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    Home » Quick & Easy Meals » Dump and Bake Recipes

    22 Easy Dump-And-Go Meals You Can Just Toss Together

    By Emmeline Kemperyd updated January 20, 2026 · Published January 21, 2026 · Leave a Comment

    Sometimes, you just want a meal that's quick and easy without a lot of fuss. These 22 dump-and-go meals are perfect for busy days when you need something simple to throw together. Just toss the ingredients in a pot or slow cooker, and let them do their thing while you focus on other tasks.

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features a filling combination of chicken and broccoli, making it a great choice for a satisfying dinner. It's also perfect for busy nights when you want something easy and delicious.

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    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes dish features a delicious tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes, tomato paste, and oregano. It's a quick and easy meal that you can have on the table in under 45 minutes, perfect for busy evenings.

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    Garlic Lemon Gemelli

    Gemelli Garlic Lemon Pasta.
    Photo credit: The Fresh Cooky.

    This is a simple and delicious garlic lemon pasta that everyone will love. It's quick to prepare and perfect for a family meal.

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    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal with lamb is easy to prepare and full of flavor. The lamb chops absorb the tastes from the veggies, resulting in a juicy and satisfying dish.

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    Slow Cooker Sour Cream & Onion Chicken

    Slow Cooker Sour Cream & Onion Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Quicker Kitchen.

    Slow cooker sour cream and onion chicken is a simple recipe that delivers great flavor with minimal effort. This dish is ideal for anyone who loves the classic taste of sour cream and onion chips.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Mac and Cheese is super easy to make. Just mix everything together, bake it, and you'll have a cheesy, tasty meal with minimal effort.

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    Crockpot Steak Bites with Mushrooms

    Crockpot Steak Bites with Mushrooms
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    These easy Crockpot Steak Bites with mushrooms are made with simple ingredients like beef broth, butter, onion, garlic, beef, and mushrooms. Just throw everything in the slow cooker for a delicious meal that doesn't require much work.

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    Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup

    Slow Cooker Black Bean Soup
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This soup is simple to prepare with just a handful of ingredients and can simmer all day long. It's creamy without using any cream, making it a great option for vegetarians and those avoiding gluten.

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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. With tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it's a dish that everyone will love.

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    Sausage Tray Bake

    Sausage tray bake.
    Photo credit: Gluten Free Tranquility.

    A sausage tray bake with veggies, potatoes, and gravy all cooked together in one pan is a simple and tasty meal. This is a great option for a stress-free dinner that's full of flavor.

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    Vegetarian Burrito Bowls

    Burrito bowl.
    Image credit: Katie Trant.

    Burrito bowls are easy to prepare with this straightforward recipe. Just toss everything together, and you'll have a delicious meal ready in no time.

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    Teriyaki Salmon

    Teriyaki salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is super easy to prepare using either store-bought or homemade teriyaki sauce. It's perfect for a quick and tasty meal.

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    Pesto Salmon

    Pesto salmon on a serving platter.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Pesto Salmon is ready in just 15 minutes and is packed with flavor. Baked with Greek yogurt and pesto, it's a quick meal that's great for busy nights.

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    Farmer's Breakfast Casserole

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

    Prepare this casserole the night before to make your morning easy. It's hearty, tasty, and perfect for brunch - but just as delicious for dinner!

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    Crispy Furikake Salmon

    Fruikake salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon dish is simple and quick to prepare, using just salmon, soy sauce, and furikake seasoning. It's a great option for a stress-free meal that doesn't require much effort.

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    Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

    Photo credit:

    This dinner features pasta, Italian sausage, and a creamy tomato sauce, creating a satisfying meal that's great for busy nights. It's an easy one-pot dish that everyone will enjoy, even the pickiest eaters.

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    Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore

    Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore.
    Photo Credit: Bowl Me Over,

    This dish features tender chicken along with bell peppers, onions, and zucchini all simmered in a tasty Italian sauce. It's a simple recipe that's great for a busy weeknight dinner.

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    Baked Cod in Foil

    A foil pack with cod and potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These simple foil-baked cod packets require very little prep and are a complete meal in one dish. With cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon, it's an easy way to enjoy dinner without much work.

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    Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken

    SLOW COOKER RITZ CHICKEN.
    Photo credit: The Cookin Chicks.

    Tender chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a creamy sauce and topped with a buttery Ritz cracker crust. This dish is great served over rice or noodles.

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    Air Fryer Roast Beef

    Sliced roast beef.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    This Air Fryer Roast Beef is a simple meal that can be ready in under an hour, perfect for busy nights. With a tasty herb coating, it adds great flavor to the juicy and tender meat using just a few basic ingredients.

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    Zucchini Casserole

    Zucchini casserole.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    A simple Zucchini Casserole can be made with fresh vegetables is perfect for a quick meal or side. This dish is easy to prepare and great for busy nights.

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    More Dump and Bake Recipes

    • No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake.
      17 Lazy Day Dinners You Can Just Set, Forget, and Enjoy
    • Creamy Pesto Pasta Bake.
      16 Simple Dump-and-Go Meals for Zero-Stress Dinners
    • Creamy tuna pasta bake.
      21 Easy One-Pan Dinners You Can Set, Forget, and Devour
    • Taco casserole.
      33 Set-and-Forget Dinners That Will Save Your Evening

    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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