17 Easy Back-to-School Dinner Recipes

When is the last time you sat down to eat dinner as a family? As a kid in the 90s, I remember pausing my homework or coming in from playing outside to sit around the kitchen table with my parents and sister every night. These days, it seems like everyone’s after-school schedules are so packed with activities that it’s hard to coordinate a time to eat together. Does this ring true for anyone?

Back-to-school is a time of transition for pretty much everybody. Even if you don’t have kids, you can feel the shift in energy. It’s getting dark earlier, which makes the days seem shorter. Chilly evenings hint at the first signs of fall. Oh, and Kohl’s already has Christmas décor on sale (what the heck?!) When you get home from work, it’s tempting to settle into the couch, pour a glass of wine, and order a vegan pizza. Or, if you’re like me, eat an avocado, some trail mix, and a spoonful of peanut butter and call it dinner.

While I’m all about taking shortcuts in the kitchen, eating bits and pieces from my fridge is only going to cut it for a day or two before I start craving an actual meal. When I do, I look for simple vegan recipes that don’t require a million ingredients or several hours of my time. As we all adjust to a new season and a new school year, I wanted to share some easy back-to-school dinner recipes you can make with a handful of ingredients and prep in 30 minutes or less.

I promise, there are no complex recipes in this roundup. These dishes are super hearty and comforting, quick to make, and sure to please everyone at your dinner table. Bonus: a lot of them pack great in a lunchbox the next day!

(If you want to jump right in, here are the recipes).

Plantain & Roasted Red Pepper Quesadillas | Well Vegan
Homemade Spaghetti O’s | Strength & Sunshine
Vegan BBQ Chickpea Burgers | Sipping on Soy
My Best Vegan Mac ‘n Cheese with Broccoli | Happy Healthy Life
Vegan Cauliflower Leek Casserole | Vegan Family Recipes
Vegan Pumpkin Chili | Veggies Save the Day
Mediterranean Pasta with Roasted Peppers & Artichokes | Veggie Inspired
Instant Pot Mexican Quinoa Bowl | Where You Get Your Protein
Vegan Chickpea Taco Salad | Wee Little Vegans
Vegan Butter Chicken | Broke Foodies
Lemon One Pot Pasta | V. Nutrition
Vegan Tom Kha Gai Ramen | Rabbits and Wolves
Easy Vegan Buddha Bowl | Beautiful Ingredient
Rosemary Mushroom Tart | Vegan Family Recipes
Vegan Cauliflower Lentil Loaf | Strength & Sunshine
Vegan Chick’n & Spinach Pizza | Sipping on Soy
Vegan Pulled Portobello Tacos | Elephantastic Vegan