It is back-to-school time here, and I’m already channeling all my good energy to get dinner on the table with the tighter schedules + evening practices and activities.

This is the list of back-to-school dinners I keep in my back pocket all school year. The recipes are easy, quick, filling, and most importantly: DELICIOUS. My kids love each and every one of these meals, and I do, too!

I’ll keep adding to this list as I post new recipes or think of others that fit the bill, so chime in on the comments if any of your favorite meals are missing from this list! Cooking dinner for a family is no easy feat. We’ve got this! 👊🏼

1

Instant Pot Spaghetti

Dinner will be on the table in no time with this super easy Instant Pot spaghetti! Everything cooks together for a simple, flavorful, hands-off spaghetti dinner.
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2
Three easy sheet pan chicken fajitas on white board topped with sour cream and guacamole.

Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

These easy sheet pan chicken fajitas are packed with smoky, zesty flavors and are so, so simple to make! A perfect weeknight (or any night) meal!
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3

Floating Taco Bowls with Creamy Lime Dressing

These floating taco bowls hold all the goodness of tacos layered in a bowl and smothered with creamy lime dressing and tons of toppings! The flavorful meat and rice filling is so delicious!
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4
spoon scooping up pasta shells in creamy alfredo sauce in white bowl

Instant Pot Pasta Alfredo

Pasta has never been easier! This Instant Pot pasta alfredo is a lightened up version of a classic. It’s super creamy and delicious!
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Chinese Cashew Chicken {30-Minute Meal}

Simple and quick, you won’t believe how easy it is to create this delicious, one-skillet Chinese Cashew Chicken at home. And, it’s way better than takeout!
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6
serving of chicken lasagna in white bowl with spoonful of ricotta and fresh basil leaves

One-Pot Easy Chicken Lasagna

This one-pot easy chicken lasagna is bound to become a weeknight favorite. Made with pantry staples, it’s quick, simple and delicious!
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7
naan bread in white bowl with rice, chicken, broccoli and brown sauce

Quick and Easy Chinese Chicken and Broccoli

This quick and easy Chinese chicken and broccoli recipe comes together in 30-minutes or less, and the flavor is out of this world delicious!
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8
four chicken quesadilla triangles stacked on white plate

The Best Chicken Quesadillas

This really is the best chicken quesadillas recipe! So easy, these fajita-style quesadillas taste just as good, if not better, than any restaurant!
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9
close up top down view of bbq chicken totchos with sour cream, tomatoes and guacamole

Loaded BBQ Chicken Totchos

These cheesy loaded BBQ chicken totchos (tater tot “nachos”) are fantastic! Hearty enough for an easy weeknight dinner, fun enough for an appetizer or party – they are so yummy!
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10
Plate with broccoli, rice and saucy chicken tenders.

Sweet Spicy Sticky Chicken

This sweet spicy sticky chicken is incredible! It has definite sweet and sour vibes with a bit of heat (which you can dial up or down). So yummy!
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11
White bowl with rice, Korean beef, slaw, sauce, and lime wedges.

Easy Korean Beef Bowls

The combination of flavorful beef, zesty slaw, and spicy garlic sauce, makes these easy Korean beef bowls an amazing weeknight dinner!
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12
Spatula holding square of cheesy chicken spaghetti in white pan with the rest of the casserole.

Baked Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

This baked cheesy chicken spaghetti is comfort food at its easiest and finest! It starts with a simple from-scratch cheese sauce and the end result is so delicious!
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13
Top down view of two enchiladas on gray plate topped with red enchilada sauce, cheese, cilantro, sour cream, tomatoes, and avocados.

Ground Beef Enchiladas

These ground beef enchiladas are made with a flavorful beef and bean filling, rolled up with cheese, and topped with a from-scratch red sauce (and more cheese!).
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14
Slow cooker beef on crusty rolls with provolone cheese and one bite taken out; hand holding sandwich.

Slow Cooker Italian Beef

This slow cooker Italian beef calls for pantry-ready ingredients and requires almost zero hands-on time. The recipe notes include directions for cooking in the Instant Pot, as well.
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15
White bowl with cooked chicken, chopped tomatoes, cilantro lime rice, chopped avocados, black beans, roasted corn, and lettuce.

Easy Chicken Burrito Bowls

These easy chicken burrito bowls are piled high with cilantro lime rice, roasted corn, flavorful chicken, black beans and all the toppings your heart desires.
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Tongs grabbing portion of salsa verde chicken on white tray.

Instant Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

This Instant Pot salsa verde chicken is made with every day ingredients and is so flavorful and delicious. Slow cooker instructions included!
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17
Serving spoon with scoop of creamy orzo, spinach and chicken.

One Pot Creamy Lemon Orzo with Chicken

This one pot creamy lemon orzo recipe is a perfect, easy weeknight meal. The bright lemon flavor with the pasta and chicken is so good!
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18
Serving spoon with cooke chicken, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers and red onions.

Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies

This easy sheet pan honey garlic chicken and veggies recipe is a flavorful one-pan meal that comes together so fast. Perfect for a weeknight!
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Creamy Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas

If you haven’t had these green chile chicken enchiladas, you are missing out! The easy from-scratch white sauce makes them over the top!
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20
Cooked ground beef, pickles, lettuce, pickled red onions, tomatoes, fries and creamy sauce in white bowl.

Loaded Burger Bowls with Special House Sauce

These easy burger bowls are loaded with golden, crispy morsels of ground beef and tons of chopped veggies. The creamy house sauce drizzled on top is incredible!
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21
Two half beef and bean wraps on gray plate with salsa and sour cream.

Crispy Beef and Bean Wraps

These crispy beef and bean wraps are one of our go-to weeknight dinners! The crispy tortilla (no frying!) and flavorful filling are delicious.
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22
Portion of cornbread topped beef and bean casserole on white plate with fork.

Cowboy Dinner {Cornbread Beef and Bean Casserole}

Cowboy dinner is a hearty casserole of flavorful beef, corn and beans topped with soft, fluffy cornbread and a layer of cheese. So delicious!
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sloppy joe on white plate

The Best Sloppy Joes

Quick and easy, these really are the best sloppy joes ever! The bold, exciting flavors make these a tried-and-true favorite!
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24
cheesy chicken enchilada bake over brown rice on white platter

Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Bake

This cheesy chicken enchilada bake involves layer upon layer of deliciousness and becomes a creamy, cheesy mess of perfection!
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25
two halves of crispy wrap stacked on each other on wood cutting board

Crispy Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps

Holy moly, these crispy chicken bacon ranch wraps are so crazy delicious, you won’t believe it. Plus, they take just minutes to throw together!
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26
Twisting ramen noodles on fork with beef and broccoli on white plate.

Easy One Pot Beef and Broccoli Ramen Noodles

This easy one pot beef and broccoli ramen noodles recipe is fast, flavorful, and perfect for a busy weeknight! You can easily use ground beef or leave it meatless, too.
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27
White bowl with Instant Pot creamy baked ziti and piece of focaccia bread.

Amazing Instant Pot Creamy “Baked” Ziti

Save weeknight dinner with this SUPER easy Instant Pot baked ziti recipe. It is creamy, saucy, cheesy, and so incredibly delicious! (Pro tip: you don’t have to use ziti! Any type of tube pasta will work.)
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28
White plate filled with meatballs drizzled in sweet and sour sauce and roasted vegetables.

Sheet Pan Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Roasted Potatoes and Broccoli

Dinner is served on ONE sheet pan with this simple and super tasty sweet and sour sheet pan meatballs recipe loaded with roasted potatoes and broccoli!
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29
Bite taken out of honey balsamic BBQ pork sandwich on white plate.

Honey Balsamic BBQ Pork Sandwiches {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}

These flavorful honey balsamic BBQ pork sandwiches are so easy thanks to the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker!
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30
Ground turkey, cabbage, naan in white bowl drizzled with sweet and sour sauce.

Quick and Easy Egg Roll Skillet Meal {30-Minute Meal}

This egg roll skillet meal is a delicious weeknight dinner. All the crunchy tasty flavors of egg rolls – just healthier and easier!
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Cutting a slice of ham and cheese sheet pan panini on wood cutting board.

Easy Sheet Pan Panini

Love toasted panini sandwiches? Ever wondered how to make a lot of them in a jiffy? This super easy sheet pan panini recipe is a lifesaver and perfect for busy weeknights!
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large white bowl with greens, pasta, chicken, grapes, fresh basil, and pine nuts

Vineyard Chicken and Pasta Salad

A perfectly light, fresh dinner, this vineyard chicken and pasta salad is crazy delicious! So many tasty ingredients and that dressing…yum!
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Three halves of crispy chicken wraps stacked on wooden board with cherry tomatoes.

Crispy Chicken Enchilada Wraps

These crispy chicken enchilada wraps are a fantastic weeknight dinner (or lunch!) solution – they are fast, easy, customizable and so, so delicious!
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34
Monterey BBQ chicken pasta in a big skillet.

Monterey BBQ Chicken Pasta

There is so much to love about this one-pot Monterey BBQ chicken pasta! It is simple, fast, and out of this world delicious!
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Mexican Haystacks

Mexican Haystacks: a smorgasbord of delicious taco flavors simmered together in a tasty sauce and served over rice (or quinoa) with all the toppings your heart desires. Easy, fast, yummy!
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The Best Ground Beef Taco Meat

This is the best ground beef taco meat! Made from scratch with every day pantry spices, it is so flavorful and perfect for tacos or salads.
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37
Turkey wrap in spinach tortilla stacked on two other wraps.

Turkey Avocado Veggie Wraps

These simple turkey avocado veggie wraps are crazy delicious! Shaved turkey, tons of fresh vegetables, and a creamy avocado spread – YUM!
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38
Four triangles of quesadillas stacked with cilantro on top.

Tuna Quesadilla Melts {20-Minute Meal}

Tuna reinvented! These easy tuna quesadilla melts come together FAST and are a perfect meal for busy weeknights (or for a quick lunch!).
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39
Top down view of White ridged plate with chopped taco salad and drizzled with homemade catalina dressing.

Chopped Taco Salad with Homemade Catalina Dressing

This chopped taco salad with homemade dressing comes together in less than 30 minutes. It is easily adaptable and so yummy!
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40
Saucy pasta with shredded zucchini piled high on plate with fork scooping bite.

Easy One-Pot Saucy Zucchini Pasta

This easy one-pot zucchini pasta combines pasta, lots of sauce, zucchini, and Parmesan for a simple, delicious, family-friendly dinner.
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Skillet Baked Spaghetti

This one pot, 30-minute baked spaghetti recipe is sure to please even the pickiest eater! It is simple to prepare and super delicious.
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42
Top down view of white cast iron skillet filled with sliced fajita chicken breasts, bell peppers and onions.

My Favorite Easy Chicken Fajitas

These flavorful, smoky fajitas are a super easy, perfect weeknight meal! Loaded with flavor, the chicken and veggies are delicious in tortillas or built into bowl-style meals or salads.
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43
Tong grabbing scoop of ramen noodles with peas, ground turkey and green onions.

Easy Spicy Garlic Ramen Noodles

These easy spicy garlic ramen noodles make a super simple weeknight meal! Packed with flavor, they can be yours in 30 minutes or less.
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