What to cook in September: Easy meals with lots of leftovers for back-to-school season

Simplify your busy life with delicious, make-ahead dishes that feature lots of September produce.

Simplify your busy life with delicious, make-ahead dishes that feature lots of September produce

Jamey Ordolis CBC Life Posted: Sep 10, 2024 4:48 PM EDT | Last Updated: September 10

3 side-by-side food images: a blue platter with moussaka; a table with 2 plates of roasted cauliflower, creamy goat cheese mash, roasted chickpeas and broccolini; hands holding a large platter of chopped salad filled with tofu. — (Photo, left to right: Amina Al-Saigh, Dennis The Prescott, Dhivya Subramanian)

Just when you think summer might linger a little longer, September sweeps in with a brisk breeze that turns the page to fall. The kids head back to school, vacation vibes shift, and suddenly, everyone's calendar fills up. To cope during this busy transition or even, dare I say, thrive I need a fridge full of ready-to-eat dishes. Think big bowls of salad, hearty soups that get better each day, and versatile beans that can serve as the backbone for multiple meals.

This month, we've rounded up recipes that are perfect for batch cooking, as well as some easy weeknight meals and low-fuss ways to enjoy September produce like tomatoes, cauliflower, and eggplant yum! We've got root vegetable stews, baked salmon for lighter lunches, easy chia recipes for breakfast and more simple ideas for every time of day and every craving.

The challenge for me is not devouring too much of my delicious "batch cooks" on the first night. Rebekah Peppler's Chickpea Picnic Salad, for example, is just the kind of fridge staple I adore this time of year but try to have just one serving!

Chopped Salad with Tofu and Sesame Dressing