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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    23 Cheap Meal Prep Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on September 12, 2025, updated September 10, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    These 23 cheap meal prep dinners are perfect for busy weeknights. Just dump the ingredients in a dish, bake, and enjoy a satisfying meal without the fuss. Save time and money while still enjoying delicious home-cooked food.

    Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

    A casserole dish full of spinach artichoke casserole.
    Photo credit: Nibble and Dine.

    This creamy casserole combines rotisserie chicken and frozen vegetables, making it super easy to prepare. You can have it ready in less than an hour, from beginning to end. It's a simple and satisfying meal that fits perfectly into a busy schedule.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something simple and delicious. With just a little chopping at the beginning, everything cooks together in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. You'll enjoy tender chicken, flavorful veggies, and a tasty sauce all in one dish.

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    Baked Gnocchi with Frozen Veggies

    Baked gnocchi with vegetables on a Dutch oven.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This is an easy one-pan dinner that requires no chopping. With frozen mixed vegetables and a creamy cheese sauce, it’s a comforting meal that the whole family will enjoy. You’ll be surprised at how simple it is to put together.

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    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

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

    This simple meal comes together with just 8 ingredients, making it perfect for a quick dinner any night. Featuring tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it offers a great mix of flavors and textures. It's an easy dish that you'll likely want to make again and again.

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    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This one pan chicken and potatoes dinner features juicy roasted chicken thighs and drumsticks, along with tender potatoes, whole cloves of roasted garlic, and button mushrooms, all cooked together on a single sheet pan. It’s a simple meal that cuts down on cleanup, and you can have it in the oven in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Sheet Pan Kielbasa & Veggies

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

    This dinner is simple and easy, all cooked on one sheet pan. You can choose any sausage and vegetables you like, making it versatile for your taste. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Tuscan Chicken Bake

    Tuscan Chicken Bake.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    The Tuscan chicken bake is a creamy and cheesy dish that’s full of flavor. It combines chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach with pasta, all baked together in a rich coconut milk and cheese sauce. This is a great option for weeknight dinners or a cozy weekend meal, and it’s sure to be a hit with everyone at the table.

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    Pesto Chickpea Bake

    Pesto Chickpea Bake.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This chickpea casserole is a great way to use up any vegetables you have lying around. Just throw your veggies into a baking dish, add some chickpeas and pesto, top it with cheese, and bake it. It’s a hearty vegetarian dish that goes well with bread or can be enjoyed as a side.

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    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This pizza pasta bake is perfect for busy nights when you need something simple and satisfying. You can throw everything together right in the pan, and there's no need to cook the pasta beforehand. With its cheesy goodness and delicious pizza flavors, it's a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    Sheet Pan Roasted Greek Chicken with Garlic Potatoes

    Sheet Pan Roasted Greek Chicken with Garlic Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    Sheet Pan Roasted Greek Chicken with Garlic Potatoes is a simple and tasty dish that everyone will enjoy. This meal comes together in one pan, making cleanup a breeze. With its flavorful ingredients, it’s perfect for a family dinner without taking up too much of your time.

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    Vegetarian Gnocchi Bake

    Baked gnocchi.
    Image credit: Katie Trant.

    This is a simple and satisfying meal that you can prepare with minimal effort. Just throw everything together, bake it, and enjoy a hearty dish that everyone will love. Perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    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 combined with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, creating a hearty meal that's simple to prepare. It's perfect for those evenings when you want something comforting without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just mix everything together, bake it, and enjoy a satisfying dinner.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen. Plus, you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Cheesy Chicken

    Cheesy Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Fantabulosity.

    Cheesy chicken is a simple and popular casserole that everyone in the family will enjoy. This dish is great for weeknight dinners when you want something tasty without spending too much time in the kitchen. With baked cheesy chicken breast, you can create a meal that your family will look forward to having again and again.

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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 only four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it prepped in just five minutes and on the table in under 40 minutes. It's perfect for busy days when you want a quick and satisfying meal.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice is a flavorful dish that brings together spices, juicy chicken, and melted cheese. This casserole is packed with deliciousness and is sure to be a hit with everyone at the table. It's a simple meal that makes dinner enjoyable for the whole family.

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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 pop it in the oven. In about 30 minutes, you’ll have a warm and satisfying dinner that pairs nicely with a loaf of crusty bread.

    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. Just put everything together and let the oven do the work.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    Chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This casserole brings the delicious flavors of chicken fajitas right to your dinner table with minimal effort. It combines protein-rich black beans and quinoa, and you don’t even have to cook anything beforehand. Just mix everything in the baking dish and let the oven do the work. It’s a tasty and straightforward meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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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. You can enjoy it hot right out of the oven or let it cool and have it cold later. It's a great option for a quick meal that doesn't require boiling any pasta.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole brings all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying meal. Perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe is simple and requires minimal effort.

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    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake

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

    This chicken pasta bake is a simple way to get dinner ready without much effort. With minimal prep, you can throw everything together and let it bake in the oven. It’s a satisfying meal that will fill you up and keep everyone happy.

    Get the recipe

    Bean & Pasta Casserole

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

    This vegetarian casserole is a comforting mix of white beans, pasta, and cherry tomatoes. It's a filling dish that’s great for a healthy dinner. With its simple ingredients, it’s easy to prepare and perfect for any night of the week.

    Get the recipe

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    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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