10 Dinner Recipes to Help You Get Back into the Swing of a Busy Schedule

With the school year starting back up, you may be on the hunt for some easy dinner recipes to make the transition back to the grind less stressful.

Here are 10 of the best recipes to consider for your dinner rotation heading into this busy time of the year.

Sheet Pan Parmesan-Dijon Chicken Thigh Dinner

Nothing can be easier than a sheet pan dinner on a busy weeknight. This parmesan-dijon chicken thigh dinner recipe makes the complete meal. Chicken thighs are coated with panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Baby potatoes and green beans cook up at the same time alongside the chicken. Once you have everything prepared and on the pan, it will only take about 30 minutes for everything to bake to perfection. As a bonus, you will also only have one pan to clean at the end of the meal.

BBQ Beef Pasta Skillet

This cheesy BBQ beef pasta skillet recipe is a meal that the whole family will love. Ground beef is mixed with red bell pepper, corn, and pasta and tossed with a BBQ beef broth base. The simple recipe comes together in just 30 minutes. If your family likes food with a kick to it, consider swapping out the cheddar cheese with pepper jack cheese. Or add some sliced jalapeños as garnish. You can also cut the fat by using ground turkey instead of beef. However you decide to customize this versatile recipe, it is sure to be a hit.

Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs

It does not get any easier or tastier than these pineapple teriyaki meatballs. The dish contains just five ingredients, including frozen meatballs, teriyaki sauce, green onions, garlic, and crushed pineapple. You can throw it all together in the slow cooker before leaving for the day, ensuring that your family has a hot meal waiting for them for dinner. Serve the meatballs over brown rice or over pasta along with a green salad for a complete meal.

One Pot Cheesy Turkey Taco Chili Mac

This one pot cheesy turkey taco chili mac is described as comfort in a bowl. The kid-friendly recipe delivers loads of protein and fiber while tasting delicious. Pasta shells are mixed with taco seasoning, beans, tomatoes with green chiles, and cheese. While the recipe calls for a homemade taco seasoning blend, you can also cut corners and use prepared seasoning. Serve this chili mac with a slice of cornbread to spice up your usual weekday dinner routine.

Easy Fish Tacos

For a lighter dinner that is packed with flavor, consider these easy fish tacos. Tilapia filets are topped with a seasoning blend made with cayenne pepper, garlic powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. It only takes a few minutes to cook the fish, making this a quick meal to throw together. The fish is stuffed into corn tortillas and topped with a homemade cabbage slaw. Garnish these beauties with fresh lime juice and cilantro. Or add some avocado for a nutritional boost. This recipe will definitely end up in your regular meal rotation.

Hot Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This recipe for hot chicken salad sandwiches is a great way to use up leftover chicken. You can also use any grocery store rotisserie chicken if you do not have leftovers on hand. The chicken is mixed with mayonnaise, sour cream, green onion, garlic salt, parsley, and the shredded cheese of your choice and spread on top of split French bread. After baking up for about 20 minutes, you will be able to indulge in this ooey-gooey dinner. Serve these hot sandwiches with a simple green salad or fresh fruit.

Easy Butter Chicken

You do not have to rely on expensive Indian takeout to enjoy the creamy taste of butter chicken. This easy butter chicken recipe can be made at home using a homemade sauce of butter, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and the appropriate spices. The Indian section of your local grocery store should offer the tandoori masala and the garam masala that give this recipe its authentic taste. Serve this recipe with basmati rice, roasted broccoli, and toasted naan bread. This recipe is a great introduction to Indian food for young children with developing taste buds.

Black Bean Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

These black bean stuffed sweet potatoes are the perfect dinner idea for either vegetarians or carnivores that want to go meatless for one night per week. The potatoes are bursting with flavor thanks to the tomato, cilantro, avocado, lime, and cayenne pepper. The bean mixture is stuffed into sweet potatoes. A drizzle made with coconut yogurt and lime juice brings all of the flavors together. This recipe is as nutritious as it is delicious.

One-Pan Beef & Broccoli

Because they cook up in one pan in a flash, stir fry dishes are a natural choice for those busy weeknights when school is back in session. This one-pan beef & broccoli recipe will become a staple in your meal rotation once you discover how easy it is to prepare. Be sure to cut your beef and broccoli into the same size of pieces to ensure even cooking. You can serve this stir fry over brown rice or quinoa for an added nutritional boost. Good beef choices for this recipe include flank steak or tri tip.

Instant Pot Vegetable Mac and Cheese

This is the ideal time of year to put that that instant pot to use. This instant pot vegetable mac and cheese is ready in just 30 minutes. The addition of frozen vegetables to this protein-packed mac and cheese provides more nutrition to your growing family. You can use any type of cheese or vegetables that you like in this customizable recipe. Once you master the learning curve on your instant pot, you will wonder why it took you so long to discover its magic.

You do not have to say goodbye to family dinners just because the craziness of back to school time is here. These 10 recipes will make it easy to gather together at the end of the day and swap stories around the dinner table.

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