It’s that time of the year again. And while it sure feels a bit different this time, parents all across the country still have to go through the usual back-to-school preparation madness. Not to mention that 2021 has added quite a few items to your regular shopping and to-do lists. However, it will feel great to stop moonlighting as a homeschool teacher and get your kids reunited with their classmates and friends.
And no matter how unusual the 2021 back-to-school season might be, there’s always one thing you can plan ahead - meals! Putting together a list of quick weekday breakfasts and perfect school lunches (or updating it if you have one already) can alleviate some of the back-to-school stress and craziness.
To keep your household morning chaos to a minimum and never have your kids complain about their lunch, a perfect back-to-school recipe should fulfill certain criteria. We actually made a checklist to make it even easier.
Following this checklist that guarantees overall success with back-to-school meal planning, we have made you a list of 25 recipes for quick and easy back-to-school meals your kids will love that fit all of these requirements! Can you believe it?
Actually, you shouldn’t be so lucky. it’d be absolutely impossible for one dish to fulfill all of the criteria above, but these 25 recipes come pretty close! And it’s guaranteed your children will love them.
Is there a better and easier school lunch idea than a good old sandwich? These take your sandwich game to another level, so cheesy and flavorful! What’s even better, you can make the egg salad spread ahead of time and assemble them the next morning.
Healthy, delicious, and kid-friendly, these chicken bowls are an absolute winner. Prep everything and throw them together in a matter of minutes.
Easy to make and no-mess to eat Italian sub pinwheels make for a perfect lunch option! Full of zesty pepperoni, salty salami, crunchy pepperoncini.
Mini bite-sized versions of everyone’s favorite meals are not only for your dinner parties. They are also perfect to pack in a lunch box or have on the go when you’re pressed on time. Plus kids love them!
This is a foolproof way to sneak healthy veggies into your child’s lunch and be sure they eat it. This wrap is so delicious and full of flavor, it’s difficult to think of it as “healthy”.
The number of versatile breakfast bites you can make in your muffin tin is incredible! Most of those muffin-tin baked breakfasts are freezer-friendly and easy to put together as well.
One more protein-packed, healthy, low-carb breakfast your whole family will enjoy. You can also pack it as a savory snack to add to lunch and be certain your kid is eating spinach daily.
Sausage, egg, and cheese wrapped up in biscuits, sprinkled with everything bagel seasoning… it’s gonna be hard to find anyone who won’t like this amazing no-mess grab-n-go breakfast.
Tater Tots are one of the top foods universally loved by children. Make your own homemade tots, freeze them and have them ready in just a few minutes whenever your kids ask for them. It’s way healthier than the store-bought ones.
Pizza is another meal most kids would love to have for lunch or dinner. This Margherita pizza is easy to make and perfect to square and pack for lunch. Its extra cheesy crust is another bonus.
Making spaghetti into muffins is a fun variation that is also a wonderful way to have ready-made meals in the freezer. They can be warmed up in a jiffy and fit perfectly into a lunch box. Your kids will love these for an after-school snack as well.
Kids love meals that are fun! Rolled into a log and sliced, these cute, sushi-style sandwiches will keep everyone happy! You can’t beat a recipe that only calls for 4 ingredients and 5 minutes of your time!
A popular breakfast sandwich from Korea will most likely become a popular breakfast sandwich for your kids and family as well. It’s absolutely delicious and full of veggie goodness!
A nice healthy twist on the good old PB & J sandwich. This grilled peanut butter & apple sandwich includes plenty of protein, fiber, and other good nutritional values to keep your kids happy and healthy.
Granola bars are a perfect grab-n-go breakfast option or a great healthy snack. These are crispy, chewy, and taste like pumpkin spiced pie!
Make these blueberry almond bars for a more fruity on-the-go snack. You can freeze these as well, and always having something healthy and delicious for your family to enjoy is so convenient!
If your kid is more of a chocolate flavor fan try these granola bars. They are done in 30 minutes and don’t need to be baked! Just stir, press, chill, and cut.
Healthy blueberry muffin your kids will love! These taste amazing and are packed with nutritious immune-boosting ingredients like chia seeds.
You probably have a recipe for buttermilk pancakes already, after all, it is one of the most beloved breakfasts. But just in case you don’t, try this recipe.
Buttermilk pancakes are also 100% freezer-friendly! Cook, chill and freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet. This breakfast prep hack will absolutely change your life!
You can have a pancake breakfast plated and served in 10 minutes!
Place your frozen pancakes on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F for roughly 8 minutes.
Most children love French toast, and pretty much all love nuggets. Combine the two and make these french toast nuggets for your little ones!
An oldie but goldie potato cakes recipe. Mix leftover mashed potatoes with a few pantry items and give a quick pan-fry, and lunch is ready!
When your kids are asking for a pizza but you only have 5 minutes, this pizzadilla will solve your lunch packing dilemma. A crispy, cheese-stuffed quesadilla with classic pizza topping in the middle.
An American classic! Sloppy joes are popular with most children. They're a favorite in lunchrooms in schools all over the country. Can’t say these are mess-free, but they sure are delicious!
Make this Taco Bell Crunchwrap Copycat recipe when your kids are asking for fast food but you still want them to eat healthily. It is bound to become their favorite!
And here’s another solution for fast food craving family members. Golden, crispy, and succulent pseudo-fried chicken without any oily mess.