School is back.
And somehow, almost overnight, those long summer evenings have turned into homework, practices, games, meetings, pickups, drop-offs and the occasional 8 p.m. announcement that someone needs a poster board for tomorrow.
We can’t help you with the poster board.
Dinner, though? We’ve got you.
Back-to-school season is one of those times when dinner can feel harder than it actually needs to be. You walk into the kitchen at 5:15, open the refrigerator and stare inside hoping something resembling a meal will present itself.
Then someone asks, “What’s for dinner?”
Great question.
This is exactly why we like having a Back-to-School Grill Survival Kit.
We’re not talking about spending your entire Sunday meal prepping 14 perfectly portioned containers. We’re talking about keeping a handful of dependable foods in the house so that when the day gets away from you—and it will—you can still fire up the grill and get something good on the table.
No complicated recipe required.
Start With a Few Grill-and-Go Proteins
Here’s the goal: when you open the refrigerator or freezer, there should be at least one thing you can throw on the grill without having to think too hard about it.
That doesn’t mean you need five different cuts of steak waiting around. Some of the best weeknight grilling foods are also the simplest.
Burgers
There’s a reason burgers are a classic.
Keep burger patties in the freezer and you’ve always got a backup plan. Add buns and toppings if you’ve got them. Skip the bun and serve them with a salad if you don’t.
And if everyone in your house likes something different? Burgers solve that problem too. Put out cheese, pickles, BBQ sauce and whatever else is hiding in the refrigerator and let everybody handle their own.
Dinner and delegation. We call that a win.
Brats and Sausages
If you have brats or sausages in the refrigerator, you’re already halfway to dinner.
Throw them on the grill and you’re basically done. If you’ve got another five minutes, slice up some peppers and onions and grill those alongside them.
Buns? Great.
No buns? Slice everything up and serve it over rice.
This isn’t a cooking competition. It’s Tuesday.
Chicken Tenders or Thin-Cut Chicken Breasts
Chicken is probably one of the most useful things you can keep around during a busy week—but there’s a trick.
Think thin.
Save those giant chicken breasts for a night when you aren’t trying to squeeze dinner between volleyball practice and math homework. Chicken tenders and thin-cut breasts cook much faster and can take on just about any flavor you throw at them.
BBQ rub tonight.
Taco seasoning tomorrow.
Italian seasoning another night.
Same basic ingredient. Completely different dinner.
Thin-Cut Pork Chops
Pork chops deserve more weeknight attention than they get.
Thin chops cook quickly over a hot grill and don’t need much fuss. Salt, pepper, garlic and a little smoky seasoning will get you most of the way there.
Add corn or a salad and you’ve got a real dinner without spending an hour making it.
Don’t Forget the Foods That Turn “Random Stuff” Into Dinner
This might actually be the most important part of the survival kit.
Sometimes you’ve got protein. What you don’t have is an actual meal.
That’s why we like keeping tortillas and flatbreads around.
A couple pieces of leftover chicken aren’t necessarily dinner.
But chop that chicken up, add cheese and tortillas and suddenly you’re making grilled quesadillas.
Have some vegetables, cheese and half a jar of pizza sauce?
That’s a flatbread.
Chicken, rice and whatever toppings you can find?
Now it’s a bowl.
You don’t always need more food. Sometimes you just need something that helps connect the food you already have.
Build a Simple Grill Spice Shelf
Now let’s talk flavor.
You could absolutely have an entire cabinet dedicated to rubs, sauces and seasonings. And if you do, we’re certainly not going to judge.
But you don’t need one.
For school-night grilling, a handful of basics can take you surprisingly far.
Keep kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder and smoked paprika around and you’ve got the foundation for just about anything going on the grill.
Then add a few flavor shortcuts:
Taco seasoning turns chicken, steak or vegetables into taco night.
Italian seasoning works with chicken, pork and grilled vegetables and pairs easily with pasta or flatbread.
A favorite BBQ rub is your “I don’t want to think about this” option. Sprinkle it on. Grill. Done.
And don’t underestimate sauces.
BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce or a bottle of teriyaki can make the exact same chicken taste completely different three nights in a row.
That’s useful when you’re feeding people who somehow remember exactly what you served them two days ago.
Give Yourself Permission to Cheat on the Sides
Here’s where we’d like to make an official announcement:
You do not have to cook everything.
If you’re grilling chicken from scratch, the salad can come from a bag.
Really.
The Dinner Police will not be coming.
Keep a few easy sides around that require little to no thought:
- Bagged salad kits
- Frozen vegetables
- Corn
- Microwave rice
- Frozen fries or tater tots
- Baby potatoes
- Pasta salad
- Fresh fruit
Baby potatoes are especially great for grill nights. Give them a few minutes in the microwave to get them started, then finish them on the grill while your meat cooks.
And fruit might be the most underrated busy-night side dish there is.
Wash some grapes. Cut up a watermelon. Put berries in a bowl.
Side dish accomplished.
When Your Brain Is Done for the Day, Remember 1 + 1 + 1
This might be the most important thing in this entire article.
There will be nights when you genuinely do not want to decide what to make.
Don’t look up recipes.
Don’t scroll Pinterest for 25 minutes.
Don’t stand in front of the refrigerator hoping inspiration strikes.
Just remember:
1 Protein + 1 Seasoning + 1 Easy Side = Dinner.
Chicken + BBQ rub + corn.
Pork chops + garlic and Italian seasoning + salad.
Brats + grilled peppers + fruit.
Chicken + taco seasoning + microwave rice.
Burgers + burger seasoning + fries.
Could you make something fancier?
Absolutely.
Do you need to on a Wednesday night when somebody has practice in 47 minutes?
Absolutely not.
Here’s What This Looks Like in Real Life
Let’s say you get home at 5:20.
Practice starts at 6:30.
You’ve got chicken tenders in the refrigerator, a bagged Caesar salad and Grillers Gold pellets ready to go.
Fire up the grill.
Season the chicken with a little garlic, salt, pepper and your favorite BBQ rub.
While it cooks, toss the salad.
That’s it.
You’re eating grilled chicken and Caesar salad instead of hitting the drive-thru—and you didn’t need a recipe, a meal plan or an hour in the kitchen to make it happen.
That’s what we’re going for here.
Not perfect dinners.
Easy wins.
One Last Thing: Don’t Run Out of Pellets
You know what’s really frustrating?
Actually having dinner figured out, walking outside to fire up the pellet grill and realizing there aren’t enough pellets in the hopper.
Don’t let that be the thing that sends you to the drive-thru.
During the busy school months, keep an extra bag of your favorite Grillers Gold Premium Hardwood Pellets on hand.
Protein? Got it.
Seasoning? Got it.
Side? Got it.
Pellets? Got those too.
Now dinner doesn’t feel quite so complicated.
Already Know What You Want to Cook?
Sometimes the problem isn’t figuring out dinner. It’s figuring out how to get it cooked before everyone has to run out the door again.
We’ve got you there too.
Check out our 30-Minute Grilling Recipes when you need something quick, or dig into our BBQ Leftovers Recipes when last night’s cookout is sitting in the refrigerator waiting for its second act.
Because back-to-school season is going to be busy enough.
Dinner doesn’t have to be.