Back-to-School Recipes
Back to school season has a way of sneaking up fast! One day it is still summer and the next you are scrambling to get everyone out the door on time. I’ve put together a list of my favorite back-to-school recipes for the whole family, from breakfast ideas, after-school snacks, and easy weeknight dinners to help make the transition a little smoother.
The key to surviving a busy school week is having a plan. A batch of homemade granola bars or 4-ingredient peanut butter cookies in the freezer makes after-school snack time easy. And knowing you have a pot of weeknight chili or a sheet pan sausage and potatoes dinner in your back pocket means one less thing to stress about. Keep scrolling for 21 back to school recipes I think you are going to love!
Back to School Breakfasts
Mornings are hectic enough. These breakfast recipes are all easy to make ahead, freeze well, and can be grabbed on the go. Make a batch on Sunday and you are set for the whole week!
Homemade Buttermilk Pancake Mix
Keep this homemade pancake mix on hand and breakfast is ready in minutes. It stores well in the pantry and all you have to do is add water. A total game changer for busy mornings!
Strawberry Banana Smoothie
Thick, fruity, and naturally sweet, this smoothie comes together in about two minutes and is a great way to get a wholesome breakfast in on the busiest of mornings.
Banana Crunch Muffins
Banana bread in muffin form, loaded with granola, coconut, and walnuts. They are perfect for breakfast or a quick snack and freeze beautifully so you can always have a batch ready to go.
Sausage Gravy Stuffed Biscuits
Fluffy buttermilk biscuits stuffed with creamy sausage gravy, totally freezable and completely portable. My kids love grabbing one on their way out the door on busy mornings!
Bran Muffins
Hearty, moist, and packed with good stuff. These bran muffins are endlessly customizable with whatever mix-ins you have on hand and they keep well all week in the fridge.
Spinach and Tomato Egg Cups
Eggs baked with spinach, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese right in a muffin tin. Make a full pan on Sunday and you have a protein-packed breakfast ready to reheat all week long.
Yogurt and Granola Breakfast Parfaits
Fast, easy, and endlessly adaptable. Layer granola, yogurt, and whatever fruit or jam you have on hand for a breakfast that feels a little special even on a regular Tuesday.
After-School Snacks
Kids come home hungry and they come home fast. These snacks are easy to make ahead, store well, and will actually hold them over until dinner!
Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars
Chewy, sweet, and packed with oats, almonds, and mini chocolate chips, these homemade granola bars are so much better than store-bought. My kids love them just as much and I love knowing exactly what is in them!
Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites
Soft, pillowy pretzel bites coated in cinnamon sugar. They are fun to make and even more fun to eat. A perfect after-school treat the whole family will look forward to!
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
You only need four ingredients and about 15 minutes to make a batch of these soft, chewy peanut butter cookies. Keep them in the freezer and pull them out whenever you need a quick snack.
Sweet Potato Cheddar Crackers
Homemade crackers that are crispy, cheesy, and just a little bit sneaky with the sweet potato. These are a great lunchbox snack and kids genuinely love them!
Homemade Fruit Snacks
Real fruit flavor in a fun, chewy little snack. These homemade fruit snacks are so much better than the packaged kind and they are surprisingly easy to make.
Small Batch Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes just one dozen perfect chocolate chip cookies! Plus, no mixer required and zero chilling time.
Homemade Granola
A big batch of homemade granola is one of the best things you can have on hand during the school year. Snack on it by the handful, stir it into yogurt, or sprinkle it over fruit. The options are endless!
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
Chocolate and peanut butter layered into an easy no-bake bar that comes together in minutes. Store them in the freezer and pull them out when the after-school snack requests start rolling in!
Easy Weeknight Dinners
These are the dinners I keep coming back to when life is busy and I need something reliable, delicious, and on the table without too much fuss. Most come together in 30 to 45 minutes and several can be prepped ahead!
Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes
Sausage, potatoes, and onion on one sheet pan, seasoned simply and roasted until caramelized and delicious. I make this one several times a month and there are never leftovers!
Chicken Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy macaroni loaded with tender chicken and broccoli. It is comfort food the whole family will get excited about and it comes together in one pot!
Shredded Chicken Street Tacos
Juicy, flavorful shredded chicken in warm tortillas with all your favorite toppings. Taco night is always a hit and this version is so easy to pull off on a weeknight.
Easy Weeknight Chili
Hearty, flavorful chili ready in as little as 30 minutes with pantry staples you probably already have. Make a big batch and enjoy it all week or freeze some for later!
Chicken Tortilla Soup
A cozy, flavorful soup loaded with chicken, beans, and all the best toppings. It is easy to throw together on a weeknight and even better the next day for lunch!
Spaghetti and Meatballs
A classic for a reason! Homemade meatballs in a rich, flavorful marinara sauce over spaghetti is the kind of dinner that makes everyone happy. Make a double batch of meatballs and freeze them for an even easier meal next time.
Asian-Glazed Sheet-Pan Salmon and Broccoli
Sweet and savory glazed salmon roasted alongside tender broccoli on one sheet pan. It is quick, healthy, and delicious, and cleanup is a breeze!
I hope these back to school recipes make the season a little easier and a lot more delicious. Here is to a great school year!
Have you tried any of these recipes? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review on the recipe page, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram @completelydelicious with #completelydelicious.
The make-ahead breakfast ideas are the ones that survive contact with an actual school morning. We found that anything requiring a decision at 7am gets abandoned by week two, so having a couple of things already portioned in the fridge is what makes the difference. Bookmarking this round-up.