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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    Say Goodbye to Complicated Cooking: Try These 22 Dump-and-Bake Dinners Instead

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 4, 2025, updated April 22, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Cooking can often feel overwhelming, especially after a long day. Dump-and-bake dinners are a simple solution that allows you to prepare a satisfying meal with minimal effort. Just toss your ingredients together, pop them in the oven, and enjoy a delicious dinner without the fuss.

    No Boil Stuffed Pepper Casserole

    No Boil Stuffed Pepper Casserole on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Piper Cooks.

    This easy casserole combines bell peppers, navy beans, long-grain white rice, and a tasty tomato sauce with Italian spices. It's a simple dish that fits perfectly into busy weeknights.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This mac and cheese is made in one dish, so there's no need to pre-cook anything. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s incredibly cheesy and simple to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    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 dish is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    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 simple to prepare and packed with flavor that everyone will enjoy. This one-pan meal means less mess and more time to relax.

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    Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

    A spoonful of Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This casserole has everything you need with creamy chicken, mixed veggies, and a crunchy layer of tater tots on top. You can prepare it in advance and freeze it for later, or bake it right away for a comforting meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is super simple to prepare. In just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven, you can enjoy a delicious one-pan dish loaded with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake

    Chicken broccoli bake on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: From Valerie's Kitchen.

    This chicken, broccoli, and rice casserole is super easy to make since everything goes into one dish. It's a great option for busy days when you want a simple meal.

    Get the recipe

    One Pan Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Healthy Seasonal Recipes.

    This chicken and potatoes dinner is a simple one-pan meal featuring juicy chicken thighs and drumsticks, tender potatoes, roasted garlic, and mushrooms all cooked together. It’s quick to prepare, taking just 15 minutes to get everything in the oven, which means less cleanup afterward.

    Get the recipe

    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 plenty of sauce all cooked together.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

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

    This easy meal comes together with just 8 ingredients, perfect for a tasty dinner any night. Featuring tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, this dish is sure to be a hit.

    Get the recipe

    No Boil Baked Ziti

    No Boil Baked Ziti
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    Enjoy all of the goodness of baked ziti with a fraction of the prep work! You don't have to boil the noodles or brown the meat, just layer it up and bake it to perfection.

    Get the recipe

    Monterey Chicken Casserole

    Monterey Chicken Casserole.
    Photo credit: Zona's Lazy Recipes.

    This casserole is quick and simple to prepare. With tangy BBQ sauce, tender chicken, smoky bacon, and rich Monterey Jack cheese, it’s a meal that everyone in the family will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    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 delicious.

    Get the recipe

    Vegetarian Gnocchi Bake

    Baked gnocchi.
    Image credit: Katie Trant.

    This is a simple and satisfying way to enjoy a hearty meal. Dump-and-bake dinners are perfect for busy weeknights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    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, throw on your favorite toppings, and bake for a quick and comforting meal that pairs well with crusty bread, all in just 30 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Old Fashioned Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken baked on top of rice.
    Photo credit: Food Folks and Fun.

    Chicken and Rice Casserole is a classic dish that everyone loves. With well-seasoned chicken and perfectly cooked rice, this is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

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    Million Dollar Chicken Casserole

    Million dollar casserole.
    Photo credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This casserole combines shredded chicken, cream cheese, and cream of chicken soup, all topped with buttery Ritz crackers. It's a simple and satisfying dish that's perfect for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Chicken Caprese

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan.
    Photo Credit: Wholly Tasteful.

    Chicken Caprese Sheet Pan is a simple and eye-catching meal that can be ready in just 30 minutes. With just a few ingredients, this dish is both easy to prepare and full of flavor.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

    Shrimp boil with sausage and baby corn.
    Photo Credit: Like Hot Keto.

    This sheet pan seafood boil is full of Cajun flavor and is easy to make in the oven. It features shrimp and Creole spiced andouille sausages for a delicious meal.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    A chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This chicken fajita casserole is an easy one-pan meal that brings the flavors of comfort food right to your table. It's also great for leftovers, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe

    Meatball Pasta Bake

    Meatball Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Beyond the Chicken Coop.

    The Meatball Pasta Bake is a simple dish that cooks all in one go in the oven, including the pasta. It features frozen meatballs, mozzarella cheese, penne pasta, and your choice of marinara sauce.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Pesto pasta bake.
      26 Cheap & Easy Casseroles That Will Transform Your Weeknight Meals
    • Chicken tikka masala.
      19 Slow Cooker Dinners That Will Make Your Kids Cheer
    • 23 Deliciously Simple Dinners You Can Set and Forget
    • A broccoli casserole.
      Make Meal Prep Easy with These Vegetable-Packed Dishes

    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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