25 Perfect, Easy Back To School Recipes

These Back to School Recipes are perfect for the busy start of a new school year. From nutritious snacks to quick delicious dinners, these fail-proof recipes are sure to make the grade. 

Summer has gone way too fast and we can’t believe it’s already the start of a new school year for so many. More and more families now must hustle back to school in early August.

Thankfully, there are some silver linings. Like tasty meals that make our transition easier. Here are our very best easy, delicious BTS eats.

25 Perfect, Easy Back to School Recipes:

  1. One-Pot Pizza Pasta: It’s pasta and pizza. Healthified with whole grain pasta and tomatoes. All in ONE pot.

2. Perfectly Cream Mac’ n Cheese. So creamy, comforting, and reheats exceptionally well (unlike most mac ‘n cheeses):

creamy mac and cheese

3. Parmesan ‘n Panko Crusted Pork Chops. The other white meat is made juicy and tender with a delicious crust. Easy and flavorful.

Parmesan Panko Crusted Pork Chop

4. Every Kid’s (and Grown-up’s) Favorite Sloppy Joes. Lean, Healthy, Nutritious, and Yummy!

sloppy joes

5. You can easily make our family-favorite Grilled Teriyaki Chicken on either outdoor or indoor grills. Everyone devours this immediately, and we think you’ll love it, too. If you’re a meal-prep person, you’ll appreciate that you can marinade a bit batch of this chicken ahead of time and cook as needed.

6. This Most Tender Pot Roast is done Crockpot style, so you can easily prep it the night before, set it in the morning, and forget about it all day long. Serve with rice, potatoes, noodles, or bread. It’s always a winner.

7. Favorite Tender, Juicy Meatloaf. Comes together so easily and tastes outstanding. Wonderful with a side salad and your choice of carb.

meat loaf

8. This Easy Mexican Chicken Stew is a family favorite. When we make it for friends, they ask for the recipe. It’s easy, nutritious, and delicious!

mexican chicken stew

9. Cheesy Baked Tortellini Casserole is cheesy good and super easy. Of course they’ll gobble this up in no time.

10. If you’ve got Chinese Fried Rice lovers at home, leave the takeout alone and make this healthy-delish version yourself.

chinese fried rice

11. This Baked Honey Soy Chicken is a hand-me-down from generations, and no wonder it’s survived this long – it’s tender, tasty, and just so darn finger lickin’ good.

baked honey soy chicken

12. This 30-Minute Healthy Taco Casserole just might rescue your weeknight. An easy upgrade from taco Tuesdays.

13. We probably don’t need to explain why these Weeknight Taco Pockets are such a hit with the family, right? Tip: Make a few extras.

14. Parmesan Bruschetta Chicken Bake is crispy, tender, and full of flavor. Pair it with some noodles and you’re golden for Monday night.

15. Cheesy Bacon Pull Aparts do double duty as an easy weeknight dinner or Saturday morning lazy brunch.

16. Pizza Quesadillas. Because they’re both pizza and quesadilla. They come together in a jiffy and they’ll vanish even quicker.

17. If one of your peeps enjoys honey mustard sauce, make them this super easy 3-Minute Magic Honey Mustard Sauce. It’s loaded with only pure, good ingredients.

18. If you’re looking for a way to feed more fish to the family, try this 20-Minute Easy Lemon Butter Fish. It’s fast and flavorful.

19. The Best Chocolate Oatmeal Bars are No-Bake! They’re so good and packed with nutrition. Lunchbox or afternoon fuel; your choice.

20. Samoa Snack Mix is the perfect fuel for in-between meals or on-the-go munchies.

21. These Oatmeal Energy Cookies are Nut-Free and so packed with nutrition, they can qualify for a yummy breakfast, in addition to the lunchbox.

22. Peanut Butter Honey Cereal Bars are always a hit with the youngsters. They’re No-Bake and perfect for breakfast or after school – perfect for Back to School Recipes!

23. This Honey Yogurt Fruit Dip is perfect for Box Lunches and after school fuel. Great way to get everyone to eat more fruits, while getting probiotics.

24. Yogurt Banana Chocolate Bread is moist and yummy! It’s always a favorite for breakfast or dessert and a satisfying snack in between.

25. Our Back to School Recipes roundup couldn’t be complete without The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies?? Show your love with a warm batch of these and watch their faces light up.

Dig into our 30-Minute Dinner collection, too.

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  • This Farro Salad with Butternut and Avocado is hearty, toothsome, and nutritious! It makes a satisfying lunch for home, work, or school, it also deliciously light healthy for dinner! Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 F(or Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/farro-salad-with-butternut-and-avocado/) Ingredients For the Dressing: 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 4 TB honey 3 TB extra virgin olive oil 1 TB freshly squeezed lemon juice 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp Dijon mustard, coarse ground with visible seeds 1 large garlic clove, minced 1 shallot, minced For the Salad: 1 cup dry Farro, presoaked in water overnight 1 small butternut squash, peeled and cubed to 1/2″ pieces 3 TB olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 whole beets, wrapped in foil 1 cup shredded baby kale or spinach leaves 1/2 cup toasted walnuts 1 semi ripe avocado, cubed and tossed with a splash of lemon Instructions: ingredients in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Transfer to an airtight dressing jar and keep chilled until ready to use. Heat oven to 400F. On a foil lined baking sheet, toss the cubed butternut squash with olive oil and 1 tsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Place on middle rack in oven. Place foil wrapped beets on lower rack in oven. Roast for 25-30 minutes or until squash is fork tender. Remove squash to cool, and leave beets to roast for another 25-30 minutes or until fork tender. Carefully remove foil and let cool before dicing. (Roasting of veggies can be done ahead of time.) While veggies are roasting, cook presoaked Farro in 3 cups salted low-boiling water, 10-15 min or until just tender. Drain and let cool. In a serving bowl, combine roasted butternut squash, beets, Farro, kale/spinach, and avocado. Use a rubber spatula to gently toss with the dressing, adding salt and pepper to taste. Toss walnuts on right before serving. #makeitdelicious #scrumptiouskitchen #bhgcelebrate #onthetable #dailyfoodpic #homemade #hereismyfood #whatsonmyplate #getinmybelly #foodblogfeed #lovefood #igfoodies #instafood #instayum #easyrecipes
  • Braised and broiled to crispy and tender perfection, this Mexican Pulled Pork will quickly become a family favorite dinner! Simple enough to make for a quick family dinner, yet delicious enough to serve at parties, get togethers and more! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/pork-carnitas-recipe-mexican-pulled-pork/) Ingredients: 1 (3.5 to 4 lb) boneless pork butt, fat trimmed to 1/8 inch thick, and cut into 2-inch chunks 1 brown onion, peeled and halved 2 whole bay leaves 1 tsp dried oregano 2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp garlic powder table salt and ground black pepper to taste 2 cups water 2 TB juice from 1 fresh lime 1 medium orange, quartered 18–20 (6 inch) corn tortillas, warmed Optional garnishes: lime wedges, minced red onion, fresh chopped cilantro, salsa, thinly sliced radish, diced avocado, Tapatio hot sauce Instructions: Adjust oven rack to lower middle position. Preheat oven to 300F. Combine pork, onion, bay leaves, oregano, cumin, garlic, 1 1/2 tsp table salt, 1 tsp pepper, water, and lime juice in a large Dutch oven Liquid should barely be covering the meat. Juice the orange in a bowl and add both the juice and orange remnants to the pot. Bring mixture to simmer over medium high heat, stirring occasionally. Cover pot and transfer to oven. Cook until meat is soft and is fork tender, about 2 1/2 hours, stirring meat around once during cooking. Remove the pot from oven. Transfer pork to a bowl with slotted spoon. Remove orange halves, onion, and bay leaves from the liquid and discard. Do not skim fat from liquid. Place pot over high heat and simmer liquid, stirring often, about 10-12 min. You should end up with 1 cup of reduced liquid. Turn oven to broil. Shred pork roughly; not too finely. Fold in the reduced liquid, season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread pork in even layer on rimmed baking sheet. Place sheet on an upper rack and broil until top of meat is well browned but not charred. Edges should be slightly crisp. 5-7 in. Serve immediately with your choice of garnishes and warm corn tortillas. #makeitdelicious #scrumptiouskitchen #bhgcelebrate #onthetable #dailyfoodpic
  • Your carne asada can be ultra tender, with a secret ingredient that works for almost any cut of beef you want to grill! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/tender-carne-asada-recipe/) Ingredients: 2–3 lbs skirt or flank steak, roughly trimmed 1/4 cup regular strength soy sauce (or Tamari, for gluten-free*) 6 cloves garlic, minced 3 TB freshly squeezed lime juice 2 TB olive or canola oil 1 TB sugar 2 tsp ground cumin 2 tsp onion powder 2 tsp ancho chili powder 2 kiwi fruits, peeled and mashed Optional toppings: Pico De Gallo, sliced avocado, lime wedges, chopped cilantro Instructions: Seasonings: In a 9×13 pan or large dish, add the soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, oil, sugar, cumin, onion powder, and chili powder. Use hand whisk to incorporate well. Set aside. Coat: Using paper towels, dab off all excess moisture from beef. Use fork to poke holes throughout beef. Place beef in the pan with marinade. Evenly coat beef on all sides, ensuring every bit of beef is well coated (if you have two steaks, ensure even coating on both.) Cover with cling wrap. Chill 3-9 hours. Tenderize: During the last 30 minutes of marinade time, evenly press mashed kiwi onto all sides of beef, making sure every part of the beef has a bit of kiwi on it. Cover and chill no more than 30 minutes max. Cook: grease the grill; heat on high until smoking hot. Grill steak just until both sides are nicely charred and browned, and interior is medium rare. Cook time will vary, depending on thickness of steaks. Usually, once the exterior is nicely charred, skirt/flank steaks should be done, as they are thinner cuts. Rest: Transfer steak to cutting board and let it rest for 5-10 minutes, without slicing. Then, slice very thinly against the grain (perpendicular to the grain) and serve immediately with your choice of toppings. #makeitdelicious #scrumptiouskitchen #bhgcelebrate #onthetable #dailyfoodpic #homemade #hereismyfood #whatsonmyplate #getinmybelly #foodblogfeed #lovefood #igfoodies #instafood #instayum #easyrecipes #foodblogeats #imsomartha #mywilliamsonoma #abmfoodie #whatweeat #makemore #f52grams
  • In mere minutes, you’ll be dishing up unbelievable flavor with this 20-Minute Lo Mein. Pair it with your favorite protein for the ultimate flavor packed weeknight meal! ✨🤩 Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/20-minute-skillet-lo-mein/) Ingredients: For the Sauce: 4 TB less-sodium, good quality soy sauce 1 TB mirin 1 TB granulated sugar 1 TB pure Asian sesame oil 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper For the Lo Mein: 8 oz fresh Asian style noodles (or spaghetti/linguine, if you can’t find the fresh noodles) 2 TB pure Asian sesame oil 2 TB olive oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 6 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 cups matchstick carrots (pre-cut from store) 1 1/2 cups bell pepper, seeded and roughly chopped Optional Garnishes: thinly sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, sriracha Instructions: Boil: Fill pot with generously salted water, and cook your choice of noodles according to package instructions to al dente (be sure not to over-cook.) Drain well and toss with 2 TB Asian sesame oil; set aside. Sauce: While noodles are cooking, prepare the rest of the dish: In a bowl, whisk together all sauce ingredients. Set sauce aside. Heat 2 TB olive oil in a large, deep skillet (you can use a wok, but it’s not necessary.) Once oil is hot, add onions and garlic, stirring 2 minutes until fragrant. Add carrots and bell peppers, stirring 3-4 minutes or until softened. Toss: Add the cooked/drained noodles into the skillet. Pour your prepared sauce evenly over the noodles, tossing gently to coat all ingredients thoroughly. Serve warm, with your choice of garnish. #makeitdelicious #scrumptiouskitchen #bhgcelebrate #onthetable #dailyfoodpic #homemade #hereismyfood #whatsonmyplate #getinmybelly #foodblogfeed #lovefood #igfoodies #instafood #instayum #easyrecipes #foodblogeats #imsomartha #mywilliamsonoma #abmfoodie #whatweeat #makemore #f52grams #f52community #tohfoodie #eatsharerepeat #foodblogeats
  • Savor the end of Summer watermelon season with this delicious Watermelon salad! 🍉 This salad is easy to make and deliciously refreshing! ☀️✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/watermelon-salad-recipe/) Ingredients: 5 cups watermelon, cubed 1 1/2 cups yellow grape or cherry tomatoes, halved 1 small red onion, chopped 1/2 cup freshly torn basil leaves 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice 2 TB pure honey freshly ground black pepper to taste Instructions: Combine: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Use rubber spatula to gently fold together until well combined. Cover and Chill: Cover and chill no more than 1 hour before serving (watermelon salad is best served immediately.) #eatingwell #cookinglight #skinnytaste #eatrealfood #makesmewhole #eatclean #healthfood #healthyeats #fitfoodie #healthyish #mealprep #simplerecipes #simplemeals #foodisfuel #thenewhealthy #makesmewhole #healthychoices #justeatrealfood #recipeideas #deliciousandnutritious #healthyswaps #cleaneatingrecipe #healthyish #homemade #healthylifestyle
  • This Mint Chip Ice Cream is jaw-dropping delicious ✨✨✨ SO much better than store bought!! Just a few ingredients and you’re in mint-chocolate bliss 🥰 Save This Post! FULL Recipe Below 👇🏼 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/mint-chocolate-chip-ice-cream/) 1 cup whole milk, well chilled 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 cups heavy cream, well chilled 1.5–2 tsp pure peppermint extract, or to taste 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate bar, chopped into tiny pieces In bowl, use whisk to combine milk and sugar until dissolved. Stir in heavy cream and peppermint. Turn ice cream maker on and pour mixture in and let church for about 25 min. During the last 5 minutes of churning, slowly add in chopped chocolate. Transfer ice cream in airtight container for at least 2-3 hours before enjoying. #icecream #summer #mintchocolatechipicecream #mintchocolatechip #homecooking #fromscratch #delicious #frozendessert #frozentreats #dessert #recipeoftheday #easyrecipes #summertreats #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #eater #feedfeed #twincitiesbloggers #midwestliving #tasty #homemade