Welcome to the tastiest back-to-school season yet! I’ve gathered 35+ family-friendly back-to-school recipes. From baked oatmeal for breakfast to homemade cheese crackers for snack, and slow cooker chicken chili for dinner and rice krispie treats for dessert, this list has something for everyone in your family. Each recipe includes my recommendations for preparing ahead and freezing, too.
Back-to-School Recipes: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner, & Desserts
And just like that, another summer draws to a close and back-to-school time is on the horizon. I’m here to take just a little bit off your plate with a complete list of 35+ back-to-school recipe ideas. I have everything from breakfast, snacks, dinner, and of course, dessert—all collected for you below.
As a parent, I understand time is precious and schedules can get hectic during the school year. Let’s make mealtimes easy! These back-to-school recipes are all quick, simple to prepare, and fabulously delicious. Plus, nearly all have make-ahead and freezing options.
Grab your young bakers/chefs and pick out a few recipes to make now and freeze for later. A batch of banana chocolate chip breakfast cookies, a loaf of banana bread, and a dozen healthy apple muffins will give you a good start on grab-and-go breakfast options for the start of the school year.
Don’t forget a batch (or two) of my popular chocolate chip cookies. Who wouldn’t love opening their lunchbox to find a little sweet treat? Or coming home to a warm plate of cookies for an afternoon snack and quick chat about the day?
You’ll also find several of my go-to dinner recipes, like creamy chicken noodle soup and easy baked chicken meatballs. And these freezer-friendly meals are so helpful to have ready for a home-cooked meal between all the after-school activities. If you’re looking for suggestions, these glass containers are my go-to for freezer prepped meals.
I hope you find plenty of back-to-school inspiration from my favorite recipes below. Although the end of summer can be bittersweet, the start of a new school year always brings a renewed sense of energy. With fall and holiday baking (oh, and cookbook #4!), I’ll take all the energy I can get. 😉
By the way, if you’re short on time and want dessert during this school year, you’ll appreciate my collection of quick dessert recipes, too.
Kid-Friendly Baking: For more recipes to try with young bakers, here is my full roundup of kid-friendly baking recipes.
35+ Back-to-School Recipes
My Favorite Banana Bread Recipe
With its super-moist texture, buttery banana and brown sugar flavors, and incredibly soft crumb, this is my best-ever banana bread recipe. I have a loaf in my freezer at all times!
Healthy Apple Muffins
This recipe is my go-to choice when I’m looking for easy and quick healthy muffins that are wonderfully wholesome and soft, and you’ll appreciate that they’re made without any refined sugar.
Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal Cups
You need just 1 bowl and some simple, wholesome ingredients to make these healthy-ish chocolate chip baked oatmeal cups. They’re ready in about 30 minutes.
Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Each slice of this easy egg breakfast casserole is thick, flavorful, and satisfying; plus, the recipe is an incredibly convenient breakfast choice because it’s make-ahead ready and infinitely adaptable.
Healthy Blueberry Banana Muffins
This recipe for healthy blueberry banana muffins has been on my website since 2013. I’ve made a few changes to the original recipe, and can assure you they are better than ever!
Banana Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies
You will love these healthy and naturally gluten-free, egg-free banana chocolate chip breakfast cookies. They come together in just 1 bowl with only 8 ingredients.
Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins
These buttery blueberry oatmeal muffins are simple, wholesome, and satisfying. Made with fresh berries, whole oats, and no refined sugar.
Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread
This vanilla-flavored cinnamon swirl quick bread is moist and soft with a thick ribbon of cinnamon sugar swirled inside. You only need a handful of very basic ingredients and there’s no mixer required. Excellent after-school snack!
1-Bowl Baked Oatmeal
This healthy baked oatmeal combines simple ingredients that can be adapted for any allergies or flavor preferences. It’s like bread pudding for breakfast—creamy, soft, chewy, and delicious all in one. I love making a batch on Sunday to have ready for the week ahead.
How to Make Granola Clusters
The best part of every granola is the big crunchy clusters, so why not bake a batch of only clusters? This recipe for homemade maple almond granola clusters is easy to make and even easier to eat for breakfast, snack, or whenever hunger strikes.
Whole Wheat Pancakes Recipe
These are 100% whole wheat pancakes made with protein-rich Greek yogurt and whole grain goodness. The batter comes together in a snap (not to mention, the pancakes freeze wonderfully), and you can add your favorite add-ins like berries or chocolate chips.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
These pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal bars are soft and chewy with tons of satisfying pumpkin flavor. The addition of chocolate chips makes them taste like dessert—a delicious & healthier way to satisfy your pumpkin cravings!
Oatmeal Fig Bars
These oatmeal fig bars are a homemade variation of store-bought fig bars. They’re wholesome and satisfying and keep wonderfully for snacks and lunches all week long!
Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bars
Always in my regular rotation of homemade snacks, these no-bake peanut butter trail mix bars are my favorite pick-me-up. The combination of chocolate chips and peanut butter make it taste like a treat, while the nuts and oats keep you nourished and satisfied.
Chocolate Cherry Almond Snack Bars
These chewy, crunchy chocolate cherry almond bars are made with real, wholesome ingredients, making them an excellent option for midday refueling.
Soft Pretzel Bites
My easy soft pretzel bites are always a crowd favorite! The simple dough requires just 6 ingredients and there’s hardly any rise time, so they’re a relatively quick and completely fun after-school snack.
Easy Seasoned Pretzels
These baked hard pretzels seasoned with lemon pepper, dill, and garlic powder are a family favorite. Super easy to make, and they disappear almost instantly. I usually double the recipe.
Homemade Cheese Crackers
Who knew cheese crackers were so simple to make in our own kitchens? Only 6 ingredients needed and they bake in less than 20 minutes. Prep the ingredients before the kids get home from school, and enjoy making (and eating!) crispy, salty, and totally cheesy crackers together.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Smoothie
A thick, creamy, and healthy smoothie reminiscent of a childhood-favorite sandwich. Packed with protein, this peanut butter and jelly smoothie will keep you feeling full and satisfied for hours.
Simply Sandwich Bread
Take any sandwich from good to great with homemade simply sandwich bread! My recipe includes step-by-step pictures, a full video tutorial, and plenty of helpful tips, so bakers of all skill levels can easily tackle this yeasted bread.
Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs
Packed with flavor, baked, and then brushed with a lemony garlic herb butter for even more flavor, these easy baked chicken meatballs are lighter-tasting and perfect for a hearty mid-week meal. Serve with zucchini noodles (pictured), pasta, soup, or on their own.
Pizza Pull-Apart Rolls
Here we have soft, buttery garlic herb yeast rolls that are topped AND stuffed with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni (or your favorite pizza toppings), then finished with garlic herb butter.
Homemade Alphabet Vegetable Soup
Alphabet vegetable soup is full of flavor, packed with vegetables, super easy to prepare, and keeps wonderfully for leftovers all week—or store a batch in the freezer. Any small shaped pasta works (but alphabet pasta is obviously so fun!).
My Favorite Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Recipe
This is my family’s favorite slow cooker chicken chili recipe. It’s a true “set it and forget it” crockpot dinner, making it a perfect cozy dinner on a busy weeknight.
Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
This reader-favorite homemade chicken noodle soup is the perfect mix of easy, wholesome, and satisfying. It’s creamy yet light, and it’s quick to pull together using convenient rotisserie chicken and a handful of other simple ingredients.
Homemade Ham & Cheese Pockets
Make freezer-friendly ham and cheese pockets with my easy homemade dough recipe. I love these for a quick and easy lunch, dinner, or even breakfast. Have fun experimenting with your favorite fillings and add-ins!
Creamy Garlic Chicken & Vegetables
This is a family-favorite dinner, and I bet it will be a hit on your table, too! Tender chicken thighs get the pan-seared treatment before baking in an uber-flavorful creamy garlic pan sauce, alongside vibrant roasted vegetables. On the table in 45 minutes!
Homemade Flatbread Pizza Recipe
Pizza night from the comfort of your own home! Quicker, easier, and a little thinner than pizza, this homemade flatbread dough takes just about an hour from start to finish and is perfect for bread beginners.
Homemade Artisan Bread (4 Ingredients)
Homemade bread truly doesn’t get any easier. This artisan bread only requires 4 ingredients, doesn’t require any special pans or a mixer, there’s no kneading or complicated shaping involved, and most of the work is hands-off.
Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
Slow cooker meals for the win! This is tender and extra saucy honey teriyaki chicken that I love serving with rice and steamed vegetables, or sandwich-style on a hearty roll or bun.
Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
These popular chocolate chip cookies are EXTRA chewy thanks to melted butter, more brown sugar than white sugar, a touch of cornstarch, and an extra egg yolk. Plan ahead to make them for a special afternoon snack or lunch box treat.
Family-Favorite Rice Krispie Treats Recipe
For extra gooey and buttery rice krispie treats, use this recipe. Adding a little extra butter and marshmallow, plus a splash of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, makes all the difference. Who can resist this classic childhood treat?
Flourless Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Just 9 ingredients can turn into a batch of soft, chewy, perfectly thick flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies. These are a texture-lover’s dream and are naturally gluten free.
Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
Give your oven a break! I make these 7-ingredient peanut butter chocolate no-bakes more than any other cookie recipe on my website. The cookies are gluten free if using certified gluten-free oats.
Mini Animal Cracker Cookies
Turn a simple 8-ingredient sugar cookie recipe into homemade mini animal cracker cookies! These kid-favorite cookies are flavored with cinnamon and topped with icing and rainbow sprinkles. Little bakers love to help ice and sprinkle the cookies.
Drop Sugar Cookies With Sprinkles
These are soft, chewy, sprinkle-loaded drop sugar cookies with no rolling pin or cookie cutters required. Use your favorite sprinkles, or use seasonally colored sprinkles to celebrate different holidays throughout the year.
Iced Oatmeal Cookies
These iced oatmeal cookies are old-fashioned style with buttery soft centers, crisp chewy edges, and plenty of cozy spice flavor. They’re topped with a light coating of vanilla icing that sets over time, making cookies that are perfect for adding to lunch boxes.
There are so many favorites in the list above. What do you look for in back-to-school recipes?
Nut-Free Recipes
Here are all of my published nut-free recipes; some are included in the collection above.
Favorite Healthier Breakfast Ideas
I included a few above, and here are even more quick, easy, and healthy breakfast recipes.
