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Back-to-School Weeknight Recipes
The BEST Back-to-school recipes for your busy weeknights! A collection of one-pan meals, 30-minute meals, and easy weeknight dinners that are ALL family-approved.
The Best Back-to-School Weeknight Dinner Recipes
As a busy working mom, I fully appreciate easy weeknight dinner recipes that the whole family will eat and love. This collection of recipes is some we've created and some other favorites we've tried over the years. It's crazy how hectic weeknights can get when both kids are in school and have started sports.
With so many different schedules, it helps when dinner takes less than 30 minutes to throw together or can be tossed in the crock pot in the morning - and essentially forgotten about until the plates are on the table.
This is the first year that I have both kids in school full-time, and the first year we're all back to a relatively "normal" school schedule thanks to the pandemic. Sports are back in full swing, extracurricular activities take over schedules, playdates are planned, and like most families, we talk to - we're slammed. This means we don't have time to stand in the kitchen for hours whipping up a gourmet weeknight dinner for the family.
These recipes are tried and true weeknight favorites and are all kid-approved and family-friendly. My family loves them, and I hope yours does too!
Broccoli Rice Casserole
An easy make-ahead meal that is cheesy and full of all the good things you want as soon as the weather gets chilly - gooey cheese, rice, chicken, and broccoli. Even the pickiest of eaters enjoy this!
30-Minute Pineapple Chicken
Even on the busiest of days, this 30-minute weeknight meal is a breeze to make, and the kids love when it's served inside the pineapple! Fun, healthy, and absolutely filling. You can always swap the white rice for whatever grain you prefer.
Curry Chicken Flatbreads
This recipe is PERFECT for leftovers - if you make any type of Indian-inspired or Mediterranean food, turn the leftovers into another dinner with these delicious flatbreads.
Easy Fried Rice
Arguably better than takeout, this fried rice recipe can be whipped up in 30-minutes. Add in your choice of protein to make it a full meal! Don't forget to check out this copy-cat recipe for Yum Yum sauce.
Butternut Squash Soup
We firmly believe that there is nothing cozier on a fall day than a big bowl of creamy soup. Butternut squash soup is a great weeknight meal when you want something filling without a lot of mess - it's all made in 1 pot! The girls like to dip homemade bread in it.
Weeknight Stromboli
This isn't a 30-minute meal, but it's worth it. The best part is that you can add whatever fillings you want. Some of our favorites are: broccoli and cheese, Italian sub, chicken and cheese, Chicken Parm, Philly cheesesteak, and cheeseburger.
White Cheddar Bisque
Another soup for a quick and easy weeknight dinner - this one is cheesy & rich. I love to serve it with homemade focaccia bread or something lighter and airy. It's a hug in a bowl - and one the kids will love.
Vietnamese Summer Rolls
Don't let the name fool you - these are really good all year round. They're full of fresh veggies, and the best part is that you can add or leave out ingredients that you don't love. You can even pack these for lunch the next day! Pair them with a creamy peanut sauce for the ultimate indulgence.
Eggroll in a Bowl
We got really hooked on deconstructed meals in bowls once the kids got a little older - because it's easy to pick and choose what ingredients you use! These are warm, full of bright crunch, and a breeze to throw together.
It's no secret that having easy-to-make meals during the fall makes things go a lot smoother! These are just some of our favorite weeknight meals that I'm sure your family will love too!
