I love this time of year – getting back into a routine with the anticipation of crisp fall weather and the holiday season; it’s just the best. You are going to need some quick and easy dinner ideas for those busy weeknights now that school is back in session. I’ve got you covered! Here is a list of our favorite easy (and healthy!) back to school recipes for dinner. All these tried and true favorites are super simple to prepare, take less than 30 minutes (or require very little hands-on time,) and are loved by adults and kids alike.
These eleven recipes are all from my favorite blogs for healthy, family-friendly recipes. For even more ideas, check out this blog post which includes all my favorite healthy recipe blogs.
Our Favorite Back To School Recipes
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Sweet Potatoes by Skinnytaste
If you love enchiladas like me (they are my favorite food!), you’ve got to try this recipe. The sweet potatoes cook right alongside the chicken in the slow cooker. Prepare this in the morning and have dinner ready to go when you get home from a busy day.
Easy Chicken Tacos by Damn Delicious
Tacos are my go-to when I need a quick and yummy meal on the table. And who doesn’t love tacos? This recipe is super fast – just chop up your chicken, toss it in a spice rub, and fry it up in a pan. You can top it with your favorite toppings, but we love a simple fresh homemade pico de gallo and a little cotija cheese.
Healthy Greek Turkey Burgers With Tzatziki by Erin Lives Whole
I’m obsessed with Greek flavors, and these turkey burgers satisfy that craving in a major way. The whole meal comes together in about 20 minutes. We like to prepare a simple cucumber salad to serve alongside.
Lemon Garlic Chicken + Veggies Sheet Pan Meal by Eating Bird Food
This recipe may take a little longer, but it’s mostly hands-free time. Everything cooks on one pan – protein, carbs, and veggies for a tasty balanced meal. You can even switch out the veggies based on what’s in season – we have made this with broccoli and green beans as well.
30 Minute Vegan Stir Fry Sesame Noodles With Chickpeas and Basil by Ambitious Kitchen
We like to have at least one vegetarian dinner in our meal plan, and the flavors in this easy stir fry are spot on. Again, you have protein, veggies, and carbs all in one pan – my favorite kind of meal.
Turkey Tacos By Two Peas and Their Pod
Can you tell I love tacos? These turkey tacos come together blazing fast and are so delicious. The addition of diced green chilis at the end are a nice touch. We love adding some creamy avocado on top to balance the heat.
Maple Soy Glazed Salmon by Skinnytaste
Salmon is my go-to fast cooking protein for simple weeknight dinners, and both my kids will eat it so it’s a win-win there. For this recipe, you marinate the salmon for 20 minutes, bake it, and then use the marinade to create a pan sauce. You can cook a simple green veggie alongside and serve it all over some cooked brown rice (we love the convenience of the frozen variety from Trader Joe’s!)
Honey Mustard Chicken By Ambitious Kitchen
This simple chicken can be prepared the night before and cook the next day for dinner. The recipe includes instructions for baking or grilling, but we like to grill this chicken indoors on our cast-iron grill pan. For a quick meal serve this with a simple side salad and fresh crusty bread.
Baked Chicken Taquitos By Two Peas and Their Pod
These baked chicken taquitos come together really quickly thanks to a store-bought rotisserie chicken. Baking them keeps them on the healthier side (and saves more room for all the toppings!) We serve ours with a quick homemade guacamole made with avocado, lime, cilantro, and salt, and some jarred salsa for dipping.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs With Cucumber Yogurt Sauce By Skinnytaste
This recipe requires some marinating time, but otherwise it’s really easy to prepare. We usually skip the skewers and just cook up the chicken pieces in a cast-iron pan. Serve this with some quick-cooking orzo and some in-season tomatoes. Yum.
Honey Lemon Garlic Salmon By Ambitious Kitchen
This last recipe is the one we’ve made the most. It’s so easy to throw together on hectic weeknights. I love the sweet and savory flavors in the sauce, too. This recipe is the one that got my kids eating salmon. We usually serve this with salad and some good bread.
