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    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    20 Easy Dump-and-Bake Dinners for Any Night of the Week

    Published: Apr 16, 2026 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Busy nights can make dinner time a challenge, but dump and bake meals are here to save the day. These simple recipes require minimal prep and cleanup, allowing you to enjoy a hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen. From casseroles to one-pan dishes, these 20 easy dinners are perfect for any night of the week.

    Baked Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Carrots

    Baked Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Carrots.
    Photo Credit: Zona Cooks.

    Baked Chicken Thighs with Potatoes and Carrots are easy to make and full of flavor. The chicken comes out juicy with a crispy skin, while the roasting brings out the sweetness of the vegetables.

    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

    Shake and Bake Chicken

    Shake and Bake Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Shake and Bake Chicken is a simple and tasty dinner featuring juicy chicken covered in a crunchy homemade seasoning. Once you try this, you'll forget about the store-bought versions.

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    Tuscan Chicken Bake

    Tuscan Chicken Bake.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    This Tuscan chicken bake is a creamy and cheesy dish loaded with flavor. With chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach mixed with pasta in a rich coconut milk and cheese sauce, it's a great choice for weeknight dinners or a cozy weekend meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Falafel Bake

    Falafel bake on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This dish is easy to prepare and really delicious. With premade falafel, beans, tomatoes, kale, and a cheesy topping, it's a cozy vegetarian casserole that you'll want to make often.

    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!

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    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.

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    Broccoli Casserole

    Broccli casserole.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    This broccoli casserole is a quick and easy side dish that everyone will enjoy. It's a healthier option that fits perfectly into any meal.

    Get the recipe

    Cheese Tortellini Bake

    Cheese Tortellini Bake
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    The Cheesy Vegetarian Tortellini Bake is a simple meal that comes together in just 20 minutes with fewer than 10 ingredients, all in one pan. It's a great option for busy weeknights when you want a filling dinner without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    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

    Baked Chicken Thighs

    Baked Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Baked Chicken Thighs are simple to prepare and packed with flavor, coming out crispy on the outside while staying tender and juicy inside. They're generously seasoned with garlic and herbs for a delicious meal.

    Get the Recipe

    Healthy Baked Chicken Fajitas

    Healthy Baked Chicken Fajitas.
    Photo Credit: Vibrantly G-Free.

    This Healthy Baked Chicken Fajita recipe is quick to prepare and uses just 8 simple ingredients. It's perfect for busy weeknights and gives you a tasty meal with minimal effort, inspired by Chipotle's Chicken Fajita Bowl.

    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

    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.

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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 and satisfying meal. It's a simple option that requires minimal effort to prepare.

    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

    Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is a simple and comforting dish that's perfect for any night. With just rice, broccoli, and rotisserie chicken topped with cheddar cheese, it's an easy one-pan 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

    Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli

    Sheet Pan Beef and Broccoli.
    Photo Credit: In The Kitch.

    This sheet pan beef and broccoli with teriyaki sauce is a simple and quick dinner option for busy nights. Sheet pan meals are popular because they provide a tasty and easy way to prepare dinner without much work.

    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

    More Dump and Go Meals

    • Southwest chicken casserole.
      26 Simple Dump-and-Go Dinners Anyone Can Pull Together Fast
    • Carne guisada.
      24 Dump-and-Cook Beef Dinners With Almost No Cleanup
    • Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
      23 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Take the Work Out of Weeknights
    • Lazy lasagna.
      22 Dump and Bake Dinners That Practically Make Themselves
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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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