12 Easy Back to School Dinners for Busy School Nights

School nights are busy, so dinner needs to work around homework, activities, and everything else happening at the end of the day. These 12 back-to-school dinners include quick skillet and air fryer meals, easy casseroles, one-pot recipes, and slow cooker dinners for days when you want to get dinner started early.

Need something especially fast? Start with the Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas, which are ready in 20 minutes, or Marry Me Chicken, which takes about 25 minutes. For a more hands-off dinner, the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili needs just 10 minutes of prep before it cooks.

Whether you have 20 minutes at dinnertime or a few minutes in the morning to load the slow cooker, there is an easy school night dinner here to fit the schedule.

1

Quick Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas

Juicy chicken and tender-crisp peppers cook up in minutes in the air fryer. These fajitas are perfect for quick tacos, bowls, or wraps and make cleanup a breeze.

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2

One Skillet Marry Me Chicken

This creamy skillet chicken is full of bold flavor from sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and parmesan. It's quick enough for weeknights but impressive enough to serve to guests.

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3

Easy Ravioli Lasagna

Frozen ravioli makes this cheesy lasagna easier to assemble, with layers of meat sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. It needs just 10 minutes of prep before baking.

Teresa says “We loved this! It’s a great way to mix it up, thank you! Easy to make too.” ⭐️⭐️️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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4

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole for Busy Weeknights

This creamy chicken casserole combines cooked chicken and vegetables in a homemade sauce, then adds buttery stuffing on top. It’s a comforting all in one dinner that’s ready in under 45 minutes.

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5

Walking Taco Casserole (Kid-Friendly Dinner Idea)

Seasoned ground beef, pinto beans, Fritos, and melted cheddar come together in this fun taco inspired casserole. Add lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and your favorite taco toppings before serving.

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6

Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Ground Beef

These stuffed zucchini boats are filled with a flavorful beef mixture and topped with melty cheese. They’re a lighter dinner option that’s still filling and full of flavor.

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7

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This hearty, protein-packed turkey chili simmers all day in the slow cooker for a cozy, hands-off dinner. Serve it with cornbread, crackers, or over rice for a filling meal.

Reader M says, “First turkey chili I have ever made and eaten and my whole family LOVED it!! So good, thank you! I did add a green pepper and it only added more delicious flavor.” ⭐️⭐️️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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8

Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese

Creamy mac and cheese gets a spicy twist with shredded buffalo chicken. It’s bold, cheesy, and perfect for feeding hungry kids (and adults) after a long day.

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9

One Pot Shawarma Rice

A full meal made in one pot with tender chicken, aromatic rice, and warm spices. It’s an easy weeknight dinner with big flavor and minimal cleanup.

Mildred says, “Made this for dinner last night, it was delicious, my family even asked to have it once every week, five stars” ⭐️⭐️️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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10

Set it & Forget it Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

Juicy sausages and sweet bell peppers cook low and slow in tomato sauce for a hearty, no-fuss dinner. Serve it over rice or pile it into hoagie rolls.

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11

Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole

Tender chicken, egg noodles, vegetables, and cheddar are baked in a homemade creamy sauce with buttery breadcrumbs on top. It’s a hearty casserole that makes good use of rotisserie or leftover cooked chicken.

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12

Picky Eater Approved Meat Sauce with Hidden Veggies

This hearty meat sauce blends onion, carrots, zucchini, and bell pepper into a tomato and ground beef sauce. Serve it over pasta for an easy dinner, or make extra to freeze for another meal.

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