Back to school means back to “what’s for dinner?”
Once school is back in session and calendars start filling up again, figuring out what to make every night can feel like one more decision you don't have time to make.
My favorite solution? Keep a few easy, family-friendly recipes in rotation and seasonings in the pantry that do most of the flavor work for you.
I've pulled together three easy back-to-school dinner ideas that are perfect for busy weeknights. They're simple, full of flavor, and don't require pulling half the spice cabinet out to make dinner taste really good.
Consider three dinner decisions already made.
1. 30-Minute Shepherd’s Pie
Cozy comfort food for a busy weeknight.
This is one of those dinners that tastes like you put way more effort into it than you actually did. A savory beef and veggie filling, creamy mashed potatoes, and plenty of cozy, herby flavor, all on the table in about 30 minutes. Basically, what weeknight dreams are made of!
The shortcut is Herban Legend. Instead of measuring out a handful of herbs and spices, I use one blend and call it done. With garlic, onion, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, parsley and more already perfectly balanced, it's an easy way to give a quick shepherd's pie all that cozy, savory flavor.
Get the 30-Minute Shepherd’s Pie recipe →
2. Cheeseburger Bowls
Burger night, made weeknight easy.
Seasoned ground beef, crispy roasted potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheddar and a seriously good burger sauce make this one a family favorite. Set out the toppings and let everyone build their own. It's always a win on a busy weeknight.
Steak It Easy gives the beef (and even the sauce!) all that savory burger flavor without reaching for a bunch of different seasonings. And despite the name, Steak It Easy does a whole lot more than steak. Burgers, ground beef, potatoes, veggies... this is one you'll reach for again and again.
Get the Cheeseburger Bowls recipe →
3. Marry Me Chicken Meatballs & Pasta
Marry Me chicken meatballs and pasta with creamy sun-dried tomato sauce
Here's your permission to use the store-bought meatballs.
Add them to a creamy sun-dried tomato pasta and you've got a dinner that feels special without adding more work to your weeknight.
Little Eataly takes it from easy to really good. Tomato powder is the secret ingredient in this blend, adding a savory richness that makes the sauce taste like it's been simmering all day.
It's exactly the kind of shortcut I love: fewer ingredients to measure, less time spent figuring out how to season everything, and a dinner that still tastes homemade.
Get the Marry Me Chicken Meatballs & Pasta recipe →
Make Weeknight Dinner Easier
Easy weeknight dinners don't have to mean boring food.
Start with a recipe you know your family will eat, keep the ingredients simple, and let a really good seasoning blend handle the flavor.
That's exactly why I love having Herban Legend, Steak It Easy, and Little Eataly in the pantry. One jar replaces the handful of herbs and spices I'd otherwise be measuring individually, making it much easier to get a flavorful dinner on the table when the week gets busy.
The recipes tell you what to make. The seasonings do the flavor work. You just get dinner on the table.
Shop all Mustard Seed Seasonings →
Happy cooking!
Megan