40 Back to School Recipes: a kitchen method

These fantastic back to school recipes are a great way to start the school year with straightforward sheet pan dishes, one pot meals and family favorites like cheeseburger pasta, bagel dogs and chicken and rice casserole.

Get the school year off to a good start with quick and straightforward dinners that the whole family will love.

At the end of every summer I start counting down the days until the kids are back in school. However, when they are back in school I have to get used to brand new schedules. School nights means busier nights as the kids start up their extracurricular activities and want help with homework.

Straightforward back to school recipes are a must this time of year. No one wants to come home from a busy day to have an even busier evening, and then still worry about what to make for dinner.

These 40 back to school recipes should help you out tremendously. Many can be prepped and stored in the freezer until you are ready for them, which makes things a lot easier. Just don’t forget to pull them out to thaw.

There are a lot of slow cooker meals that you can prepare early and will be hot and ready at dinner time. Other recipes are quick and straightforward, require minimal ingredients and can be made with just a few dishes. These recipes will help you save time without sacrificing flavor.

One pot meals and sheet pan dinners are my go-to for the beginning of the school year. They make life easier while getting used to a new schedule. Give these back to school dinners a try and leave any other ideas you have in the comments below!

40 Back to School Recipes

This bacon wrapped meatloaf is ground beef mixed with breadcrumbs and seasonings, then covered in bacon slices and baked until golden brown. A unique twist on the classic recipe that will earn you rave reviews! Get the RecipeThis recipe for bagel dogs is made with kitchen-made bagel dough which is wrapped around hot dogs and baked to golden brown perfection. A great snack or meal that the kids will absolutely love!
Get the RecipeThis recipe for bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breast with roasted potatoes is a quick and straightforward one pan meal that's sure to please any crowd! The chicken is stuffed with an incredible combination of three cheeses, garlic and herbs. Get the RecipeThis baked chicken parmesan is golden brown crunchy chicken breasts smothered in marinara sauce and melted cheese. A lighter take on the classic chicken parmesan that tastes like something you’d get in a restaurant! Get the RecipeThis kitchen-made calzone recipe is a mixture of sausage, pepperoni and bell peppers, all baked inside pizza dough with plenty of melted cheese. Calzones are the reliable food for a party, they’re hand held, hearty and totally tasty. Get the RecipeThis balsamic chicken is chicken thighs coated in a sweet and savory glaze and roasted to perfection along with potatoes and asparagus. An straightforward one pan meal that’s sure to please the whole family! Get the RecipeThese buffalo chicken sliders are warm sandwiches filled with shredded buffalo chicken, ranch sauce, lettuce and tomato. The signature party snack! Get the RecipeThis cheeseburger casserole is ground beef, bacon, macaroni and plenty of cheese, all baked together to perfection. A quick and straightforward dinner option that's always a hit with both kids and adults! Get the RecipeThis cheeseburger pasta is a hearty recipe of ground beef, shells and cheese in a savory tomato sauce, topped off with bacon and pickles. All the flavors of a bacon cheeseburger in a comforting pasta dish! Get the RecipeThis classic chicken and rice casserole recipe is a one pan meal that’s full of tender chicken and silky rice, all baked together to perfection. Get the Recipe

This chicken broccoli casserole is a one pot meal with sauteed chicken, rice, broccoli florets and cheese, finished off with a crunchy topping. A comfort food classic that's quick to make and always gets rave reviews! Get the RecipeThese chicken taquitos are stuffed with seasoned shredded chicken and cheese, then baked or fried to crunchy perfection. Serve these taquitos with your go-to dipping sauces for a fun party snack or meal! Get the RecipeThis one pot chili mac is a blend of ground beef, macaroni, beans, tomatoes and spices, all topped off with plenty of melted cheese. An straightforward dinner option that’s family friendly and on the table in 30 minutes! Get the RecipeThis recipe for cornflake chicken is strips of chicken breast coated in seasoned crushed cornflakes and baked to crunchy perfection. These chicken fingers are straightforward to make and are a big hit with both kids and adults! Get the RecipeThis recipe for fried shrimp tacos is a pile of crunchy shrimp that’s layered with cilantro lime cabbage slaw and avocado relish then stuffed inside warm flour tortillas. It’s a quick and straightforward meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant! Get the RecipeThis Greek chicken and potatoes is a one pan meal with marinated garlic and herb chicken and tender potatoes, all roasted to golden brown perfection. A super straightforward dinner for a busy weeknight. Get the RecipeThese ham and cheese sliders are Hawaiian rolls topped with plenty of sliced ham, swiss cheese and an onion poppy seed butter, then baked to gooey perfection. The signature party snack to feed a crowd! Get the RecipeThis hamburger casserole is ground beef and mushrooms in tomato sauce, tossed with pasta and topped with melted cheese. A comfort food classic that's great for feeding a crowd, and can be easily customized to your tastes! Get the RecipeThis Italian chicken is coated in a crunchy parmesan crust and baked to perfection along with potatoes. An straightforward sheet pan dinner that the whole family will love! Get the RecipeThis ham casserole is egg noodles, broccoli and diced ham in a silky sauce, all topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A comfort food classic that's the reliable way to use up leftover ham! Get the Recipe

This Mexican casserole is made with ground beef, tortillas, vegetables and cheese, all layered together and baked to golden brown perfection. A quick and straightforward dinner for busy weeknights! Get the RecipeThis recipe for moo shu chicken is a quick and straightforward dinner option that tastes so much better than take out! Get the RecipeA one pot gumbo full of shrimp, chicken, sausage and vegetables that’s ready in 30 minutes. Get the RecipeThis one pot chicken and rice bake combines chicken with silky parmesan rice and butternut squash for a complete healthy meal with less dishes to clean. Get the RecipeThis pizza casserole is pasta simmered in tomato sauce with pepperoni, sausage, olives and bell peppers, then topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A family friendly dinner option that always gets rave reviews! Get the RecipeThis shish kabob recipe features tender marinated beef, peppers and onions, all skewered together and grilled to perfection. Shish kabobs are a quick and straightforward meal option that can also be cooked in the oven during cooler weather months. Get the RecipeThis salsa chicken is chicken breasts coated in taco seasoning, salsa and cheese, then baked to perfection. A quick and straightforward meal that the whole family is sure to love.
Get the RecipeThis recipe for shrimp chow mein is a quick and straightforward one pot meal with plenty of stir fried shrimp and vegetables tossed with noodles and a unfussy sauce. Get the RecipeThis slow cooker beef stew is loaded with chunks of tender beef, potatoes, carrots and peas. It’s a hearty and comforting one pot meal where the crock pot does all of the work! Get the RecipeThis slow cooker beef stroganoff is tender beef, mushrooms and egg noodles, all tossed in a savory silky sauce. An straightforward crock pot dinner that’s pure comfort food! Get the Recipe

These slow cooker carnitas tacos are tender chunks of pork cooked in a crock pot, then stuffed into warm corn tortillas with red onion and cilantro. An straightforward and authentic meal that's even better than what you would get at a restaurant. Get the RecipeThis slow cooker chili is a blend of beef, beans, tomatoes and spices, all simmered together in the crock pot for a rich and hearty dish. Crock pot chili is reliable for parties and any occasion where you need to feed a crowd!
Get the RecipeThis recipe for slow cooker mac and cheese is a blend of tender pasta with two types of cheese and plenty of seasonings, all cooked together to silky and cheesy perfection. It's the easiest crock pot macaroni and cheese ever! Get the RecipeThis slow cooker pulled pork is coated in a kitchen-made spice rub, then simmered in the crock pot until tender. Shred the meat and add BBQ sauce, then dinner is ready to serve! Get the RecipeThis slow cooker salisbury steak recipe is made with tender beef patties topped with mushroom gravy. Classic comfort food that’s super unfussy to make! Get the RecipeThese slow cooker sloppy joes are made with ground beef, tomato sauce, brown sugar and spices, all cooked to savory perfection. An straightforward crock pot meal that’s kid friendly and reliable for serving a crowd. Get the RecipeThis Spanish chicken is spiced chicken thighs roasted with potatoes, bell peppers and chorizo. A unfussy and satisfying one pan meal that tastes like it came from a fancy restaurant! Get the RecipeThis stromboli recipe is tender dough stuffed with tomato sauce, cheese and Italian meats, then baked to golden brown perfection. It’s a quick and straightforward dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes!
Get the RecipeThese taco sliders are sandwiches stuffed with taco meat and cheese, then brushed with garlic butter and baked to perfection. Serve with salsa and guacamole for a party snack that will earn rave reviews.
Get the RecipeThis vegetable lasagna is layers of noodles, veggies, marinara sauce and three different kinds of cheese, all baked to golden brown perfection. A vegetarian main course option that's reliable for feeding a crowd. Get the Recipe

Save yourself time and effort with these fantastic recipes. Your family will love these memorable meals and you will love how much easier these recipes make your life. Give them a try today!