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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    17 Easy Dump-and-Bake Dinners for Busy Families

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on January 18, 2025, updated January 16, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Finding time to cook can be a challenge for busy families, but dump-and-bake dinners make it easy to put a meal on the table with minimal effort. These simple recipes require little prep and can be tossed together in one dish, making cleanup a breeze. From hearty casseroles to flavorful pasta bakes, these 17 meals are perfect for those hectic weeknights when you need something quick and satisfying.

    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This pizza pasta bake is perfect for busy nights when you need something quick and easy. You can throw everything together in one pan without cooking the pasta first, and it’s loaded with cheesy pizza flavors that everyone will enjoy.

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    Baked Cod in Foil

    A foil pack with cod and potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These baked cod packs are easy to prepare and full of flavor, taking just 5 minutes to get ready. With cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon all cooked together, this is a simple and satisfying dinner.

    Get the recipe

    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 just four ingredients and some ready-made items, you can have it ready in 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Drumsticks & Potatoes

    Baked drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Go Healthy Ever After.

    Sheet pan chicken drumsticks and potatoes are simple, healthy, and really tasty. The lemon garlic seasoning adds great flavor, making this a quick dinner option for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    A chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This chicken fajita casserole is an easy one-pan meal that brings the flavors of comfort food right to your table. It's also great to enjoy as leftovers the next day!

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Kielbasa & Veggies

    Sheet pan kielbasa and veggies.
    Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

    This is a simple dinner that you can prepare all on one sheet pan. Feel free to mix and match your favorite sausage and vegetables!

    Get the recipe

    Sausage Tray Bake

    Sausage tray bake.
    Photo credit: Gluten Free Tranquility.

    This sausage tray bake is packed with flavor and is simple to prepare in just one pan. It's filled with veggies, potatoes, and gravy for a hearty meal.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is packed with chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's perfect for busy nights and you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken

    Easy Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    This baked pesto mozzarella chicken is a quick and tasty dinner that you can have ready in just 30 minutes. It's low-carb, gluten-free, and uses simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy nights.

    Get the Recipe

    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This cheesy mac and cheese is made in just one dish, so there's no need to pre-cook anything. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s a simple and comforting meal that everyone will love.

    Get the recipe

    No-Boil Pasta Bake

    No-Boil Pasta Bake.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This vegetarian No-Boil Pasta Bake is simple to prepare and comes together in just a few minutes. It uses common ingredients like store-bought spaghetti sauce, dried spices, boxed noodles, and lots of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Ravioli Casserole

    Baked Ravioli Casserole.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This baked ravioli casserole is quick to prepare, taking only about 20 minutes from start to finish with just 5 minutes of prep. Using store-bought cheese ravioli, it’s a simple dinner option that works well for busy nights and can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for quick weeknight meals. With just a little chopping to begin, you end up with a delicious mix of chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce all cooked together in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

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

    This sheet pan meal is a simple way to enjoy lamb without the stress of overcooking it. The lamb chops cook in the flavorful juices from the vegetables, resulting in tender meat that is delicious.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare and ready in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

    Gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This easy meal comes together with just 8 ingredients, perfect for a tasty dinner any night. Featuring tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it's a dish that everyone will love.

    Get the recipe

    Jalapeno Popper Hash Brown Casserole

    Jalapeno Popper Hash Brown Casserole.
    Photo credit: Erica's Recipes.

    This creamy and cheesy breakfast casserole is super simple to prepare and always a hit. It's perfect for busy mornings when you want something delicious without much effort.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Gnocchi soup.
      20 Lazy Crockpot Dinners We’re Making All Summer Long
    • Ritz chicken.
      18 Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Dinners You Can Just Dump, Cook and Enjoy
    • Beef and potato hot pot.
      24 Layer and Bake Dinners to Make With Ground Beef
    • No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
      Set It and Forget It: Simple Recipes for Stress-Free Cooking

    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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