• 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

    22 Dump-And-Cook Chicken Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 15, 2025, updated May 7, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Busy weeknights can make dinner time a challenge, but these 22 dump-and-cook chicken dinners are here to help. With minimal prep and simple ingredients, you can whip up satisfying meals that the whole family will enjoy. These recipes are perfect for those nights when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.

    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This chicken and potato dinner is all made on one pan, featuring juicy chicken, soft potatoes, garlic, and mushrooms. It's quick to prepare and easy to clean up, going into the oven in just 15 minutes.

    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

    Garlic Parmesan Sheet Pan Drumsticks

    Garlic Parmesan Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo credit: xoxoBella.

    Oven-baked chicken drumsticks are a great option for a quick dinner that won't take much time to clean up. With delicious flavors like garlic, parmesan, red pepper, and parsley, this dish is sure to please everyone.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

    Slow Cooker Crack Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    Enjoy a rich and cheesy Slow Cooker Crack Chicken that's packed with flavor. This dish combines shredded chicken, cream cheese, Ranch seasoning, and bacon for an easy and satisfying meal any night of the week.

    Get the Recipe

    Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken

    Chicken thighs and pineapple sauce in a bowl.
    Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

    Hawaiian Chicken combines sweet and spicy flavors for a delicious meal. With just four simple ingredients, this is a quick and easy dinner option.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Cornish Game Hens

    Cornish Game Hens Crockpot Recipe
    Photo Credit: Food Folks and Fun.

    Slow Cooker Cornish Hens are easy to make and full of flavor. The hens and vegetables cook together in the Crockpot, creating a complete meal with minimal effort.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Lemons & Zest.

    Slow Cooker BBQ Shredded Chicken is a great option for busy weeknights. With just about 10 minutes of prep, it's perfect for making pulled BBQ sandwiches and the leftovers freeze nicely.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry

    Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Sheet Pan Chicken Stir Fry is an easy and quick dinner that everyone will love. Using a sheet pan means you can prepare it with minimal effort and without the need to keep stirring.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

    tikka masala in a bowl with rice.
    Photo credit: Hungry Healthy Happy.

    This British-style chicken curry is simple to prepare. Just throw everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake

    Chicken thigh tray bake.
    Photo credit: Living Lou.

    This chicken tray bake is perfect for a quick family dinner on busy nights and takes less than 45 minutes to prepare. Simply roast chicken thighs along with Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots in a flavorful marinade.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken cacciatore with pasta.
    Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This Italian chicken dish is an easy way to make dinner without much effort, and it develops a deep flavor as it cooks. Pair it with pasta, polenta, or mashed potatoes for a filling meal any night.

    Get the recipe

    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 who need a quick and healthy meal. Just mix everything together, bake it, and you’ll have a tasty dinner with minimal effort.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies

    Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies.
    Photo credit: This DIY Life.

    This one-pot chicken dish is an easy way to simplify your weeknight meals. It combines tender chicken, potatoes, and vegetables, all cooked together with tasty seasonings.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish combines chicken and broccoli for a filling meal that's easy to prepare. It's perfect for busy weeknights and you'll have enough leftovers to enjoy later.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo

    Chicken alfredo on a plate.
    Photo credit: Corrie Cooks.

    This dish combines creamy Alfredo sauce with tender chicken and perfectly cooked penne pasta for a satisfying meal. It's a quick and easy way to enjoy dinner without much work.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot Chicken and Potato dish is a simple and delicious meal that you can prepare in under 45 minutes. With a flavorful tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, and oregano, it’s perfect for busy evenings.

    Get the recipe

    Hot Honey Garlic Chicken

    Hot Honey Garlic Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Garlic All Day.

    Hot honey gives this Hot Honey Garlic Chicken a nice blend of sweetness and spice. It's simple to make in an air fryer or oven.

    Get the Recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki.
    Photo credit: Frugal Family Times.

    Honey Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken is a simple dish that lets you cook frozen chicken without thawing it first. Just add the ingredients, and in 30 minutes, you’ll have a delicious dinner ready to enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Ranch Chicken & Potato Casserole

    Ranch potato bake.
    Photo credit: The Food Blog.

    Ranch Chicken and Potato Casserole with broccoli, bacon, and cheese is a comforting meal that's easy to prepare. Since everything cooks in one pan, it's a great option for a quick weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew

    Chicken stew.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot Chicken Stew is easy to prepare and packed with veggies. After just 10 minutes of prep, it cooks itself and you'll have a tasty meal ready in under 45 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan dinner is great for busy weeknights. It’s easy to prepare with just a little bit of chopping, bringing together chicken, veggies, and sauce all in one pan for a tasty meal.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken

    Sheet pan prosciutto wrapped chicken.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This easy sheet pan chicken is wrapped in prosciutto, making it a quick and tasty option for dinner. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without a lot of work.

    Get the recipe

    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 into one tasty meal. It's a simple and quick option that helps you spend less time cooking during the week.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
      22 No-Fuss Pasta Dinners That Almost Cook Themselves
    • Gnocchi soup.
      24 Simple Crockpot Dinners That Get the Job Done
    • Cheeseburger tater tot casserole.
      23 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes to Make When You’d Rather Not Cook
    • Spinach chicken artichoke casserole.
      25 Dump and Bake Dinners That Are Perfect for Weeknights

    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

    • Hot honey garlic chicken.
      22 Dump-And-Cook Chicken Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine
    • Sheet pan roast pork tenderloin.
      29 Easy Dinners So Good Your Family Will Be Begging for Seconds
    • Chicken bacon ranch pasta salad.
      20 Summer Dinner Salads for Busy Evenings
    • Taco casserole.
      25 Lazy Dinner Casseroles That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    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