As summer fades and the leaves begin their colorful transformation, families everywhere find themselves in the whirlwind of school, sports, and extracurricular activities. Early morning wake-ups, carpools, homework, and weekend matches replace the carefree days of summer. With such a packed schedule, mealtime can quickly become another stress point. However, with the right recipes, dinner can be quick, nutritious, and a breeze.

Here are ten quick and easy back-to-school recipes to help ease the transition and lighten the load of your bustling routine:

  1. One-Pan Chicken Fajitas

    • Ingredients: Boneless chicken strips, lime juice, chili powder, garlic, bell peppers (red, yellow, green), onions, olive oil, tortillas/rice.
    • Method: Marinate chicken in lime, chili, and garlic. Sauté chicken in olive oil until halfway cooked. Add thinly sliced bell peppers and onions, cooking until tender. Serve in tortillas or over rice with sour cream or guacamole.

  2. Vegetarian Pasta Primavera

    • Ingredients: Penne pasta, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, red pepper flakes, parmesan.
    • Method: Boil pasta. Sauté thinly sliced zucchini and halved cherry tomatoes in olive oil and garlic. Add red pepper flakes for a kick. Mix with pasta and top generously with parmesan.

  3. Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and Veggies

    • Ingredients: Salmon fillets, teriyaki sauce, bell peppers, broccoli, olive oil.
    • Method: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place salmon on a baking sheet. Surround with chopped veggies. Drizzle teriyaki sauce and olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

  4. Taco Rice Bowls

    • Ingredients: Lean ground meat (chicken, beef or turkey), taco seasoning, cooked rice, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream.
    • Method: Brown meat and add taco seasoning. Layer over cooked rice in a bowl. Top with diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, cheese, and a dollop of sour cream.

  5. Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

    • Ingredients: Whole grain bread, cheese slices, turkey/ham, canned tomato soup, fresh basil, cream.
    • Method: Sandwich cheese (and meat, if using) between bread slices and grill. Enhance the canned soup with a splash of cream and fresh chopped basil.

  6. Chickpea Spinach Salad

    • Ingredients: Canned chickpeas, baby spinach, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
    • Method: Drain and rinse chickpeas. Toss chickpeas, spinach, crumbled feta, and halved cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Dress with a mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

  7. Pesto Zoodles with Grilled Chicken

    • Ingredients: Zucchini, pesto sauce, grilled chicken breast, cherry tomatoes, parmesan.
    • Method: Use a spiralizer to turn zucchini into noodles. Toss zoodles in pesto sauce. Top with sliced grilled chicken, halved cherry tomatoes, and a sprinkle of parmesan.

  8. Breakfast-for-Dinner Quesadillas

    • Ingredients: Tortillas, scrambled eggs, cheese, bell peppers, mushrooms, salsa.
    • Method: Sauté diced bell peppers and mushrooms. Mix with scrambled eggs. Place the mixture onto half of a tortilla, sprinkle cheese and fold. Cook on a skillet until golden. Serve with salsa.

  9. Stir-Fried Veggie Wraps

    • Ingredients: Lettuce leaves, bell peppers, snap peas, carrots, teriyaki sauce.
    • Method: Thinly slice veggies and sauté in a pan with a splash of teriyaki sauce. Once cooked, spoon into lettuce leaves to serve.

  10. BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders

    • Ingredients: Pre-cooked shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, slider buns, coleslaw mix, mayonnaise.
    • Method: Mix shredded chicken with BBQ sauce and heat. In a separate bowl, mix coleslaw with mayonnaise. Serve chicken on slider buns topped with coleslaw.

Transitioning to the school year’s bustling pace doesn’t mean quality meals should take a backseat. With a little prep and these detailed recipes, enjoy nourishing, delightful dinners every evening.

Check out Start Your Day Right: Healthy Breakfast Recipes for breakfast ideas.