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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Hearty Spring Dinners You Can Just Dump, Bake and Devour

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 19, 2025, updated May 15, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Spring is the perfect time to enjoy hearty dinners that are easy to prepare. With just a few ingredients, you can create satisfying meals that require minimal effort—just dump everything in a dish, bake, and enjoy. These 24 recipes are perfect for busy evenings when you want something delicious without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake

    Chicken thigh tray bake.
    Photo credit: Living Lou.

    This chicken thigh tray bake is easy to prepare and great for a quick family dinner, taking less than 45 minutes from start to finish. Just toss chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and carrots together with a tasty marinade and let the oven do the work.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan.
    Photo Credit: Wholly Tasteful.

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan is a simple and impressive meal ready in just 30 minutes. With just a few ingredients, this dish not only looks great but also delivers on flavor.

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    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
    Photo Credit: Busy Day Dinners.

    This simple sheet pan dinner features a tasty mix of ingredients inspired by fresh Mediterranean flavors. It's a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Taco Casserole

    Taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Taco Casserole combines seasoned ground beef, tortillas, enchilada sauce, and cheese into a delicious meal that’s easy to prepare and can be frozen for later. This dish brings all the flavors of taco night together in one convenient bake.

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    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake

    Creamy Tuna Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This tuna pasta bake is creamy and packed with flavor, using canned tuna and mozzarella cheese along with a few easy ingredients. It's a simple dish that you can throw together and enjoy for dinner.

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    Southern Baked Chicken Thighs

    SOUTHERN BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS.
    Photo credit: Healthy Mom Healthy Family.

    This chicken dish is simple and tasty, using just three ingredients. It comes out perfectly crispy and is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    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 satisfying comfort meal. It's simple to prepare and perfect for a hearty dinner.

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    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for anyone who loves cheese and pasta. With a mix of two cheeses, a bit of tang from Gorgonzola, and a nice crunch from walnuts, it’s a simple dish that comes together in under 40 minutes.

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    Beef & Beans Casserole

    Beef & bean casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish features tender beef and beans baked in a tasty tomato sauce, topped with melted Cheddar cheese. It's a satisfying meal that's easy to prepare and perfect for spring dinners.

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    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty, perfect for a cozy meal. It's the kind of comfort food that everyone loves.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Chicken fajitas.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Sheet pan chicken fajitas are packed with flavor and are super easy to prepare. You can have a filling dinner ready in under 30 minutes with this simple dish.

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    Hot Honey Garlic Chicken

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

    Hot honey gives a nice sweet and spicy kick to this Hot Honey Garlic Chicken. It's simple to make in an air fryer or oven.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos into a simple one-dish meal. Packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, it's perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner.

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    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 everyone will enjoy.

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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 filling option for dinner. It's a simple meal that will likely leave you with some leftovers.

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    Spinach Broccoli Skillet

    Spinach Broccoli Skillet.
    Photo Credit: Refresh My Health.

    This dish features spinach and broccoli along with other veggies, creating a tasty and nutritious meal. It's a straightforward way to enjoy these greens while keeping things simple.

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    Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken

    Easy Baked Pesto Mozzarella Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    This baked pesto mozzarella chicken is a quick and tasty dinner option that you can have ready in just 30 minutes. It's low-carb, gluten-free, and uses simple ingredients, making it perfect for busy nights.

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    Baked Gnocchi with Feta and Tomatoes

    Baked Gnocchi with Feta and Tomatoes.
    Photo Credit: Green Bowl 2 Soul.

    Baked gnocchi with feta and tomatoes is a simple and satisfying vegetarian dish that comes together in just 25 minutes. With a mix of soft gnocchi, crunchy veggies, juicy tomatoes, and creamy feta, this meal is a great choice for a quick weeknight dinner that everyone will enjoy.

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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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    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies

    Baked Lemon Salmon on Veggies.
    Photo credit: Oh Sweet Culture Shock.

    This salmon dish is healthy and really simple to make. With fresh lemon slices and herbs, it’s baked to perfection for a delicious dinner any night.

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    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.

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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's really delicious.

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    Enchilada Bake

    Enchilada bake.
    Photo credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

    This Enchilada Bake is simple to make with ingredients you probably already have at home, and it's delicious enough to be a family favorite. You can skip the oven and let your slow cooker do all the work.

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    Baked Chicken Thighs

    Baked Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Baked Chicken Thighs are simple to prepare and packed with flavor, coming out crispy on the outside while staying tender and juicy inside. They're generously seasoned with garlic and herbs for a delicious meal.

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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 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.

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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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