40 Easy Back To School Dinner Ideas
Get back into back-to-school season without the dinner dilemma! Our list offers 40 easy dinner ideas perfect for hectic evenings, featuring quick 5-ingredient recipes, dump-and-start meals, and air fryer options to simplify dinner.
Includes recipes suitable for gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian diets. Weight Watchers points provided in some recipes.
Back-to-school time brings the chaos of tighter schedules and back to school dinner ideas don’t need to be added to that stress too.
Endless after-school activities like swimming, dance, and football, not to mention the nightly homework battles with exhausted kids. It’s a lot to juggle, which is why having a go-to list of 40 easy dinner ideas is a absolute must.
Our collection includes quick-fix 5-ingredient recipes, effortless dump-and-start meals, and convenient air fryer creations, all designed to ease your evening routine.
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But what about lunch? We’ll that is also one less worry this school year. I’ve compiled my top 30 back to school kids lunch ideas to keep lunchtime fresh and exciting. And if you love using your trusty Air fryer I have these Air Fryer Back To School Recipes.
So, here’s your ultimate list of ideas for quick, satisfying dinner meals that won’t add to the school time chaos!
Tips For Back To School Dinners
- Stick to recipes with fewer ingredients to cut down on prep time and less time at the grocery store.
- Assign themes to each night (Taco Tuesday, Pasta Wednesday) to streamline meal planning.
- Let your children help with meal prep or choosing dishes. This makes them more likely to eat what’s served.
- Plan for meals that offer generous leftovers, repurposing them in creative ways for the rest of the weeks dinners.
- Chop veggies or cook grains in advance, so assembling dinner is quicker.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
40 Back To School Dinner Ideas
Baked tortellini casserole has all the flavors you love in lasagna without all the work! Delicious tortellini bake is comforting, and creamy, and can be prepared in a few minutes. It's a great meal to prepare for after school.
This Air Fryer Chicken Breast Recipe is super healthy, full of flavour and very versatile. Made with pantry staples you can indulge in the deep-fried classic taste without the guilt.
You will ♡ this comforting, easy, filling and over the top delicious Sheet Pan Baked Chicken Thighs and Sweet Potato recipe. It is extremely easy to make with pantry staples and cooks in just 30 mins. It's a great easy meal to make for a school day dinner!
Meatball Casserole is the perfect weeknight dinner to put together. It’s deliciously saucy, cheesy, and so easy to make! It's the great meal for after a busy school day!
Perfect for busy weeknights, this easy sheet pan gnocchi Recipe is budget-friendly, super tasty, and made with pantry ingredients. It's a flavorful, kid-friendly one-pan meal that's ready to serve in just 30 minutes!
These juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers are quick and easy to prepare with simple ingredients and cook in less than 10 minutes. Loved by the whole family, they can be customised with various toppings for an anytime meal.
Tacos are good with salsa chicken or seasoned ground beef, but there is something special about a fish taco. With elevated flavors, these air fryer fish tacos are sure to be a hit for an after school dinner!
Tomato Tortellini Soup is flavorful, hearty, and comforting. Made with just a handful of ingredients, this homemade vegetarian soup is simple to make in less than 30 minutes!
It’s so easy to enjoy one of your favorite restaurant meals at home. Air fryer fish and chips are easy to make, healthier and taste amazing! You can make this Air Fryer meal using fresh ingredients or using frozen ingredients in less than 20 minutes so it's perfect for a busy weeknight.
Your whole family will love these easy Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas! Homemade seasoned juicy chicken breast with smoky veggies makes a healthy and tasty school night dinner that comes together in just minutes!
Get ready to fall in love with the ultimate comfort food delight, the Walking Taco Casserole. With layers of flavorful ground beef, gooey cheese, and the satisfying crunch of Fritos, this dish is a guaranteed winner for both school night dinners and lively gatherings alike.
You only need a few pantry staple ingredients and a few mins of hand on time to make these family favorite Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas. Ready in no time at all, these can be a healthy school night dinner option.
Indulge in the timeless delight of Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs—a comforting classic loved by families year-round. This effortless Crockpot recipe features perfectly seasoned Italian meatballs, making it the ultimate comfort food. You can even save some to pack in your kids lunch box for school!
Seafood lovers will adore perfectly cooked air fryer cod that is ready to serve in just a few minutes! Making cod in air fryer is so simple, and it’s easy for a school night.
These Air Fryer Chicken Quesadillas are a quick and easy kid-approved meal. So easy in fact, the kids can make them on their own for school nights and lunches.
Need a quick and simple dinner recipe for tonight? Try these easy Shrimp Tacos! Full of awesome Mexican flavor, they only take 15 minutes to put together and are easily customizable to suit everyone’s tastes!
No need to order takeout when you can whip up this tasty and delicious sheet pan orange chicken in just 20 minutes. This convenient, one-pan dinner is the perfect solution for busy weeknights.
These easy Salmon Tacos are a great make-ahead family meal for a school night! Full of flavor, they only take 15 minutes to put together and are easily customizable to suit everyone’s tastes!
15-minute ramen noodle soup is rich, filling, and loaded with vegetables. This vegetarian dish is healthy and cozy and comes together quickly. It’s perfect for a simple busy school night dinner.
This quick, easy, no cook and healthy Rainbow Vegetable Tortilla Wrap is packed full of colorful veggies and that kiddoes, big and small, will love. It is perfect for school lunches, brunches and when you are out and about.
Prepare this baked ravioli casserole with just 5 ingredients that’s ready to serve in under 30 minutes. This delicious ravioli casserole is fuss-free baked past recipe that’s a satisfying meal the whole family will love.
Get ready to make the most scrumptious Zuppa Toscana in your Instant Pot! Whether you’re new to making copycat recipes or a seasoned pro, you NEED to try this Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Olive Garden Copycat recipe.
This Instant Pot Sloppy Joes recipe is a delicious Instant Pot version of the classic American comfort food. Great for family dinners, school nights, and weekly meal prep, you’ll love how easy it is to make Sloppy Joes in your Instant Pot.
This hearty chickpea soup recipe is easy to make with affordable pantry ingredients. Endlessly customizable, this is the soup you’ll want to make all school year long!
This oh-so-creamy Crockpot Tomato Soup is guaranteed to be your next favorite comfort food! With just a handful of pantry staples, you’ll be savoring the goodness of delicious, satisfying slow cooker tomato soup in no time.
This One-Pot Leek and Chicken Rice is a delicious and easy to make recipe that is is comfort food at its best. It's a super simple meal for a busy school night.
This irresistible and easy baked mac and cheese recipe is what true comfort food is all about. Featuring a blend of cheddar and gruyere cheeses, this delicious dish is perfect for serving as a hearty main dish or a satisfying side.
This is seriously the best Dutch Oven Pulled Pork ever! You can make this easily in the dutch oven with minimal prep using everyday pantry staples to get juicy, tender pulled meat every time. It's an easy meal for a school night and even makes leftovers for school lunches.
Love flavorful Tex-Mex food? Then you’ll love this easy to make Taco Casserole recipe! This zesty taco bake comes together quickly and is ready to serve in under 45 minutes so it's a fast meal for a school dinner.
This full of Italian flavors family favorite Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole Casserole is easy to cook using pantry staples, requires minimal prep and is great for school dinners and school lunches.
Instant Pot Pulled Chicken is amazingly juicy and full of great BBQ flavor! So quick and easy to make, Instant Pot BBQ Pulled Chicken sandwiches are perfect for lunch or as an easy school night dinner.
Tender and Juicy Creamy Mushroom Chicken is an easy one-pan recipe that’s simple enough for a weeknight meal, yet decadent enough for entertaining. This is one of the tastiest chicken and mushroom recipes you’ll ever eat.
This Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders recipe is one of the best ways to make chicken strips at home. Flavorful and versatile chicken tenders cook fast and are ready to serve in just 15 minutes so they're easy for a busy school dinner.
This easy Spinach Soup recipe is loaded with spinach and a hint of ginger. It is made with coconut milk for a creamy yet light meal you can serve all year round. You only need 7 ingredients to make this easy and delicious stovetop or instant pot soup with spinach.
Quick and easy chicken stir fry with noodles is the better-than-takeout meal you’ll want to make again and again. Packed with fresh ingredients and ready in under 30 minutes it’s a budget-friendly dinner the whole family will love.
Italian pinwheels are savory dish featuring a delightful combination of Italian-inspired ingredients rolled up in a soft tortilla, and perfect for any gathering or school dinner or lunch!
Instant Pot Split Pea Soup is hearty, satisfying and full of bold Moroccan flavours. This Instant Pot soup recipe is vegan-friendly, gluten-free and thanks to the wonder that is the Instant Pot, it’s also super easy to make so it's great for a busy school night.
Instant Pot Potato Soup is deliciously creamy, hearty, and satisfying. It’s so easy to make pressure cooker potato soup with just a handful of everyday pantry staples that is ready in minutes!
This Instant Pot Steak Fajitas recipe is full of amazing flavor, yet so quick and easy to make. All that’s needed is just 6 simple ingredients and a few minutes to make healthy Instant Pot fajitas that are perfect for dinner for those busy school nights.
These Easy Mexican Vegan Tacos / Mexican Lentil Tacos are sooooo good even carnivores won’t notice they’re meat-free. These delicious tacos are so easy that you can make them on a busy school night.
These Buffalo chicken pinwheels are an easy-to-eat and easy-to-make way to indulge in spicy buffalo chicken flavor without the mess of traditional wings.
Instant Pot Chicken Curry is a satisfying and comforting dish that is full of bold flavor. You’ll love how easy to make this chicken curry Instant Pot dish using affordable pantry staples. It's a easy meal if you don't have time to grocery shop!
Baked turkey meatballs are so easy and flavorful! This ground turkey meatballs recipe is perfect for meal prep and when you need a quick dinner on those busy school nights!
Tips For Success
- Cook once, eat all week: Batch cooking and storing your meals in airtight containers to use throughout the week can help save both time and money.
- Invest in flavor: keeping your pantry stocked with good quality spices and seasonings makes it easy to add amazing flavor and color to all sorts of recipes.
- Make your appliances do the work: Use countertop appliances like an air fryer, slow cooker, and Instant Pot to reduce the amount of hands-on cooking time needed.
Recommended Tools
- Handy storage containers for meal prep.
- Measuring cups and spoons so you can keep to the recipes measurements.
- Salt so the food tastes amazing.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon!
Thank you for reading my Dinner Ideas For Back School post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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40 Easy Back To School Dinner Ideas
Ingredients
- Baked Tortellini Casserole – 5 Ingredients
- Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Breast (Healthier and Juicy)
- Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Sweet Potato
- Meatball Casserole
- Sheet Pan Gnocchi
- Easy Juicy Air Fryer Hamburgers
- Air Fryer Fish Tacos
- Tomato Tortellini Soup
- Air Fryer Fish And Chips
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Walking Taco Casserole
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas (Video)
- Crockpot Spaghetti And Meatballs
- Air Fryer Cod
- Quick Chicken Quesadillas
- 15 Minutes Shrimp Tacos
- Sheet Pan Orange Chicken
- 15 Minutes Salmon Tacos
- Ramen Noodle Soup
- Rainbow Hummus Veggie Wrap (Tortilla Wrap)
- Baked Ravioli Casserole
- Easy Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana – Olive Garden Copycat
- Easy Instant Pot Sloppy Joes (Pantry Meal)
- Easy Chickpea Soup
- Crockpot Tomato Soup
- One Pot Leek And Chicken Rice
- Baked Mac and Cheese
- Dutch Oven Pulled Pork
- Taco Casserole
- Crockpot Spaghetti
- Instant Pot Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
- Creamy Mushroom Chicken
- Chicken Tenders (Lemon Garlic Butter)
- Easy Spinach Soup
- Chicken Stir Fry with Noodles
- Italian Pinwheels
- Instant Pot Moroccan Split Pea Soup (Vegan + Gluten-Free}
- Creamy Easy Instant Pot Potato Soup
- Dump And Start Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
- Lentil Tacos
- Buffalo Chicken Pinwheels
- Really Easy Instant Pot Chicken Curry
- Baked Turkey Meatballs
Instructions
- Choose your favorite recipe.
- Gather your ingredients.
- Make your back to school dinner meal!
these are some good ideas for when school starts back up. It’s going to get so busy so it’s nice to have some fast and easy ideas!