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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    23 Dump-And-Cook Dinners You Can Prep in Minutes

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 15, 2024, updated November 5, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    If you're looking for quick and easy dinner ideas, dump-and-cook meals are the way to go. These recipes require minimal prep time and let you throw everything into one pot or slow cooker, making dinner a breeze. Perfect for busy nights, these meals are satisfying and require little effort.

    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This dish is perfect for gnocchi lovers. The gnocchi is tossed in olive oil and roasted in the oven, creating a crispy outside while staying soft inside.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

    Slow Cooker Chicken Noodles Soup.
    Photo Credit: Primavera Kitchen.

    This soup is a simple and comforting meal that comes together quickly. With tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and hearty egg noodles simmered in a flavorful broth, it’s perfect for a cozy dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will keep you satisfied. It's quick to prepare and you'll likely have some leftovers for later.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

    Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This soup is easy to make with just a few ingredients and can cook all day. It's creamy without any cream, vegetarian, and gluten-free, making it perfect to serve in bread bowls topped with your favorite taco fixings.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Tortellini

    Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Simply Stacie.

    This creamy Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Tortellini is a simple weeknight dinner that feels fancy. With tender chicken, cheese tortellini, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, it’s packed with delicious flavors that everyone will enjoy.

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    Slow Cooker Peruvian Lamb Stew

    Slow Cooker Peruvian Lamb Stew
    Photo Credit: beyond mere sustenance.

    This lamb stew is easy to make and uses common Peruvian ingredients that you can find at most grocery stores. After a quick 30 minutes of prep, just let your slow cooker do the work for a delicious one-pot meal.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes is a quick and tasty meal that you can make in under 45 minutes. It features a flavorful tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, and oregano, making it a great option for those hectic evenings.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is super simple to make. In just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a delicious one-pan dish loaded with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese.

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    Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup with Red Lentils

    Vegan Carrot Ginger Soup with Red Lentils
    Photo Credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    This soup is loaded with protein from red lentils and is full of warming spices. It's simple to prepare using an Instant Pot, Crockpot, or on the stove, with instructions for each method.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Roast Beef

    Sliced roast beef.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    This is a simple and quick dinner option that takes only 50 minutes to prepare. With a flavorful herby crust and a juicy, tender center, it's a meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken and Leek Soup

    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken and Leek Soup.
    Photo Credit: Living Sweet Moments.

    This is a simple and satisfying meal that comes together with just six ingredients. It's an ideal choice for families on the go who need a quick and hearty dinner.

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    Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

    Burrito bowl.
    Image credit: Katie Trant.

    Burrito bowls are a quick and tasty meal that you can whip up in no time. This simple recipe lets you throw everything together and bake it for a satisfying dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    Slow Cooker Chicken Chili.
    Photo Credit: Primavera Kitchen.

    This chili is warm and tasty, and it's super simple to make. Just throw all the ingredients into the slow cooker and let it do its thing.

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    Firecracker Salmon

    Firecracker salmon on a teal plate.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Firecracker Salmon comes together in just 15 minutes, featuring a zesty and spicy sauce that pairs perfectly with tender salmon. This simple dish is sure to impress at dinner time.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Vegetable Tortellini Soup

    Vegetable Tortellini Soup in Crockpot
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This creamy Tortellini Soup is a quick and easy dish that you can make in a slow cooker. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, it's packed with fresh green vegetables.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Flank Steak

    Sliced flank steak.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This flank steak comes out tender and juicy in just 8-10 minutes. A flavorful marinade does all the work, making it easy to enjoy a delicious meal quickly.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks

    Chicken drumsticks with dipping sauce.
    Photo credit: Lynn's Way of Life.

    Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks are super tender and packed with flavor. They’re a quick and easy way to enjoy delicious chicken without needing to fire up the grill.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare, taking just under 10 minutes, and it cooks in less than an hour. Packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, it's a tasty and simple dinner option for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken

    Slow Cooker French Onion Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Garden in the Kitchen.

    Chicken breasts are cooked slowly in a flavorful onion broth and topped with melted Gruyere cheese. This dish is a simple way to enjoy a cozy meal without much fuss.

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    Pork and Hatch Green Chile Stew

    Pork and Hatch Green Chile Stew
    Photo Credit: Beyond Mere Sustenance.

    This dish features tender pork cubes cooked with spicy Hatch green chiles, creating a flavorful meal that can be served over rice, polenta, or in tortillas. It's an easy main dish that you can prepare quickly and let simmer while you go about your day.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Pepper Salmon

    Baked lemon pepper salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is incredibly simple, using just three ingredients. It's a quick and easy meal that you can whip up in no time.

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    Green Chicken Pozole

    Green Chicken Pozole.
    Photo Credit: Binky's Culinary Carnival.

    Green chicken pozole is a hearty Mexican soup that features tender chicken and hominy in a tasty green broth made with tomatillos, chilies, and herbs. It's a comforting dish that's perfect for any day of the week.

    Get the Recipe

    Enchilada Bake

    Enchilada bake.
    Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

    This Enchilada Bake is quick to make with ingredients you probably already have at home, and it's so delicious that your family will love it. You won't even need to use your oven, as this dish is made effortlessly in your slow cooker.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      28 Delicious Crockpot Summer Meals That Simmer While You Play
    • Dipping chicken in ketchup.
      22 Stress-Free Chicken Recipes for the Exhausted Cook
    • Cauliflower potato bake,
      26 Vegetable Loaded Casseroles That Will Change Your Dinner Game
    • Lasagna.
      22 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Will Revolutionize Your Weeknight Meals

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, 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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