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Easy Back-to-School Meal Ideas

September 5, 2024 by Marilena Leavitt Leave a Comment

tomato and ricotta filo tart As we transition slowly from summer to fall, we are easing into a different pace of living and a more structured routine that often revolves around back-to-school schedules.

If you are looking for some inspiration for easy back-to-school meal ideas to add to the rotation of family-style dinners, you are in the right place:  in this post, I share some of my favorite tried-and-true recipes for protein-rich meals, pasta dinners, chicken dinners, one-pot vegetarian meals and hearty salads. With a little planning many of these recipes will make enough leftovers to enjoy again later in the week!

I hope these recipes will help with your planning of easy, fuss-free weeknight meals that everyone will love.  After all, at the end of a busy day, nothing brings everyone together than enjoying a delicious, home-made meal!

15 Easy Back-to-School Meal Ideas

Farfalle with Sautéed Tomatoes, Zucchini and Basil

Pasta with tomatoes, zucchini and basil

One-Pot Greek Orzo Pasta with Tomatoes and Feta

greek orzo with feta

Easy Spaghetti with Lemon-Garlic Shrimp

Spaghetti with garlic-lemon shrimp.sq

Greek Summer Roasted Vegetable Medley

Greek summer roasted vegetables

Easy Stovetop Frittata with Fresh Herbs

frittata with herbs

End-of-Summer Panzanella Salad (Tuscan Tomato & Bread Salad)

end of summer panzanella salad

Delicious Tomato and Ricotta Filo Tart

tomato and ricotta filo tart

Easiest Savory Zucchini and Feta Filo Pie

filo pie with zucchini and feta

Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad

Greek grilled chicken salad

Easy Chicken Milanese Topped with Arugula Salad

easy chicken milanese with arugula salad

Crsispy Oven-Baked Parmesan Chicken with Cool Ranch Sauce

Crispy Oven-Baked Parmesan Tenders

Weeknight Honey-Dijon Chicken Cutlets

Easy honey-dijon chicken cutlets

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Grilled pork tenderloin with sage and garlic

Pan-Seared Cod with Lemon, Olives and Capers

Easy pan-seared cod with lemon, olives and capers

One-Pan Sausage, Pepper and Onion Braise

sausage, pepper and onion braise

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Filed Under: Recipe Roundups Tagged With: easy back to school meals, Easy weeknight meals, easy weeknight recipes, family dinners, Mediterranean recipes, quick weeknight recipes

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Marilena Leavitt

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Easy Cherry Strudel with filo pastry - a delicious Easy Cherry Strudel with filo pastry - a delicious fruit dessert that can be made ahead of time and is ready to enjoy in under an hour! 😋A box of filo pastry, cherries (fresh or frozen) and a couple of basic baking ingredients is all you need to make this perfect, not too sweet treat! 
This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🍒
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in profile & on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#dessert #fillofactory #filopastry #valentinesdessert #fruitdessert
Braised Fennel and Sausage Filo Tart, a super flav Braised Fennel and Sausage Filo Tart, a super flavorful, savory dish that pairs classic Mediterranean flavors with a light, crispy filo pastry base that is easy to assemble! So, so good! 😋This new recipe is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in profile & on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#Savorytart #fillofactory #filopastry #fennel  #Mediterraneanrecipe
Classic Mediterranean, vegetarian meals: easy, ad Classic Mediterranean, vegetarian meals:  easy, adaptable recipes, using simple & nutrient dense ingredients!  Perfect for weeknight meals, these recipes are tasty, super flavorful and very satisfying! 😋🌿🥣
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✨Recipes are linked in bio ✨New post on the blog: ➡️Marilenaskitchen.com 👩🏻‍🍳
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#mediterraneanrecipes #healthyrecipes #Greek #familymeals #vegetarianrecipes
Traditional Greek roasted potatoes! A classic Gree Traditional Greek roasted potatoes! A classic Greek recipe for incredibly tasty potatoes with just a few ingredients! 🥔 🍋 🧄 🌿 The potatoes come out of the oven golden brown on the outside and soft, tender and creamy inside! So good! 😋
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✨Ingredients:✨
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* 2½ lbs. medium-sized potatoes
* ⅓ cup Greek extra virgin olive oil
* 3-4 medium garlic cloves, peeled 
* 1½ lemons (zest and juice)
* 1 tsp. dried Greek oregano
* 1 tsp. sea salt
* ½ tsp. freshly ground pepper
* 1 tsp. mustard 
* ½ cup hot water
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 ✨Full recipe linked in bio and on the blog: Marilenaskitchen.com 👩🏻‍🍳✨
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#vegetarian #roastedpotatoes #greekpotatoes #greekrecipe mediterraneanrecipes #potatoes
Some of my favorite holiday baking recipes: Greek Some of my favorite holiday baking recipes: Greek almond shortbread cookies (kourabiedes), chocolate peppermint bark, honey-drenched orange & warm spice cookies (melomakarona), soft almond macaroons (amygdalota) and many more treats! 🎄✨🎄✨
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✨New post linked in bio and in stories! ✨
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#christmascookies #holidaybaking #greekcookies #melomakarona #kourabiedes
Artichoke and Graviera Cheese Filo Puffs - the per Artichoke and Graviera Cheese Filo Puffs - the perfect bite-sized appetizers for all your holiday entertaining needs! Greek Graviera cheese, artichoke hearts and a box of filo pastry shells are all you need to make this flavorful and fuss-free appetizer in minutes!
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✨A new recipe in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory ✨ Recipe linked in profile! 👩🏻‍🍳✨
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#appetizers #holidayappetizers #homebaking @fillofactory #filopastry #artichokes #graviera #easyrecipe #makeahead #cocktails  #fingerfood
Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Crispy Filo Topping - a g Easy Turkey Pot Pie with Crispy Filo Topping - a great way to repurpose those turkey leftovers and transform them into an entirely new meal! 😋 This is a lighter alternative to the usual crust you would find on a traditional chicken pot pie and is much easier to assemble! 🍁This is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in my profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#turkeypotpie #filopastry @fillofactory #cookingwithfilo #thanksgivingleftovers
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🍂 New blog post with all recipes is linked in bio! 🍂 
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#thanksgivingrecipes #favoriterecipes #turkeyrecipe #thanksgivingsides #thanksgivingdinner #familyrecipes
Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Fennel, a Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Caramelized Fennel, a surprisingly easy and uncomplicated fall dish to make! 🧡
A flavorful filling of caramelized mushrooms, onions and fresh herbs compliment so well the lean protein of the tenderloin! 😋🧡
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🍂Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 🍂👩🏻‍🍳
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#easydinners #porktenderloinrecipe #fennel #falldinner #recipe #homecooking #comfortfood #healthyfood #dinnerathome #mediterraneanfoods #proteinmeals 
#weeknightmeals #buzzfeedfood #feedyoursoul #dailyfoodfeed #marilenaskitchen
Some of my favorite squash recipes to make this fa Some of my favorite squash recipes to make this fall: 🍂Roasted butternut squash, apple & shallot soup,🍂hearty fall salads,🍂creamy risotto,🍂crispy filo strudel, 🍂hearty breakfast and, 🍂yummy desserts! All seasonal and so delicious! 😋🧡
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. 🍂Get the recipe roundup in my profile and on my blog: [Marilenaskitchen.com]🍂👩🏻‍🍳
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#fallrecipes #squashrecipes #mediterranean #comfortfood #realfood #eattherainbow #healthyeating #homemade #squash #dinner #recipes #marilenaskitchen
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—> 👩🏻‍🍳 Recipe linked in my profile, you can find it on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 
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#kataifi #peardessert #falldesserts #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Holding on to summer just a little longer with thi Holding on to summer just a little longer with this easy peach and blackberry filo galette! 🍑 A delicious, almost effortless fruit dessert with layers of crispy filo, topped with sweet peaches and tart blackberries! 😋 This is a collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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Recipe linked in my profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳
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#fruitdessert #peachdessert #peaches #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Summer ruffled filo custard pie with juicy nectari Summer ruffled filo custard pie with juicy nectarines 🍑 A fun and easy recipe to make with crispy filo pastry, an aromatic vanilla custard and slices of nectarines or other stone fruit, tucked in between the creases of filo.  So, so good! 😋🧡🍑
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.🧡A new recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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🧡Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳

#summerdesserts #fruitdesserts #baking @fillofactory #bakingtime #sweettreats #bakingfromscratch  #bakingwithfruit #filo #fillofactory #bakedwithlove #dessert #fromscratch #thefeedfeed #foodblogfeed @thefeedfeed #comfortfood #huffposttaste #gastronomia #eatrealfood  #photooftheday #yummyfood #easybake #onthetable #foodphotography #marilenaskitchen
Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice, flav Greek stuffed tomatoes and peppers with rice, flavorful aromatics and plenty of extra virgin olive oil - one of my favorite summer dishes, so delicious, especially when served with roasted potatoes and feta cheese on the side! 💛🍅 🫑☀️#gemista
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✨Recipe linked in bio! 👩🏻‍🍳🍷
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#greekvegetarian #stuffedtomatoes #vegetarian #mediterraneandiet  #greekcuisine #greekfoodblogger #foodfromgreece  #mygreektable #greekcooking #mediterraneanliving #huffposttaste #yahoofood #bonappetitmag #buzzfeedfood #epicurious #yummy #feedyoursoul #zagat #dailyfoodfeed #saveurmag #thefeedfeed #appetitejournal #marilenaskitchen
Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Strudel - a delici Mediterranean Roasted Vegetable Strudel - a delicious treat with layers of crispy filo pastry, a flavorful filling of seasonal roasted vegetables, plenty of fresh herbs and cheeses! 😋 So, so good! 🥕🍆🍠🧄🌶️ 
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🧡A new recipe, in collaboration with my friends at @fillofactory 🧡
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🧡Recipe linked in profile and on my blog [Marilenaskitchen.com] 👩🏻‍🍳
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#savorybaking #filo #filopastry #filopastry #strudel #appetizer @fillofactory #bakingtime #fromscratch #yummydish #mediterraneanrecipes  #vegetarianappetizers #thefeedfeed #mushrooms #bakingathome #feedfeedbaking #foodblogfeed #fillofactory #makeitdelicious #foodstyling #myfoodphotography #buzzfeedfood #buzzfeast #photooftheday #yummyfood #realfood #eattheworld  #foodphotography #foodiesfeed #heresmyfood #thebakefeedfeed #marilenaskitchen
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