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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Cheesy Dump-and-Bake Dinners You Can Make Without Breaking a Sweat

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on October 8, 2024, updated October 7, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    If you're looking for easy dinner ideas that require minimal effort, cheesy dump-and-bake meals are the way to go. These recipes let you throw everything into a dish and let the oven or slow cooker do the work, making weeknight cooking a breeze. With gooey cheese and comforting flavors, these dinners are sure to please everyone at the table!

    Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    Enchilada bake.
    Photo credit: Confessions of a Fit Foodie.

    This easy Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Casserole brings all the great flavors of enchiladas without the fuss of rolling or baking. Just layer tortillas, chicken, and cheese for a hearty meal that everyone will love.

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    Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Cajun chicken pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Practically Homemade.

    This easy casserole is packed with Cajun flavors and is a breeze to prepare. Just toss in the ingredients without any need to cook the pasta beforehand, and you'll have a cheesy dish that's sure to please.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This mac and cheese is incredibly easy to make, as everything goes into one dish without any need for pre-cooking. Loaded with mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s a cheesy and comforting meal that you can enjoy with minimal effort.

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    King Ranch Chicken Casserole

    King ranch chicken casserole.
    Photo credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This Southern classic is a breeze to prepare and full of flavor. With chicken and southwest spices, this cheesy casserole makes for a comforting meal that requires hardly any work.

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    Vegetarian Ravioli Bake

    Ravioli bake.
    Image credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This meal is so simple to prepare; just toss everything together and let it cook. It's a cheesy dish that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    No Boil Baked Ziti

    No Boil Baked Ziti
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    Baked ziti is a simple dish that comes together quickly with just a few layers before it goes in the oven. There's no need to fuss with boiling pasta or cooking meat separately, making it a cheesy and convenient meal.

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    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    A chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This chicken fajita casserole is a simple and tasty dinner option that packs a lot of flavor. It's also great for leftovers, so you can enjoy it again the next day!

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This simple dump-and-bake dinner is loaded with cheese, chicken, and broccoli for a satisfying meal. It's a filling option that will leave you with plenty of leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Hobo Casserole

    Hobo Casserole.
    Photo credit: Bowl Me Over.

    This dinner is easy to make and only requires one pan. It combines beef, potatoes, a creamy sauce, and plenty of cheese, making it a great choice for a quick and filling family meal.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This simple Mac and Cheese is packed with Cheddar and Gruyere, delivering a rich cheesy flavor. With just 10 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes in the oven, it's a hassle-free meal that anyone can make.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a simple and tasty dinner that combines creamy cheese with a spicy buffalo kick. It takes only 10 minutes to prepare and is ready in less than an hour, making it a great option for a weeknight meal.

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    Crockpot Mac and Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is super easy to whip up. Just throw everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic without any need to pre-cook the pasta!

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    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This easy pizza pasta bake is great for busy nights when you want a tasty meal without a lot of fuss. Just mix everything together, bake it, and enjoy a cheesy dish that everyone will love.

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    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This tuna pasta bake is a simple and satisfying meal that combines creamy cheese with tasty tuna. It's an effortless dish that you can prepare without any hassle.

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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 for a satisfying meal. It's simple to prepare and ideal for a cozy dinner.

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    Enchilada Bake

    Enchilada bake.
    Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

    This Enchilada Bake is a simple and tasty dinner option for those hectic days. Just throw all the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it do the work for you!

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake

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

    This cheesy pesto pasta bake is creamy and simple to prepare in just one pan. It’s a delicious meal that feels like it came from a fancy restaurant, but you don’t need any special skills to make it.

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    Baked Ravioli Casserole

    Baked Ravioli Casserole.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This baked ravioli casserole is an easy dinner that takes just 5 minutes to prepare. Using store-bought cheese ravioli, you can have a tasty meal on the table in 20 minutes, and it can also be made ahead and stored for later.

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    Zucchini Casserole

    Zucchini casserole.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    Enjoy a tasty Zucchini Casserole that's easy to prepare and loaded with cheesy flavor.

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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 anyone can whip up without much hassle.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Lasagna.
      22 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Will Revolutionize Your Weeknight Meals
    • A veggie casserole.
      21 Vegetarian Casseroles That Will Change Your Dinner Game
    • Instant Pot French Onion Soup.
      18 Elegant Lunch Ideas to Impress Mom This Mother’s Day
    • Cheesburger sliders.
      18 Cheap Ground Beef Recipes That Are Perfect for Spring

    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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