25+ Quick and Easy Back to School Recipes

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Get ready for the school year with these quick and easy back to school recipes. These family-friendly meals are designed to save time on busy weeknights, ensuring you can focus on homework, after-school activities, and quality family time. From one-pan dinners to make-ahead breakfasts, these recipes are perfect for keeping everyone fueled and happy!

Photograph of easy chicken parmesan with text overlay that reads "25+ Quick & Easy Back to School Recipes"

Favorite Back to School Recipe Ideas

The back-to-school season is hectic, but dinner doesn’t have to be! These recipes are quick, delicious, and picky-eater approved. Whether you’re looking for a 30-minute stovetop meal or a make-ahead breakfast we’ve got you covered. Many of these dishes use pantry staples, require minimal cleanup, and can be prepped in advance to make your weeknights stress-free.

For busy mornings, whip up a batch of Homemade Egg McMuffins, Perfect Pancake Muffins, or Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole to reheat and serve. For dinner, try the Skillet Lasagna or The Best Tacos for a crowd-pleasing meal ready in no time. And don’t forget a quick snack like Homemade Granola to keep the kids energized after school.

25+ Quick and Easy Back to School Recipes

Success Tip: Meal Prepping

To make weeknights even easier, plan 3–4 dinners at the start of the week and shop for ingredients in one trip. Use a slow cooker or Instant Pot for hands-off cooking, and store leftovers in glass containers for quick reheating. For breakfasts, prep a batch over the weekend to grab and go!

The Best Tacos Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Learn to make the Best Tacos that are quick, easy, and delicious! These classic homemade ground beef tacos are family favorites and are much better than takeout!
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Skillet Lasagna Recipe - This quick and easy recipe is the perfect weeknight solution for the lasagna lover! Made in one pan, this skillet recipe is a definite favorite! // addapinch.com

Easy Skillet Lasagna Recipe

5 from 4 votes
Skillet Lasagna Recipe – This quick and easy recipe is the perfect weeknight solution for the lasagna lover! Made in one pan, this skillet recipe is a definite favorite! 
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Photo of steak bites served with green beans and potatoes on a white plate.

Air Fryer Steak Bites Recipe

5 from 1 vote
This easy Steak Bites recipe is quick and easy and makes tender, juicy, delicious steak bites! Ready in 15 minutes!
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Photograph of chicken parmesan recipe with a bite on a fork served on a white plate.

Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Chicken Parmesan Recipe – This delicious Chicken Parmesan is lightly breaded, bathed in rich marinara and cheeses, and baked til bubbly! Ready in 30 minutes!
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Hamburger with grilled sweet potatoes on a white plate.

Bart’s Best Hamburger Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Make juicy, flavorful hamburgers every time with Bart's Best Hamburger Recipe! With just two ingredients and a few expert tips, these are the best beef hamburgers you've ever tasted!
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Pot roast on a white platter with vegetables and rosemary.

Pot Roast Recipe

5 from 13 votes
This Classic Pot Roast recipe is easy to make. Chuck roast and fresh vegetables are cooked in a Dutch oven until tender, juicy, and delicious. This rich and flavorful one-pot meal is the ultimate comfort food!
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Instant Pot Spaghetti topped with parmesan cheese // addapinch.com

Instant Pot Spaghetti Recipe

5 from 6 votes
Instant Pot Spaghetti is a quick and delicious meal that's ready in 20 minutes! Spaghetti with meat sauce cooks in one pot for a fast family favorite dish!
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The Best Chicken Enchiladas are definite favorites! They begin in the crockpot, are easy to make and are amazing with my quick homemade enchilada sauce! //addapinch.com

Chicken Enchilada Recipe

4.96 from 24 votes
The Best Chicken Enchilada recipe is easy to make, filled with chicken, and topped with homemade enchilada sauce. Mexican food favorite that's ready in 30 minutes! Video included.
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Two meatloaf muffins on a white plate with creamed spinach.

Easy Meatloaf Muffins Recipe

5 from 1 vote
Delicious and easy, these Meatloaf Muffins are my family's favorite meatloaf recipe, made smaller in individual servings for faster cooking! This Mini Meatloaf recipe is easy to meal prep and freezes beautifully! A quick weeknight meal that's on the table in less than 30 minutes!
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Sloppy Joe on a hamburger bun on a white plate.

Sloppy Joe Recipe

5 from 1 vote
The BEST Homemade Sloppy Joe recipe made with ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a flavorful BBQ sauce served on toasted buns. Easy 30 minute meal.
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Chicken Fajita Recipe - This Chicken Fajita recipe makes a quick, delicious meal perfect for a busy weeknight supper or a fun weekend meal.

Chicken Fajitas Recipe

5 from 10 votes
Chicken Fajitas Recipe – Chicken Fajitas are delicious and loaded with flavor! A favorite quick and easy meal!
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Skillet Spanish Rice with Ground Beef Recipe

4.98 from 35 votes
Spanish Rice Recipe – This Spanish Rice recipe is made with ground beef for a main dish meal! Ready in less than 30 minutes!
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Steak Burrito Bowl Recipe - This easy steak burrito bowl recipe is one that rivals the restaurant version! Ready and on the table in minutes! // addapinch.com

Steak Burrito Bowls Recipe

5 from 4 votes
This delicious Steak Burrito Bowl recipe is loaded with juicy steak and other fresh, flavorful ingredients and rivals a restaurant favorite! Ready and on the table in minutes!
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Deep Dish Pizza Cups Recipe - These deep dish pizza cups make a fun and delicious way to serve everyone's favorite pizza! // addapinch.com

Deep Dish Pizza Cups Recipe

5 from 4 votes
These easy Deep Dish Pizza Cups make a fun and delicious way to serve everyone's favorite pizza! Perfectly sized pizza for quick and easy meals, meal prep, and more!
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Ham and cheese sliders on a white plate.

Baked Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

5 from 2 votes
Baked Ham and Cheese Sandwiches, also known as ham and cheese sliders, feature layers of savory ham and melted Swiss cheese on sweet Hawaiian rolls, topped with a mouthwatering butter sauce. This crowd-favorite recipe is perfect for easy meals or parties!
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Sheet Pan Nachos Recipe - Sheet Pan Nachos make a quick and easy appetizer for a crowd or easy weeknight supper! These nachos are always a favorite.

Sheet Pan Nachos Recipe

5 from 1 vote
This Sheet Pan Nachos Recipe makes a quick and easy appetizer for a crowd or a favorite weeknight supper! These delicious nachos are ready in less than 30 minutes and are simple to make on your sheet pan.
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Steak Fajitas Recipe - Steak fajitas make a quick and easy meal perfect for weeknight suppers or weekend celebrations! // addapinch.com

Steak Fajitas Recipe

4.99 from 125 votes
Steak Fajitas Recipe – Steak fajitas make a quick and easy meal perfect for weeknight suppers or weekend celebrations! Made with beef, peppers, onions and served with a stack of warm tortillas and condiments. They are always a favorite!
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Quick and Easy Breakfast Favorites

Pancake Muffins Recipe - Pancake muffins make a great breakfast or treat for brunch. So simple to make, you get the ease of a muffin with the deliciousness of pancakes! // addapinch.com

Perfect Pancake Muffins Recipe

5 from 23 votes
Pancake Muffins are the perfect easy breakfast recipe! Simple to make with the ease of a muffin and the deliciousness of pancakes! A make-ahead favorite!
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Breakfast casserole in a glass pan.

Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole Recipe

5 from 8 votes
This easy breakfast casserole is made with eggs, sausage, and cheese and comes together quickly and easily. Makes the best make-ahead breakfast casserole!
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Photo of homemade granola on a baking sheet with a spatula.

Homemade Granola Recipe

5 from 5 votes
This delicious homemade granola recipe is easy to make and full of wholesome ingredients! It's made with oats, nuts, coconut oil, and more and is naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup. It makes the best homemade granola! and is perfect for breakfast and snacks!
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Maple Berry Overnight Oats Recipe

5 from 1 vote
This maple berry overnight oats recipe is a busy family’s friend! Perfect for those rushed mornings or for a grab and go breakfast!
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Best French Toast Recipe

5 from 230 votes
This French toast recipe makes a delicious breakfast or brunch. Make this simple, yet perfect French toast recipe that everyone will love.
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Our Favorite Buttermilk Waffles Recipe - Our favorite buttermilk waffles are crisp on the outside, yet tender and fluffy on the inside. This is the buttermilk waffle recipe I turn to again and again! // addapinch.com

Our Favorite Buttermilk Waffles Recipe

5 from 2 votes
Buttermilk Waffles Recipe – Our favorite buttermilk waffles are crisp on the outside, yet tender and fluffy on the inside. This is the buttermilk waffle recipe I turn to again and again!
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Homemade Egg McMuffin in closeup shot - with English muffin, cheese, egg, and Canadian bacon // addapinch.com

Homemade Egg McMuffin Recipe

5 from 10 votes
Homemade Egg McMuffin Recipe – This Homemade Egg McMuffin Recipe turns the fast-food favorite into an easy, even more delicious homemade breakfast sandwich! Make ahead recipe yields multiples for busy mornings!
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Mini Quiche Recipe

4.82 from 32 votes
This delicious mini quiche recipe is a favorite for breakfast, brunch, or parties! Fluffy quiche in a flaky pie crust is simple to personalize with optional ingredients and easy to make ahead! It's such an easy, favorite quiche recipe!
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Photo of buttermilk pancakes topped with butter and syrup on a white plate.

Perfect Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

5 from 26 votes
Make these classic Buttermilk Pancakes from scratch in minutes – even if you're out of buttermilk! Fluffy, buttery, delicious, and perfect pancakes with this easy recipe!
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I hope you love these quick and easy back to school recipe ideas. I’d love to know your favorites, too!

Enjoy!
Robyn xo

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