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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! – Best Dinner Ideas For Busy Weeknights
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 karate, sports, appointments, and ortho visits 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 always recommend planning 3-4 dinners at a time, going shopping for the ingredients or do a grocery pick-up (my preferred way), and then organizing each dinner inside a plastic bin in your pantry. Print out the recipe and add it inside the bin. This way, you are ready to go with everything you need to complete the recipe.
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.
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. I truly hope you find some new favorite dinner ideas for those busy back to school weeknights.
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.
Ground Beef Sheet Pan Quesadillas
Oven Baked Sheet Pan Quesadillas are the easiest way to make quesadillas for your family or a large group! Ground beef, salsa, taco seasoning, flour tortillas, and lots of shredded cheese are baked between two sheet pans for that iconic golden crispy exterior.
Spaghetti Boats
Spaghetti Boats are a fun & delicious dinner idea that everyone will love. Buttery garlic French bread is hallowed out like a ‘boat’ and filled with an easy ground beef spaghetti that starts with a jar of pasta sauce. These pasta filled bread boats are a family favorite meal.
Easy Garlic Parmesan Pasta
Easy Garlic Parmesan Pasta is a family favorite 20 minute dinner recipe! This is my family’s most loved & requested recipe. Pasta noodles covered in a creamy garlic parmesan white sauce. Perfectly hearty and filling as a meatless dinner or serve it as a side dish.
Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe
Your family will love this Easy Spaghetti Sauce Recipe that’s quick to make with convenient canned ingredients and dried seasonings. It tastes like it has simmered for hours, when really it only takes 20 minutes! Serve over spaghetti pasta noodles and garnish with parmesan cheese for a family favorite dinner.
Southwest Chicken Pasta (With Penne Pasta)
One Pot Southwest Chicken Pasta – This ultra comforting one-pot chicken pasta recipe is loaded with Tex-Mex flavor, the most amazing creamy sauce, and plenty of cheese. It couldn't be simpler, and your whole family will love it for any night of the week.
Creamy Ground Beef Flautas (Oven Baked)
These Ground Beef Flautas are sure to be a dinnertime hit! Flour tortillas rolled up with a creamy & cheesy ground beef mixture and then baked in the oven until crispy. No need for a deep fryer with this easy dinner idea.
BBQ Turkey Sloppy Joes
Turkey Sloppy Joes make for an easy dinner idea for busy weeknights that’s ready in 20 minutes. Tangy & sweet with ground turkey, onion, dried seasonings, tomato sauce, and brown sugar bbq sauce. Kids of all ages (and adults too!) will love these sweet and smokey sloppy joes.
Taco Biscuit Bake
I am sure everybody has a few dinner recipes that you can always count on. You know the ones I am talking about? Where the kids will actually eat it! Easy prep and minimal ingredients. This taco biscuit bake is one of my tried & true dinner recipes.
Easy Beef Teriyaki Skillet
Beef Teriyaki Skillet is an easy dinner with only 6 ingredients and it’s all made in just one pot. Lean ground beef, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic are all you need for this super easy dinner recipe. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.
Ground Turkey Tacos (Ground Turkey Taco Meat)
Ground Turkey Tacos are a quick & easy dinner recipe that is ready to eat in just 15 minutes. Ground turkey taco meat with taco seasonings, salsa, black beans, and ground turkey. Serve in soft flour tortillas or crunchy corn taco shells, and top with all your favorite taco toppings.
Lemon Parmesan Chicken
Lemon Parmesan Chicken has the best crispy coating that actually stays on! Chicken breasts, fresh lemon juice, garlic, Italian breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, eggs, and parmesan cheese make for the perfect crispy coating on chicken. It’s a family favorite!
Baked Double Decker Tacos
Baked Double Decker Tacos are so easy to make at home! Soft flour tortilla layered with refried beans, a crunchy corn shell in the middle, and then the tacos are filled with perfectly seasoned and creamy ground beef, cheese, and all your favorite taco toppings.
Easy Chicken Curry (One Pan Recipe)
Easy Chicken Curry is made in just one pan on the stove top! Dinner can be ready in as little as 30 minutes with this deliciously quick and easy chicken curry recipe. Chunks of chicken are seasoned with a blend of curry spices and then simmers in a coconut milk base.
Chicken Pillows
Quick and easy Chicken Pillows can be on the dinner table in less than 30 minutes! Chicken, dried seasonings, and green onion covered in cream cheese and rolled inside a buttery crescent roll. Top it off with seasoned breadcrumbs and bake.
One Pot Pizza Pasta
One pot pizza pasta is a family favorite dinner that is ready in just 30 minutes! Ground beef, green pepper, mini pepperoni, small shell pasta simmer in a seasoned pizza sauce beef broth base.
One Pot Taco Pasta
Taco Pasta is made in one pot with just a few simple ingredients. Ground beef, seasonings, salsa, and pasta noodles cook in one pot on the stove. Cheesy taco pasta is a simple, 30 minute dinner recipe that is sure to be a hit.
Ground Beef Teriyaki Rice Bowls
Ground Beef Teriyaki is an easy ground beef dinner recipe that simmers in a homemade teriyaki sauce, broccoli, and carrots. Serve over rice for delicious teriyaki rice bowls. Using ground beef makes it a more affordable way to make beef teriyaki.
One Pot Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice
Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice is an easy dinner recipe that is made in one pot on the stove. With only 6 simple ingredients like chicken, broccoli, rice, chicken broth, and cheddar cheese it can be on the table in just 30 minutes.
Chicken Burrito Skillet
This chicken burrito skillet cooks up in one pot on the stove top and it’s everything you love about a chicken burrito but without the tortilla and made in 30 minutes in one skillet pan. Chunks of chicken, black beans, diced tomatoes, and rice cooks in seasoned chicken broth.
Cheeseburger Biscuit Cups
Cheeseburger Biscuit Cups are a kid-approved and family favorite dinner with refrigerated biscuits topped with Velveeta cheese and ground beef cheeseburger mixture! Simple ingredients, easy to prepare, and it’s a 30 minute dinner.
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs (Crispy Chicken Thighs Recipe)
Learn how to make these easy, crispy, and flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Thighs with just a couple of dried seasonings and oil. In 30 minutes you’ll have the most juicy and crispy skin chicken thighs you’ve ever tasted!
White Sauce Penne Pasta
Looking for a quick & easy pasta recipe that is sure to become a family favorite? Try our delicious White Sauce Penne Pasta with a creamy, rich, homemade white sauce that is ready for the dinner table in under 30 minutes!
Chili Mac Recipe
Enjoy this quick & easy Chili Mac Recipe for dinner tonight with only 6 ingredients! Starts with a box of deluxe macaroni and cheese, ground beef, beans, and seasonings. This 30 minute meal is always a hit with my family.
Quick BBQ Ham Sandwiches
Quick & easy BBQ Ham Sandwiches are a family favorite with slices of tender ham simmered in a semi-homemade bbq sauce. Serve over buns and with provolone cheese for the best 30 minute dinner.
Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon
Air Fryer Lemon Garlic Salmon is a bright & fresh, flavorful, healthy main dish seafood recipe that takes only 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer! Easy and fast to make for a weeknight dinner.
Homemade Spaghetti Recipe
This homemade spaghetti recipe is always something that we can agree on for dinner! Easy to make, spaghetti noodles that the kids can twirl with a fork , and something that the entire family loves. It’s a homemade ground beef spaghetti sauce that simmers on the stove top.
One Pan Chicken Teriyaki
This recipe for Chicken Teriyaki is made in just one pan and it’s ready for dinner in just 30 minutes! Chunks of tender chicken simmer in a homemade teriyaki sauce that is sweet & savory. Serve this teriyaki chicken over white rice, and garnish with green onions and sesame seeds for a delicious dinner that
Apricot Chicken (Easy One Pan Recipe)
Delicious easy-to-make Apricot Chicken in one skillet pan on the stove top. Chunks of chicken simmer in an easy homemade apricot sauce using apricot preserves, orange juice, and honey bbq sauce for tons of flavor with little effort. Your family will love this one pan dinner recipe!
BBQ Beef Tacos
You will love this flavorful twist to classic tacos with this easy, 20 minute BBQ Beef Tacos recipe! Ground beef simmers with dried seasonings, bbq sauce, corn, and baked beans for that classic sweet & smokey barbecue flavor. Serve inside crunchy corn taco shells and top with your favorite toppings. If you want more bbq
Easy Ground Beef Stroganoff
Ground Beef Stroganoff is an easy dinner recipe that comes together quickly with ground beef, a gravy packet for lots of flavor, sour cream, and cream of mushroom soup. It’s the easy way to make the classic comfort food beef stroganoff.
Ground Turkey Stroganoff
Turkey Stroganoff is a savory skillet meal combining ground turkey, hearty mushrooms, and a creamy sauce served over egg noodles. Enjoy a comforting dinner with an easy-to-follow recipe that is sure to satisfy your family's hunger.
Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes
Your family will love these extra cheesy Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes for dinner! Oven toasted hamburger buns topped with American cheese, and then piled high with a perfectly seasoned ground beef cheeseburger mixture with dill pickles. This 30 minute dinner recipe is kid-friendly and loved by all.
Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce
Homemade Cream Cheese Alfredo Sauce is always a family favorite and you only need a few simple ingredients to make it. This alfredo sauce recipe with cream cheese can be ready in just 15 minutes! Serve over pasta noodles for an easy dinner idea or use in any recipe that calls for alfredo sauce.
Honey Lime Chicken Taquitos
Crispy baked Honey Lime Chicken Taquitos are baked in the oven for that crispy exterior without deep frying! A sweet & spicy honey lime chicken mixture is wrapped inside flour tortillas. Make the really easy salsa verde dipping sauce for serving, and a delicious family dinner will be ready.
Skillet Ranch Chicken Fajitas
Ranch Chicken Fajitas are made in one skillet pan on the stove top! Chunks of seasoned chicken, onion, and bell pepper get covered in ranch dressing for a delicious twist to classic chicken fajitas. A quick and easy 30-minute dinner!
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls take 30 minutes to make and are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Ground chicken, broccoli, and carrots simmer on the stove top in a delicious and simple teriyaki sauce. Serve over rice and garnish with green onions!
Quick & Easy Chicken Flautas
These Chicken Flautas are a quick and easy dinner recipe that only take 10 minutes to prepare! This flautas recipe uses canned chicken (no one will ever know your secret!), dried seasonings, cream cheese, salsa, and shredded cheese for a fast dinner that everyone will love.
Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Your family will love this baked Parmesan chicken! Not only is it so easy to make but it’s a perfect way to dress up boring chicken breasts that also happen to be kid-friendly. This creamy baked Parmesan chicken calls for a few easy ingredients and it bakes up on a sheet pan.
Cheeseburger Sliders
Juicy, flavorful, beefy Cheeseburger Sliders are everything you love about a classic hamburger but in a small buttery slider bun! Ground beef and sautéed onion topped with melty American cheese. The best part is the seasoned buttery topping brushed over top the sliders.
Santa Fe Chicken Salad Wraps
Santa Fe Chicken Salad is a family favorite way to put on a classic chicken salad. Chunks of chicken, black beans, fresh vegetables, and corn are mixed with a creamy Santa Fe sauce. Wrap it up in large flour tortillas with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado slices.
French Bread Pizza
Are you ready for the quickest (and dare I say) yummiest pizza ever?! This french bread pizza is a 30 minute meal and one of my family’s favorite ways to eat pizza. The french bread base provides a thick & crunchy “crust” and then it’s topped with spicy pepperoni and melty mozzarella.
One Pot Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese
Turkey Chili Mac and Cheese is made in just one pot! Ground turkey chili with pinto beans cooks in a seasoned tomato sauce and chicken broth base with small shell pasta. Add lots of cheese for a cheesy and creamy mac and cheese with turkey chili!
Hot Chicken Salad French Bread Sandwiches
I have a list of 5 of my family’s favorite dinner recipes that are so easy to make, inexpensive, and are a guarantee that my kids will eat it with no complaining. This recipe for Hot Chicken Salad French Bread Sandwiches is just that!
Turkey Taco Burrito Bowls
Turkey Taco Bowls are a tried & true family dinner recipe where everyone can make their own taco bowl. Ground turkey, beans, and corn simmer in a perfectly seasoned beef broth and tomato sauce base. Serve over rice and top with all your favorite taco toppings.
Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs
Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs are an easy 30 minute dinner with ground chicken, crushed pineapple, and a homemade teriyaki sauce. Ground chicken meatballs bursting with pineapple teriyaki flavor. Serve over rice for a delicious dinner that everyone will love.
Soup & Chili Recipes That Are Perfect For Back To School Dinner Nights
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. The great thing about soups is that they can simmer on the stove top for hours, on low heat, if needed. Prep it while the kids are in school and then it’s ready to go.
Hamburger Soup
Hamburger Soup is an easy tomato based soup recipe with ground beef, seasonings, potatoes, and it uses frozen vegetables for ease and convenience. This soup is made in one pot with easy simple ingredients.
Ground Beef Stew
This ground beef stew is one of my family’s favorite ways to eat stew! It cooks right in the slow cooker, all day long, and it will make your house smell absolutely amazing.
Easy Vegetable Beef Soup
A delicious recipe for Easy Vegetable Beef Soup made with ground beef. This recipe uses common ingredients and it can be easily doubled if you’re feeding a crowd or want leftovers for lunch. With a serving of vegetables and protein, this hearty soup is a healthy and satisfying meal.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
Learn how to make homemade Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with simple ingredients like leftover chicken, egg noodles, fresh vegetables, and an easy creamy chicken broth with cream of celery soup and sour cream.
Vegetable Beef Noodle Soup
Vegetable Beef Noodle Soup is full of ground beef, stewed tomato beef broth base, simple canned vegetables, egg noodles, and dried seasonings. This soup is so hearty, comforting, and it’s ready for the dinner table in just 30 minutes! Easy to make with simple & inexpensive ingredients.
Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Chili
Cream Cheese Chicken Chili is an easy, dump & go, chicken chili that’s made in the Crock Pot! Shredded Chicken, tomatoes, beans, and corn in a creamy chicken broth base with seasonings and cream cheese. For another family favorite creamy chili recipe be sure and try my Slow Cooker Creamy White Chicken Chili. Cream Cheese
Taco Ranch Chicken Chili
Taco Ranch Chicken Chili cooks in the slow cooker and only needs a few pantry staple ingredients! It’s a dump & go chili with chicken, vegetables, beans, and lots of flavor. No chopping or prep work needed for this easy chili recipe.
Crock Pot Creamy Chicken Stew
Creamy Chicken Stew is the most delicious stew recipe with chunks of chicken, carrots, potatoes, that cook inside a creamy ranch chicken broth. This crock pot chicken stew has some easy shortcut ingredients like cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and a packet of ranch seasoning mix for ultimate flavor with little prep time.
Taco Chili Recipe
A thick and hearty chili recipes with all your favorite taco ingredients like ground beef, tomatoes, corn, and black beans. This taco chili simmers on the stove top in a taco seasoned broth base.
7 Can Chicken Taco Soup
Dinner does not get any easier than this 7 Can Chicken Taco Soup! Dump 7 cans into a pot plus some seasonings and that’s it! Serve with tortilla chips, cheese, and sour cream. You won’t believe how yummy & easy it is.
Easy Quick Chili Recipe
This hearty & comforting Quick Chili Recipe is easy to make with convenient ingredients that add a punch of flavor like salsa and chili seasoning packet. Lean ground beef, kidney beans, beef broth, salsa, and some seasonings are all you need to make this fast chili recipe that cooks on the stove top.
Turkey Chili Taco Soup
Turkey Chili Taco Soup is loaded with all the best southwest flavors. Ground turkey, chili beans, corn, tomato, and taco seasonings combine for one deliciously hearty chili taco soup. Top with cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and crushed tortilla chips.
Vegetable Chowder
Vegetable Chowder is so cheesy and full of fresh veggies like broccoli, carrots, celery, potatoes, and corn! Even kids will eat this veggie-packed chowder soup recipe. Vegetable chowder is loaded with fresh veggies like potatoes, corn, broccoli, celery, and carrots!
Chicken Tortilla Vegetable Soup
Chicken Tortilla Vegetable Soup combines the southwest flavors that you love about chicken tortilla soup combined with healthy, hearty vegetables and spices. Made in one pot with fresh veggies, chicken, and beans.
Minestrone Soup
Minestrone soup is a healthy soup recipe full of fresh veggies like tomatoes, celery, carrots, onion, zucchini, beans, and spinach in a perfectly & richly seasoned tomato sauce vegetable broth base. This minestrone soup recipe has been a reader favorite for years!
Easy One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Easy One Pot Chicken Noodle Soup is simple to make with leftover chicken and egg noodles. A perfectly flavored chicken broth is the base and then it’s filled with fresh veggies like celery and carrots. A can of condensed cream of chicken soup is the ‘secret ingredient’ for this easy, semi-homemade recipe.
Baked Bean Chili
Baked Bean Chili is an easy, 4 ingredient chili recipe that is sweet & spicy! Sweet baked beans, lean ground beef, tomato juice, and seasonings make this chili so quick and easy to make. Don’t forget the corn chips, shredded cheese, and sour cream!
Cream Cheese Chicken Soup
Cream Cheese Chicken Soup cooks up in one pot on the stove and it’s the perfect creamy comfort food. Fresh vegetables, cooked chicken, and seasonings simmer in a creamy milk & chicken broth base. Your family will just love this creamy soup recipe!
Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup
This one pot creamy Rice-a-Roni Chicken Soup is simple to make and the best way to use up leftover chicken or a rotisserie chicken. Chicken broth is the base of this soup, with rice pilaf rice-a-roni mix, chicken, vegetables, and it’s made creamy with cream cheese and cream of chicken soup.
Easy Chicken Taco Soup
Looking for a quick & easy meal? Try our delicious Easy Chicken Taco Soup recipe that’s made with cooked shredded chicken, beans, corn, and perfectly seasoned with chicken taco seasoning. It’s a family favorite that will warm you up and fun to eat with all the delicious taco soup toppings.
Slow Cooker and Crockpot Recipes For Busy Back To School Weeknights
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.
Easy Swedish Meatballs
Easy Swedish Meatballs cook in the slow cooker and are simple to make with frozen meatballs, gravy packet, beef broth, cream of mushroom soup, and evaporated milk which makes the creamy gravy sauce so smooth and creamy.
Slow Cooker Zesty BBQ Chicken
Zesty BBQ Chicken is a dump & go slow cooker dinner! Chicken cooks in a simple 4 ingredient zesty bbq sauce until it’s fall apart tender. Serve inside hamburger buns for a bbq shredded chicken sandwich. Perfect family favorite dinner idea for a busy weeknight.
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
Crockpot teriyaki chicken is a family favorite recipe that is a dump & go crockpot dinner that takes just minutes to prepare. Chicken breasts cook all day in an easy and sweet homemade teriyaki sauce.
Honey Lime Salsa Verde Ranch Chicken Tacos
HONEY LIME SALSA VERDE CHICKEN TACOS If there is one meal that I can always count on for a quick dinner to put together in the morning, it’s these honey lime salsa verde ranch chicken tacos that are made in the slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Honey Teriyaki Chicken is a family favorite dinner recipe that’s made in a slow cooker! It’s an easy prep dinner with no chopping needed. Just throw everything into the crockpot and let it cook while you go about your day. The chicken is fall apart tender!
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs
Slow Cooker Spaghetti and Meatballs is a family favorite dinner that is so simple to make thanks to frozen meatballs, canned stewed tomatoes, jarred pasta sauce, and dried seasonings. It’s a dump & go slow cooker recipe that is perfect for pasta night.
Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken
Creamy Italian Chicken is an easy dump & go slow cooker dinner that takes just minutes to prepare. The chicken cooks all day in a creamy Italian salad dressing mixture with seasonings, and it is fall apart tender and makes the most amazing creamy Italian sauce.
Slow Cooker Creamy Fiesta Chicken
Fiesta Chicken is made in the slow cooker with only 5 Ingredients and no chopping or prep work needed! The chicken is fall apart tender with corn, beans, in a creamy sauce. Serve over rice and top it with all your favorite toppings.
Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This hearty, thick, and flavorful Slow Cooker Beef Stew is the best comfort food for a delicious family dinner. Made with chunks of tender beef, red potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, corn, and peas in a thick V8 juice + beef broth base that is perfectly seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and dried seasonings.
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs are an easy & simple dinner that even the kids will gobble up. Prepared frozen meatballs combine with an easy homemade sweet & sour sauce. Serve over rice for a delicious Asian-inspired dinner.
Easy Slow Cooker Chili Coney Dogs
Slow Cooker Chili Coney Dogs are so simple to make in the slow cooker! Hot dogs and the savory ground beef meat sauce cook together in the crock pot. Serve in hot dog buns and top with shredded cheese and finely diced white onion.
Easy Slow Cooker Lasagna
Making lasagna for dinner just got so much easier with this Slow Cooker Lasagna recipe. Just layer everything in the slow cooker – even the uncooked noodles! Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe This easy recipe for slow cooker lasagna uses lean ground beef, jarred store-bought pasta sauce, dried seasonings, and a cheesy layer with 3 different
Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Tacos
Switch up Taco Tuesday and try these simple and super delicious Slow Cooker Fiesta Chicken Tacos for dinner. Perfectly shredded chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, and chicken taco seasoning is all it takes to get this family favorite dinner on the table.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
This rich and creamy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken has all the authentic flavors of Indian butter chicken. Easy to make in a slow cooker with chunks of tender chicken that simmer in a homemade sauce with so much flavor thanks to dried spices, ginger, garlic, and fresh onion.
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.
Easy Chicken Cobbler
Chicken Cobbler is an easy dinner recipe that is dump & go prep in one casserole pan! Simple to make with frozen vegetables, cooked chicken, chicken broth, and cream of chicken soup. Top it off with a store-bought cheddar bay biscuit mix for the ultimate savory cobbler.
Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese
The best recipe for Copycat Chick-Fil-A Mac and Cheese! Tender elbow pasta smothered in a homemade extra cheesy sauce (with 5 cheeses!), topped with more cheese, and baked until bubbly and browned.
Spaghetti Casserole
Baked Spaghetti Casserole is a family favorite dinner that’s filled with pasta, cheese, and an easy semi-homemade ground beef meat sauce. This gets gobbled up even by the pickiest eaters when I make it for dinner. Serve with a salad and garlic bread for a delicious and heart family dinner.
Fiesta Chicken Casserole
Fiesta Chicken Casserole is an easy chicken casserole recipe that is so simple to make with chicken, pasta, black beans, corn, seasonings, and cheese! This is a family favorite dinner recipe that is always a hit.
White Lasagna Recipe
This White Lasagna Recipe is the creamiest, cheesiest, and most delicious white lasagna made with spinach, chicken, 3 kinds of cheese, and a homemade white sauce. The best comfort food that your family will love!
Ziti Pasta Bake
This cheesy ziti pasta bake might not look like much but it just happens to be one of my kids’ favorite dinners. I love it because it comes together so easily, uses things that I normally have in my pantry, and it’s so inexpensive to make.
Macaroni & Cheese Ham Casserole
Everyone will love this Macaroni and Cheese Ham Casserole. Easy to make, creamy, cheesy, and filled with chunks of ham and shredded cheese. This semi-homemade macaroni and cheese with ham is a family favorite dinner recipe!
Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
This Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole only needs 6 ingredients and you don’t even have to boil the pasta before! Quick to make because you ‘dump’ the ingredients into a casserole dish and let it bake.
Pepperoni Pizza Biscuit Casserole
A bubble up pizza casserole made with biscuit dough, pizza sauce, pepperoni, and cheese! Only a few easy ingredients needed to get this family friendly dinner in the oven.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Chicken and Rice Casserole is an easy, dump & go casserole recipe, that only takes minutes to make and it’s always a family favorite dinner. Chunks of chicken, instant rice, creamed soups, chicken stock, and onion seasoning mix is all you need to make this easy prep casserole.
Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
This family favorite cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a simple weeknight dinner idea that uses convenient store-bought ingredients and already cooked chicken. A creamy base with chunks of chicken, broccoli, and cheesy broccoli rice packets.
Pizza Pasta Casserole
Pizza Pasta Casserole features all of the pizza flavors you love but in a delicious cheesy casserole. An easy dinner idea where everything bakes in one pan.
Beef Taquito Casserole
Frozen beef taquitos are a fun twist to this easy and quick Taquito Casserole. This easy casserole requires no chopping, no pre-cooking and only a couple minutes prep. So great for a busy weeknight. Serve with your favorite taco toppings for a yummy, kid-approved, and fun dinner!
Cheesy Taco Spaghetti Casserole
If you want comfort food or just something that you know your kids will eat without complaining then you must try this Cheesy Taco Spaghetti Casserole. Pasta, ground beef, chili beans, tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and Velveeta cheese make this taco spaghetti casserole so delicious and family friendly.
Creamy Beef Noodle Bake
Creamy Beef Noodle Bake is a well-loved family approved dinner recipe that’s easy to make with inexpensive ingredients. A layered casserole recipe with cheesy egg noodles, seasoned ground beef, and shredded cheese. Family favorite comfort food at it’s best!
Instant Pot Recipes – Quick & Easy Recipes Made In The Instant Pot
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!
Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken Burrito Bowls
Instant Pot Santa Fe Chicken Burrito Bowls are a quick dinner recipe thanks to the Instant Pot. A dump and go recipe with chunks of chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cilantro, and some spices. Serve over rice and top with all your favorite toppings.
Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is a quick & easy instant pot dinner recipe with chunks of chicken, cashews, and fresh vegetables in a homemade sauce with easy ingredients. This cashew chicken is perfect served over rice and garnished with green onions.
Instant Pot Tomato Tortellini Soup
This Tomato Tortellini Soup is an easy and creamy soup recipe that cooks for just 4 minutes in an Instant Pot. Creamy tomato tortellini soup is a simple weeknight meal made with convenient ingredients like canned crushed tomatoes, dried seasonings, frozen cheese tortellini, parmesan cheese, and cream.
Perfect Instant Pot Baked Ziti
Instant Pot Baked Ziti is a family favorite dinner that’s made even easier when you “bake” it in an Instant Pot! 15 minutes start to finish and only a few simple ingredients. Your family will love this perfect baked ziti recipe.
Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
This Instant Pot Mac and Cheese recipe cooks in only 4 minutes in a pressure cooker. Homemade mac and cheese is way better than any box, it’s quick & easy to make at home, so creamy, and your family is going to love this easy Instant Pot recipe for dinner.
Instant Pot Country Style Ribs
Lean how to make deliciously tender Instant Pot Country Style Ribs! You’ll love these flavorful, sweet & spicy, finger-lickin good, easy to make country style ribs in under 1 hour. Lots of helpful tips and information so you can make the best country style pork ribs in an Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker).
Instant Pot Crack Chicken
Instant Pot Crack Chicken combines the perfect ‘crack chicken’ combination of ranch + cheese + bacon made really easy in the Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker! Crack chicken is an easy dinner idea & delicious served as sandwiches or over rice.
Instant Pot Potato Corn Chowder
This super creamy potato corn chowder cooks for 15 minutes in the Instant Pot. Dump everything in and that’s it! Heavy cream plus cornstarch makes the chowder really creamy and delicious.
Bonus! Try These Kid-Favorite After School Snack Recipes
No Flour Monster Cookie Bars
NO FLOUR MONSTER COOKIE BARS RECIPE These no flour monster cookie bars are one of my most popular recipes! And they also happen to be the most requested treat in my house. Monster cookie bars are loaded with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips and m&m’s.
Lemon Blueberry Banana Bread
Lemon blueberry banana bread is a great way to use up those ripe bananas that always seem to be on the counter! At least in my house anyways. Fresh juicy blueberries pairs perfectly with the bright citrus from the lemon.
M&M Cookies
The best bakery style M&M Cookies are giant, soft-baked, and chewy! The perfect cookie stuffed with mini m&m’s through out with tips and tricks for making the best m&m cookies. For more family favorite cookie recipes be sure and make my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, these classic chocolate chip cookies, and monster cookies.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
These oatmeal chocolate chip peanut butter bars just happen to be my very favorite recipes on this blog. It was one of the first recipes I ever posted and it’s still made at least monthly at my house. Soft cookie bars loaded with all the good stuff in life!
Steel Cut Oatmeal Energy Bites
Steel Cut Oatmeal Energy Bites are a 5 ingredient, healthy snack to make! Hearty steel cut oats, sweet honey, coconut, mini chocolate chips, and peanut butter is all it takes to make these deliciously addicting energy bites.
Monster Cookie Energy Balls
Monster Cookie Energy Balls are a great afternoon energy boost or perfect for an after school snack. Hearty oats, chocolate chips, peanut butter, honey, and m&m’s make these energy balls so delicious and fun.
Cinnamon Banana Bread Muffins
Banana Muffins taste like banana bread in muffin form with a sweet cinnamon & butter topping. All you need is one bowl. No mixer needed! There is something so comforting about a piece of warm banana bread or banana muffin.
Scotcheroos Recipe
This easy recipe for Scotcheroos only needs 6 ingredients and there is no corn syrup! Scotcheroos are a delicious treat with Rice Krispies cereal coated in honey, brown sugar, and peanut butter. They’re topped off with melted butterscotch chips + chocolate chips. You might find yourself not being able to stop eating these delicious bars.
One Bowl Applesauce Muffins
These applesauce muffins may not look like much but trust me, you should make them asap! I have to confess that I made these muffins twice in one day…. They were so yummy and my kids could not get enough of them!
Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats
Indulge in a colorful rainbow of fruity flavor with these delicious and easy-to-make Rainbow Rice Krispie Treats. Perfectly gooey marshmallows, crispy rice cereal, and a pop of color with Fruity Pebbles with Marshmallows cereal. Kids and adults alike will love these gooey and sweet treats.
Snickers Cookies
Super easy Snickers Cookies are so simple to make with only 5 ingredients! The classic combination of a Snicker's candy bar – chocolate, peanuts, and caramel but in a chewy, soft-baked cookie with the crunch of chopped Snickers throughout.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza
This giant 12-inch Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza will be on repeat at your house! My kids beg for this for an after-school snack. It’s a soft-baked, thick, chewy chocolate chip cookie made in a pizza pan. So fun and delicious with melted pockets of milk chocolate chips throughout.
4 Ingredient Energy Oatmeal Balls
Oatmeal Energy Balls require only 4 ingredients! Quick oats, peanut butter, honey, and mini chocolate chips for snack-sized energy oatmeal balls which make the perfect after school snack or healthier treat.
Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
These cinnamon applesauce muffins are the perfect Fall muffin. Warm cinnamon spice, cinnamon applesauce, and the muffin is covered in cinnamon & sugar! So soft, delicious, and if it’s anything like my house then they won’t last very long.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Clusters (Viral TikTok Recipe)
Have you seen the latest viral snack on social media? These Strawberry Clusters are a healthy treat made with fresh strawberries, greek yogurt, and dipped in melted chocolate. You're going to love how easy these chocolate strawberry yogurt clusters are to make!
Froot Loop Cereal Marshmallow Bars
Froot Loop Cereal Bars are an easy treat recipe that only needs 3 ingredients! Froot Loops cereal, mini marshmallows, and butter is all you need for these colorful, fruity, and sweet treats.
Oreo Rice Krispie Treats
Oreo Rice Krispie Treats are gooey & loaded with Oreo cookies and Rice Krispies cereal. These rice krispie treats are so easy to make with only 5 ingredients. They’re the best after school snack or whenever you need a sweet treat.
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies (Thick & Chewy)
Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies are thick, chewy, with soft-baked centers, buttery edges, and filled with milk chocolate chips! I share all my secrets for the perfect chocolate chip cookie with you. Lots of tips including how to shape the cookie dough balls for baking (makes all the difference).
Nutella Banana Muffins
These Nutella Banana Muffins are bursting with fresh banana flavor throughout! Moist banana muffins with a sweet Nutella swirl on top, and it uses 6 ripe & browned bananas. One batch never lasts long in my house. Learn how to make the best banana muffins with Nutella with lots of helpful tips.
Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins
Cinnamon Sugar Donut Muffins taste like your favorite cinnamon & sugar donut from the bakery but in a muffin. Soft donut muffins dipped in butter and cinnamon & sugar. These muffins will disappear fast thanks to that sweet and crunchy topping.
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are the best way to use up fresh zucchini! Soft, super moist, and full of rich chocolate flavor thanks to mini chocolate chips and cocoa powder. These chocolate zucchini muffins bake up perfectly each time and they have almost 2 cups of shredded zucchini inside.
Try These Other Easy Dinner Recipes That My Family Has Loved
- Crockpot Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti – Happy Family Recipes
- Simple & Easy Stuffed Shells Recipe – Cooking with Karli
- Pizza Noodle Casserole – Belly Full
- Slow Cooker Parmesan Chicken & Rice – Plain Chicken
- Copycat Manwich Sloppy Joes – Happy Family Recipes
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!
Holy moly! This site is AWESOME, filled with recipes that my kids will actually eat! Thank you! I’m blown away! Keep posting….I will follow! 🙂
Thank you so much Becky! I try to post recipes I know my kids will eat in hopes it will help other families. Happy cooking! (And eating 😉)