Getting dinner on the table during the school year can feel like a race against the clock. These 37 easy back-to-school recipes help take the stress out of weeknight cooking and make packing tomorrow’s lunch a whole lot easier. Whether you’re feeding picky kids or just need something quick that still tastes good, these ideas are simple, filling, and made to work double duty.
Shredded BBQ Chicken. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Lemon Butter Pasta
Keep things easy with this lemon butter pasta that only needs a few ingredients and comes together fast. It’s creamy, tangy, and perfect on its own or with leftover chicken tossed in. This is one of those easy back-to-school meals that’s quick at night and just as good cold in a lunchbox.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Pasta
Chicken Curry
This chicken curry comes together in one pan with pantry ingredients and is full of warm, rich flavor. Spoon it over rice for dinner, then save the leftovers for an easy lunch you don’t have to think about. It’s one of those easy back-to-school meals that work twice without more cooking.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Curry
Asian Glazed Salmon
This sweet and sticky glazed salmon cooks in minutes and still tastes great cold the next day. It’s a solid dinner when time is short and lunch needs to come from the same meal. Keep this one on hand for back-to-school weeks when everything moves fast.
Get the Recipe: Asian Glazed Salmon
Tomato Lime Chicken
Just dump everything in a pan and let this chicken soak up the bold tomato and lime flavor. Use it for tacos, bowls, or on a salad, and save whatever’s left for tomorrow. Easy back-to-school recipes like this one make dinner and lunch feel less like a chore.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Lime Chicken
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
This fast tuna salad needs no cooking and gets a big flavor boost from pesto and sundried tomatoes. Use it in sandwiches or wraps, or eat it just as it is. It’s one of those easy back-to-school meals that helps you keep lunch and dinner handled with almost no prep.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Shredded BBQ Chicken
This BBQ chicken cooks in the Instant Pot and turns out tender, saucy, and perfect for sandwiches or bowls. It makes a big batch that you can stretch into lunches for a few days. It’s a great back-to-school recipe for when you need one meal to do it all.
Get the Recipe: Shredded BBQ Chicken
Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Let the slow cooker do the work on this garlic-packed pork that’s great in tacos, sandwiches, or over rice. It makes enough to feed everyone at dinner and still have leftovers. When school starts up again, recipes like this help keep meals easy and stress low.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Roast Pork
Lemon Garlic Chicken
This lemon garlic chicken cooks fast in the Instant Pot and comes out juicy and packed with flavor. The mix of citrus and garlic makes it feel fresh without much work. It’s one of those easy back-to-school recipes that’s simple for dinner and easy to save for lunch.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken Salad
This chicken salad has crunch, spice, and a bold dressing that holds up in the fridge. It’s great for dinner and easy to pack again the next morning without getting soggy. When the school week gets busy, this is the kind of recipe that keeps everything moving.
Get the Recipe: Kung Pao Chicken Salad
Bacon Egg Salad
This egg salad gets a fun twist from crispy bacon and still feels like the sandwich you grew up with. It’s easy to whip up and great in sandwiches or wraps. Back-to-school dinners like this one are good to make ahead so lunches are already ready.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Egg Salad
Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
These turkey burgers are packed with garlic, soy sauce, and other easy flavors that make dinner feel different without being hard. They’re quick to cook and taste great cold, so you can pack them for lunch the next day with no extra effort. It’s one of those back-to-school recipes that keeps dinner simple and lunch stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
Mediterranean Chicken With Orzo
This chicken and orzo dish comes together in one pan with simple ingredients like herbs, feta, and lemon for a mix that feels satisfying and fresh. It’s filling enough for dinner but not too heavy, and the leftovers work great in a lunchbox. Easy back-to-school meals like this one save time and still taste like something you want to eat again.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken With Orzo
Caprese Panini
This warm sandwich has melted mozzarella, juicy tomato slices, and a little basil pressed between toasted bread. It takes just a few minutes to make and still tastes good later, either cold or reheated. This is one of those back-to-school dinners that pulls double duty for lunch the next day.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini
Chicken Tenders
These chicken tenders come out crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle, and are way better than anything frozen. Kids love to dip them, and you can throw the leftovers in a wrap or lunchbox without any fuss. When school nights are packed, recipes like this make both dinner and lunch easier.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tenders
Crock Pot Tortilla Soup
This tortilla soup has shredded chicken, tomatoes, and a little spice that all come together in a slow cooker with almost no effort. Top it with chips, cheese, or avocado, and you’ve got a warm, filling dinner that makes enough for extra servings. It’s a great back-to-school recipe for nights when time is tight and lunches need to be simple.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Tortilla Soup
Crockpot Chili
This hearty chili is full of beans, meat, and flavor, and it cooks low and slow while you take care of everything else. It gets better the next day, so you can count on it for both dinner and lunch without having to make something new. Back-to-school weeks feel less hectic when meals like this are already done.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Chili
Cacio e Pepe
This pasta uses only cheese, pepper, and noodles but still tastes like something special that doesn’t take much work. It’s ready fast and makes enough for a big batch that works for dinner and reheats well for lunch. It’s a smart back-to-school meal for busy nights when you need something fast that still hits the spot.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Slow Cooker Pork Chili
This pork chili is slow-cooked with beans and spices until everything is soft and full of flavor. It goes great with cornbread at night and packs well for lunch in a thermos or container. Back-to-school meals like this are good to make when you want to cook once and eat more than once.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chili
Honey Habanero Tacos
These tacos are sweet, spicy, and fast to throw together using ground meat and a few pantry staples. You can serve them with tortillas at night and save the leftovers for a quick taco salad or wrap the next day. It’s a flavorful back-to-school dinner that makes lunch more exciting, too.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Chicken Taco Wraps
These wraps come together in minutes with shredded rotisserie chicken, a few toppings, and no stove required. They’re perfect for nights when you don’t feel like cooking and work great as a grab-and-go lunch. Easy back-to-school recipes like this keep things moving without much effort.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Taco Wraps
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
This crispy tortilla pizza cooks fast in the air fryer and can be topped with anything you already have in the fridge. It’s fun to make with kids and doesn’t take much cleanup, which is helpful on a busy school night. This easy back-to-school dinner also works for lunch or even a quick after-school snack.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
This broccoli cheddar soup is rich and cheesy, but still comes together fast in the Instant Pot using frozen broccoli and basic ingredients. It’s cozy without being heavy and makes enough to fill up hungry kids and adults. Back-to-school meals like this one make lunch simple when packed up in a thermos.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Poached Orange Salmon
This poached salmon is cooked with orange juice for a bright and fresh flavor that still feels hearty enough for dinner. It’s ready in just a few steps and holds up well the next day over rice or salad. When school is in session, this is one of those back-to-school recipes that saves time without skipping flavor.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon
This salmon cooks quickly in a creamy sauce made with garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, and it only needs one pan. Serve it with noodles or rice, and save what’s left for lunch that still tastes good cold. It’s one of those easy back-to-school dinners that feels fancy but doesn’t take much work.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon
Italian Meatball Soup
This soup is packed with tender meatballs, pasta, and vegetables in a tomato broth that’s full of flavor. It’s the kind of dinner that fills everyone up without needing anything extra on the side. Recipes like this are smart for back-to-school weeks because the leftovers heat up well for lunch.
Get the Recipe: Italian Meatball Soup
Chicken Tortellini Soup
This soup combines cheesy tortellini with shredded chicken and broth for something easy and filling that doesn’t take much time. It’s made with store-bought ingredients and turns out great whether you serve it now or reheat it later. This is one of those back-to-school recipes that work when dinner has to be fast and lunch needs to be packed.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Soup
Buffalo Chicken Salad
This salad has spicy shredded chicken, crisp lettuce, and creamy dressing that come together for a bold and easy meal. It’s good in a bowl, wrapped up in a tortilla, or packed in a lunchbox for the next day. It’s a strong back-to-school recipe to keep on repeat when time is short and meals have to stretch.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Creamy Pea Pasta
This creamy pasta uses simple ingredients and frozen peas to make a dish that comes together fast and still feels like comfort food. It’s great for nights when you don’t want to plan anything but still need something warm and filling. Back-to-school meals like this are easy to double and reheat for lunch without losing flavor.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
This pasta has a soft, creamy sauce made from fresh tomatoes and a scoop of ricotta that melts into every bite. It doesn’t need a long list of ingredients and cooks up fast with very little mess. This is one of those easy back-to-school dinners that turns into a good lunch with almost no extra work.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Chicken Tikka Masala
This chicken tikka masala comes together fast in the Instant Pot and still has all the bold, creamy flavor you expect. It’s great with rice or bread and makes a filling dinner that doesn’t take all evening. When school picks up again, recipes like this make it easier to keep lunch and dinner both handled.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Tikka Masala
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
This quinoa dish is packed with spinach and cheese and comes together fast with just a few simple steps. It’s a good meatless option that still fills you up and tastes great hot or cold. Back-to-school dinners like this help keep things balanced while giving you easy leftovers to pack.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Honey Glazed Chicken
This sweet and sticky chicken cooks quickly with pantry staples like honey and soy sauce. It’s great with rice or vegetables and still tastes good straight from the fridge the next day. When dinner and lunch need to come from the same meal, this easy back-to-school recipe is a solid choice.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Meatballs and Sauce
These meatballs cook fast in the Instant Pot and get coated in a rich tomato sauce that’s perfect for pasta or sandwiches. They make a big batch, so you can save some for later without doing any extra work. This is one of those back-to-school recipes that checks off both dinner and lunch with one cook.
Get the Recipe: Meatballs and Sauce
Risotto with Peas and Lemon
This creamy risotto is made in the Instant Pot and gets bright flavor from lemon and peas without needing much stirring. It’s easy to make and feels like a full meal on its own. Recipes like this are helpful when back-to-school nights feel short and lunch has to come from the same pot.
Get the Recipe: Risotto with Peas and Lemon
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
This pasta uses canned tuna, tomatoes, and dry pasta to make a fast dinner that doesn’t require much thought. It tastes good warm or cold, so it doubles as a quick lunch the next day. When school starts up again, recipes like this make things feel less rushed.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Shortcut Chicken Salad
This chicken salad comes together in minutes using canned chicken, mayo, and whatever mix-ins you like. Serve it in sandwiches or with crackers and store the rest for a fast lunch. It’s one of those easy back-to-school recipes that covers both meals without turning on the stove.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Tomato Soup
This tomato soup blends up fast in the Instant Pot and has a smooth, rich taste that works with grilled cheese or on its own. It heats up well and stores easily in a thermos for school lunch. When everything else feels busy, this is a back-to-school meal that keeps things simple and warm.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Soup