Your Ultimate Guide to Back-to-School Dinner Recipes

Starting school is tough enough without having figure out what’s for dinner. This ultimate guide to back-to-school dinner recipes will help!

collage of recipes included in the back-to-school dinner ideas recipe round up.

Heading back to school can be rough. Things move at a slightly more relaxed pace in my house during the summer, which means I didn’t feel like I had to adhere to a specific time frame when it came to getting dinner on the table. However, once school starts and you are juggling after-school activities, homework and early bedtimes, getting dinner on the table at a reasonable time can seem like a chore. Thankfully, I have several tried-and-true back-to-school dinner recipes in my arsenal I can lean on — everything from 30 minute meals, slow cooker, Instant Pot, soup, casseroles and kid-friendly recipes.

Table of Contents hide

1 Your Ultimate Guide to Back-to-School Dinner Recipes

2 30 Minute Meals

3 Soup Recipes

4 Slow Cooker Recipes

5 Instant Pot Recipes

6 Kid-Friendly Recipes

7 Snack Recipes

Your Ultimate Guide to Back-to-School Dinner Recipes

I’ve amassed quite a collection of recipes over the years. To keep things organized and less overwhelming, I’ve categorized them into a few sections to make everything easier to find. My goal is to help you get a stress-free homecooked meal on your kitchen table every (or most every) night of the week.

30 Minute Meals
Soup
Slow Cooker
Instant Pot
Kid Friendly
Snacks

30 Minute Meals

All of these easy dinner recipes take 30 minutes or less to complete from the time you start your oven or turn on the stove. There may be a little prep work involved, such as chopping veggies, all of which can be done ahead of time.

easy shrimp scampi — 10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi

bacon, chicken and mushroom skillet — 10-Minute Easy Shrimp Scampi

Soup Recipes

While I adore summer, I look forward to cooler weather just so I can start making homemade soup. Many of these soup recipe ideas can be doubled and frozen for a quick meal later on.

chicken and sausage gumbo with rice in a white bowl trimmed with green leaves — Chicken And Sausage Gumbo

black bowl filled with rice and chicken peanut stew with a gold spoon to the side and a gray pot of stew in the background — Chicken And Sausage Gumbo

Slow Cooker Recipes

I love it when an appliance can do all the work for me! These are a few of my favorite slow cooker recipe ideas.

bowl of black eyed pea soup with a dollop of soup cream, sprinkle of cayenne pepper and sliced green onions — Beef Tips and Noodles

Instant Pot Recipes

I didn’t think anything could replace my love affair with my slow cooker … until I got my Instant Pot! I can cook almost all my slow cooker recipes in my Instant Pot in a fraction of the time. If you don’t have any Instant Pot, don’t write these recipes off. Many of them have slow cooker and stove stop instructions included.

two white mugs full of black bean soup garnished with sour cream, cheese and jalapenos

white dish of red beans and rice with a metal spoon, bowl of cooked rice and an Instant pot to the side

Kid-Friendly Recipes

When everyone (including the kiddos) enjoys dinner, I consider that recipe a major win. These are the tried-and-true kid approved recipes in my house.

clear pyrex dish of baked chicken spaghetti with a metal serving spoon — Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel

Sloppy Joe sandwich on a plate with chips on the side — Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel

Snack Recipes

Are your kids always STARVING when they walk in the door from school? Mine sure are! Here are a few snack recipe ideas to fill them up before the homework grind begins.