Kitchen Stories: 5 Easy Back to School Dinner Ideas

In the spirit of all things “Back to School” and the hassle that is MENU PLANNING (check out my Menu Planning post here), I thought I would share what I’m making this week with 5 Easy Back to School Dinner Ideas.

We just returned from a week in Dallas for a work trip, this week has been a double transition. Getting back into our flow of out at home rhythms AND starting homeschool this week. We’ve all been a little out out of sorts, but having a solid menu for the week and easy dinners helps all of us.

5 Easy Back to School Dinner Ideas

Weekly Menu Plan:

• Grilled Brats, Coleslaw, Chips & Honeycrisp Apples with Caramel Dip
  • This couldn’t be easier, I grabbed a package of beef brats from Whole Foods, you can add hotdog buns, ketchup, mustard, etc. Josh grilled them up for me and I caramelized some onions. Coleslaw from a kit or make your own homemade (I used this Coleslaw RECIPE) and a bag of chips. Since we were celebrating the first day of school, I sliced some apples and melted some caramels with a splash of cream to make a dip,

• Buffalo Turkey Meatballs, Sweet Potato Fries & Coleslaw
  • I like to prep these and keep in the freezer using this Buffalo Meatball RECIPE. I use a buffalo sauce from Whole Foods, but she has a recipe for her own included. Slice and toss sweet potatoes with olive oil and salt (and cinnamon if you like!) and roast. Or use a bag of frozen sweet potato fries to keep it super simple. Serve with leftover coleslaw.
• Tacos, Black Beans and Avocado
  • I have been loving this RECIPE for Cuban Picadillo with olives and capers. You can serve it over rice, but I like to make a taco with Siete Tortillas. Simmer canned black beans with a 1/2 cup of salsa and sprinkle cheese over each serving. I added sliced avocado to each place, but you can add tortilla chips & guacamole and any toppings as you like.
• Greek Grilled Chicken Thighs, Quinoa Tabboule & French Fries
  • Using this RECIPE for the chicken thighs. I love a fresh salad on the side, this gluten free tabbouleh looks amazing, but you can add any salad your family prefers. I try to keep a bag of french fries in my freezer for emergencies, or you can make your own, no pressure.
• Pizza & Salad Night
  • Friday is our pizza & a movie night. I love having this standing date each week, it’s an easy and celebratory meal that we all look forward to. You can make your own pizza (so much fun!), order in or bake up a couple of frozen pizzas. I started adding a fresh cauliflower crust pizza to my weekly grocery order, just knowing that I have it in the fridge and ready to go is a relief. Add a tossed salad kit or a veggie tray with carrots, celery and ranch dressing on the side.

So tell me, what are you cooking this week?