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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Easy Dump and Bake Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on February 11, 2025, updated February 5, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Busy weeknights can make dinner time feel like a challenge, but with these 22 easy dump and bake dinner ideas, you can have a satisfying meal on the table with minimal effort. These recipes require little prep and use simple ingredients, making them perfect for those hectic evenings when you want to spend less time cooking and more time relaxing. From casseroles to one-pan dishes, these meals are sure to please the whole family.

    Meatball Pasta Bake

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

    This Meatball Pasta Bake is a simple dish that cooks all in one go in the oven, including the pasta. It uses frozen meatballs, mozzarella cheese, penne pasta, and your choice of marinara sauce.

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    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    Chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This casserole combines the tasty flavors of chicken fajitas in a simple baked dish. It includes protein-rich black beans and quinoa, all mixed right in the baking dish without any pre-cooking.

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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 great comfort food option. It's really easy to prepare and only requires one pan, making it perfect for a quick dinner on busy weeknights.

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    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, everything cooks together with chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce for a delicious one-pan meal.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will definitely provide leftovers. It's a simple option for a satisfying dinner that doesn't require much effort.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare and ready in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Baked BBQ Chicken

    Baked BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    This chicken dish is a great choice for a weeknight meal. Juicy chicken thighs are covered in a tasty glaze that everyone will enjoy.

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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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    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.

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    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.

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.

    This tortellini casserole is any cheese and pasta lover's dream. With two types of cheese, a nice tang from Gorgonzola, and perfect crunch from walnuts. All done in under 40 minutes, this is as easy as it gets!

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    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.

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    Baked Ranch Chicken

    Baked ranch chicken on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This recipe creates a creamy sauce while it bakes. Enjoy tender chicken covered in a tasty gravy and topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs.

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    Ranch Sheet Pan Chicken & Veggies

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

    This simple sheet pan chicken dinner with vegetables is great for busy families looking for a healthy meal. Just toss everything together, bake it, and serve—it's really that straightforward!

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts

    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs with Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts.
    Photo credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs are packed with delicious flavors and plenty of veggies, making it a satisfying low-carb dinner. This dish is perfect for the whole family to enjoy.

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    Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

    A spoonful of Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This casserole is filled with creamy chicken, mixed veggies, and topped with crispy tater tots. You can prepare it in advance and freeze it for later, or bake it right away for a meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

    Farmer’s Breakfast Casserole.
    Photo credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This casserole can be prepared the night before, so your morning is a breeze. It's filling and delicious, making it a great choice for brunch.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs & Sweet Potatoes

    Sheet pan chicken thighs.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This comforting and filling dish is simple to prepare using ingredients you probably already have at home. It comes together quickly, cooking in just 30 minutes.

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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 served hot or cold!

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    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 is a complete dinner in one dish.

    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 and satisfying meal. It's a simple option that requires minimal effort to prepare.

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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 great option for busy weeknights. Just combine some canned beans with pizza sauce and your favorite toppings, then bake for a quick and comforting dinner that pairs well with crusty bread.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Gnocchi soup.
      20 Lazy Crockpot Dinners We’re Making All Summer Long
    • Ritz chicken.
      18 Quick and Easy Slow Cooker Dinners You Can Just Dump, Cook and Enjoy
    • Beef and potato hot pot.
      24 Layer and Bake Dinners to Make With Ground Beef
    • No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
      Set It and Forget It: Simple Recipes for Stress-Free Cooking

    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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