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    Home » Quick & Easy Meals » Dump and Bake Recipes

    21 Hearty Dump-and-Bake Meals That Almost Cook Themselves

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 2, 2025 · Published December 24, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    If you're looking for easy and satisfying meals that require minimal effort, dump-and-bake recipes are the way to go. These hearty dishes combine all your ingredients in one pan, making cleanup a breeze while still delivering comforting flavors. Perfect for busy weeknights, these meals let you enjoy a home-cooked dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

    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 pantry items like store-bought spaghetti sauce, dried spices, boxed noodles, and lots of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

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

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    Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Cajun chicken pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Practically Homemade.

    Cajun flavors really shine in this easy casserole. Skipping the boiling step for the pasta makes it simple, and the creamy sauce that forms while it bakes is a real highlight.

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    Ranch Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies

    Sheet pan with chicken and veggies.
    Photo credit: Budget Delicious.

    This easy sheet pan chicken dinner with vegetables is perfect for busy families looking for a quick and healthy meal. Just mix everything together, pop it in the oven, and enjoy a tasty dinner with minimal effort.

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    Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

    Spinach chicken artichoke casserole.
    Photo credit: Nibble and Dine.

    Spinach artichoke chicken casserole is simple to prepare with rotisserie chicken and frozen vegetables. You can have the entire dish ready in under an hour.

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    Pizza Baked Butter Beans

    Baked butter beans in a bowl.
    Photo credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    Pizza-baked beans are a quick and easy meal for busy evenings. Just mix canned beans with pizza sauce, add your favorite toppings, and bake for a comforting dish that pairs well with crusty bread, all in just 30 minutes.

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    Sausage Tray Bake

    Sausage tray bake.
    Photo credit: Gluten Free Tranquility.

    This sausage tray bake is full of flavor and requires very little effort. Baked in gravy, it's a great meal for the whole family.

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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, including the pasta. It features frozen meatballs, mozzarella cheese, penne pasta, and your choice of marinara sauce.

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    Ranch Chicken & Potato Casserole

    Ranch potato bake.
    Photo credit: The Food Blog.

    Ranch Chicken and Potato Casserole with broccoli, bacon, and cheese is a warm and filling meal. It's simple to prepare in just one pan, perfect for a laid-back weeknight dinner.

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    Cheesy Baked Spaghetti

    Cheesy Baked Spaghetti.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Cheesy baked spaghetti is a great choice when you want a comforting meal without much effort. With layers of cheesy noodles and tasty meat sauce, it's a filling dish perfect for those laid-back days.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

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

    This dish combines cheesy chicken, pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach for a cozy meal. It's a filling option that's quick to prepare, great for lazy days when you want something tasty with minimal effort.

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    Baked Brie

    A baked brie with bread.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    A baked brie can be ready in just 25 minutes with simple ingredients that you can adjust to your liking. This delicious appetizer goes great with bread or crackers, making it perfect for a relaxed family meal or a casual get-together.

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    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This dinner is all about roasted bone-in chicken, potatoes, garlic, and mushrooms cooked together on one pan, making cleanup a breeze. Just put it in the oven and enjoy a tasty meal without spending much time in the kitchen.

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    Cheesy Baked Olive Dip

    Cheesy Baked Olive Dip.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This olive dip is full of cheesy and salty flavors that everyone loves. It comes together in just 30 minutes and can be made ahead for your next get-together.

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    Baked Ravioli Casserole

    Baked Ravioli Casserole.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This baked ravioli dish comes together in just 20 minutes with minimal prep, as there's no need to boil the ravioli. Using store-bought cheese ravioli makes it a quick dinner choice for busy nights, and it can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer.

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    Mac & Cheese

    A spoonful of cheesy Mac and Cheese.

    Making Mac and Cheese has never been this easy! With just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven you can make the best baked Mac and Cheese - in one pan, without boiling, no flour and no roux. With both Cheddar and Gruyere this is as cheesy & flavor packed as it gets!

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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 flavorful dish that combines spicy buffalo chicken with hidden spinach. You can have a cheesy and filling meal ready in less than an hour with just a little bit of prep.

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    Bacon Potato Casserole

    Bacon Potato Casserole.
    Photo credit: Cleverly Simple.

    This side dish is full of flavor with layers of bacon, potatoes, and cheese. It's an easy recipe that will impress everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is loaded with chicken and broccoli, creating a filling meal that's perfect for enjoying later. It's a simple option for when you want something hearty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

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

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    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 have as leftovers, making it perfect for busy days.

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    More Dump and Bake Recipes

    • Enchilada bake.
      20 Easy Dump-and-Go Dinners for Zero-Stress Nights
    • Ground beef dip.
      24 Ooey-Gooey Cheesy Dump Dinners You Won’t Be Able to Resist
    • Slow cooker enchilada casserole.
      27 Quick and Easy Dinners You Can Just Set and Forget
    • Cranberry chicken.
      18 Dump-and-Go Chicken Dinners That Will Save You 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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