Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinner 15 Quick Back-To-School Dinner Recipes Quick weeknight dinner recipes with twists on kid-approved classics. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 9, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Greg DuPree Back-to-school season is already a hassle, so we rounded up some kid-friendly recipes to help with meal prep. These quick back-to-school dinners will keep the entire family happy with delicious classics like grilled cheese, tomato soup, or shrimp fried rice. We've even included a few recipes with clever twists to please the grown-up palate, like our Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese. Whatever your schedule is like, these quick back-to-school dinners can be ready in an hour or less. We've got your weeknight dinner menu covered with these quick recipes. 01 of 15 Chicken and Herbed Cornmeal Dumplings Hector Manuel Sanchez Move over chicken noodle soup. There's a new recipe in town. This dish will be your favorite go-to dinner with only 40 minutes of prep and cooking time. 02 of 15 Shrimp Fried Rice Greg DuPree Fresh green beans and shrimp combine for an easy weeknight dish. Store the leftovers in the fridge for a quick lunch later on. This skillet dish comes together in 30 minutes. 03 of 15 Grilled Chicken Tacos Wynn Myers; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford Here's a delicious (and healthy) change of pace from the usual ground beef tacos. Let the slow cooker do the work, and have enough chicken for leftovers. Leave out the chipotle chile in the adobo sauce if you prefer. 04 of 15 Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Beth Dreiling; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey Your kids will love this combo dish of their two favorite meals, and you'll love that you can make it ahead and store it until it's time to dig in. This dish will be your new go-to weekday meal with only seven ingredients. Turkey pepperoni helps avoid a greasy appearance. 05 of 15 Chicken Fingers Coated With Cheesy Snack Crackers Sheri Castle You probably already have the ingredients for this recipe in your kitchen. After just 15 minutes in the oven, these chicken fingers are golden and delicious. Pro Tip: Let them cool for five minutes before serving. 06 of 15 Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr Pizza is always a family-favorite dish. Why not step it up a notch with sautéed veggies and BBQ chicken? Bake them on the oven rack for a quicker cook time. 07 of 15 Buttermilk Chicken and Waffles Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell If your kids like breakfast, they'll love this twist on waffles for dinner. These bite-sized chicken and waffles are easy to prepare when craving something sweet and salty. Top with a Peach-Horseradish Maple Syrup. 08 of 15 Ham and Cheese Sliders Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Ham and Cheese Sliders are a classic dish for any day of the week. Baking these sandwiches in one pan makes cleanup a breeze. Pair with a side of veggies for a simple weeknight dinner. 09 of 15 Broccoli-Cheddar Soup Southern Living Your kids won't even know they're eating veggies in this warm, creamy Broccoli-Cheddar Soup. In 30 minutes, you'll have a velvety and smooth meal, ideal for chilly evenings. Top it off with some croutons for added crunch. 10 of 15 Classic Grilled Cheese Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Some nights call for the easiest of meals. Pair our Classic Grilled Cheese with the best tomato soup recipe for the ultimate comforting dinner. 11 of 15 Sheet Pan Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You can't beat a creamy mac and cheese recipe. This one even has a surprise ingredient: Butternut Squash. This recipe combines a classic comfort dish with fresh autumnal flavors. 12 of 15 Air Fryer Popcorn Shrimp Southern Living Crispy, poppable, and ready in just 30 minutes. You'll never pan-fry shrimp again after trying this recipe. To avoid soggy fried shrimp, toss some breadcrumbs into the oil—this helps the shrimp get brown and crispy without steaming. 13 of 15 Buttermilk Chicken Tenders with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans Greg DuPree Consider this your healthier alternative to fast-food chicken tenders and fries. The best part? It's just as tasty. The secret is to marinate the chicken tenders (and any other vegetables to accompany them) in seasoned buttermilk. 14 of 15 Mini Deep-Dish Pizzas Southern Living Bite-sized and customizable, these Mini Deep-Dish Pizzas are a fun way to get the kids involved in the kitchen. Miniature tortilla boats leave plenty of space to fill with your favorite pizza toppings. Chopping the toppings into smaller pieces will help fit more into each muffin tin. 15 of 15 Sheet Pan Meatloaf Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Loren Wood; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Start with a layer of panko crumbs on the bottom of the sheet pan. Next, evenly press the meatloaf mixture. Top with the brown sugar and ketchup mixture and bake. Now that you have dinner covered, here are 23 Healthy School Lunch Ideas That Your Kids Will Love. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit