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    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    Set It and Forget It: 22 Dinners That Are a Breeze to Make

    Published: Aug 14, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    Cooking dinner can sometimes feel like a chore, but it doesn't have to be. With these 22 easy recipes, you can prepare meals that require minimal effort and let you enjoy your evening without stress. From slow-cooked dishes to simple one-pan meals, these ideas will help you put dinner on the table with ease.

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles

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

    Slow cooker chicken and noodles is a comforting dish that fills your dinner table with delicious flavors. The best part is that the slow cooker handles everything for you, allowing you to enjoy a hearty meal with minimal effort. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Baked Chicken & Potatoes is an easy dish that mixes ranch seasoning with baby gold potatoes, creating a meal that everyone will love. It's perfect for a weeknight dinner or a family get-together, and it requires minimal preparation and cleanup.

    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. It combines two delicious cheeses, with a nice kick from Gorgonzola, and adds a satisfying crunch from walnuts. Ready in under 40 minutes, it's a simple and tasty option for dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that's perfect for any night. It's satisfying and filling, ensuring you'll have some leftovers to enjoy later. With minimal effort, you can have a delicious dinner ready to go.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Drumsticks

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken Drumsticks is a simple dinner option that everyone in the family will enjoy. With minimal effort, you can have a delicious meal ready to serve. This dish combines tender chicken with a sweet and tangy orange sauce, making it a favorite for busy nights.

    Get the Recipe

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken Tortellini

    Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Busy Day Dinners.

    This dish combines tender chicken, cheese tortellini, fresh spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, creating a satisfying dinner option for any night of the week. It's easy to put together and full of delicious flavors.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

    Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl.
    Photo Credit: Delicious By Design.

    This dish features tender shredded chicken combined with black beans, corn, tomatoes, and rice, all seasoned with onions, garlic, and a blend of Mexican spices. It's a hearty meal that's easy to prepare in a slow cooker. Perfect for busy nights, this chicken burrito bowl is satisfying and full of flavor.

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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. It's a hearty meal that brings comfort and satisfaction. Plus, it's really simple to prepare, making it perfect for any night of the week.

    Get the recipe

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

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

    This simple 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, it offers a mix of flavors and textures that everyone will enjoy. It's an easy option that you'll find yourself making again and again.

    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 full of flavor. It's a great option for a delicious dinner with minimal effort.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Meatballs

    Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Meatballs.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow-cooking chicken meatballs in a chipotle sauce brings a nice spicy flavor that everyone enjoys. This dish is great for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending a lot of time cooking.

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    Air Fryer Roast Beef

    Sliced roast beef.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    Air Fryer Roast Beef is a quick and easy dinner option that everyone will love. In just 50 minutes, you can enjoy a delicious meal featuring a tasty herb crust on the outside and juicy, tender meat on the inside. With only a few simple ingredients, this dish is perfect for busy evenings.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef.
    Photo Credit: I Heart Eating.

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Beef is a simple dinner option that you can set and forget. With minimal prep work, you'll end up with tender, flavorful barbecue beef that's perfect for any night of the week. Just toss the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    Ravioli casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With only four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it ready in just five minutes and on the table in under 40. It's perfect for busy evenings when you want a satisfying meal without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

    Get the recipe

    Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole

    Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Cooking Duo.

    Ritz Cracker Chicken Casserole is a go-to comfort meal that's simple to prepare and packed with flavor, thanks to easy-to-find ingredients. It's a great addition to your weekly dinner lineup, especially if you want something different. Even those who are picky about food enjoy the taste and texture of this dish.

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    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans

    Slow Cooker Land Your Man Baked Beans.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This dish features a mix of ground beef, bell peppers, and onions, creating a satisfying meal. The blend of seasonings really brings everything together, making it a favorite that everyone will want seconds of. It's a simple and delicious option that works well for any dinner.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights. With just a little chopping at the beginning, you can let it cook on its own while you take care of other things. It combines chicken, vegetables, and a flavorful sauce all in one pan, making cleanup a breeze.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying. It's the kind of meal that brings warmth and comfort, perfect for any day of the week. With minimal effort, you can enjoy a hearty dinner that everyone will love.

    Get the recipe

    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    If you're a a gnocchi fan, you have to try this recipe! Gnocchi is roasted in the oven after a good toss in olive oil. It gets a bit of a nice crust, but remains tender in the middle.

    Get the recipe

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is a quick and easy dish that you can whip up in no time. With just 10 minutes of prep, it's ready in under an hour. This meal is packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a satisfying choice for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

    Ham and Scalloped Potatoes in the Crock Pot.
    Photo Credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    This dish is creamy and cheesy, filled with soft potatoes and tasty ham. It's perfect for everything from quick weeknight meals to holiday gatherings. The great thing is that your slow cooker handles all the cooking, so you can just sit back and enjoy your time.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Cod in Foil

    A foil pack with cod and potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These baked cod packs are simple to prepare and full of flavor, taking just 5 minutes to get ready. They combine cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon for a complete meal all in one package. Using frozen cod helps ensure the fish stays perfectly cooked.

    Get the recipe

    More Dump and Go Meals

    • Chicken broccoli rice casserole.
      31 Dump-and-Cook Dinners That Save You Serious Time
    • Chicken thighs.
      24 Dump-and-Cook Dinners You Can Toss Together in Minutes
    • Ground beef chili.
      24 Dump-And-Go Dinners That Will Save You Time
    • Land your man baked beans.
      24 Easy Dump-and-Cook Dinners for Busy Nights
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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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