25 Make-Ahead Recipes for a New School Year

Anytime a new season rolls in, I go on a hunt for new recipes. I’d rarely cook the same meal twice if it were up to me!  My family, though, likes to see repeats.  Finding a few new meals gives me the variety I crave while keeping repeats on the menu for them.

A hectic start to the school year + fall sports seasons means the recipes I want are fast, low-prep, portable or make-ahead.  All of these recipes fit at least one of those requirements!

RELATED 30 Make-Ahead Meals That are Quick & Easy and 21 Spring Meals for Busy Families

Recipes for Breakfast

1. Apple Pie Overnight Oats {My kids warm them for about 10 seconds.}
2. Cheesy Egg Puffs {Reheats well.}
3. Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread Muffins  {We usually skip the dried fruit.}
4. Blueberry Pie Oatmeal
5. Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes {I freeze these to reheat in the toaster.}

Lunch Ideas

1. Chicken Carbonara 
2. Enchilada Pie  {Goes together quickly if you use pre-made sauce.}
3. Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders
4. Pizza Domes {Freeze well!}
5. Sesame Chicken Pasta {A great make-ahead that stays good in the fridge for days.}

15 Dinner Recipes

1. Barbecue Chicken Sliders
2. Beef Tips & Noodles {These can be made on the stovetop, in a slow-cooker or in an Instant Pot.}
3. Chile-Lime Chicken Kabos {A long-time family favorite.}
4. Cauliflower Mac-and-cheese
5. Cilantro Lime Fajita Kabobs {This works well with beef, too.}
   
6. Enchilada Stuffed Shells
7. French Dip Sandwiches
8. Instant Pot Bolognese {Freezes well & keeps well for leftover lunches.}
9. Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Soup
10. Kalua Pork {Adaptable to the slow cooker, oven or Instant Pot, this is a family favorite.  I serve it as is or, to mix it up, with barbecue sauce or finished with some south-of-the-border seasonings for tacos.}
    
11. Latin Pork Kabobs
12. Mini freezer lasagnas
13. Pizza-stuffed shells {Very adaptable to your tastes, can be frozen.}
14. Skinny Enchilada Pie (Adapts easily to whatever type of meat you want to use, homemade sauce)
15. Stuffed Pepper Soup (Crockpot or stove top)

A few bonus recipes

Hot Cocoa Mix

Apple Snack Cake {We cut back the sugar by half.}

Jumbo Brownie cookies {Taste great, freeze well, fun to pack for homeschool outings.}

Slow-cooker apple cider {My kids far prefer it to store-bought.  We use apple cores & peels, so it very inexpensive to make.}