURGER SOUP
- CREAMY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
- EASY VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP
Slow Cooker Recipes
Recipes that I can just throw into the slow cooker or crock pot in the morning are always my go-to for busy school weekdays. If you want the best creamy tacos around then be sure and make my honey lime salsa verde chicken tacos. So much flavor (unique too!).
- EASY SWEDISH MEATBALLS
- HONEY LIME SALSA VERDE RANCH CHICKEN TACOS
- SLOW COOKER CHILI CONEY DOGS
- SLOW COOKER SWEET & SOUR MEATBALLS
- ROOT BEER BBQ SHREDDED CHICKEN
- HONEY LIME CHICKEN BURRITO BOWLS
- SLOW COOKER TEX MEX CHICKEN
- CROCK POT FRITOS TACO BOWLS
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN ENCHILADA TACOS
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN QUESO TACOS
- CROCK POT TURKEY SLOPPY JOES
- SLOW COOKER ASIAN SESAME CHICKEN
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN TACO BURRITO BOWLS
- SLOW COOKER CREAMY ITALIAN CHICKEN
- SLOW COOKER CREAMY FIESTA CHICKEN
- SLOW COOKER HONEY TERIYAKI CHICKEN
- SLOW COOKER CHICKEN COCONUT CURRY
- CROCKPOT TERIYAKI CHICKEN
- SLOW COOKER MONGOLIAN CHICKEN
- ITALIAN SAUSAGE & BEEF SPAGHETTI SAUCE
- SWEET GARLIC CHICKEN
- EASY SLOW COOKER SPAGHETTI & MEATBALLS
- SLOW COOKER HONEY GLAZED HAM
Kid-Friendly Casserole Recipes
Casseroles are an all-in-one dinner options that pleases the entire family. We can't get enough of this fiesta chicken casserole (it's mild but can easily be adapted to spicy) and this spaghetti casserole.
You can even prep most casseroles in the morning and refrigerate them until dinner. Just be sure and add a few minutes to the cook time because the casserole will be cold when you put into the oven.
- FIESTA CHICKEN CASSEROLE
- TAQUITO CASSEROLE
- TACO BISCUIT BAKE
- CREAMY BEEF NOODLE BAKE
- CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE
- CHICKEN ENCHILADA RICE CASSEROLE
- CHEESY TACO SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
- BAKED ZITI PASTA
- BBQ BEEF SLOPPY JOE TATER TOT CASSEROLE
- BAKED SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE
- CHICKEN POT PIE TATER TOT CASSEROLE
- MACARONI & CHEESE HAM CASSEROLE
- HAM & BROCCOLI RICE CASSEROLE
- BURRITO LASAGNA
- PEPPERONI PIZZA BISCUIT CASSEROLE
- CHEESEBURGER TATER TOT CASSEROLE
- EASY TACO CASSEROLE
- BREAKFAST SAUSAGE CASSEROLE
INSTANT POT RECIPES
I love cooking an easy back to school dinner with my Instant Pot! The one we make most often, weekly actually, is this instant pot baked ziti. So creamy, cheesy, and it literally turns out perfect each time. No burn notice here!
- PERFECT BAKED ZITI
- INSTANT POT CORN & POTATO CHOWDER
- INSTANT POT LAZY LASAGNA
- INSTANT POT SANTA FE CHICKEN BURRITO BOWLS
- INSTANT POT CASHEW CHICKEN
- INSTANT POT HONEY CHICKEN
Bonus : Try These Kid Favorite After School Snack Recipes!
My kids know that if we ever have ripe bananas then these cinnamon banana bread muffins will be made! For a sweeter treat my kids always love a fun surprise of giant m&m cookies and giant oatmeal chocolate chip cookies after school.
- BEST M&M COOKIES
- CINNAMON SUGAR DONUT MUFFINS
- OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
- NO EGG CREAM CHEESE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
- 4 INGREDIENT ENERGY OATMEAL BALLS
- ONE BOWL APPLESAUCE MUFFINS
- MONSTER COOKIE ENERGY BALLS
- NO FLOUR MONSTER COOKIE BARS
- PEANUT BUTTER SURPRISE COOKIES
- OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP PEANUT BUTTER BARS
- OATMEAL CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD
- BEST HOMEMADE BROWNIES
- FUNFETTI CHEX MIX
- STEEL CUT OATMEAL ENERGY BITES
- CINNAMON SUGAR BANANA BREAD MUFFINS
- APPLESAUCE BREAD
- CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA MUFFINS
- BEST CLASSIC CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE RECIPE
- PEANUT BUTTER GREEK YOGURT APPLE DIP
- FUNFETTI CAKE BATTER COOKIE BARS
- PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD
- LEMON BLUEBERRY BANANA BREAD
- REESE'S STUFFED MONSTER COOKIES
Try These Other Easy Dinner Recipes
- Simple & Easy Stuffed Shells Recipe - Cooking with Karli
- Pizza Noodle Casserole - Belly Full
- Slow Cooker Parmesan Chicken & Rice - Plain Chicken
For More Recipe Collections Check Out These
They all look so amazing!!! I made your crispy southwestern chicken burritos for dinner last week for my family! We are LOVED them!!! I can't wait to try out all of these recipes this school year!!!
Thank you SO much! You're so sweet. I am so glad the burritos were a hit. We love them too 🙂 Even with all the food being made in my kitchen, I still make all these dinners at least monthly. They are our favorites so I hope they help!
Where did the Summer go?! Back to school dinners are busy so this list will be great to grab ideas from!
Summer always goes way too fast. We don't start school here until after labor day this year so I guess we still have a bit 🙂
I haven't tried any yet but printed some out to use these week for my kids and I! Thank you so much for all of these- you're saving me this week! The recipes are so great and simple yet when I go to the grocery store I have no clue what to make 95 percent of time!
So happy you’re going to try them! I hope you and the kids like the recipes!