The Back-to-School Dinner Struggle is Real
If you’ve ever stood in the kitchen at 5:15 p.m. thinking, What in the world am I going to make for dinner?—you’re not alone. The start of a new school year comes with homework, sports, activities, and busy evenings, and the last thing most of us want is a complicated dinner recipe that takes all night. That’s why I’ve pulled together my favorite easy back-to-school weeknight dinners for your family. They’re quick, low-stress, and crowd-pleasing for both kids and grown-ups.
Last week, I was talking with a friend who has triplets starting kindergarten, and I asked her what she was most nervous about. Without hesitation, she said, “Dinner time!” Our conversation turned to after-school pick-up moods and the meltdowns that can happen before the food even hits the table. And I get it—those first few weeks of back-to-school are a juggling act for mamas everywhere.
As we swapped ideas, we realized that we both rely on a core set of recipes that are easy to prep, high on flavor, and work for the whole family. Many of them are crockpot wonders, make-ahead casseroles, or sheet pan meals—because anything that keeps me from spending my whole afternoon in the kitchen is a win. Whether you’re a slow cooker, Instant Pot, or air fryer family, you can adapt these recipes to fit your style.
So, if you’re ready to skip the stress and get dinner on the table without losing your sanity, here are 38 tried-and-true back-to-school weeknight dinner ideas your family can keep on repeat all year long.
38 Easy Back-to-School Weeknight Dinners
1. Fancy Sandwiches Night
A fun idea from my mother-in-law—buy “fancy” bread you don’t normally get and let everyone make their own sandwiches. Pair with fruit and chips for a zero-stress dinner.
2. Shortcut Lasagna – Recipe Here
All the flavors of lasagna with less time in the kitchen. Uses shortcuts like jarred sauce and no-boil noodles to get it on the table faster.
3. Burgers
We love frozen patties from Sam’s Club—sometimes chicken and mozzarella, sometimes taco turkey, sometimes classic beef. Serve with fries, chips, or roasted veggies.
4. Cheeseburger Mac – Recipe Here
A lighter twist on a family favorite—cheesy, hearty, and perfect for busy nights.
5. Salisbury Steak – Recipe Here
Comfort food made simple, served with mashed potatoes and a green veggie.
6. Slow Cooker Stroganoff – Recipe Here
Tender meat in a creamy sauce, slow-cooked all day. Serve over noodles or mashed cauliflower.
7. Tacos or Fajitas
Seasoned ground beef or chicken works great. Double the meat to use leftovers for taco salads, nachos, or burrito bowls later in the week.
8. Frozen Asian Dinner Night
Grab a bag of orange chicken or beef and broccoli from the freezer section, add rice, and bake some frozen eggrolls for a quick meal.
9. Breakfast for Dinner
Scrambled eggs, bacon or sausage, and biscuits or toast. Add fruit for an easy win.
10. Quesadillas
Use leftover proteins, sneak in fajita veggies, and melt with cheese. Serve with chips and salsa or a simple salad.
11. Sam’s Club Prepared Meals
The prepared meals section at Sam’s is full of ready-to-bake options. Pair with a salad kit for an instant dinner.
12. Takeout Night
Schedule one night a week for takeout. Use it to explore new places in your town or just enjoy a no-cook evening.
13. Cheesy Chicken Rigatoni – Recipe Here
Creamy pasta bake with chicken and plenty of cheese—our family’s favorite pasta dinner.
14. Mexican Lasagna – Recipe Here
A Tex-Mex twist on lasagna using tortillas, meat, and cheese.
15. Cowboy Enchiladas – Recipe Here
Hearty, cheesy, and full of flavor—perfect for feeding a crowd.
16. Enchilada Stack – Recipe Here
Layered tortillas, meat, sauce, and cheese baked into bubbly perfection.
17. Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner – Recipe Here
Healthy, quick, and all on one pan for easy cleanup.
18. Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner – Recipe Here
Sweet and tangy chicken with roasted veggies—perfect weeknight dinner.
19. Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner – Recipe Here
Colorful roasted veggies and hearty sausage cooked together.
20. Orange Chicken (Crockpot)
Chicken, BBQ sauce, and orange marmalade slow-cooked with bell peppers and onions. Serve over rice.
21. Turkey Meatloaf Sheet Pan Scoops – Recipe Here
Mini meatloaf servings that bake quickly and are easy to portion.
22. Meatball Subs
Frozen meatballs with marinara in hoagie rolls, topped with cheese and toasted.
23. Beef Stew – Recipe Here
Classic slow-cooked comfort food with tender beef and veggies.
24. Stockpile Stew – Recipe Here
A flexible pantry-friendly stew you can make with what you have on hand.
25. Crockpot Roast
Roast with potatoes, carrots, and flavor-packed seasoning. Low and slow for tender, fall-apart meat.
26. Shepherd’s Pie – Recipe Here
Use leftover roast to create a comforting, veggie-filled shepherd’s pie.
27. Hawaiian Chicken (Crockpot) – Recipe Here
Sweet and savory chicken with pineapple for a tropical twist.
28. Chicken Spaghetti – Recipe Here
Creamy, cheesy pasta bake that’s always a hit with kids.
29. Poppy Seed Chicken – Recipe Here
A Southern classic—creamy chicken topped with buttery crackers.
30. Chicken & Rice Casserole with Broccoli – Recipe Here
A full meal in one dish that you can prep ahead and bake later.
31. Chicken Pot Pie – Recipe Here
Comfort food loaded with chicken and veggies—serve with or without biscuits.
32. Crockpot Pulled Pork – Recipe Here
Tender, flavorful pulled pork perfect for sandwiches or wraps.
33. Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Chicken breasts, diced tomatoes with green chilies, and taco seasoning slow-cooked until shred-ready.
34. Baked Ziti
Pasta baked with sauce and mozzarella; add a little Alfredo for extra creaminess.
35. Chicken Alfredo
Frozen grilled chicken strips with jarred Alfredo sauce over fettuccine noodles—add a Caesar salad to round it out.
36. Mediterranean Bowls
Grilled chicken, rice, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled onions, hummus, and tzatziki—fresh and customizable.
37. Burrito Bowls
Taco meat or shredded chicken over rice with toppings like roasted veggies, salsa, and cheese.
38. Sloppy Joes
Whether you go for traditional or Philly cheesesteak style, this is a quick, crowd-pleasing meal. You can make it on the stovetop in under 20 minutes or let it simmer in the crockpot to save time. Serve on buns with chips, roasted veggies, or a side salad.
Many of these recipes include items you could cut and prep on the weekend and either put together in the morning or assemble and keep in the fridge.
Here are other places I keep meals we are always trying:
- Crockpot Freezer Meals
- Crockpot Meals on the Blog
- Sheet Pan Meals on the Blog
- Pinterest Board: Make It – meals we want to try!
- Pinterest Board: Great Family Meals
- Pinterest Board: New Year, New Meals
- Pinterest Board: Meal Planning
- Pinterest Board: Sheet Pan Meals
Other Meal Planning posts you may find helpful:
- Approachable Family Meal Plans
- Back to School Family Meals
- Summer Meal Ideas
- Healthy Family Travel Meals for Vacation
- Easy Family Travel Meals for Airbnb or Cabin Stay
- Calendar Year of Meal Plans
- January Family Dinners
- February Family Dinners
- March Family Dinners
- April Family Dinners
- May Family Dinners
- June Family Dinners
- July Family Dinners
- August Family Dinners
- September Family Dinners
- October Family Dinners
- November Family Dinners
- December Family Dinners
