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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    16 Layer and Bake Meal Prep Dinners That Will Change the Way You Cook

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 29, 2025, updated September 10, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    These 16 layer and bake meal prep dinners are perfect for busy weeknights. They combine fresh ingredients and simple steps, making it easy to prepare delicious meals ahead of time. With just one dish, you can create satisfying and hearty dinners that everyone will enjoy.

    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole brings all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying meal. Perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is simple and requires minimal effort.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen. Plus, you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something simple and delicious. With just a little chopping at the beginning, everything cooks together in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. You'll enjoy tender chicken, flavorful veggies, and a tasty sauce all in one dish.

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    Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake

    Chicken broccoli bake on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: From Valerie's Kitchen.

    This chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is super easy to make since everything is mixed and baked in just one dish. It's perfect for those days when you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen. With minimal prep work, you can have a hearty meal ready to enjoy.

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    Baked Tortellini

    20 Minute Baked Tortellini.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    The Cheesy Tortellini Bake is a quick and easy dish that you can whip up in just 20 minutes. With fewer than 10 ingredients and everything cooked in one pan, it's perfect for a simple meal. This is a great option for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Cheesy chicken and rice casserole dish.
    Photo Credit: Rose Bakes.

    This recipe is all about simplicity, using canned soups and ready-made rice mixes to create a hearty meal. It's ideal for busy weeknights or whenever you want a comforting dish without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just throw everything together, bake it, and enjoy a satisfying dinner.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta combined with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, creating a hearty meal that's simple to prepare. It's perfect for those evenings when you want something comforting without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just mix everything together, bake it, and enjoy a satisfying dinner.

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    Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Casserole

    Old Fashioned Chicken and Rice Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Fantabulosity.

    This chicken and rice dish is a classic family favorite that's simple to prepare in the oven. With just a few ingredients like canned soups and juicy chicken thighs, it comes together quickly. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something comforting and satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This dish combines the classic flavors of mac and cheese with the creamy goodness of chicken alfredo and broccoli. It's a simple and satisfying meal that you can whip up in under 30 minutes. Perfect for busy nights, this recipe is all about convenience and comfort.

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    Queso Chicken and Rice

    Queso Chicken and Rice.
    Photo Credit: Foodie and Wine.

    Queso Chicken and Rice is a simple and satisfying one-pan meal. It features tender chicken cooked in a creamy queso sauce, paired with fluffy rice. This dish is full of flavor and perfect for a cozy dinner without much effort.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare, taking less than 10 minutes, and it's ready in under an hour. Packed with spicy buffalo sauce and sneaky spinach, this dish is both cheesy and satisfying. It's a simple and tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Southwest Chicken Casserole

    .Chicken Casserole
    Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen.

    Southwest Chicken Casserole is a filling dish that combines juicy chicken, zesty spices, and gooey melted cheese. It's easy to prepare in just one pan, making it perfect for a busy weeknight when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen. With ingredients like salsa Verde, black beans, and southwest seasoning, this casserole offers a warm and slightly smoky flavor that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    No Boil Stuffed Pepper Casserole

    No Boil Stuffed Pepper Casserole on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Piper Cooks.

    This casserole is super easy to make, using a method that doesn't require boiling anything. It combines bell peppers, navy beans, and long-grain white rice, all mixed together with a tasty tomato sauce and Italian spices. It's a simple dish that you can just throw together, bake, and enjoy.

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    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Winding Creek Ranch.

    This simple meatball casserole combines uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, and marinara sauce into a tasty one-pan meal. There's no need to boil the pasta or brown the meatballs beforehand; just layer everything in a casserole dish and let the oven handle the cooking. It's a convenient option for a satisfying dinner.

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    Mediterranean Veggie Casserole

    Veggie casserole.
    Photo credit: The Fiery Vegetarian.

    This casserole is quick and easy to prepare, requiring only a few minutes of your time before it goes into the oven. Once it's baked, you'll enjoy a comforting dish filled with soft vegetables and a flavorful garlic sauce.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With only four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it prepped in just five minutes and on the table in under 40 minutes. It's perfect for busy days when you want a quick and satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Chicken piccata.
      22 One-Dish Crockpot Recipes for When You’re Craving Something Warm and Cozy
    • Cheeseburger soup.
      28 Cozy Soup Recipes to Embrace Cool Nights
    • A spoonful of cheesy Mac and Cheese.
      22 Cozy Casseroles That Will Warm Your Heart
    • Chicken mushroom stroganoff.
      29 Easy Dinner Solutions for When You're Short on Time

    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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