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.

Get our free email series: 5 Easy Recipes in 30 Minutes or Less

Plus our newest recipes each week

Instagram
  • Share this post with a cookie lover! 🍪 These sugar cookies are HUGE and dangerously delicious! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/best-big-soft-sugar-cookies/) Ingredients: 6 cups all purpose flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¾ teaspoon table salt 1 cup whole sour cream 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup salted butter, slightly softened* 4 large eggs, room temperature 1 teaspoon almond extract For the Frosting: 1 cup salted butter, slightly softened* 3 cups confectioners' sugar ½ tsp almond extract ½ tsp vanilla extract ⅛ tsp salt 2 TB milk Instructions: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to combine. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium speed, beat the sour cream, sugar, butter, eggs, and almond extract until well combined. Using a spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the sour cream mixture until fully combined. The dough will be somewhat sticky. Cover the bowl, and chill the dough in the fridge for an hour or until it is firm enough to roll out. Lightly flour a working surface. Divide the chilled dough into quarters, and roll out one quarter at a time, keeping the remaining dough in the fridge until ready to use. Roll each quarter to ¼ inch thickness, and use a cookie cutter 2-inch in diameter to cut out circles. Preheat the oven to 250F, and position the rack on the lower middle position. Arrange the cookie dough on parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets, leaving 2 inches between each cookie. Bake 8-10 minutes or until the cookies are a light golden-pale color. Do not overbake! Cool on the cookie sheet 10-15 minutes before transferring the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. In a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, whisk the butter for 3-4 minutes or until it is light and fluffy. Add the sugar, and continue to whisk until well combined. Add the almond extract, vanilla extract, and salt, and whisk on medium-high speed until fully incorporated. Add one tablespoon of milk at a time until the desired consistency is achieved. If desired, whisk in food coloring.
  • Ham lover? This recipe is a MUST TRY! ✨ Skip the store bought ham for the holidays this year, and make your own! 🎄 Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/honey-baked-ham/) Ingredients: 4-5 lbs ham, spiral-sliced, fully cooked 1 cup apple cider ¼ cup brown sugar, firmly packed ¼ cup whole grain mustard, prepared mustard jar with whole mustard seeds ¼ cup honey Instructions: Preheat: Heat oven to 350F with rack on lower position. Make Sauce: Mix together apple cider, brown sugar, mustard, and honey in a bowl. Mix well to fully incorporate basting sauce. Bake: Place ham in a 13×9 baking dish. Coat ham with a generous amount of sauce. Bake for 60-70 minutes, basting thoroughly every 15 minutes. Serve: To serve pre-cut slices of ham, arrange slices neatly on a serving dish and brush leftover sauce all over ham slices and serve. (If serving ham whole, be sure to have leftover sauce available for drizzling. The sauce is what makes this ham so great!) Follow @chewoutloud for more delicious recipes! #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
  • Save this post for your Christmas parties! 🎄 Just 3 ingredients make these buttery, moist and insanely delicious cookies! ✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/3-ingredient-buttery-shortbread-cookies/) Ingredients: 2 cups salted butter, cold and cut into pieces 1 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed 4 ½ cups all purpose flour, divided Optional: sprinkles to suit any occasion throughout the year Instructions: In the bowl of a stand mixer, add butter and brown sugar. Using paddle attachment on medium-high speed, mix until fluffy and light, several minutes. Add only 3 1/2 cups of the flour and mix on medium-low speed until combined. On a large board, sprinkle 1/2 cup flour to keep dough from sticking to the board. Use rubber spatula to transfer dough to the board. Knead dough by hand for 5 minutes, adding only as much of the remaining 1/2 cup flour as needed to make a soft dough, while continuing to knead by hand. The dough should end up soft and pliable, similar to play-dough, not sticky. Work in desired amount of sprinkles, if using. Important Note: You may not end up using all the flour, depending on how your dough feels; it's important to stop adding flour as soon as your dough feels like soft play dough. Divide dough into thirds, wrap tightly, and chill for at least 30 minutes or until firm enough to roll and cut shapes. Meanwhile, reheat oven to 325F, with rack on lower middle position. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats; set aside. Roll one-third of the dough out to about 1/2 inch thickness – lightly flour board if needed. Either cut into 3×1 rectangular strips, triangles, or use cookie cutters (I like 1-2" cookie cutters, but feel free to use your favorites). Place each cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheet. Poke cookies with fork on top for a design, if not using sprinkles. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until edges are golden brown. For smaller cookies, bake closer to 15 minutes; bake longer for larger shapes. Repeat with the remaining dough, working in batches so dough stays chilled and workable. Cool completely on wire rack before serving.
  • TAG a friend to try this tender, easy, and delicious Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash recipe. Yes, it is a few days before Christmas but fall dishes never end in our home.🍂✨❤️🍂 Save this post: Ingredients List 👇🏼 1 butternut squash, large, peeled/seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes 3 TB olive oil 2 TB brown sugar, tightly packed 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper Instructions: Preheat oven to 425F with rack on upper middle position. Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil. In a large bowl, toss the squash with remaining ingredients until thoroughly coated. Transfer to foil-lined baking sheet, in a single layer, without overcrowding the pieces. Roast about 40 minutes, rotating pan midway during baking. When edges are browned and cubes are fork-tender, remove from oven immediately. You may want to start checking squash around 35 minutes, just to ensure that they don’t become overcooked. (For printable recipe cards and notes, click on today's story.... or simply google "chewoutloud roasted butternut squash") ✨For more delicious recipes FOLLOW 👉"@chewoutloud" #butternutsquash #butternutsquashrecipes #healthyfood #healthyeating #healthyrecipes #eatwell #fromscratch #recipeoftheday #easydinner #easyrecipes #dinnerideas #tasty #delicious #cooking #homecooking #cookingtime #fallrecipes #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #eater #foodblogger #feedfeed #todayfood #nytcooking #cookinglight #f52grams #foodblogfeed #thefeedfeed
  • Save this post for your next Christmas party! This cranberry prosecco recipe is warm, cozy and full of Christmas flavor! 🎄✨ Save this post! Full recipe below! 👇 (For Printable Recipe Card and Notes: https://www.chewoutloud.com/sparkling-cranberry-prosecco-cocktail/) Ingredients: 5 oz cold Prosecco 2 TB Grand Marnier 2 TB cold sweetened cranberry juice or juice blend Optional: lime wedges and cranberries for garnish Instructions: Combine Prosecco, Grand Marnier, and cranberry juice in a champagne flute or cocktail glass of your choice. Add a splash of lime if desired. Garnish as desired with lime wedges and cranberries. Stir gently and serve. Follow @chewoutloud for more delicious recipes! ✨ #drinkrecipe #drinkrecipes #cocktail #drinkphotography #foodandwine #drinks #cocktailrecipes #cocktailsofinstagram #drinkstagram #foodblogfeed #drinkoftheday #cocktailtime #cocktailsdaily #mixologyguide #Christmascocktail #Christmasrecipe #Christmasdrink
  • Are you a cookie lover? These Buttery Jam Thumbprint Cookies are here and ready to make your hearts happy ❤️ These cookies have been crowned “The Most Pinned Holiday Cookie,” as featured on Good Morning America and ABC News. ✨ Save this post: Ingredients List 👇 1 cup unsalted butter, slightly softened* and sliced 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar, plus 1/4 cup more for dusting 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract ½ tsp table salt 2 cups all purpose flour ½ cup real fruit preserves* (For printable recipe cards and notes, click on today's story.... or simply google "chewoutloud jam thumbprint cookies") ✨For more delicious recipes FOLLOW 👉"@chewoutloud" #cookies #thumbprintcookies #dessert #sweets #delicious #baking #bakinglove #eatwell #fromscratch #recipeoftheday #easyrecipes #tasty #delicious #huffposttaste #buzzfeast #eater #foodblogger #feedfeed #todayfood #f52grams #foodblogfeed #thefeedfeed