It's that time of year again - when families go from slow relaxing days to hustle of back to the classroom. Though exciting, it is also tiring but mealtime doesn't have to be. These fast & easy back to school dinners will start your year off right.
I don't know about you but when the end of summer comes around, I am NOT looking forward to all the back to school tasks. Something about buying school supplies, filling out 100 email forms, sorting through clothes & shoes that no longer fit, & the new routine that is exhausting.
If you are a parent like me, the last thing you have energy for is making a home cooked meal. Luckily, I have a list of recipe ideas that you and your kids will love beyond build your own pizza night or air fryer hot dogs.
All are ready in less than 30 minutes & most have simple ingredients. Get your shopping list ready & don't forget there are benefits for the kids to help in the kitchen too. Get them ready to someday cook up Easy Recipes for College Students.
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Pasta Recipes
Pasta alla Pizzaiola
This 30-minute recipe for pasta alla pizzaiola is a quick & delicious Italian classic. The rich tomato sauce is inspired by the best pizza makers. The recipe from Naples, Campania region of Italy, is so easy. The simple meatless pasta is a yummy vegan/vegetarian meal that is comforting & a family favorite.
Pasta alla Pizzaiola
Pepperoni Spaghetti
This 30-minute recipe for pepperoni spaghetti is a crowd-pleaser. You will crave the chunky pepperoni tomato sauce that is rich, hearty, & spicy. This family favorite meal is so easy, making it ideal for busy weeknight dinners.
Pepperoni Spaghetti
Pancetta Pasta
This easy pancetta pasta recipe is an Italian classic. The quick-cooking 20-minute recipe is salty, rich, & comforting. Angel hair pasta with crispy pancetta, garlic, & a simple olive oil sauce is a traditional family-favorite meal with just a few ingredients. Feed a lot of people at a budget-friendly price.
Pancetta Pasta
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Chicken spaghetti in the Instant Pot is a quick and easy recipe. This one-pot chicken and pasta recipe is comforting and delicious. The creamy sauce has 3 kinds of cheese for a gooey melty meal kids & adults will love. Best pressure cooker pasta recipe.
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Fried Spaghetti with Eggs
Fried spaghetti with eggs is a great way to enjoy leftover spaghetti in a delicious meal that is great for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. This simple recipe results in crispy spaghetti, fried eggs, with a creamy garlicky sauce that pulls it all together in just minutes.
Fried Spaghetti with Eggs
Pesto Tuna Pasta
For an easy Italian meal that is quick & delicious, you cannot beat this pesto tuna pasta recipe. All you need is 6 ingredients and 20 minutes. The garlic-infused olive oil adds so much flavor to al dente rigatoni tossed with a classic Genovese pesto sauce. Add canned white albacore tuna for protein & shaved parmesan - Viola, this summer pasta dish is ready to enjoy. It's great served hot, warm, room temperature, or cold as a tuna pasta salad. Great for dinner, lunch, or as a side dish.
Pesto Tuna Pasta
Chicken Recipes
This is my most popular section - many are also featured in my list of the best Easy One Pan Dinners.
Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
For the crispiest fried buttermilk chicken tenders, this Southern recipe is the best. Juicy on the inside & crunchy on the outside every time. A family favorite for dinner, lunch, or as a party appetizer. In less than 30 minutes this homemade version is ready - and so much better than frozen or fast food!
Fried Buttermilk Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
For the ultimate crispy & spicy air fryer buffalo chicken tenders, look no further. Crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside. This easy 20-minute recipe is sure to become a new favorite in your home. The best homemade crunchy breaded chicken & is healthier than fried in oil.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Cheesy Jalapeño Chicken
Cheesy Jalapeño Chicken is creamy, spicy, & amazing. This 30-minute recipe for Mexican-inspired chicken tenders is quick & easy. Skillet cooked chicken smothered in a savory hot cheese sauce is the best. The simple one-pan meal is low-carb, keto, gluten-free, & high-protein.
Cheesy Jalapeno Chicken
Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken
Pan-seared chicken in a creamy lemon dill butter sauce is rich, decadent, & fabulous. The balance of cream, citrus, fresh herbs, and juicy chicken thighs is simple to make yet tastes gourmet. This easy one-pan recipe is fast enough for a weeknight dinner but also gourmet enough for a special occasion.
Creamy Lemon Dill Butter Chicken
Mediterranean Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken thighs browned in a cast iron skillet with vegetables, and a wonderful lemon sauce is a simple one-pan dinner recipe. Classic Greek ingredients make this Mediterranean 30-minute meal healthy, yummy, & delicious. Great for a busy weeknight - plus freezes well for leftovers & meal-planning. Bonus: gluten-free, paleo, keto or low-carb, high-protein, & Whole30 approved.
Greek Paleo Chicken Thighs
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
The best grilled boneless skinless chicken thighs are easy to make for summer cookout perfection. They have a sweet and spicy dry rub that adds so much flavor. These yummy chicken thighs come out juicy and cook in less than 15 minutes for a quick meal. Chicken thighs are great for meal planning to add to salads, soups, sandwiches, and wraps for lunch or dinner.
Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
Crispy Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
Thin chicken breast cutlets coated in parmesan and almond flour is a unique twist on an Italian classic. Juicy, fried, & crispy for a great keto-friendly, gluten-free, & grain-free main dish.
Crispy Parmesan Chicken Cutlets
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
For juicy, sauced, & seasoned grilled bbq chicken breasts, this summer easy recipe is the best. The crispy crust & tender meat is ready in 30 minutes. Only 3 ingredients for a sweet, spicy, & bold cookout chicken recipe.
Grilled BBQ Chicken Breasts
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken & Broccoli
The best sheet pan dinner recipe is this spicy buffalo chicken & broccoli. This quick meal is a weeknight go-to meal the whole family will love. Crispy seasoned bites of chicken in a sweet & spicy honey hot sauce with fork-tender broccoli. Simple ingredients & 30 minutes are all you need for this one-pan supper.
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken & Broccoli
Naked Chicken Wings
For the best crispy & juicy naked chicken wings, try this easy deep-fryer recipe. The crunchy party appetizer has no breading or gluten. Great for lunch, dinner, game day, or snacks. Seasoned drummettes & flats have tons of flavor - serve with wing dust, spices, sauces, condiments, & dips.
Naked Chicken Wings
Garlic Butter Wings
Crispy garlic butter wings are fantastic. Seasoned chicken wings are deep-fried and tossed in a garlic butter sauce that is rich & pungent. Loaded with garlic and crispy skin makes these wings an appetizer favorite. The best mild wings for game day, parties, or a crowd. Also low-carb, gluten-free, & keto-friendly.
Garlic Butter Chicken Wings
Beef & Pork Recipes
3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
This easy homemade sloppy joe sauce is made of only 3 ingredients. Together they make this classic sandwich saucy, sweet, and savory with a bit of tang. There is a lot of flavor with just a few ingredients. It's a gluten-free, dairy-free, & from scratch recipe instead of using canned Manwich.
3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes
Teriyaki Flank Steak
This easy recipe for Grilled Teriyaki Flank Steak is a summer favorite. The quick Asian-inspired marinade is salty, sweet, & savory.
Teriyaki Flank Steak
Philly Cheesesteak with Trader Joe's Shaved Beef
Tender beef and melty cheese are delicious in this iconic sandwich, easy enough to make at home. This is the best Philly Cheesesteak using Trader Joe's Shaved Beef Steak.
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches (Trader Joe's Shaved Beef)
Ground Pork Stir Fry
In 30-minutes this easy recipe for ground pork stir fry with broccoli is ready. The spicy sesame sauce makes it better than take-out. It's gluten-free, low-carb, & with less oil is a healthy complete meal.
Ground Pork Stir Fry
Creamy Dijon Pork Chops
The pan sauce for the creamy dijon pork chop recipe is seriously amazing. In just 30 minutes this recipe for thin cut boneless pork chops in a rich French-inspired dijon & herb sauce is ready to indulge in.
Creamy Dijon Pork Chops
Air Fryer Pork Chops (no breading)
This quick & easy recipe for air fryer pork chops cooks in 20 minutes. The seasoned thick-cut pork chops are juicy & tender with a caramelized crust. This is the best way to make pork chops without breading in the air fryer. Great for gluten-free, keto, low-carb, and healthy diabetic-friendly diets.
Air Fryer Thick Pork Chops
Carnitas Burrito
This easy recipe for making a carnitas burrito at home is better than any restaurant. It's loaded with cheese, red rice, beans, & all your favorites. The star is the tender & crispy shredded pork carnitas. A homemade Mexican rice recipe is included or use a store-bought package like Rice-a-Roni. It's rolled up in a large flour tortilla for a super burrito de carnitas packed with meat, frijoles, queso.
Carnitas Burritos
Fish & Seafood Recipes
Pan-Seared Shrimp
Juicy pan-seared shrimp in a lemon butter garlic sauce is a quick recipe perfect for any meal or as an appetizer. This easy shellfish recipe is rich, buttery, & decadent.
Pan-Seared Shrimp
Baked Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi
This quick & simple sheet pan recipe makes the best garlic, butter, and lemon shrimp scampi. In 20 minutes the baked shrimp scampi with tomatoes and zucchini is ready. A wonderful low-carb & keto-approved weeknight dinner that the whole family will love. An Italian classic made easy in your oven.
Sheet Pan Shrimp Scampi
Kid-Friendly Poke Bowls (build your own)
This DIY at-home recipe for poke bowls is a fun and delicious idea. The kid-friendly ingredients will be sure to please the entire family. Mix it up with different proteins, vegetables, and more for a different poke bowl every time you make them.
Kid-Friendly Poke Bowls
Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl
This island-favorite, Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl, is so easy to make at home. The rice bowl recipe with avocado & spicy poke is healthy & yummy. A combination of Japanese flavors and ingredients found in Hawaii makes this fusion recipe sweet, salty, creamy, comforting, & spicy. Sushi-grade raw fish cubed is easy to prep & enjoy with this no-fuss 30-minute recipe.
Hawaiian Salmon Poke Bowl
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
There is no better way to cook frozen fish sticks than the air fryer. The best hot & crispy fish sticks are ready in minutes.
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Sticks
Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Fish
There is no better way to cook frozen fish fillets than the air fryer. The best hot & crispy breaded fish is ready in minutes. Quick, easy, & tasty.
Air Fryer Frozen Fish Fillets
Vegetarian Recipes
Pasta Primavera Two Ways - with Zucchini Noodles or Spaghetti
Celebrate Spring and the fresh vegetables of the season with this Pasta Primavera dish. It is great on zucchini noodles and with traditional pasta.
Zucchini Noodle Pasta Primavera
Zucchini, Chickpea, and Potato Curry
This vegan Indian curry recipe is full of zucchini (courgette), chickpeas (garbanzo beans), and potatoes. This coconut milk curry is medium spiced and has a rich savory flavor that is velvety and satisfying.
Zucchini, Chickpea & Potato Curry
Potato Enchiladas
Hearty cheesy potato enchiladas is a quick & easy 30-minute vegetarian dinner perfect for busy weeknights. A few simple ingredients makes this California & Mexican-inspired recipe a fun & tasty meal. Tender potatoes, sauteed onions, & cheddar rolled in corn tortillas with your favorite red or green sauce is a family favorite.
Potato Enchiladas
Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwich
For the best toaster oven grilled cheese sandwich, you must try this easy recipe. In just minutes the toasty sandwich with gooey melted cheese is ready. Great for those without a stove or in an RV, dorm, or office kitchen. So easy, kids love to make their own.
Toaster Oven Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Mediterranean Chopped Salad
The best Mediterranean chopped salad is packed with garbanzo beans for protein and a bunch of fresh vegetables. Loaded with Greek & Italian produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, artichokes, & olives plus a homemade Italian vinaigrette dressing recipe. Great for lunch, dinner, side, or appetizer. It is gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, healthy, & tasty for everyone to enjoy.
Italian Chopped Salad
Kid-Approved Desserts too!
Here are more yummy dishes & desserts that are so easy:
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