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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Easy Dump-and-Cook Pasta Meals for Tired Souls

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 22, 2025, updated April 23, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Cooking can be a hassle, especially after a long day. These 20 easy dump-and-cook pasta meals are perfect for those who want a satisfying dinner without spending hours in the kitchen. Just toss the ingredients together, let them cook, and enjoy a comforting meal with minimal effort.

    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

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

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, creating a hearty meal that's simple to prepare. It's perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in much effort.

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

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    Meatball Pasta Bake

    Meatball Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Beyond the Chicken Coop.

    The Meatball Pasta Bake is a simple dish that cooks all in one go in the oven, so you don’t have to worry about multiple pots and pans. It combines frozen meatballs, mozzarella cheese, penne pasta, and your favorite marinara sauce for a satisfying meal.

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    No Boil Baked Ziti

    No Boil Baked Ziti
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    Baked ziti is easy to make and packed with flavor. Just layer the ingredients and pop it in the oven for a delicious meal without much effort.

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    Crockpot Chicken and Noodles

    Crockpot Chicken and Noodles.
    Photo Credit: Bowl Me Over.

    This cozy meal comes together in just 5 minutes of prep, making it a great choice for when you're feeling tired. It's the kind of comfort food that warms you up and satisfies your hunger.

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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 when you're too tired to think.

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    Vegan "Sausage" Pasta Bake

    Vegan Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Cozy Peach Kitchen.

    This pasta dish is baked in the oven and features a tasty cashew "Parmesan" sauce on top. It's perfect for when you're too tired to think about dinner.

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    Vegetarian Ravioli Bake

    Ravioli bake.
    Image credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This dish is a family favorite that's both cheesy and satisfying. It's perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in a lot of effort.

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    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

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

    This tuna pasta bake is creamy and packed with flavor, using canned tuna and mozzarella cheese along with a few other easy ingredients. It's a simple dish that comes together quickly, perfect for when you're feeling too tired to think.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty, perfect for a cozy meal. It's the kind of comfort food that hits the spot when you just want something satisfying.

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    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 when you're too tired to think and want something easy, plus you'll likely have leftovers.

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    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

    Instant Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce on a bowl.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This instant pot spaghetti is simple and only needs 9 ingredients, all cooked in one pot. In under 30 minutes, you can have this classic dish ready for dinner, perfect for busy weeknights.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

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

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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 is ready in under an hour. Packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, this dish is a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

    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 makes it a simple option for busy weeknights, and you can even make it ahead and store it in the fridge or freezer.

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    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This soup is loaded with fresh vegetables, ground beef, and pasta. This hearty, comforting soup is a complete meal in itself!

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for cheese and pasta fans. With a blend of two cheeses, a zesty kick from Gorgonzola, and a satisfying crunch from walnuts, it comes together in under 40 minutes.

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    Instant Pot Bolognese

    A bowl of instant pot bolognese served over pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot bolognese is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic pasta sauce. With just a few simple ingredients from your pantry, you can whip up a rich and satisfying meal in no time.

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    Slow Cooker Lasagna

    Slow cooker lasagna.
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    Slow Cooker Lasagna is loaded with cheese and flavor. The slow cooker handles everything, from cooking the meat sauce to baking the lasagna, so you don’t have to boil the noodles separately.

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    Baked Vegan Pasta

    Vegan pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Plant Based Folk.

    This creamy vegan pasta bake is simple to prepare and loaded with veggies. It's delicious whether you serve it hot or cold!

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      30 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes We Crave Every Week
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      25 Easy Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour
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      19 Delicious Side Dishes to Complement Your Memorial Day Grilling

    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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