Easy back-to-school dinners your kids will love! These quick, family-friendly recipes make weeknight meals stress-free during the busy school season.
Quick and Easy Back to School Dinner Ideas
Back to school season means juggling sports, homework, and busy evenings. At this time of year, getting dinner on the table can feel impossible! As a mom of three boys in sports, I know the challenge all too well. That’s why I’ve gathered our favorite quick, cozy, family-friendly recipes that keep everyone fed and happy without hours in the kitchen. From hearty casseroles to slow cooker comforts, these dinners are perfect for busy school nights.
Casseroles and Bakes
Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole
You don’t even have to boil the pasta for this easy dump and bake meatball casserole. With 5 simple ingredients, family-friendly weeknight dinners don’t get much better!
4-Ingredient Ravioli Casserole
With just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, this baked ravioli casserole is an easy dinner that the whole family will love!
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
With about 10 minutes of prep, this dump-and-bake chicken broccoli rice casserole is an easy dinner that cooks in one dish! There’s no need to pre-cook the rice, pre-cook the chicken, or sauté the veggies, so the comfort food meal is an ideal option to pop in the oven for busy nights.
Baked Ziti with Sausage
Baked ziti with sausage, three types of cheese, and homemade marinara sauce is a classic pasta bake that’s pure comfort food! Pair the hearty, satisfying casserole with a Caesar salad and garlic bread for the ultimate family meal. It’s also an easy make-ahead dinner for busy days!
Sloppy Joe Cornbread Casserole
This Sloppy Joe cornbread casserole is an easy dinner recipe that the entire family will love! An affordable sweet and tangy ground beef filling is finished with a golden brown Jiffy cornbread topping. Serve the casserole with a simple green salad for a quick weeknight meal!
Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
A family-friendly, easy dinner for busy nights! Chicken tater tot casserole includes shredded chicken and corn in a creamy sauce, finished with melted cheddar cheese and a crispy potato topping.
Johnny Marzetti Casserole
Johnny Marzetti is a classic ground beef casserole with egg noodles, tomato soup, veggies and cheese — all baked into one delicious comfort food dish! The easy dinner recipe is a perfect freezer meal or prep-ahead supper, or potluck offering to share with friends and family!
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Ooey, gooey, and oh-so-cheesy! This creamy baked mac and cheese is the perfect make-ahead side dish for family dinners, special holiday meals, and potluck gatherings.
Taco Pie
A Mexican-inspired version of chicken potpie, this easy taco pie recipe is a fun twist on a favorite family dinner! Ground beef, zesty seasoning, corn, and peppers come together with cheese and a Jiffy cornbread crust for an easy weeknight supper.
Tuna Noodle Casserole
This classic tuna noodle casserole recipe is a quick, comforting dinner with tender noodles, canned tuna, peas, and a creamy, cheesy sauce topped with crispy potato chips. Best of all, it comes together in just 20 minutes!
Dump-and-Bake Pizza Casserole
If your crew loves pizza night, this easy pizza casserole recipe is going to be a new favorite. It tastes just like a slice of cheesy pepperoni pizza but comes together in one dish with hardly any effort.
Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
Chicken and stuffing casserole is old-fashioned, cold-weather comfort food! The easy dinner requires about 15 minutes of prep, can be assembled in advance, and appeals to even the pickiest little eaters.
Slow Cooker Favorites
Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
A classic comfort food dinner gets a makeover for the slow cooker! This easy Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie with biscuits comes together in about 10 minutes and simmers in your kitchen while you go about your busy day. Weeknight dinners don’t get much easier than this!
Crock Pot Grape Jelly Meatballs
With just three simple ingredients — frozen meatballs, grape jelly, and chili sauce — these Crock Pot meatballs are an easy appetizer for parties and a quick dinner for busy weeknights!
Crock Pot Brown Sugar Chicken
Crock Pot brown sugar chicken is sweet, savory, and easy! Tender shredded chicken cooks with garlic, sesame, and brown sugar for a quick, kid-friendly dinner.
Crockpot Mexican Chicken (Crockpot Chicken Tacos)
Use this healthy and versatile 5-ingredient crockpot Mexican chicken for quesadillas, casseroles, enchiladas, chicken burritos, nachos, rice bowls, and crockpot chicken tacos!
Crockpot White Chicken Chili
This 5-star crockpot white chicken chili is a cozy, easy dinner with just 5 minutes of prep!
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Tender, juicy, and seasoned with a flavorful dry rub, this Crock Pot pulled pork recipe is one of the easiest and most delicious slow cooker dinners you’ll make!
Crock Pot Beef Stew
This classic Crock Pot beef stew is an easy, nutritious, one-pot meal that simmers on the counter all day long!
Crock Pot Chicken and Noodles
Crock Pot chicken and noodles is an easy dinner recipe with just 5 minutes of prep! The creamy broth coats tender pasta and shredded meat for a cozy, family-friendly meal that’s perfect on a chilly night.
One-Pan and Skillet Meals
Southwest Ground Beef and Rice Skillet
A quick Southwestern-inspired skillet dinner that’s loaded with ground beef and rice, beans, corn, tomatoes, and cheese. Best of all, it’s ready in 30 minutes!
Pulled Pork Nachos
Pulled pork nachos are a quick, flavorful meal with just five ingredients and 15 minutes of prep—perfect for busy weeknights or Game Day gatherings! Use leftover slow cooker pork, smoked BBQ, or store-bought meat for an easy, crowd-pleasing dish.
Creamy Beef and Shells {One Pot!}
Total comfort food! This one pot creamy beef and shells recipe is an easy dinner made from scratch with ground beef and shell pasta in a cheesy tomato sauce.
One Pot Chili Mac
With just 10 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, this one pot chili mac is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love! Top each bowl with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and diced onion, and serve it alongside a salad, cornbread, or biscuits. The made from scratch pasta and ground beef skillet is always a weeknight winner!
Egg Roll in a Bowl
All of the delicious flavors of your favorite fried Chinese restaurant appetizer come together in a lighter, faster, one-skillet meal. This “egg roll in a bowl” is a quick and healthy dinner that’s ready in about 20 minutes!
Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
Sheet pan sausage and peppers with onions all cook together on a single tray for an easy dinner that’s ready from start to finish in 30 minutes or less!
Maple-Glazed Sheet Pan Salmon
With just 5 ingredients, this sheet pan salmon is an easy way to get a healthy meal on the table — even on your busiest nights. Maple-glazed salmon, sweet potatoes, and broccoli bake together on one tray, so there are very few dishes to wash at the end!
Sheet Pan Low Country Boil
Bake this low country boil in the oven! The seasoned shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes require just 10 minutes of prep — and very little cleanup at the end.
One-Pan Cheesy Southern Bean Casserole
A simple, hearty, and flavorful vegetarian dinner comes together with one pan in about 30 minutes thanks to this Southern bean casserole recipe! The easy dish includes sweet and savory beans, greens, veggies, and plenty of melty cheese for a cozy, family-friendly meal.
One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
With just 5 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, my grandmother’s one pan homemade Hamburger Helper is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love! Top it with cheddar cheese, and serve it alongside a salad, cornbread, or biscuits. The made from scratch pasta and ground beef skillet is always a weeknight winner!
Texas Hash {One Skillet!}
With just 10 minutes of prep and a few pantry staples, this one-skillet Texas hash is a quick and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love! Ground beef and rice simmer with veggies, spices, and cheese for a simple weeknight winner.
Soups and Stews
Slow Cooker Lasagna Soup
Full of rich Italian flavor, fresh vegetables, ground beef, noodles, and a ricotta-Parmesan garnish, this slow cooker lasagna soup is always a hit at the family table!
Crock Pot Chicken Corn Chowder
This creamy chicken corn chowder Crock Pot recipe is hearty, comforting, and loaded with bacon, potatoes, and sweet corn for an easy family meal.
Chicken Vegetable Soup
An easy and healthy chicken vegetable soup recipe is the perfect cozy lunch or dinner for a chilly day! Loaded with flavorful veggies, fresh herbs, diced potatoes, and tender chicken, this simple and hearty dish is a satisfying make-ahead, freezer-friendly meal.
30-Minute Meatball Tortellini Soup
A perfect weeknight dinner! This meatball tortellini soup is a simple and cozy meal that’s ready in about 30 minutes.
Easy Taco Soup (Stovetop or Crock Pot)
Simmer a pot of this easy taco soup on the stovetop or in the Crock Pot for a cozy, satisfying dinner with just 10 minutes of prep!
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
This healthy, flavorful, and easy slow cooker chicken tortilla soup works on the stovetop or in the Instant Pot, too!
Tomato Basil Soup
This easy tomato basil soup recipe is a light, healthy, and delicious vegetarian dinner or weekend lunch that’s ready for the table in about 30 minutes. Sweet and creamy, it’s the perfect companion for a toasty grilled cheese sandwich or a loaf of crusty bread.
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
There’s nothing cozier than a warm bowl of this Easy Chicken Noodle Soup on a chilly day. Made with love and a few simple shortcuts (like rotisserie chicken), a pot of homemade chicken noodle soup is ready for the table in about 45 minutes. Serve the comfort food classic with a side of buttermilk biscuits, 3-ingredient sour cream muffins, or a loaf of crusty bread!
Kid-Friendly Classics
Chicken Taquitos
These easy chicken taquitos come together with just 4 simple ingredients and 10 minutes of prep! A family-friendly snack, appetizer, or dinner that everyone will love.
The Easiest Burrito Recipe
Do you love Chipotle, but you’re tired of paying for carry-out? This is truly the easiest burrito recipe to make at home — and they’re freezer-friendly! Keep a stash in your kitchen and you can satisfying your Mexican food cravings any night of the week.
Hanky Panky Sliders
The old-fashioned hanky panky recipe gets an update in the form of these hanky panky sliders! The little sandwiches are stuffed with a cheesy sausage and ground beef filling, topped with a garlic butter sauce, and baked in the oven. Serve them as appetizers at your next party, as a convenient make-ahead Game Day snack, or for your next weeknight dinner.
Pizza Quesadilla
Easy and fast, this pizza quesadilla is a healthy dinner that’s ready in just 15 minutes! A kid favorite, the “pizzadillas” can be customized for each individual diner — keep them vegetarian, load them up with pepperoni, or make them simple and cheesy with just 3 basic ingredients! Served with a side salad and some extra marinara sauce for dipping, this is one meal that the whole family can agree on.
Flatbread Pizza
Prepare a restaurant-quality naan flatbread pizza recipe at home in about 15 minutes! The easy dinner includes store-bought crust, marinara or pizza sauce, a blend of Italian cheeses, and all of your favorite toppings. Serve each pizza with a crisp Caesar salad, tomato salad, or marinated cucumbers for a quick weeknight meal.
Easy Baked Spaghetti
Easy baked spaghetti is a 5-ingredient Amish classic! It’s simple, comforting, and ideal for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will devour.
Goldfish Baked Chicken Nuggets
Crispy and flavorful, these Goldfish baked chicken nuggets are an easy dinner that your whole family will love. That’s right — your kids’ favorite snack cracker is the secret ingredient in the breading! Skip the drive-thru and serve the homemade chicken nuggets with honey mustard and ketchup for dipping, plus salad, coleslaw, corn muffins, or potato wedges on the side.
Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe
Whether you use a cast iron skillet or a deep-fat fryer, this is truly the best fried chicken tenders recipe! The crispy chicken strips are dipped in buttermilk and dredged in seasoned flour for a family-friendly, easy dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes.
With these easy back-to-school dinners, you can feed your family well without spending all evening in the kitchen. Pick a few favorites to try this week, and let me know in the comments which ones your crew loved most! If you need even more delicious ideas, be sure to check out these 75 dinner ideas for picky eaters next!
