6 Easy Back-to-School BBQ Dinner Ideas
Back to school means your schedule is about to get a lot more hectic. Welcome to another nine months of waking up too early in the morning and preparing lunch in limited amounts of time. Don’t forget that you’ll have to prepare dinner later in the day, too!
It does sound stressful, but don’t fret — your grill has got you covered. When it comes to easy back-to-school meals, grilling is the answer, and BBQ is your best friend.
With these six back-to-school dinner ideas, prepping lunch and dinner will be a total breeze. You’ll be able to cook up drool-worthy meals with minimal effort and less time. So, fire up that grill and get ready to create these six super easy back-to-school meals for the whole family!
1. Grilled Pizza Recipes that the Family Will Love
Who doesn’t love a cheesy pizza? Pizza night is, perhaps, everyone’s favorite dinner night. Instead of ordering the same old pizza for takeaway, why not make your own pizza on your grill? Aside from enjoying scrumptious pizza, you can easily pack leftovers for your kids to bring to school the next day. Everyone knows, especially kids, that next-day pizza is even better!
Here are four pizza recipes that are great as back-to-school meals when you’re tight on time:
Five Cheese Pizza with Stuffed Crust
Any pizza will feel naked without a generous helping of cheese, and this pizza has five varieties to satisfy all the cheese lovers in the family! Enjoy a perfectly grilled crust brushed with garlic butter and stuffed with stringy mozzarella cheese that the kids will surely enjoy. This pizza is topped with tomato sauce, generous servings of grated mozzarella, cheddar, Monterey Jack, Havarti, and parmesan. A fine sprinkle of parsley finishes it off for a herbed twist.
Ready for an absolutely cheesy back-to-school meal? Go on and try this BBQ Five Cheese Pizza with Stuffed Crust recipe!
Vegetarian Pizza and Meat Lovers Pizza
Can’t decide if you want to prepare healthy back-to-school meals, or if you want to indulge in a meaty and cheesy delight after a tiring day? With a Napoleon BBQ grill, you can easily do both. Preparing back-to-school meals, such as vegetarian pizza, is a fun way to make your kids crave veggies. Get creative and include toppings such as mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, onions, and even eggplants for a smoky flavor. If you’re feeling something a bit heartier, a classic Meat Lovers pizza with pancetta, prosciutto, pepperoni, chorizo, bacon, and ground beef will surely hit the spot!
Try this BBQ Meat Lover Pizza and Vegetarian Pizza recipe when you want to add range to your back-to-school meals.
Flammekueche: Alsatian Pizza with Onions and Bacon
Your busy schedule doesn’t have to hinder you from being creative and experimental in the kitchen. Nestled on the border of France and Germany, the Alsatian region provides some of the most memorable dining experiences. This pizza made with flat dough, fresh cheese, bacon, and onions is a mouthwatering example. Grilled to crispy perfection, this Flammekueche will make you want to explore more European flavors!
Get creative and try this Flammekueche Pizza recipe today!
2. Rotisserie Roasted Chicken with Basket Potatoes
Easy back-to-school meals may be quicker to make, but putting the time aside beforehand to cook up an entire roast chicken is a much more rewarding dining experience. Not to mention the number of leftovers for roast chicken sandwiches or flavorful chicken soup the next day! With simple seasonings, this recipe packs a big flavor that will make everyone reach for second servings. Your grill will take care of all the hard work, as all you need to do is season well, cut the potatoes, and wait for the magic to happen.
3. Grilled Chicken Salad
Your favorite protein paired with a salad! You can’t go wrong with some deliciously seasoned grilled chicken. Instead of the usual mashed potatoes, pair it with some greens to boost your family’s immune system right before the colder months arrive. Pick crisp, fresh salad staples such as romaine lettuce, cucumbers, kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes. A greek dressing made of feta cheese, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and oregano will complement your salad with a zesty, creamy pop!
Try this Grilled Chicken Salad recipe for a balanced dinner. Make extra salad servings and pack leftovers in a divided container for an easy and healthy back-to-school lunch the next day.
4. Tandoori Chicken Skewers
Skewers are a great lunch-able type of dish that’s easy to pack with dips and flatbreads the next day. Whip up these Tandoori Chicken Skewers without a traditional tandoor, and use your BBQ without losing any flavor. This recipe hits close to the authentic version in all other aspects, and the smoky char from your grill can even enhance the different layers of taste. Serve with pillowy naan bread, fragrant rice, and cucumber yogurt sauce that will make everyone happy.
5. BBQ Mongolian Beef
Say no to take-out, and say yes to BBQ Mongolian beef! This sticky and saucy dish will be among your new ultimate back-to-school meals. Your lunch and dinners could definitely use some Asian spice, and this is clearly the quickest way to complete the mission. Served with steamy rice, hot Thai chili peppers, fresh snipped chives, and sesame seeds, this recipe will make the school cafeteria smell like heaven. If your kids don’t like spice, forgo the chilis! If sending this for lunch the next day, simply use a divided container – and don’t forget the utensils!
You can prep this in as quick as 10 minutes and cook it up in just 20. That’s much shorter than the amount of time you would spend ordering and waiting for your take-out to arrive.
What are you waiting for? Our BBQ Mongolian Beef recipe is ready to be mastered.
6. Wagyu Beef Lettuce Wrap
Allow the succulent flavors of Wagyu beef to shine in this lettuce wrap recipe. It’s a great way to sneak in some leafy greens and carrots into your kids’ lunch and dinners. Not only is it incredibly appetizing, but it’s also extremely healthy.
It includes the tantalizing tastes of sesame oil, Asian spices, and zesty lime that the whole family will enjoy. Another thing you’ll love about this recipe is that you can put it on the table in just 25 minutes. Pack any leftovers straight into the lettuce cups – the best part is that they don't get soggy! Place in a container with a secure lid for a quick and easy lunch the following day.
Looking for a healthy alternative to tacos? See our Wagyu Beef Lettuce Wrap recipe here.
Not Enough Time? These Back to School Dinner Ideas are the Answer
With these six back-to-school meal ideas, it’s clear that delectable flavor never has to be sacrificed in the process of cooking up quick meals. Food can be easy to make and delicious at the same time. Whether you grill these recipes up for lunch or dinner, they’re bound to save you a lot of time and satisfy the taste buds of the whole family.
Since your grill is about to be your best friend for these meals, it’s time to find one that you can rely on every single day. You need one that has superior functions paired with a stunning design. With Napoleon’s premium line of grills, cooking back-to-school meals will be easier than ever. Click here to find a Napoleon dealer in your area!