• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Air Fryer Mom
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air Fryer Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    24 Dump-and-Cook Dinners That Skip the Prep Work

    Published: May 19, 2026 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

    • Facebook
    • Email

    If you're looking for easy dinner ideas that won't take up your evening, these 24 dump-and-cook recipes are perfect for you. With minimal prep and simple ingredients, you can have a delicious meal ready with hardly any effort. These dishes are great for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake

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

    This Chicken Broccoli Rice Bake is simple to prepare and everything cooks together in one dish. It's a great option for busy days when you want a hearty meal without much effort.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup

    Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This filling soup is packed with tender beef, veggies, and barley in a tasty broth. Just toss everything into the slow cooker, let it simmer all day, and you'll come home to a warm and comforting meal.

    Get the recipe

    Pork and Hatch Green Chile Stew

    Pork and Hatch Green Chile Stew
    Photo Credit: Beyond Mere Sustenance.

    This dish features tender pork cubes simmered with spicy Hatch green chiles, creating a flavorful stew that's perfect for serving over rice, polenta, or in tortillas. It's an easy main dish that you can prepare and let cook on its own, bringing a taste of New Mexico to your table.

    Get the recipe

    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 rich tomato sauce made from fresh ingredients, this is a simple dinner option for busy nights.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables

    A bowl of Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables.
    Photo Credit: Dancing Through the Rain.

    This dinner is quick and easy, ready in under thirty minutes. Packed with mushrooms, leeks, kale, and more, it's a tasty one-pan meal.

    Get the recipe

    No Boil Chicken Pasta Bake

    A spoonful of pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Cooking With Carlee.

    This no-boil chicken pasta bake is a simple way to get dinner ready with minimal effort. It requires very little prep and delivers a satisfying and hearty meal.

    Get the recipe

    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. Featuring soft gnocchi, crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it's a dish that everyone will love.

    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

    Crock Pot Creamy Buffalo Chicken Soup

    Crock Pot Creamy Buffalo Chicken Soup.
    Photo Credit: Whiskful Cooking.

    Crock Pot Creamy Buffalo Chicken Soup combines spicy hot sauce, tender chicken, and sweet corn in a rich and creamy soup. It brings all the great flavors of chicken wings into an easy-to-make dish.

    Get the Recipe

    Juicy Slow Cooker Corned Beef

    Juicy Slow Cooker Corned Beef.
    Photo Credit: The Kitchen Girl.

    Slow cooker corned beef is an easy way to prepare a classic corned beef and cabbage meal. Cooking it slowly makes the meat really tender and flavorful.

    Get the Recipe

    Mexican Ravioli Lasagna

    Easy Mexican Ravioli Lasagna
    Photo Credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This Mexican Lasagna is made with ravioli, creating delicious layers without the need to thaw anything. It's great for quick dinners and only requires a few ingredients.

    Get the recipe

    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for anyone who loves cheese and pasta. With a mix of two cheeses, a bit of tang from Gorgonzola, and a nice crunch from walnuts, it's a simple dish that comes together in under 40 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

    Chicken tikka masala served over white rice.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This slow cooker version of Chicken Tikka Masala is perfect for busy weekdays when you want an easy, delicious, Indian-inspired meal and don't want to splurge for takeout. Toss it all into your appliance, and enjoy!

    Get the recipe

    One Pot Burrito Bowl

    Burrito bowl.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Nap Time.

    These Mexican burrito bowls are simple to make and only require one pot, so cleanup is quick and easy. They're a great option for busy nights when you want a tasty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    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

    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

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

    This cheesy mac and cheese is made in one dish with no need to pre-cook anything. Just mix everything together, bake it, and enjoy a comforting meal that's packed with mozzarella and gorgonzola.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Potato Soup With Ham

    Slow Cooker Potato Soup.
    Photo Credit: Melissa's Southern Style Kitchen.

    Cheesy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with ham is a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. Pair it with some crusty bread for a cozy and satisfying meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker No-Bean Chili

    Slow Cooker No-Bean Chili.
    Photo Credit: The Short Order Cook.

    This chili combines ground beef and crispy bacon with tasty toppings for a hearty and comforting meal. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without a lot of work.

    Get the Recipe

    Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

    Crockpot Beef Stroganoff.
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff is a hearty dish that's full of flavor and super tender. It's great for busy weeknights but tasty enough to impress guests.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty, perfect for a cozy meal. It's the kind of comfort food that everyone loves.

    Get the recipe

    Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta

    Hearty Italian White Bean Soup with Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This Italian white bean soup is perfect for a cozy night in. Made in the crockpot, it combines creamy coconut milk, sun-dried tomatoes, pasta, white cannellini beans, and fresh spinach for a healthy and filling meal that's great for busy weeknights.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Cheesy chicken and rice casserole dish.
    Photo Credit: Rose Bakes.

    This recipe uses canned soups and pre-made rice mixes to create a simple meal. It's great for busy weeknights when you want something comforting without putting in a lot of effort.

    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 a simple and tasty meal that everyone will enjoy. This one-pan dish is quick to prepare and leaves you with less mess to clean up.

    Get the Recipe

    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    Chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This casserole combines the tasty flavors of chicken fajitas into an easy baked dinner. It uses protein-rich black beans and quinoa, and you can mix everything right in the baking dish without any extra cooking.

    Get the recipe

    More Dump and Go Meals

    • Chicken barley soup.
      22 Dump-and-Go Dinners Worth Repeating
    • A spoonful of chicken pasta bake.
      28 Dump-And-Cook Dinners That Always Get the Job Done
    • Chicken and noodles.
      33 Easy Dump-and-Go Dinners You'll Make Again and Again
    • no boil pasta bake.
      29 Dump-and-Go Dinners for Lazy Days
    • Facebook
    • Email

    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Readers Love These Recipes

    • Chicken and rice soup.
      22 Revolutionary Slow Cooker Chicken Dinners
    • Cauliflower beef taco skillet.
      17 Quick and Elegant Ground Beef Meals You Need to Try
    • Chicken adobo.
      23 Deliciously Simple Crockpot Meals for Stress-Free Cooking
    • Crockpot lasagna.
      14 Crockpot Dinners That Will Change Your Weeknight Routine

    Latest Articles

    • Chicken tikka masala.
      24 Dump-and-Cook Dinners That Skip the Prep Work
    • Chicken parmesan meatballs.
      24 Easy Meatball Recipes Worth Adding to This Week's Menu
    • Enchilada bake.
      18 Cheesy Dishes Guaranteed to Put a Smile on Your Face
    • Harissa pork chops.
      17 Elegant Meals Made for Cooks Who Hate the Hassle

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosure
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • [email protected]
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden

    Copyright © 2026 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB