• 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 Satisfying Dump-and-Bake Meals for a Cozy Night In

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on April 7, 2025, updated March 21, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    There's nothing better than a cozy night in with a warm meal. Dump-and-bake recipes are perfect for this, as they require minimal prep and cleanup, allowing you to enjoy your evening without fuss. Here are 21 satisfying meals that you can simply toss together and let the oven do the work.

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

    Gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This simple meal uses just 8 ingredients and is perfect for a tasty dinner any night. Featuring soft gnocchi, crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it’s a dish that everyone will love.

    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

    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 comfort meal. It's simple to prepare, making it perfect for a satisfying dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Mustard & Herb Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs

    Mustard & Herb Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Killing Thyme.

    These sheet pan chicken thighs are coated in a tasty mustard sauce and come with everything you need for a full meal. It's a simple option that requires very little work.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Cheesy chicken and rice casserole dish.
    Photo Credit: Rose Bakes.

    This recipe is a simple, one-pan meal that uses canned soups and ready-made rice mixes. It's great for busy weeknights or whenever you want a comforting dish without much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs

    Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Simply Delicious.

    Baked honey mustard chicken thighs are great for a weeknight meal, offering juicy and tasty chicken with minimal effort. This dish is simple to prepare and always satisfying.

    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 sauce all cooked together in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Apricot Chicken Thighs

    Baked Apricot Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Beyond the Chicken Coop.

    Apricot Chicken combines sweet and savory flavors in a simple dish. Juicy chicken thighs are smothered in a tasty sauce made from apricot preserves, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce, making it a quick and satisfying meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Chili Cheese Dog Skillet Bake

    Chili Cheese Dog Skillet Bake.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This Chili Cheese Dog Skillet Bake is a simple and tasty dish that everyone will enjoy. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without a lot of work.

    Get the Recipe

    Chicken Drumsticks and Potatoes

    Oven Baked One Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    One pan chicken drumsticks and potatoes are a simple and satisfying dinner option for busy nights. With zesty chicken legs and nicely roasted potatoes, you can have a warm meal ready in no time, perfect alongside a fresh green salad.

    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 super 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

    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 is delicious.

    Get the recipe

    Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs

    Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Masala Herb.

    This dish features crispy, juicy chicken thighs that are cooked to perfection. With just four simple ingredients, you can whip this up easily.

    Get the Recipe

    Vegetarian Ravioli Bake

    Ravioli bake.
    Image credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This is a comforting dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's cheesy and packed with flavor!

    Get the recipe

    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake

    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    This no-boil chicken pasta bake is a simple way to get dinner ready with minimal effort. It requires very little prep and delivers a satisfying and hearty meal.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Curried Chicken & Tahini Dressing

    Sheet Pan Curried Chicken & Tahini Dressing.
    Photo Credit: The Peasant's Daughter.

    This quick sheet pan curried chicken is a simple and healthy dinner option that includes a creamy tahini dressing. It features chicken breasts or thighs along with plenty of vegetables and lentils for a flavorful meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Meatball Pasta Bake

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

    This easy-to-make Meatball Pasta Bake is entirely cooked in the oven, including the pasta! Make with frozen meatballs, mozzarella cheese, penne pasta, and your favorite marinara sauce.

    Get the recipe

    Broccoli Casserole

    Broccli casserole.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    This broccoli casserole is a quick and healthy side dish that everyone will enjoy. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights.

    Get the recipe

    White Wine Roasted Chicken Thighs and Leeks

    White Wine Roasted Chicken Thighs and Leeks.
    Photo Credit: Big Delicious Life.

    Roasted chicken thighs with crispy skin and soft leeks come together in a tasty sauce made with white wine, garlic, lemon, butter, and fresh herbs. This one-pan meal is sure to become a favorite for dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Salsa Chicken

    Salsa Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Salsa Chicken is a simple and healthy dish that’s full of flavor. It’s an effortless meal that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy nights.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables

    Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables is a simple and tasty meal that everyone in the family will enjoy. A big sheet pan loaded with your favorite veggies and sausages is just what you need 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 simple to prepare and only take 5 minutes to get ready. With cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon all cooked together, this dish is a complete meal that’s easy to enjoy.

    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.

    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

    • Tortilla soup.
      21 Easy Crockpot Chicken Dinners for Busy Nights
    • Thai coconut skewers.
      22 Easy Recipes to Satisfy Your Takeout Cravings at Home
    • Irish beef stew.
      Set It and Forget It: 26 Easy Beef Dinners for Any Night
    • Walking taco casserole.
      23 Easy Dinner Casseroles That Are Perfect for Any Night

    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