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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    19 Easy Dump and Bake Dinners for Busy Families

    Published: Mar 29, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Finding time to cook can be a challenge for busy families, but dump and bake dinners make it easy to put a meal on the table with minimal effort. These simple recipes require little prep and can be tossed together in one dish, making cleanup a breeze. With 19 easy options to choose from, you can enjoy a variety of flavors without spending hours in the kitchen.

    No Boil Rigatoni and Meatball Casserole

    No Boil Rigatoni and Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cooking with Carlee.

    This no-boil rigatoni and meatball casserole is a simple way to get dinner ready with minimal effort. It's a satisfying and hearty meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Salmon Oreganata

    Baked salmon with crispy topping.
    Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

    This sheet pan dinner is easy to prepare, especially on days when you just want to relax. With a crunchy topping and lively flavors, it's bound to please everyone at the table.

    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 and your favorite toppings, then bake for a quick and comforting dinner that pairs well with crusty bread.

    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

    Spinach Artichoke Chicken Casserole

    A casserole dish full of spinach artichoke casserole.
    Photo credit: Nibble and Dine.

    This creamy casserole combines rotisserie chicken and frozen veggies, making it super easy to prepare. You can have it ready in under an hour.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Ravioli Casserole

    Baked Ravioli Casserole.
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This baked ravioli casserole is quick to prepare, taking only about 20 minutes from start to finish with just 5 minutes of prep. Using store-bought cheese ravioli, it's a simple dinner option that works well even on the busiest nights and can be made ahead and stored in the fridge or freezer.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

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

    This sheet pan dinner 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

    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

    Tuna Sushi Bake

    Tuna Sushi Bake on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: Piper Cooks.

    This easy sushi bake combines rice, canned tuna, slivered nori, and a spicy mayo drizzle. It's a simple dish that's great for weeknight dinners or meal prep, and works well for gatherings.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    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 definitely provide leftovers. It's a simple and satisfying option for dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Ravioli Lasagna

    Easy Mexican Ravioli Lasagna
    Photo Credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This Mexican Lasagna uses ravioli to create delicious layers without needing to thaw anything. It's great for quick dinners with just a handful of ingredients!

    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 in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzla mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    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 everyone will love.

    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

    Maple Mustard Salmon

    Maple Mustard Salmon - Sheet Pan Dinner
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Maple mustard salmon is a super easy dinner that you can have ready in just 40 minutes, with most of that time spent letting it roast in the oven. The sweet and tangy maple Dijon sauce pairs perfectly with cubed sweet potatoes, crunchy Brussels sprouts, and fresh salmon, making it a satisfying meal for the whole family.

    Get the recipe

    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 and satisfying meal. It's a simple option that requires minimal effort 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 is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

    Get the recipe

    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    Ravioli casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    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

    More Recipe Roundups

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      20 Simple Steak Dinners You Can Start Right Now
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      26 Rich Pasta Recipes Perfect for This Week's Menu
    • Vegan gnocchi soup.
      28 Dump-and-Cook Recipes Your Whole Family Will Love
    • Fajita casserole.
      22 Hearty Toss-and-Bake Meals You Can Make Real Quick
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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 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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