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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    27 Effortless Dump-And-Cook Dinners to Cozy Up With

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on February 11, 2025, updated January 22, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    After a long day, the last thing anyone wants is to spend hours in the kitchen. These 27 easy dump-and-cook dinners are perfect for those cozy nights when you want a warm meal without the fuss. Just toss the ingredients together, let them cook, and enjoy a comforting dinner with minimal effort.

    Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread

    Cheesy Beans on Toasted Garlic Bread
    Photo Credit: Style and Grace.

    Dinner can be ready in 20 minutes with just a few ingredients. These Easy Cheesy beans are baked in tasty marinara sauce and topped with a delicious layer of melted mozzarella.

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    Crockpot Chicken Bacon & Ranch Tater Tot Casserole

    Crockpot Chicken Bacon & Ranch Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Our Love Language is Food.

    This slow cooker casserole puts a fun spin on the classic tater tot dish many people love. With chicken, bacon, ranch, and tater tots, it’s perfect for a cozy meal on a chilly day.

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    Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

    Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken.
    Photo credit: Dinner at the Zoo.

    Chicken breasts are cooked with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and honey, then shredded and topped with the flavorful sauce. This is an easy and satisfying dinner that you can serve over rice.

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    Ground Beef Chili

    Ground Beef Chili.
    Photo Credit: The Rustic Foodie.

    This chili is made in the slow cooker with beans, corn, and peppers, bringing a taste of the Southwest to your table. It's a healthy option that's perfect for chilly days.

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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 cozy dinner any night. With tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it’s a dish that everyone will love.

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    Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

    Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup is a warm and comforting dish perfect for chilly days. With a blend of apples and a hint of garam masala, it’s easy to prepare and can be frozen for later, making it a great starter for Thanksgiving.

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    Slow Cooker Taco Soup

    Slow Cooker Taco Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This soup is simple to make in the slow cooker and packed with flavor. It features fire roasted corn, fresh salsa, and whole black olives.

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    Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

    Photo credit: The Fresh Cooky.

    This dinner is super simple and full of great flavor. Pasta and Italian sausage come together in a creamy tomato sauce for a filling one-pot meal that everyone in the family 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 hearty meal that will fill you up. It's perfect for cold weather and you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake

    A creamy pesto pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This creamy pesto pasta bake is rich and cheesy, all made in one pan. It comes together in under an hour and has a flavor that rivals your favorite restaurant dish.

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    Slow Cooker Beef Rendang

    Slow Cooker Beef Rendang.
    Photo Credit: Garlic All Day.

    Just toss everything into the Crock-Pot and let it cook for a few hours. You'll return to a hearty and flavorful beef stew that's perfect for chilly days.

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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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    Southwestern Cheesy Chicken Pasta

    Southwestern Cheesy Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This Southwestern Cheesy Chicken Pasta features tender chicken, tasty spices, and a creamy sauce that everyone will enjoy. It's a simple dinner option that elevates your pasta experience.

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    Crockpot Steak Bites

    Crockpot Steak Bites
    Photo Credit: Easy Family Recipes.

    Crockpot Steak Bites are a simple and affordable way to enjoy tender beef without spending much. This easy slow cooker meal is ready with just a few minutes of prep, and the flavorful au jus is perfect for dipping with some crusty bread.

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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 easy to prepare and full of flavor, taking just 5 minutes to get ready. With cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon all cooked together, this is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

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    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti

    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This is a great dump-and-cook meal for busy weeknights. With familiar flavors that everyone in the family will enjoy, this simple dinner is bound to be a regular favorite.

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    Zuppa Toscana

    Zuppa Toscana.
    Photo Credit: Easy and Delish.

    This Copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana is a comforting dish that you can prepare on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, or with an Instant Pot. Packed with hearty vegetables, Parmesan cheese, bacon, and Italian sausage, it's a satisfying meal for chilly days.

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    Mexican Ravioli Lasagna

    Easy Mexican Ravioli Lasagna
    Photo Credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This simple Mexican Lasagna uses ravioli to create tasty layers. It's perfect for busy nights because you can layer the frozen ravioli straight from the package.

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    Slow Cooker Meatloaf

    Slow Cooker Meatloaf.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker meatloaf is a simple and tasty dish that you can prepare without using the oven. With just a few classic ingredients, it’s perfect for cozy meals during the colder months.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This cheesy mac and cheese is made in just one dish, so there's no need to pre-cook anything. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s a simple and comforting meal that’s perfect for chilly days.

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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, perfect for a cozy meal. It's a simple and satisfying option for chilly days.

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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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    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Mayo

    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Mayo.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker mayo chicken is packed with flavor and is sure to please everyone at the table, including the kids. It's an easy dish that requires minimal effort, making it perfect for chilly days.

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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. With just a little chopping to begin, everything cooks together with chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce for a delicious meal.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    A tater tot casserole with chicken and bacon is perfect for a cozy meal. This dish cooks in the slow cooker for 5 hours, giving you a hearty dinner with minimal effort.

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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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    Slow Cooker Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Somebody Feed Seb.

    Looking for a hearty, easy meal? Try this Slow Cooker Goulash recipe with tender chunks of beef wrapped in a rich tomato sauce. This Hungarian Beef Stew is perfect for busy weeknights—minimal prep, all the flavour, and no extra work in the evening!

    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.

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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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