• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Roundups

    21 Lazy Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 21, 2025, updated April 22, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    After a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. These 21 easy dinner ideas are perfect for those nights when you just want to throw everything together, pop it in the oven, and relax. With minimal prep and cleanup, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without the hassle.

    Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables

    Sheet pan chicken and vegetables.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Sheet Pan Chicken and Vegetables is an easy way to whip up a healthy and filling meal. It's great for busy weeknights when you need something quick and tasty.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread

    Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread
    Photo Credit: Style and Grace.

    Dinner can be ready in just 20 minutes with only a few ingredients. These Easy Cheesy Beans are baked in tasty marinara sauce and topped with a delicious layer of melted mozzarella.

    Get the recipe

    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This mac and cheese is made in one dish, so there's no need to pre-cook anything. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s incredibly cheesy and simple to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This is a simple and satisfying meal that you can prepare in under 30 minutes. It combines the creamy goodness of mac and cheese with the flavors of chicken and broccoli in a delicious way.

    Get the Recipe

    One-Pan Maple Dijon Chicken

    One-Pan Maple Dijon Chicken
    Photo Credit: Simply Stacie.

    This dish features tender chicken paired with butternut squash, purple potatoes, and broccoli, all cooked together on a single pan. It's a simple and healthy meal that's perfect for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    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 dish is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

    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, this dish is sure to be a hit.

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Winding Creek Ranch.

    This simple meatball casserole combines uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, and marinara sauce into a tasty one-pan meal. Just layer the ingredients in a dish and let the oven handle the cooking.

    Get the Recipe

    Bean & Pasta Casserole

    Bean & Pasta Casserole.
    Photo credit: Hurry The Food Up.

    This vegetarian casserole features hearty white beans, filling pasta, and juicy cherry tomatoes, creating a comforting meal. It's a healthy and satisfying option for dinner.

    Get the recipe

    One Pan Falafel Bake

    Falafel bake on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This easy one-pan dinner is both simple and delicious. With premade falafel, beans, tomatoes, kale, and a cheesy topping, this vegetarian casserole is a comforting dish you'll want to make regularly.

    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’s delicious.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    No Boil Cheesy Ham and Macaroni Casserole

    No Boil Cheesy Ham and Macaroni Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cooking with Carlee.

    Cheesy ham and macaroni casserole is creamy and satisfying. It’s super easy to make and is a great option for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Kielbasa & Veggies

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

    This dinner is simple and all cooked on one sheet pan. You can mix and match any sausage and vegetables you like!

    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

    Mexican Ravioli Lasagna

    Easy Mexican Ravioli Lasagna
    Photo Credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This simple Mexican Lasagna uses ravioli to create tasty layers without any fuss. It's perfect for busy nights because you can just layer the ingredients without needing to thaw the ravioli first.

    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 spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Meatball Casserole

    Meatball casserole served on a dish.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    This Meatball Casserole is a filling and tasty dish that combines tender meatballs and pasta, all baked together in a creamy marinara sauce with cheese. It's a great option for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Cajun Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Cajun chicken pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Practically Homemade.

    Cajun flavors are always a hit, and this casserole is super easy to prepare. You can skip boiling the pasta, and as it bakes, a creamy sauce comes together that you'll really enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken And Rice Casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This chicken and rice casserole is a cozy dish that's simple to prepare. It's a great option for a satisfying meal any night of the week.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Steak potatoes and corn in slow cooker.
      20 Dump-and-Cook Recipes for a Relaxed Memorial Day Feast
    • White bean panzanella salad.
      19 Easy Summer Salads Perfect for Picnics and BBQs
    • A plate of shrimp ceasar pasta salad.
      22 Easy Ideas for Spring Pasta Dinners
    • Crockpot lasagna.
      18 Simple Slow Cooker Meals Your Family Will Love

    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Air Fryer Roast Beef
    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach
    • Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake [Dump and bake!]
    • sliced rib eye steak topped with salt
      How to Cook a Rib Eye Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet (3 Methods)

    Popular Articles

    • Baked lamb chops with veggies.
      21 Lazy Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour
    • Meatball casserole.
      21 Cheap Dinner Casseroles We Can’t Stop Making
    • Patty melt.
      14 Stupid Simple Summer Ground Beef Recipes That Will Make You Love Cooking Again
    • Braised short ribs.
      18 Easy Crockpot Dishes for a Stress-Free Memorial Day Celebration

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB