These fantastic back to school recipes are a great way to start the school year with easy sheet pan dishes, one pot meals and family favorites like cheeseburger pasta, bagel dogs and chicken and rice casserole.
Get the school year off to a good start with quick and easy dinners that the whole family will love.
At the end of every summer I start counting down the days until the kids are back in school. However, when they are back in school I have to get used to brand new schedules. School nights means busier nights as the kids start up their extracurricular activities and want help with homework.
Easy back to school recipes are a must this time of year. No one wants to come home from a busy day to have an even busier evening, and then still worry about what to make for dinner.
These 40 back to school recipes should help you out tremendously. Many can be prepped and stored in the freezer until you are ready for them, which makes things a lot easier. Just don’t forget to pull them out to thaw.
There are a lot of slow cooker meals that you can prepare early and will be hot and ready at dinner time. Other recipes are quick and easy, require minimal ingredients and can be made with just a few dishes. These recipes will help you save time without sacrificing flavor.
One pot meals and sheet pan dinners are my go-to for the beginning of the school year. They make life easier while getting used to a new schedule. Give these back to school dinners a try and leave any other ideas you have in the comments below!
40 Back to School Recipes
Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf
This bacon wrapped meatloaf is ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs and seasonings, then covered in bacon slices and baked until golden brown. A unique twist on the classic recipe that will earn you rave reviews!
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Bagel Dogs
This recipe for bagel dogs is made with homemade bagel dough which is wrapped around hot dogs and baked to golden brown perfection. A great snack or meal that the kids will absolutely love!
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Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breast (One Pan Meal)
This recipe for bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breast with roasted potatoes is a quick and easy one pan meal that's sure to please any crowd! The chicken is stuffed with an incredible combination of three cheeses, garlic and herbs.
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Baked Chicken Parmesan
This baked chicken parmesan is golden brown crispy chicken breasts smothered in marinara sauce and melted cheese. A lighter take on the classic chicken parmesan that tastes like something you’d get in a restaurant!
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Calzone Recipe
This homemade calzone recipe is a mixture of sausage, pepperoni and bell peppers, all baked inside pizza dough with plenty of melted cheese. Calzones are the perfect food for a party, they’re hand held, hearty and totally delicious.
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Balsamic Chicken
This balsamic chicken is chicken thighs coated in a sweet and savory glaze and roasted to perfection along with potatoes and asparagus. An easy one pan meal that’s sure to please the whole family!
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Buffalo Chicken Sliders
These buffalo chicken sliders are warm sandwiches filled with shredded buffalo chicken, ranch sauce, lettuce and tomato. The ultimate party snack!
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Cheeseburger Casserole
This cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. A quick and easy dinner option that's always a hit with both kids and adults!
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Cheeseburger Pasta
This cheeseburger pasta is a hearty recipe of ground beef, shells and cheese in a savory tomato sauce, topped off with bacon and pickles. All the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger in a comforting pasta dish!
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Chicken and Rice Casserole
This classic chicken and rice casserole recipe is a one pan meal that’s full of tender chicken and creamy rice, all baked together to perfection.
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Chicken Broccoli Casserole
This chicken broccoli casserole is a one pot meal with sauteed chicken, rice, broccoli florets and cheese, finished off with a crunchy topping. A comfort food classic that's quick to make and always gets rave reviews!
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Chicken Taquitos (Baked or Fried)
These chicken taquitos are stuffed with seasoned shredded chicken and cheese, then baked or fried to crispy perfection. Serve these taquitos with your favorite dipping sauces for a fun party snack or meal!
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Chili Mac
This one pot chili mac is a blend of ground beef, macaroni, beans, tomatoes and spices, all topped off with plenty of melted cheese. An easy dinner option that’s family friendly and on the table in 30 minutes!
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Cornflake Chicken
This recipe for cornflake chicken is strips of chicken breast coated in seasoned crushed cornflakes and baked to crispy perfection. These chicken fingers are easy to make and are a big hit with both kids and adults!
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Fried Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Relish
This recipe for fried shrimp tacos is a pile of crispy shrimp that’s layered with cilantro lime cabbage slaw and avocado relish then stuffed inside warm flour tortillas. It’s a quick and easy meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant!
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Greek Chicken and Potatoes
This Greek chicken and potatoes is a one pan meal with marinated garlic and herb chicken and tender potatoes, all roasted to golden brown perfection. A super easy dinner for a busy weeknight.
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Ham and Cheese Sliders
These ham and cheese sliders are Hawaiian rolls topped with plenty of sliced ham, swiss cheese and an onion poppy seed butter, then baked to gooey perfection. The ultimate party snack to feed a crowd!
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Hamburger Casserole
This hamburger casserole is ground beef and mushrooms in tomato sauce, tossed with pasta and topped with melted cheese. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a crowd, and can be easily customized to your tastes!
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Italian Chicken
This Italian chicken is coated in a crispy parmesan crust and baked to perfection along with potatoes. An easy sheet pan dinner that the whole family will love!
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Ham Casserole
This ham casserole is egg noodles, broccoli and diced ham in a creamy sauce, all topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's the perfect way to use up leftover ham!
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Mexican Casserole
This Mexican casserole is made with ground beef, tortillas, vegetables and cheese, all layered together and baked to golden brown perfection. A quick and easy dinner for busy weeknights!
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Moo Shu Chicken
This recipe for moo shu chicken is a quick and easy dinner option that tastes so much better than take out!
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One Pot Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo
A one pot gumbo full of shrimp, chicken, sausage and vegetables that’s ready in 30 minutes.
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One Pot Chicken and Rice Bake
This one pot chicken and rice bake combines chicken with creamy parmesan rice and butternut squash for a complete healthy meal with less dishes to clean.
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Pizza Casserole
This pizza casserole is pasta simmered in tomato sauce with pepperoni, sausage, olives and bell peppers, then topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A family friendly dinner option that always gets rave reviews!
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Shish Kabob Recipe
This shish kabob recipe features tender marinated beef, peppers and onions, all skewered together and grilled to perfection. Shish kabobs are a quick and easy meal option that can also be cooked in the oven during cooler weather months.
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Salsa Chicken
This salsa chicken is chicken breasts coated in taco seasoning, salsa and cheese, then baked to perfection. A quick and easy meal that the whole family is sure to love.
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Shrimp Chow Mein (One Pot Meal)
This recipe for shrimp chow mein is a quick and easy one pot meal with plenty of stir fried shrimp and vegetables tossed with noodles and a simple sauce.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This slow cooker beef stew is loaded with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, carrots and peas. It’s a hearty and comforting one pot meal where the crock pot does all of the work!
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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
This slow cooker beef stroganoff is tender beef, mushrooms and egg noodles, all tossed in a savory creamy sauce. An easy crock pot dinner that’s pure comfort food!
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Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos
These slow cooker carnitas tacos are tender chunks of pork cooked in a crock pot, then stuffed into warm corn tortillas with red onion and cilantro. An easy and authentic meal that's even better than what you would get at a restaurant.
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Slow Cooker Chili
This slow cooker chili is a blend of beef, beans, tomatoes and spices, all simmered together in the crock pot for a rich and hearty dish. Crock pot chili is perfect for parties and any occasion where you need to feed a crowd!
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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
This slow cooker mac and cheese recipe is rich and creamy and super easy to make!
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This slow cooker pulled pork is coated in a homemade spice rub, then simmered in the crock pot until tender. Shred the meat and add BBQ sauce, then dinner is ready to serve!
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Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
This slow cooker salisbury steak recipe is made with tender beef patties topped with mushroom gravy. Classic comfort food that’s super simple to make!
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Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
These slow cooker sloppy joes are made with ground beef, tomato sauce, brown sugar and spices, all cooked to savory perfection. An easy crock pot meal that’s kid friendly and perfect for serving a crowd.
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Spanish Chicken
This Spanish chicken is spiced chicken thighs roasted with potatoes, bell peppers and chorizo. A simple and satisfying one pan meal that tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant!
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Stromboli Recipe
This stromboli recipe is tender dough stuffed with tomato sauce, cheese and Italian meats, then baked to golden brown perfection. It’s a quick and easy dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
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Taco Sliders
These taco sliders are sandwiches stuffed with taco meat and cheese, then brushed with garlic butter and baked to perfection. Serve with salsa and guacamole for a party snack that will earn rave reviews.
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Vegetable Lasagna
This vegetable lasagna is layers of noodles, veggies, marinara sauce and three different kinds of cheese, all baked to golden brown perfection. A vegetarian main course option that's perfect for feeding a crowd.
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Save yourself time and effort with these fantastic recipes. Your family will love these amazing meals and you will love how much easier these recipes make your life. Give them a try today!
Kris says
What a fabulous collection! Can’t wait to make so many of these!
Nathan says
This is a fantastic list of recipes, there are just so many I want to try! I think I’ll start with the one pot shrimp chow mein, I love an easy prep and easy clean-up kind of meal!
Colleen says
There are so many great recipes here. My family loved the cheeseburger pasta and I can’t wait to try some more of these. Thank you!
Tayler says
I’ve already made several of these recipes and they’ve all been delicious! Such a handy list for busy nights.
Dana says
These are all so awesome and cozy and perfect for weeknights. Who wouldn’t want to dive into one of these (or all of these, really) after a long day at school or work? Bookmarking this!
Lisa Nelson @ Herlives says
Wow, what a great list! This is actually what I am looking for this. I’m already on a hunt for dinner suggestions because school starts back next week. Between all of the kids different after-school activities. I’m going to check these out.Thanks for sharing these recipes.
Carol Cassara says
Back to school days can become hectic and crazy for parents and it’s nice to have dinner ideas that they can easily make! These all sound delicious and they’re recipes that the kids will enjoy eating!