Delicious Back to School Dinners

When did back to school happen? If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed we have the perfect recipes for you! Not only are these meals school night-friendly, but they’re freezer-friendly as well.

By
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta Rivera
Marta has 25 years of experience in the food service industry and has been developing recipes for 3 years. She is the author of Taste & See Cooks: Recipes to Inspire, Equip and Enjoy.
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Published July 29, 2021
Marta Rivera
Delicious Back to School Dinners

Simply Recipes

By now, we're knee-deep in back-to-school everything. So, the last thing I want to do is fuss over what I'm putting on the table for dinner.

Not only are these meals school night friendly, but they're freezer-friendly as well. They give you a safe place to land on those days when you've forgotten to thaw something, turn the slow cooker on or just can't adult anymore.

Rice, mashed potatoes, or egg noodles are sides that will go with one or more of this week's recipes. Make a few batches of one or two of them, store them in the fridge, and you'll have a complete meal put together in less time.

We want your back-to-school transition to be as easy as possible with these weeknight dinners.

  • Cheesy Taco Pasta Skillet

    Taco Pasta Skillet Recipe
    Alison Conklin

    This Cheesy Taco Pasta Skillet has all of my favorite pantry staples in one dish. I can even season and cook the ground beef mixture weeks ahead and freeze it just for this recipe. So, if you have a well-stocked pantry like I do, you should be able to throw this together without a trip to the grocery store. 

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  • Spinach and Artichoke Quiche

    Spinach Artichoke Quiche
    Elise Bauer

    Don't limit your quiche consumption to the morning. Quiche with a side of steamed veggies or a simple garden salad is probably the most underrated and convenient meal in existence. Use canned artichokes and a store-bought pie dough for the crust for an even quicker meal. Or, if you have a bit of time on your hands, make this simple No-Fail, Sour Cream Pie Crust.

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  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings

    Air Fryer Chicken Wings on a Platter

    Alison Bickel

    You can air fry these wings or make them old-fashioned (deep-frying them). My kiddos love it when I put them in charge of the air frying part, though, so like any good mother, I use that to my advantage and take a break while they do the work. Fries and veggie sticks are an easy side to serve along with these wings. 

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  • Ginger-Soy Steamed Salmon with Spicy Maple Sauce

    Steamed Ginger Salmon with Maple Sauce
    Nick Evans

    If you don't have a steamer, this salmon recipe can be roasted in the oven instead. It's a light, flavorful dinner that is ready in less than 30 minutes. If you've cooked some rice earlier in the week, this meal will be on the table in even less time. Toss wedges of baby bok choy in some of the marinade and roast or steam it alongside the salmon.

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    Continue to 5 of 6 below.

  • Instant Pot Porcupine Meatballs

    Meatballs with rice in a white dish.
    Coco Morante

    I often make a smorgasbord dinner on Friday nights, especially during the school year. These Porcupine Meatballs only require 30 minutes of cooking time in the Instant Pot. Turn them into meatball subs and serve them with chips for a laid back dinner tonight. 

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  • Weekend Baking: Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

    Overhead view of Oatmeal Raisin Cookies cooling on a rack.
    Ciara Kehoe

    Oatmeal Raisin Cookies just seem so appropriate for back to school, don't they? Slightly warm from the oven with a glass of cold milk? Yeah, the kiddos are bound to be okay with this weekend's baking project after one bite. 

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