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    Home » Quick & Easy Meals » Dump and Bake Recipes

    28 Dump-And-Cook Chicken Dinners for Exhausted Cooks

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated December 2, 2025 · Published December 10, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    When you're feeling worn out and just want a simple meal, dump-and-cook chicken dinners are the perfect solution. These recipes require minimal prep and let your slow cooker, oven or air fryer do all the work, so you can enjoy a hearty meal without the hassle. From comforting casseroles to flavorful one-pot dishes, these easy chicken dinners will satisfy your hunger with little effort.

    Air Fryer Cornish Hens

    A cornish hen on a plate.
    Image credit: Sarah Cook.

    Air fryer Cornish hens are a quick and tasty option for dinner. They may look fancy, but they're easy to prepare and great for busy evenings.

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    Chicken Posole Stew

    Slow Cooker Recipe With Chicken: Chicken Posole Stew
    Photo Credit: G Free Foodie.

    Chicken Posole Stew is a comforting dish that you can prepare in many ways, but this version is a favorite. The main ingredient is hominy, which is dried corn that has been soaked to remove the hull.

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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 won't need to boil any pasta, and the creamy sauce that develops while it bakes is sure to please.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken and Corn Soup

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Corn Soup.
    Photo Credit: One Pot Only.

    This creamy chicken and corn soup is a comforting dish that everyone enjoys. It's simple to prepare and works well any time of the year, whether you use fresh or frozen corn.

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    Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    A serving of Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This chicken enchilada casserole combines all the delicious flavors of enchiladas in a simple layered dish. It features corn tortillas, lots of cheese, and rich red enchilada sauce, making it a satisfying meal.

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    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup

    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup.
    Photo Credit: Living Sweet Moments.

    This Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup is a simple and satisfying meal that only requires 6 ingredients. It's a great option for busy families looking for an easy dinner.

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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, you end up with a delicious mix of chicken, veggies, and sauce all cooked together.

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    Crock Pot Southwest Chicken Chili

    Crock Pot Southwest Chicken Chili.
    Photo Credit: Happy Simple Living.

    Southwest Chicken Chili is a simple and tasty dish that you can make in a slow cooker. It combines tender chicken with a spicy broth, corn, tomatoes, chipotle chiles, and two types of beans.

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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 when you're too tired to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

    Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup.
    Photo Credit: That Skinny Chick Can Bake.

    Chicken Enchilada Soup is a simple and tasty dish that you can make in a crockpot. It's perfect for cold winter days when you want something warm and comforting.

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    Sheet Pan Drumsticks & Potatoes

    Baked drumsticks.
    Photo credit: Go Healthy Ever After.

    Sheet pan chicken drumsticks and potatoes are simple, healthy, and really tasty. The lemon garlic seasoning adds great flavor, making this a quick dinner option for busy weeknights.

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    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple

    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple is packed with a great mix of spicy and sweet flavors that everyone will enjoy. It's simple to make in just one pan and includes plenty of healthy vegetables.

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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 make in just one pan, making it perfect for a quick dinner on busy weeknights.

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    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This chicken and potato dinner is a simple meal featuring juicy bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, tender potatoes, roasted garlic, and mushrooms all cooked together on one sheet pan. It's an easy option for busy nights, with just 15 minutes of prep before it goes into the oven.

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    Instant Pot Chicken Stew

    Chicken stew.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This chicken stew is super simple to prepare. Just spend 10 minutes getting it ready, then let the Instant Pot do the work, and you'll have a delicious meal with plenty of veggies in under 45 minutes.

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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 hearty comfort meal. It's simple to prepare, perfect for when you're feeling too tired to cook.

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    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes is a tasty meal that you can whip up in under 45 minutes. With a flavorful tomato sauce made from fresh ingredients, this dish is perfect for busy nights.

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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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    Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks

    Chicken drumsticks with dipping sauce.
    Photo credit: Lynn's Way of Life.

    Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks are super tender and packed with flavor. This is a great option for when you want a delicious meal without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Buffalo Chicken Chili

    Buffalo Chicken Chili (Slow Cooker)
    Photo Credit: The Nessy Kitchen.

    This slow cooker buffalo chicken chili is a simple dish that's great for busy weekdays or game days. It blends the classic flavors of chili with the spicy kick of buffalo wings, making it a meal you'll love.

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    Mississippi Chicken

    Mississippi Chicken
    Photo Credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    Mississippi Chicken is a super simple dish you can whip up in a crockpot with just five ingredients. It's a tasty option that pairs well with mashed potatoes, noodles, or rice.

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    Chicken & Veggie Traybake

    Chicken & Veggie Traybake.
    Photo credit: Hungry Healthy Happy.

    This chicken traybake is simple to prepare and all done in one dish with a tasty Mediterranean dressing. It features colorful vegetables and tender chicken thighs, and you can easily change it up to suit your taste.

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    Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

    Instant Pot Chicken Gnocchi Soup
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    This creamy chicken gnocchi soup is simple to make and perfect for a comforting meal. You can use frozen chicken breasts, so it's great for when you don't feel like putting in a lot of effort.

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    Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki

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

    This Honey Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken recipe lets you cook chicken breasts straight from the freezer, saving you time and effort. Just toss in a few simple ingredients, and in 30 minutes, you'll have a delicious meal ready to enjoy.

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    Baked Chicken & Potatoes

    Baked chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

    This baked chicken and potatoes dish is a simple one-pan meal with juicy chicken in a tasty lemon garlic butter sauce, crispy potatoes, and nicely roasted broccoli. It's a wholesome weeknight dinner that doesn't take much work and is sure to please everyone.

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    Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

    Chicken tortillas soup.
    Photo credit: Peas and Crayons.

    This chicken tortilla soup is a hit with the family and is packed with flavor. It's also healthy and can be stored in the freezer for later.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

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

    This is a simple and comforting chicken dish that you can make in your slow cooker. Just toss everything in and let it cook, making homemade curry night a breeze.

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    More Dump and Bake Recipes

    • Baked lamb chops with veggies.
      21 Dump-and-Go Dinners That Make Weeknights Feel Easy
    • A spoonful of chicken fajita casserole.
      26 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Will Simplify Your Life
    • Sheet pan chicken fajitas.
      21 Dump-and-Bake Chicken Recipes Every Busy Cook Needs
    • Chicken tikka masala.
      20 Dump-and-Go Dinners So Easy You’ll Want Them Every Night

    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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