Grab your backpacks– it's that time of year again! I've gathered 31+ Back-to-School Recipes to help you tackle those early mornings and hectic evenings. Each recipe comes with tips for prepping ahead and freezing, so you're always one step ahead.
Back-to-School Recipe Ideas: Breakfast & Dinners
And just like that, another summer comes to an end and we're gearing up for another school year. To help you prepare, I've gathered 31+ Back-to-School Recipes, there's everything from breakfast to easy dinner recipes.
I know how chaotic schedules can get during the school year, most of which we don't have control over– early mornings, after-school activities, homework, parties, and more. So, let's take control of what we can and make the meals easy! These back-to-school recipes check one, a few or all the boxes; quick, easy to prepare, minimal effort, and delicious. Plus, most have make-ahead and freezing options too!
It's time to get your helpers and pick out a handful of recipes like a batch of these banana muffins or jumbo blueberry muffins. Make the start of the school year special with funfetti pancakes.
You'll also find several of my go-to (and favorite) dinner recipes, like slow cooker turkey meatballs and pineapple teriyaki chicken. You can even celebrate the end of the week with skillet fajitas and a toppings bar! Or make dinner fun with alphabet vegetable soup and grilled cheese.
And remember, you don't need to make everything all at once. This collection of recipes is meant to be referenced when you need it– whether it's each week or month, as you plan ahead.
Back-to-School Breakfast Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
This simple slow cooker chicken chili recipe is as hearty, satisfying and delicious as it looks! After some chopping, let the slow cooker do the work for you. There's no pre-cooking for this slow cooker chicken chili– a true "set and forget it" meal!
Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins
These pumpkin chocolate muffins are made with real pumpkin puree and lots of cozy pumpkin spice. They're full of flavor, incredibly moist, easy to make, and taste even better the next day!
Perfect Cinnamon Bread
This cinnamon bread is moist with a ribbon of cinnamon sugar swirled inside. You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make it and it's a recipe that the entire family will devour!
Breakfast Egg Muffins (Egg Bites)
Stock your refrigerator for the week with these easy breakfast egg muffins– your future self will thank you for these protein-packed egg bites! The best part is they never get old, thanks to endless variations, and they come together in just 30 minutes!
Homemade Granola
You're looking at the ultimate homemade granola recipe, slightly sweet and extra crunchy. Making homemade granola is easier than you think and much better than store-bought. Sprinkle over yogurt for breakfast, enjoy it on its own for a snack or add to pancakes– this delicious homemade granola recipe will be your favorite!
Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
These healthy peanut butter brownie bites are just 6 ingredients— dates, almonds, cocoa powder, peanut butter, honey, and salt. Toss it in a blender then roll into balls.
Overnight Oats (Customizable!)
These overnight oats have just 6 ingredients and easy to prep ahead of time for those busy weeks. There's no better way to start your morning than with a healthy and balanced breakfast.
Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
You only need 3 ripe bananas and a few basic ingredients to make these peanut butter banana muffins. They're soft, moist, spiced just right, and made in a blender!
Unbelievable French Toast
There's no better word than u0022unbelievableu0022 to describe this unbelievable french toast– you have to try it! It's the perfect breakfast for the weekend with the family!
Birthday Cake Pancakes
A stack of these colorful birthday cake pancakes are the sweetest way to wake up in the morning. Made in 1 bowl, filled with rainbow sprinkles, and topped with vanilla glaze.
Blueberry Muffins
This blueberry muffin recipe produces extra buttery, soft and moist muffins that are bursting with juicy fresh or frozen blueberries. I make these as mini muffins for breakfast, snacks, and to be packed in lunches.
Quick Cinnamon Rolls
Made from store-bought crescent roll dough, each cinnamon roll is extra soft, generously filled with a delicious cinnamon swirl and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting. Bonus: done in 30 minutes!
Quick u0026 Easy Banana Muffins
With a moist crumb and lots of banana flavor, these easy banana muffins are soft, buttery and every bit delicious. Ready in 30 minutes! Make a double batch to freeze– the perfect way to use up overripe bananas!
Moist Zucchini Bread
This homemade zucchini bread is perfectly perfectly moist, has a soft crumb, and is packed with the flavors of cinnamon, vanilla, and hints of molasses throughout. Simple to make, it comes together in just 1 bowl (no mixer needed), and a delicious way to use up extra zucchini.
Homemade Fluffy Pancakes
Start your morning with a tall stack of these homemade fluffy pancakes. These pancakes are light and fluffy– thanks to a handful of pantry ingredients. Toss in your favorite add-ins to take them up a notch! I almost always have a batch in the freezer.
Perfect Banana Bread
This easy banana bread recipe has been a go-to and favorite for years. It's buttery, has an incredibly soft crumb, is not too sweet, and stays moist for days. Made with 5 very ripe bananas and a handful of basic kitchen ingredients– this is truly the best banana bread you'll ever have!
Peanut Butter Granola
This homemade peanut butter granola is satisfying and delicious. Made with basic pantry ingredients— oats, cinnamon, coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup. With tons of flavor in each bite, you'll keep coming back for more!
Blender Banana Oat Pancakes
Start your mornings right with these banana oat pancakes. Made with ingredients in most kitchens and in a blender. The flavor and texture is out of this world!
Back-to-School Dinner Recipes
Alphabet Vegetable Soup
This homemade alphabet vegetable soup recipe is easy, satisfying, hearty, and flavorful. Not only is this soup made in one pot, it keeps perfectly for lunches all week. Use your favorite vegetables and small shaped pasta, like alphabet pasta.
Lasagna Soup
This lasagna soup recipe is easy, hearty, homemade, and satisfying. It's filled with Italian sausage, lasagna noodles and a ridiculously flavorful tomato broth. The soup is on the table in just 40 minutes and keeps perfectly for leftovers!
Philly Cheesesteaks
There's so much to love about this easy Philly cheesesteak recipe! Tender ribeye steak thinly sliced with caramelized onions and peppers and smothered with melted provolone cheese sandwiched in a toasted hoagie roll. Made in 1 pan and done in 35 minutes!
Skillet Chicken Fajitas
One skillet is all you need to make these flavorful, tender and juicy chicken fajitas. Ready in just 35 minutes, this chicken fajita recipe will quickly become a family favorite!
Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
This recipe for slow cooker turkey meatballs has been on my website since 2019. They are packed with flavor, incredibly tender, and satisfying. Pair them with a salad, on top of spaghetti, stuffed inside a roll, or with a side of garlic bread. I make these at least twice a month!
Lemon Rosemary Chicken and Potatoes
This easy lemon rosemary chicken and potatoes takes two basic dinner ingredients to the next level. Made in one pan and on the table in just 40 minutes!
One Pan Lasagna Recipe
One skillet is all you need to make this insanely flavorful lasagna recipe. The process is extremely easy: add the ground beef with a mixture of Italian spices and brown in a skillet. Then, toss in the remaining ingredients and finish with ricotta and shredded mozzarella cheese. This is a quick, family favorite 30-minute dinner recipe that you'll want to make all year long!
The Best Chili Recipe
If you want a from scratch traditional chili recipe, look no further. This chili recipe is made with ground beef or turkey, bell peppers, onion, tomatoes, beans, and a variety of spices. This is a feel-good, hearty, cozy dinner that everyone will love! I often make a double batch and freeze in servings.
Easy Skillet Chicken and Rice Recipe (with Peas)
This chicken and rice recipe is an easy, comforting meal that can be anytime of the year. It's made in one pan, minimal ingredients and done in less than 40 minutes!
Easy Baked Chicken Tacos
Let me show you how easy it is to make these baked chicken tacos. Made with just a handful of ingredients, using rotisserie chicken as a shortcut! This is a recipe that is easy and delicious– perfect for hectic weeknights!
The Best Vegetarian Chili
This vegetarian chili is filled with flavor, texture, and the perfect amount of spice. The recipe combines easy canned ingredients with some fresh ingredients that makes a one pan meal that's perfect for the colder months. Even meat eaters loved it too!
Oven Baked Meatballs
This oven baked meatballs recipe is a go-to weeknight dinner. Made with ground turkey or beef and baked in the oven with tomato sauce until tender. Finish them off with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Baked Chicken Meatballs
These baked chicken meatballs are the best anytime meatballs. Packed with layers of flavor, baked at a high temperature, and brushed with a lemon garlic herb butter sauce to finish them off. Bonus: these chicken meatballs are a perfect make-ahead recipe and can be easily frozen before or after baking.
Chicken Enchiladas
If you're searching for an easy and flavorful recipe to add to your dinner rotation, look no further than these red chicken enchiladas. The filling has tons of flavor, tightly rolled in a tortilla, smothered in enchilada sauce and topped with shredded cheese. Bonus: a chicken enchilada recipe that's on the table in about 35 minutes!
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup
This slow cooker creamy chicken and rice soup is incredibly simple to make. Made with carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, chicken, rice, variety of spices, and finished off with cream. Pair this with grilled cheese or crusty bread for dinner on a cold evening!
Three Cheese Baked Ziti
The key to this three cheese baked ziti is the creamy and rich cheese mixture made with shredded mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan cheese. It's all made in just one pan and finished off in the oven for a wonderful textured finish— truly a comfort food and a family favorite!
Baked Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken
This baked pineapple teriyaki chicken is a popular, quick and easy dinner recipe that's loved by many. Ready in just 35 minutes– juicy and tender chicken with pineapple baked in an incredibly flavorful (and simple!) homemade teriyaki sauce. I'm certain this baked teriyaki chicken recipe will become a regular in your dinner rotation!
Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans
Juicy, tender and sweet– this cilantro orange chicken is minimum effort with maximum flavor making it an ideal dinner recipe for busy weeknights. The marinade adds incredible flavor to the chicken and creates the best sauce. Serve it alongside rice and beans with a homemade pineapple jalapeño salsa.
Creamy Sausage Broccoli Pasta
Look no further than this creamy one pot sausage broccoli pasta recipe for your next satisfying weeknight meal. Packed with flavor and convenience, this pasta dish checks all the boxes– minimal effort, easy clean up and done in 30 minutes! This sausage broccoli pasta is everything you want dinner to be and makes great leftovers.
Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Try my easy homemade baked chicken parmesan meatballs recipe– a twist on the classic chicken parmesan we all know and love. Seasoned just right, the chicken meatballs are covered in tomato sauce and baked in the oven producing incredibly tender, flavorful meatballs (and sauce) with hardly any work! Finished off with shredded mozzarella cheese on top. If you can roll meatballs, you can make this chicken parmesan meatball recipe.
One Pot Creamy Beef Pasta
Indulge in this undeniably creamy homemade creamy beef pasta recipe, a twist on a classic favorite that's bursting with freshness and flavor. It's a one pan pasta dish that's made with simple ingredients and ready in just 30 minutes– perfect for busy weeknights and a go-to homemade hamburger helper recipe that will disappear fast!
Easy Baked Herb Crusted Salmon
If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner that delivers, try this baked herb crusted salmon. Brushed with butter, topped with a flavorful spice rub, and finished with lemon slices. Bonus: this baked salmon is done in under 30 minutes!
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
This baked BBQ chicken recipe delivers perfectly tender and juicy chicken every time. It only takes 30 minutes for this foolproof BBQ chicken– use homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce and some pantry spices to kick it up a notch!
Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers with Garlic Aioli
You'll love this easy sheet pan sausage and peppers recipe– juicy Italian sausage perfectly cooked every time with bell peppers and onions. Make it the ultimate sausage and peppers sandwich by serving inside a toasted brioche roll with melty provolone cheese and topped with a garlic aioli. It's guaranteed to be a hit with family! Bonus: it only takes 30 minutes start to finish!
More Resources
- If you're looking for pasta inspiration, here is a collection of pasta recipes that are done in 35 minutes (or less!)
- This collection of easy weeknight dinner recipes will give you tons of inspiration.
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