Heading back into a school year can be brutal. A completely schedule and routine change can leave the dinner hour an unfamiliar landscape with no ideas what to make with the time at hand. These Back to School Fast Weeknight Dinner Recipes will not only help get dinner on your table with little effort but with exciting, delicious meal options.
With school starting up in August for many the change from lazy summer habits it a bit like having ice cold water thrown in your face. It is for me at least. To try to get back into a manageable dinner routine can feel like you’ve never cooked before. How did you manage last school year? Before you know it, you’ll be back in the dinner saddle and to get you started I’m sharing some favorite Back to School Fast Weeknight Dinner Recipes that allow me to get dinner on the table in less than an hour (sometimes less than 30 minutes). These are great for busy working professionals as well!
I did not include any slow cooker recipes or Instant Pot recipes in the list but there are many here on BoulderLocavore.com that are perfect for weeknight dinners.
Back to School Fast Weeknight Dinner Recipes
Muffin Tin Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes – not only are these single serve meatloaf ‘adorbs’ but they are always a hit at the dinner table. Make a batch and freeze them for a future meal too (meatloaf only; prepare the mashed potatoes fresh).
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas – my kids LOVE fajitas but I generally don’t have the time on a school night to make them traditionally. I came up with a great sheet pan option that only requires one pan (and it’s lined with foil for easy clean up). We love these and they are so colorful.
Look how easy it is to make Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas:
10-Minute Taco Lettuce Wraps – these wraps are fresh, tasty and so darn easy (and quick) to make. Think a taco with fresh butter lettuce as a shell instead of a tortilla. What’s not to love about a 10 minute prep time too, right?
Sausage and Orzo Stuffed Sweet Peppers – I shared a reprised version of these comfort food classics recently and they are packed with protein and nutrients, as well as pretty on the table. Orzo is a rice-shaped pasta that is available in both regular (with gluten) and gluten-free options. This dish is a soul-warming option for a great meal.
Taco Chicken Tenders – Everyone loves chicken tender and this Mexican-flavor version is just as popular. This recipe is made with homemade bread crumbs but crushed tortilla chips would make a great coating too.
Muffin Tin Mexican Bowls – these cute little Mexican bowls are made in a muffin tin and stuffed with shredded chicken, refried beans, cheese and taco toppings. They look tiny but just a few make a filling main dish. This is a perfect recipe to use one of the most popular recipes on BoulderLocavore.com: Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast (you’ll love the secret tip!).
Fast and Easy Gluten-free Meat Lasagna – this shortcut lasagna uses quality prepared ingredients and other simple shortcuts to put together a delicious lasagna in no time. Complete with my SECRET TIP for not pre-cooking the lasagna noodles which come out perfectly every time. Regular/gluten lasagna noodles may be substituted. Also, the lasagna may be made the day prior only the cooking is required the day of eating it.
Sheet Pan Maple-Mustard Salmon with Carrots and Potatoes – the entire meal is on this one sheet pan! Salmon filets marinated in this delicious sweet, tangy sauce cooks up in a flash making dinner time prep a cinch. Kids love this as much as adults do. This video shows how simple it is to make:
Green Chile Sour Cream Chicken Breasts – Mexican food is always a hit in my household. This recipe is basically combining ingredients in a baking dish and letting the oven work its magic. Cheesy, tangy, spicy chicken breasts that are perfectly cooked is the end result. Pair with a simple green salad and some Spanish rice and you have dinner!
Peanut-encrusted Pork Tenderloin – Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite meat options for a fast dinner. It cooks in about 30 minutes, is lean and absorbs marinades wonderfully. This is a recipe I developed a few years ago to be featured in a Back to School recipe book and it’s a winner. If you prefer something with no nuts, Spicy Cumin-Lime Pork Tenderloin or fall-flavored Apple Cider Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes and Apples is a one dish full dinner. TIP: pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat so the best way to ensure is doesn’t dry out is to check the temperature with an instant read thermometer. The meat still ‘cooks’ when removed from the oven while it is resting too.
Irresistible Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs – this recipe uses braising as the cooking method which is great to keep meats moist and tender. Also, vegetables may be added to braising meals to create a one pot dish that covers the entire dinner meal.
Spicy One Pot Gluten-Free Tomato Mushroom Basil Pasta – this recipe is so fun to make. All the ingredients are added into the pot and cook together! The fresh ingredients give the end pasta a wonderful flavor.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
This is getting bookmarked! Back to school means back to everything being super hectic. Thanks for sharing these!
Vera Sweeney says
Those “muffins” are the best! I love the mashed potato “frosting” on them. Thanks for the great ideas!
Bill Sweeney says
These are excellent recipes. When school hits, it’s like a tornado to your life. Easy dishes like this can help keep things manageable.
Jeanette says
You had me at fast, but then I saw what you have in here and I think I am in love! These all looks like great meals that don’t taste like fast food!
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad you think so Jeanette! That’s my goal.
Connie says
These ideas are great. Life definitely gets crazy when school starts. Easy, quick meal ideas are a must.
Brenda Kight says
Oh wow, all these recipes look so delicious. I have no kids in school but will certainly be making some of the recipes!
Toni Dash says
No kids required. We all want fast, fabulous dinner recipes, right?
Jenna Wood says
We have a grill, but we don’t use it- so ‘faking’ it in the oven is essential. I do a lot of foil wrap meals and sheet pan cooking. Lemon-pepper salmon is one of my faves.
Meagan says
Some of these look delicious. I bet my husband would love cooking some of them as he’s the cook in the house.
Catherine Sargent says
These all look like yummy and easy meals for a busy weeknight. I can’t wait to make the Sausage and Orzo Stuffed Sweet Peppers.
Sadie says
Those all look so amazing! I can’t decide which one looks the best. We would probably start with the taco chicken tenders!! 🌮
Jackie says
There are some awesome recipes here that my family would enjoy. I’m looking forward to trying some.
Thank you!
krystal says
Those sheet pan chicken fajitas look AMAZING! I’d love to recreate those this week.
Victoria says
These all look so delicious! Pinning them so that I can come back and add them to my weekly meal plan! I’m all about easy and delicious meals during back to school time!
Pam says
So many great weeknight recipes here. I have been meaning to make those sheet pan fajitas,
Kelly Hutchinson says
SO many great weeknight dinner ideas. We love lettuce wraps. So easy and so yummy!
Shauna says
These are look like great, easy family recipes. I will definitely be adding some of them to our rotation of meals.
Theresa says
Fast dinner night solutions are always welcome here. The sheet pan fajitas will be served on Wednesday, our official back-to-school day and the start of another hectic school year.
Amy Desrosiers says
I am all for quick but hearty meals. Adding veggies to my proteins like you have in my new goal for home cooking.
Kathy says
All of these sound like amazing recipes. I’m ready to try them all! They seem simple enough to make too.
Claudia Krusch says
I am always looking for new quick recipes to try. Once school is back in we do not have a lot of time to cook a big meal. I am looking forward to trying this Muffin Tin Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes.
Reesa says
I am saving these delicious recipes. Back to school is so busy for us.
Shelley R Zurek says
I love many of the featured recipes. But the muffin tin meat loaf would be the very first recipe I would make.
Sarah says
These are all great dinner ideas! I love finding new dinner ideas, it’s easy to get bored cooking the same thing over and over again.
AnnMarie John says
It feels like you have so much to do ALL the time when the school year comes around! The last thing on my mind is always dinner and that’s why I like planning my meals by the week. I think these are all awesome and helpful too. I can use more recipe ideas for the family.
Melanie says
Because I’m a teacher, back to school is disappointing for me as well as the kids. It’s exciting to start out a new year, but I hate to see summer go! Having a plan for the hustle and bustle of the school year will make it easier. These recipes are going to be my go-to.
Sherry says
I’m always looking for quick and easy weeknight meals. They all look really good. I can’t wait to try them out on my family.
Jocelyn at Hip Mama's Place says
I definitely need these recipes! It’s tough to think of dinner recipes that the kids will enjoy! I think these are perfect.
adriana says
Oh my gosh, the meatloaf with mashed potatoes sounds AMAZING! It looks so good and so simple – something everyone will love! These are all great ideas!
Kristi says
I was going to pin the meatloaf muffins but then I saw many more great ideas that followed so pinning this whole post. Thank you.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
With back to school right around the corner this is a great roundup of recipes to help for those busy school nights! These all look great and very family friendly.
Colleen Cayes says
I don’t have kids and I’m not going back to school, thank heaven, but I am bookmarking these recipes! So delicious and easy, who can resist? Thank you, Toni, for meeting the needs of the non-school-parent population as well.
Rosey says
The sausage and orzo stuffed peppers would make my oldest son happy! I think the new routine for back to school is so hard to get used to again!
Dogvills says
Thanks for sharing these meal ideas. I am all for easy to prepare meals without compromising the taste. I am including this in our meal plan. Those 10 minute taco lettuce wraps look so good!
Brianne says
I’m bookmarking this post right now. I always struggle with cooking when the kids go back to school!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I love all these quick and easy to prepare weeknight dinner recipes. I am downloading each and every recipe and save it for later. We don’t have small kids going back to school so we can all sit down and enjoy a delicious filling meal prepared in record time. 🙂