The Best Back to School Dinners

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. 

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. 

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!). 

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. 

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!

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. 

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

• No Bake Pie Recipes
• Family Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
• Best Casserole Recipes