15-Minute Dinners To Ease Back Into The School Year

You might not want to believe it, but it's happening! Summer is quickly coming to an end and the kids will be off to school, whether you're sending them back in person or homeschooling, in NO time. That means it's time to break the Instant Pot and slow cooker out of hibernation for easy plan-ahead meals.

It can seem impossible to whip up healthy and delicious meals on busy fall days, and for those afternoons where it just doesn't happen (hey, no judgment), having a collection of quick and easy dinner recipes up your sleeve is crucial. That's why we're hooking you up with these tempting 15-minute dinners that will totally save you once you're juggling all those after-school activities.

Watermelon-Peach Chilled Soup

When the heat of summer is still going strong, cool off with this soup recipe that features watermelon, peaches, cucumber, and lime juice. It's hydrating, refreshing, and will taste amazing after a long day at your desk (or at school). (via Brit + Co)

Quick And Delicious Elote Recipe

Your regular grilled corn gets an upgrade when you add mayo, garlic powder, cheese, and cayenne powder. Add a squeeze of lime and this 15-minute dinner will become a weeknight staple. (via Brit + Co)

15-Minute Spinach Penne With Pancetta

Everyone loves a wholesome plate of pasta for dinner, especially once temps start to drop, and this dish delivers that in a snap with leafy greens and mouthwatering pancetta. Add some Parmesan cheese on top for good measure. (via Girl Gone Gourmet)

Pan-Seared Chicken Breast With Mustard Cream Sauce

Serving tender chicken breasts smothered in a tangy Mustard Cream Sauce on a busy weeknight sounds like it would require some time travel, but this recipe gets it done so you can feed your clan and enjoy some down time. No need to pick one or the other. (via Wholesome Yum)

Easy Rosemary Garlic Beef Skewers

Paired with a tangy yogurt sauce, these juicy and tender beef skewers let you embrace the grill while hooking you up with a fuss-free dinner that is *perfect* for weeknights. Pair with tzatziki sauce, tomatoes, and red onions for a mix of flavors and temperatures. (via Wry Toast)

Honey Garlic Shrimp

Shrimp takes no time to cook and it tastes too good to pass up, therefore incorporating it into more weeknight meals is a must. This sweet and garlicky dish does it just right, and goes great on top of rice or noodles. (via Healthy Nibbles and Bits)

Baked Salmon With Garlic Cilantro Sauce

This salmon might look elaborate, but the herbaceous and flaky fillet is ready to dig into in minutes. Keep this recipe in your back pocket because if you make it once, you're going to want to make it again. (via The Mediterranean Dish)

Balsamic Chicken

Toss this chicken into a finger-lickin' marinade of balsamic vinegar, honey, and mustard before heading into work to set yourself up for a 15-minute wonder that calls for only seven ingredients — then high-five yourself. (via Pickled Plum)

Lemon Pappardelle With Basil and Kale Pesto

We will eat pasta at any meal, any day of the week. Ribbons of pappardelle are smothered in an earthy basil and kale pesto that brings you a plateful of freshness. Our favorite part about this dish is that you get big flavor with little effort. (via Anna Banana)

Chicken Piccata

This lemony and briny Italian classic is crave-worthy and can be made on a weeknight, hassle-free. Serve it with a side salad to cut back on your cooking time. (via Pickled Plum)

Super Tender Beef With Broccoli Noodle Stir-Fry

The next time you want stir-fry, skip the takeout. This beef and broccoli dish is packed with a variety of healthy goodies and tons of flavor, and you can make it in less time than it'll take you to hop in the car and pick up! That's a win-win if you ask us. (via My Gorgeous Recipes)

Quick and Easy Maple Glazed Pork Chops

These sweet and salty glazed chops are worthy of Sunday dinner, but with minimal ingredients and the fact that you only need 15 minutes to make them, why not bring the recipe to your weeknights? Splurge on good maple syrup. It's worth it. (via Sprinkles and Sprouts)

Buffalo Taco Shrimps

No matter how busy your weekdays look, you can still honor Taco Tuesday with these easy peasy Buffalo shrimp tacos. One of our favorite combos is buffalo and ranch, so feel free to drizzle a bit of the white stuff on top. (via Whitney Bond)

Creamy Mushroom and Thyme Pasta

A creamy vegetarian mushroom pasta makes for a *perfect* cozy weeknight dinner, whether it’s Meatless Monday or not. This one is so tasty that even your most adamant meal lovers will want a bite. (via Easy Pasta Sauces)

Garlic Butter Brazilian Steak

Most people save their steak for special dinners or date night, but when you can bring a tender, garlicky, and buttery slab of beef to your table in 15 minutes, well that’s a special occasion within itself. (via Rasa Malaysia)

Follow us on Pinterest for more back to school recipe inspo!

This article has been updated from a previous post.