I Swear By These 25 Back To School Recipes For My Kids

ByMandy

Getting kids out the door is already a sport, so meals need to be quick without looking thrown together. 25 back-to-school ideas keep things moving without anyone complaining about eating the same thing again. The trick is mixing up what shows up so they think it’s all new. If mornings had a scoreboard, this system would be winning.

Close-up of a Veggie Burger Slider with a fried patty, sliced cucumber, shredded purple cabbage, greens, and mayonnaise in a bun. In the background, a blurred portion of another slider and a dish are visible.
Veggie Sliders. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins

A plate of blueberry muffins with crumb topping, arranged in a pile.
Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

Getting the kids out the door is much easier when I offer Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins because nobody argues about breakfast. They think it’s a treat so muffin trays empty out before anyone asks for something else. These always get packed in lunchboxes for an extra snack. My kids ask for them after school almost every week now.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Cheesecake Muffins

Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

A Copycat Chipotle burrito bowl, filled with rice, fajita veggies, corn salsa, tortilla chips. and topped with a lime wedge.
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Packing lunch is simple when I use Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl since my kids feel like they’re getting restaurant food but at home. This one makes them actually look forward to lunchtime. It stays fresh in a lunchbox through busy days. Sometimes they even ask me to make extra for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl

Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

A bowl of vibrant pasta salad with penne, cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced cucumbers, red onions, and a drizzle of dressing.
Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Making something different for lunch keeps things interesting so I bring out Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies during busy weeks. The kids like putting it in their own lunch containers. Leftovers turn into a quick side for dinner. Everyone ends up finishing what they pack which saves me time on clean up.
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad with Grilled Veggies

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Close-up of three chocolate muffins in brown paper wrappers, topped with chocolate chips, with part of a bowl of chocolate chips visible in the background.
Chocolate Chip Muffins. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Snack time is less of a battle with Chocolate Chip Muffins in our kitchen because the kids always grab one right away. Friends always ask to take some home after playdates. It’s popular enough that I make bigger batches when sports practices start. Muffins like these became our go-to after a few school days in a row.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Muffins

Egg Bites

Egg Bites on a board with a little parsley on top.
Egg Bites. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Mornings get less stressful with Egg Bites since the kids like the small shape and easy grab-and-go idea. I never see leftovers no matter how many I make ahead. These show up for lunch or snack and everyone is fine with that. My oldest even makes them disappear when hosting friends.
Get the Recipe: Egg Bites

Banana Bread

Close-up of a sliced banana bread loaf, showcasing its moist, textured interior with visible banana chunks.
Banana Bread. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Sometimes weekday mornings run late but Banana Bread is easy to offer as a quick fix everyone can agree on. Kids finish every slice without leaving crumbs on the table. Lunchboxes come home empty which makes me happy. Even their friends ask for a slice when they visit.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread

Funeral Potatoes

Close-up of a creamy, golden-brown macaroni and cheese dish with a crunchy breadcrumb topping reminiscent of comforting funeral potatoes. A spoon is partially submerged in the cheese sauce.
Funeral Potatoes. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Casseroles work best when the kids actually want seconds so I use Funeral Potatoes for dinner on extra busy nights. There is nothing left for lunch the next day because everyone keeps coming back for more. It’s a tradition now in my house to ask for this after hard days. This keeps coming back to our menu without complaints.
Get the Recipe: Funeral Potatoes

Chocolate Chip Cookies

A hand holding a chocolate chip cookie on a cooling rack.
Chocolate Chip Cookies. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Nothing cheers up a tired group faster than a tray of Chocolate Chip Cookies on the table after school. Someone always sneaks the last cookie without asking. They never last through the next morning’s breakfast either. I just plan to make more every week.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Corn Fritters

A stack of corn fritters topped with a dollop of cream and chopped green onions, served on a plate with a bowl of dipping sauce nearby.
Corn Fritters. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Sometimes kids trade food at school so I like to pack Corn Fritters since they’re always requested by their friends too. These don’t ever come back in lunchboxes so I know they work. My youngest asks for them at dinner if there are any left. One batch never seems like enough.
Get the Recipe: Corn Fritters

Cheese Quesadilla

A person lifts a cheesy quesadilla slice from a wooden board. Nearby are bowls of guacamole and salsa on a light-colored table.
Cheese Quesadilla. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Some weeks don’t leave much time for planning so I stick to Cheese Quesadilla for a quick meal that never gets old. Kids like folding them up and dipping at the table. No one complains when these hit their lunch or dinner plate. I keep them in the mix for every busy stretch.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Quesadilla

Zucchini Muffins

Close-up of several zucchini muffins on a plate, with one muffin split in half to show its moist, textured interior.
Zucchini Muffins. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

I knew school snacks would get easier when Zucchini Muffins started disappearing from the kitchen by midday. My kids like sharing with their classmates and always want extra. No lunchbox comes home with crumbs left over. Next time I’ll bake a double batch to keep everyone happy.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Muffins

Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown casserole being served.
Hashbrown Casserole. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Easy dinner nights call for Hashbrown Casserole since there are never any leftovers for the fridge. Kids like scooping it out by themselves after sports. Sometimes I pack it for the next day’s snack if there’s anything left. This recipe never lasts long enough to get old.
Get the Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole

Sheet Pan Pancakes

Three rectangular slices of baked fruit-studded cake, topped with powdered sugar, are stacked on a white plate.
Sheet Pan Pancakes. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Breakfast turns into a group event when I make Sheet Pan Pancakes since everyone gets to pick their favorite piece. Packing leftovers is simple for lunch or snack the next day. No arguments start when these are on the menu. Plates stay clean and everyone eats more.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Pancakes

Pinwheel Sandwiches

Close-up of several tortilla pinwheel wraps filled with various ingredients including spinach, cream cheese, tomatoes, and other vegetables, arranged neatly on a white surface.
Pinwheel Sandwiches. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Mornings are less rushed with Pinwheel Sandwiches because they are so easy to pack for everyone. School lunches trade quickly when these are involved. Lunchboxes come back empty every time. These have become a regular request before practice or club meetings.
Get the Recipe: Pinwheel Sandwiches

Blueberry Muffins

A close-up of a blueberry muffin with a bite taken out, showing the moist interior and whole blueberries; other muffins and loose blueberries are in the background.
Blueberry Muffins. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Sometimes my kids want something sweet so I keep Blueberry Muffins on hand for any snack emergency. These go from breakfast to after-school snack without a problem. Friends always grab for these first out of the snack bin. Not a single muffin ever makes it to tomorrow.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Muffins

Corn Chowder

A close-up of a hearty potato and corn chowder with diced vegetables and a dollop of sour cream, garnished with fresh parsley.
Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

When homework piles up fast bowls of Corn Chowder are all my kids want for a simple dinner. Everyone finishes their bowl so leftovers never stick around. Lunch is sorted the next day if I make enough. Ask my family about their top soup; this one wins easiest.
Get the Recipe: Corn Chowder

Waffles

Freshly made waffles on a plate with strawberries.
Waffles. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Long days get easier when there are extra Waffles in the freezer for any meal. My kids sometimes use them like bread for new kinds of sandwiches. Those waffles disappear by breakfast without fail. I’ve learned to hide a few for myself or I miss out.
Get the Recipe: Waffles

Chickpea Nuggets

A plate of chickpea nuggets with a bowl of sauce.
Chickpea Nuggets. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Finding recipes that don’t get traded during lunch is tough but Chickpea Nuggets always get eaten first. These are great for after-school snacks before activities too. No one asks for anything different when they’re available. I add them to the menu again every month.
Get the Recipe: Chickpea Nuggets

Best Zucchini Bread

Sliced zucchini bread on a white surface, showing a moist interior with visible green flecks of zucchini.
Best Zucchini Bread. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Quick snacks that please everyone are rare so I rely on Best Zucchini Bread for breakfast or snack. My kids ask to take some in their lunch every chance they get. No leftovers make this one worth repeating week after week. Slices disappear as soon as they’re cool.
Get the Recipe: Best Zucchini Bread

Almond Milk

A glass of almond milk sits on a table next to jars containing whole almonds and other ingredients.
Almond Milk. Photo credit: Two City Vegans.

Family mornings turn smooth when I pour out cold Almond Milk because my kids like it better than other drinks. Cereal bowls empty out quickly. I have to plan for an extra batch by midweek every time. Nobody leaves cups unfinished around here.
Get the Recipe: Almond Milk

Pizza Bagels

Pizza bagels on parchment paper, one with a bite out of it and a jar of BBQ sauce nearby.
Pizza Bagels. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Hot lunch requests happen a lot in my house and nothing works better than Pizza Bagels for hungry kids. Their friends start asking for them at get-togethers too. Every bagel gets eaten before snack time ends. These have a spot on our menu every month.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Bagels

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

A stack of four fluffy pancakes topped with fresh raspberries, pear slices, and a drizzle of syrup.
Cottage Cheese Pancakes. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Rushed mornings are better when breakfast is something like Cottage Cheese Pancakes because the kids eat without complaints. Even when we make too many someone grabs extra later for snack. These never go to waste in my house. I started freezing them for super busy weeks.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Lentil Soup

A hearty bowl of savory lentil soup, beautifully garnished with fresh cilantro, a swirl of cream, and an aromatic blend of spices.
Lentil Soup. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Serving Lentil Soup for dinner is the trick for getting everyone to eat well without complaints on a busy night. I fill up thermoses for a warm lunch the next day. Leftovers do not last long when the weather is chilly. My kids keep asking me to make more.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup

Rhubarb Muffins

Close-up of three muffins with crumbly streusel topping, each wrapped in white parchment paper, arranged on a wooden surface.
Rhubarb Muffins. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Baking Rhubarb Muffins keeps the snack routine from getting boring since it feels different from the usual sweets. My kids get excited to share these with friends who haven’t tried them. By the end of the week every single one is gone. Next time I’ll plan for two batches.
Get the Recipe: Rhubarb Muffins

Veggie Sliders

Close-up of a Veggie Burger Slider with a fried patty, sliced cucumber, shredded purple cabbage, greens, and mayonnaise in a bun. In the background, a blurred portion of another slider and a dish are visible.
Veggie Sliders. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Small bites win with kids so I keep Veggie Sliders handy for dinner or packed lunches. They never get traded by my kids at school. These are easy enough to eat on the move or before after-school activities. Even picky eaters eat every single one.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Sliders

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