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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    28 Dump-And-Go Summer Dinners for Busy Weeknights

    Published: Jun 15, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Summer evenings can be hectic, and the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. These 28 easy dump-and-go dinners are perfect for busy weeknights, allowing you to throw everything together and let it cook while you enjoy your time. With minimal prep and simple ingredients, these meals will keep your family satisfied without the stress, whether you're craving pasta or roast chicken. Summer salads more your thing? Check out these summer pasta salads (and more pasta salads!) and these summer salads without pasta!

    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

    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes is a flavorful meal that comes together in less than 45 minutes. With a tasty tomato sauce made from fresh ingredients, this is an easy dinner option for busy nights.

    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

    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

    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'll have a delicious mix of chicken, veggies, and sauce all cooked together in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Vegetable Soup

    Chicken Vegetable Soup.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime.

    This chicken vegetable soup is a straightforward and filling dish that you can whip up in the slow cooker. With chicken, veggies, and a tasty broth, it's the perfect comfort food.

    Get the Recipe

    Crock Pot Salsa Chicken

    Crockpot chicken salsa topped with avocados.
    Photo Credit Chew Out Loud.

    This dish features healthy and tasty chicken that turns out tender when cooked in the Crock Pot. It's perfect for busy nights, get-togethers, and preparing meals ahead of time.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit" Haute & Healthy Living.

    This crockpot Mexican casserole is packed with all your favorite Mexican flavors and is a great option for busy weeknights. It's a healthier and more affordable choice than ordering takeout.

    Get the Recipe

    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

    Greek Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
    Photo Credit: Busy Day Dinners.

    This Greek chicken sheet pan dinner is simple to prepare and features a tasty mix of fresh Mediterranean ingredients. It's a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Vegan Pasta

    Vegan pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Plant Based Folk.

    This creamy vegan pasta bake is simple to prepare and loaded with veggies. It's delicious whether you serve it hot or cold!

    Get the recipe

    Tuscan Chicken Bake

    Tuscan Chicken Bake.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    Tuscan chicken bake is a creamy and cheesy dish packed with flavor. With chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, and spinach combined with pasta in a rich coconut milk and cheese sauce, this is a good dinner for busy nights or a relaxing weekend.

    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 together in an easy-to-make dish.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes is an easy meal that mixes ranch seasoning with baby gold potatoes, creating a dish everyone will like. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner or a family get-together, and it's simple to make and clean up afterward.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken

    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Chicken cooked in a flavorful mix of tomatoes and garlic, then finished with melted mozzarella cheese. This dish brings a taste of Italy right to your table.

    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

    White Chicken Chili with Salsa Verde

    White Chicken Chili with Salsa Verde.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This slow cooker White Chicken Chili with Salsa Verde is a healthy and filling dish that's great for meal prep. You can whip up a large batch and freeze any extras for a quick and easy dinner for everyone.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup

    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This cheesy soup is a family favorite, packed with ground beef, potatoes, melted Velveeta cheese, chicken broth, vegetables, and seasonings. The flavors blend together perfectly, creating a delicious cheeseburger soup that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    White Chicken Chili

    White Chicken Chili .
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This creamy white chicken chili is a satisfying dish that brings warmth and comfort to any meal. With just a few simple ingredients, it's packed with flavor and super easy to prepare.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken Fajitas

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

    Baked Chicken Fajitas are easy to whip up in just 30 minutes with only 8 simple ingredients. This dish brings the delicious flavors of a Chipotle Chicken Fajita Bowl right to your oven, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

    Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken is a simple and tasty dish that brings together zesty chicken with minimal effort. The combination of au jus, ranch seasonings, and pepperoncini creates a delicious gravy that really enhances the chicken's flavor.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Soup

    Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Rustic Foodie.

    This Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Soup is both healthy and free from gluten and dairy. It's prepared in the crockpot with poblano peppers in a flavorful Southwest broth.

    Get the Recipe

    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake

    Chicken Thigh Tray Bake.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This Chicken Thigh Tray Bake is an easy meal packed with flavor. Juicy chicken thighs and vibrant veggies roast together on one sheet pan, making cleanup a breeze.

    Get the Recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew

    Chicken stew.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew is super simple to prepare. Just spend 10 minutes getting it ready, then let it cook on its own for a hearty meal filled with veggies in less than 45 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken and Leek Soup

    Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken and Leek Soup.
    Photo Credit: Living Sweet Moments.

    This creamy soup is simple and satisfying, with just six ingredients. It's a great dinner option for busy families.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

    Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas.
    Photo Credit: Britney Breaks Bread.

    This dish features tender shredded chicken mixed with red bell pepper, green chiles, and onions in a flavorful red enchilada sauce. Layer it with corn tortillas, olives, and cheese for a delicious one-pot meal that's perfect for any night.

    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 comes together in under 40 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone

    Slow Cooker Hamburger Minestrone.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This hearty soup is packed with fresh veggies, ground beef, and pasta. It's a complete meal that's easy to enjoy any night.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Queso Chicken

    Slow cooker queso chicken tacos.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Slow cooker queso chicken is a creamy and flavorful chicken dish that's great for making quesadillas or sandwiches. It's an easy meal that you can throw together without much effort.

    Get the recipe

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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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