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There’s something about this time of year that always feels like a fresh start. Kids are heading back to school, summer schedules are winding down, and everyone seems to be settling back into a routine. Today I’m sharing some of our most-loved snacks, lunches, easy dinners, and sweet bake sale treats for this busy, exciting time of year.
Aside from the start of the Christmas season, I don’t know if there’s a time of year I love more than the month we’re heading into. With September just two weeks away, my excitement for fall is really starting to take over. It’s going to look very different for me this year, but I’m taking it day by day. Life is wacky and exciting. It sure loves to throw curveballs, and sometimes you just have to be open to rolling with them!
Below you’ll find everything from easy muffins to bake and enjoy for breakfast, to salads and make-ahead lunches, quick weeknight dinners, crockpot meals the whole family will love, and, of course, some of our most popular bake sale treats.
Do you all remember my peanut butter bars and homemade Rice Krispie treats? Plus, there are so many more favorites that will surely sell FAST.
These are the recipes we come back to again and again. They’re easy, delicious, and perfect for busy days when you still want something really good.
And definitely save this post to refer back to all year long. It’s full of past HBH recipe gems that are too good to forget!
Enjoy the recipes, and happy back-to-school, back-to-work season!
15 Minute Sesame Garlic Chicken Lo Mein
Saucy noodles stir-fried with chicken, veggies, and a garlic hoisin sauce. Quick, easy, and delicious!
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Mix and Bake Chicken Taco Casserole
Juicy chicken, rice, veggies, beans, and cheese baked together in one pan. Easy, cozy, and so delicious!
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Crockpot Thai Basil Beef
Saucy, flavorful beef slow-cooked with Thai basil chili sauce and served over coconut sesame rice!
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Skillet Tomato Cheddar Chicken Pot Pie
The updated pot pie we all want to eat—simple, delicious, and baked to cozy perfection!
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Hot Honey Pepperoni Pizza Rolls
Cheesy, spicy, and sweet with crispy tops. The ultimate easy game day or dinner recipe everyone loves!
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Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Dumplings
I took the classic chicken and dumpling soup and made it even easier (and yummier) in the crockpot!
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Cider Braised Pot Roast with Crispy Sage Potatoes
Comforting + delicious, getting a slow-cooked meal on the table couldn't be easier!
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One Pot Cajun Ranch Chicken Pasta
The perfect under-40-minutes pasta, great for both busy weeknights and laid-back weekends!
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30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen
All made in one pot, using healthy, pantry staple, ingredients. It’s creamy, spicy, filled with veggies, lean chicken, and ramen noodles. Perfect for a cold night in, after a long busy day!
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Cheesy Zucchini Chicken and Rice Bake
Made entirely in one pot in under an hour using healthy vegetables and herbs…so darn easy, and so darn delicious!
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Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Swapping out the boxed stuff and making this childhood special…but homemade and healthier!
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Weeknight Cheesy Baked Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch.
Crunchy on the outside…spicy and cheesy inside. Serve each taco with a creamy, cooling cilantro lime ranch sauce, and a mix of your favorite taco toppings.
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Better Than Takeout Dan Dan Noodles.
For those nights when you’re craving spicy, warming Chinese inspired noodles, but don’t want to wait for takeout.
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One Pan Lemon Pepper Yogurt Chicken and Rice
Marinated chicken and rice made in one pan, even the rice…simply mix, bake, eat, and enjoy!
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Sheet Pan Honey Buffalo Chicken with Broccoli
The easiest sheet pan dinner…simply add a side of rice or home fries and you've got a meal!
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Creamy Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup
For nights when you’re craving something warm and cozy, hearty, full of herbs and veggies, and so delicious!
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Tomato Cheddar Chicken and Rice Bake
So easy to throw together, great for back-to-school, and can be made all in one dish in just one hour!
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Super Easy Homemade Cheesy Spaghetti O’s
This simple pasta is made all in one pot, in just 25 minutes and your family will become obsessed!
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Creamy White Chicken Chili
Spicy, creamy, and so delicious. Add a side of beer bread for the perfect bowl to warm up to on a cold fall/winter day!
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Crockpot Hamburger Helper
An even easier homemade twist on the childhood classic. Cozy, creamy, and so delicious—perfect weeknight dinner!
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One Pan Herb Butter Chicken and Zucchini Rice Pilaf
All made in one pan, no cooking the rice pilaf separately…you’re going to LOVE this meal!
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Zucchini Cheddar Chicken Noodle Casserole
A cozy, one-skillet dinner made in under an hour with chicken, pasta, zucchini, and melty cheddar!
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Red Wine Braised Pot Roast
A classic, warming, easy, and delicious one-pot meal that's great for weeknights and entertaining, too!
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Apple Cider Smothered Chicken
A 40 minute, quick and easy, cozy one-pot meal with delicious, comforting fall flavors!
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Crockpot Garlic Butter Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Orzo
A cozy, easy, fall-winter dinner…instant pot + stove top skillet directions too!Â
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Crockpot Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tacos with Jalapeño Ranch
Crunchy on the outside…spicy, saucy, and cheesy inside. So fun for fall nights!
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Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Simple cornflake-crusted chicken baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious – loved by everyone!
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Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Noodle Casserole
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole: healthy-ish, so darn easy, and so darn delicious…made entirely in one pot in less than an hour!
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Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Chicken
This chicken is made in under an hour, uses just one skillet, and is beyond delicious. It’s creamy, garlicky, packed with corn, and finished with fresh herbs and parmesan. Perfect cozy, summer dinner for any night of the week.
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Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Crisp edges, soft centers, and melty mini chips. A childhood favorite made better with apple butter!
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Thick and Fudgy Zucchini Brownies
Rich, chocolatey, and topped with old-fashioned fudge frosting. A classic, cozy dessert everyone will love!
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Frosted Soft Strawberry Cinnamon Bars
Buttery shortbread, sweet strawberry jam, plus a drizzle of cinnamon maple icing…so addictive!
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Easy Apple Cider Honey Muffins
Cozy spiced muffins dipped in cinnamon sugar — perfect for fall baking with family and friends!
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Homemade Baked Frosted Chocolate Donuts
Made with Greek yogurt and maple syrup to sweeten. Everyone will adore these healthier, easy homemade treats!
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Homemade Hostess CupcakesÂ
Each bite is filled with sweet, moist cake, creamy marshmallow, and fudgy chocolate glaze – a deliciously fun trip down memory lane!
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Any Fruit Oat and Pretzel Bars
Perfect for breakfast, as a snack, or dessert—especially when eaten warm with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream!
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Easy Apple Butter Zucchini Bread
Fluffy, perfectly sweet zucchini bread made with a swirl of apple butter, dollops of cinnamon sugar, and served with whipped maple butter!
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5 Ingredient Magic Cookies
These cookies take just a few minutes to prep, then bake, and kind of like magic you'll have delicious cookies!!
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Lunchroom Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars.
Taking it back to grade school today with these yummy simple bars made with pantry staple ingredients.
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Spooky Homemade Twix Bars
Pack them up and take them to the school Halloween party. Or serve them up at your adult-filled Halloween bash!
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Toasted Marshmallow K-Bars
An easy, no-bake dessert with peanut butter, chocolate, and gooey marshmallows. A nostalgic favorite reimagined!
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Chocolate Chunk Coconut Banana Bread
One bowl, pantry staple ingredients, super quick to mix up, healthy…ish, and SO DELICIOUS! With over-ripe bananas, good honey, and your favorite chocolate bar this is sure to become your favorite banana bread. Perfect for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or a late night dessert.
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Soft and Crinkly Brown Sugar Peanut Butter Cookies
Easy to make with simple ingredients…warm, soft, and chewy + dipped in chocolate – DELISH!
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Healthier Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies…Dunked in Chocolate.
Easy to make, uses just 7 ingredients, has no processed sugars, and can even be made vegan.
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Mini Blueberry Muffins
Cute and sweet mini muffins made from scratch…so much better than those mini-bite muffins mom used to buy!
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Nutter Butter Cookie Bars
Every bite is sweet, peanutty, and flavorful! Just like the classic nutter butters but remade even more delicious!
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Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars
Easy to make, no processed sugars, gluten-free, and every bite is sweet, nutty, chocolatey, and so DELICIOUS!
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No-Bake Dark Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Made with oats, dates, peanut butter a salty chocolate top. Sweet, simple, and addicting!
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Cinnamon Sugar Swirled Apple Butter Bread
Slightly healthier and better than any coffee shop, this yummy bread is a real fall treat!
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Blender Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Zucchini Muffins
Naturally sweetened, one-bowl muffins made with oats, zucchini, and melty dark chocolate!
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Frosted Brown Sugar Pop Tart Bars
These easy-to-make pop-tart bars are sweet, salty, very gooey in the center, and heavy on the cinnamon!
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Cinnamon Crunch Swirled Banana Bread
Adding a cinnamon swirl and topping with crunchy chunks of cinnamon sugar ensures the yummiest banana bread!
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Toasted Marshmallow Caramel Rice Krispie Treats
Sweet, salty, buttery, gooey, toasty, and just a bit addicting – you're going to love these!
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Blender Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Everyone's favorite easy, no guilt, healthy, and just SO DELICIOUS muffins!
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This post was originally published on August 17, 2026
