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    Home » Quick & Easy Meals » Dump and Bake Recipes

    15 Easy Dump-and-Go Dinners for Effortless Evenings

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 11, 2025 · Published January 1, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    If you're looking for easy dinner ideas that require minimal effort, dump-and-bake meals are the way to go. These recipes let you toss everything into a dish and let the oven do the work, making weeknight cooking a breeze. From hearty casseroles to flavorful one-pan wonders, these dinners are perfect for busy families or anyone wanting a simple yet satisfying meal.

    Sheet Pan Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken

    Sheet pan prosciutto wrapped chicken.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This sheet pan chicken dinner features prosciutto for a tasty twist, creating a quick and easy meal. It's perfect for busy evenings when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Pesto Salmon

    Pesto salmon on a serving platter.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Pesto Salmon dish is ready in just 15 minutes. Baked with Greek yogurt and pesto, it's a simple and tasty meal for busy nights.

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    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal simplifies cooking lamb, ensuring it stays juicy and tender. The lamb chops roast with the vegetables, creating a delicious and easy dinner.

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    Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus

    Sheet Pan Salmon and Asparagus
    Photo Credit: Get Inspired Everyday.

    This salmon dish is quick and easy, taking less than 10 minutes to prepare. The mix of honey and Dijon mustard adds a delicious flavor that really stands out.

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    Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake

    A creamy pesto pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This pesto pasta bake is creamy and cheesy, and you can make it all in one pan with no special skills needed. It's quick to prepare and tastes just as good as something you'd find at a nice restaurant.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Mac and Cheese is easy to make and packed with flavor. Just mix everything together, bake it, and you'll have a cheesy dish with Cheddar and Gruyere that everyone will love.

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    Teriyaki Salmon

    Teriyaki salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is delicious with teriyaki sauce, whether you use store-bought or homemade. It's an easy recipe that you can throw together without much effort.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs & Sweet Potatoes

    Sheet pan chicken thighs.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This dish is easy to prepare and really hits the spot. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have it on the table in 30 minutes.

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    Sheet Pan Salmon with Brussels Sprouts

    Sheet pan salmon with brussels sprouts.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Brussels sprouts and salmon go well together, especially when served with rice. This dish is simple to prepare and feels like a meal from a fancy restaurant.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs & Sweet Potatoes

    Sheet pan chicken thighs.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This dish is simple to prepare with everyday ingredients you likely have on hand. It's a filling meal that comes together in just 30 minutes.

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    Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

    Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna with wooden spoon.
    Photo Credit: The Recipe Well.

    This lasagna is super simple to make, with layers of meat, noodles, sauce, and two kinds of cheese. It's a quick one-pot meal that's perfect for any night.

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    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake

    Chicken thigh tray bake.
    Photo credit: Living Lou.

    This easy tray bake combines chicken thighs and vegetables for a quick dinner that you can have on the table in under 45 minutes. Everything cooks together in a flavorful marinade, making it a simple and satisfying meal.

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    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies

    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies.
    Photo credit: Oh Sweet Culture Shock.

    This dish features fresh lemon slices and herbs that bring out the flavors in juicy, flaky fish. It's a simple and tasty dinner that feels like it came from a restaurant.

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    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    Gnocchi lovers will enjoy this dish. The gnocchi is mixed with olive oil and baked in the oven until it's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

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    Sheet Pan Steak & Potatoes

    Sheet pan steak and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Roasting potatoes until they're soft and then broiling them gives this dish a nice crispy touch. It's an easy way to enjoy a favorite meal without much work.

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    More Dump and Bake Recipes

    • A spoonful of chicken fajita casserole.
      21 Hearty Dump-and-Bake Meals That Almost Cook Themselves
    • Enchilada bake.
      20 Easy Dump-and-Go Dinners for Zero-Stress Nights
    • Ground beef dip.
      24 Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Dump Dinners You Won’t Be Able to Resist
    • Slow cooker enchilada casserole.
      27 Quick and Easy Dinners You Can Just Set and Forget

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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