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    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    22 Set It and Forget It Dinners for When You’re Too Tired to Think

    Published: Jul 26, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    After a long day, the last thing you want to do is spend hours in the kitchen. These 22 easy dinner ideas are perfect for those nights when you're too tired to think about what to cook. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, you can enjoy a satisfying meal without the stress.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Cincy Shopper.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash is a hearty dish packed with beef and vegetables. It's perfect for busy nights when you want something filling without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you. This meal is sure to satisfy everyone at the table.

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    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken

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

    Chicken cooked slowly in a rich tomato and garlic sauce, finished off with melted mozzarella cheese. This dish brings a taste of Italy right to your table with its simple yet flavorful homemade tomato topping. It's a comforting meal that's perfect for any night of the week.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken cacciatore.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Chicken cacciatore is a breeze to make in a slow cooker. The sauce is a tasty mix of diced tomatoes, tomato paste, bell peppers, onions, and Italian herbs. This dish is great for summer evenings when you want a filling meal without spending hours cooking. Just set it up and let the slow cooker handle the rest. It's a comforting dinner that brings a bit of Italian flavor to your table.

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    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This pizza pasta bake is perfect for busy nights when you need something simple and satisfying. You can throw everything together in the pan without any need to cook the pasta beforehand, making it super easy. With its cheesy goodness and delicious pizza flavors, it's a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy.

    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.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Noodles.
    Photo Credit: Gluesticks.

    This dish is the perfect comfort food. It's simple to prepare using ingredients you likely have on hand, and it delivers great flavor. Ideal for busy nights, this meal allows you to set it up and let it cook while you focus on other things.

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    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

    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

    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

    Crock Pot Baked Ziti

    Crock Pot Baked Ziti.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    This easy Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a great choice for dinner. It combines soft pasta, tasty sauce, and gooey cheese, all cooked together with very little effort. Perfect for busy nights, this dish lets you set it and forget it while you go about your day.

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    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Slow Cooker Orange Chicken is a great option for a simple dinner that feels like takeout without the extra calories. This easy recipe is gluten-free and skips the added sugar and MSG, making it a healthier choice. It's a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy, and you can set it up and let it cook while you take care of other things.

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    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

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

    Meatball casserole served on a dish.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Meatball Casserole is a filling and tasty dish that combines tender meatballs and pasta all in one pan. It's baked with a creamy blend of marinara sauce, heavy cream, chicken broth, and gooey cheese. This is a great option for weeknight dinners when you want something satisfying without spending too much time in the kitchen.

    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

    One Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Potatoes

    Oven Baked One Pan Chicken Drumsticks and Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This one pan chicken and potato dish is the ultimate easy weeknight dinner for busy nights! Lemony chicken legs and perfectly roasted potatoes are warm and cozy without being too heavy. While they bake, prepare a simple green salad and enjoy a complete, nutritious meal faster than you could order takeout!

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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.

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    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    The creamy Parmesan sauce, packed with garlic, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes, delivers a fantastic flavor that really stands out. It's surprisingly simple to prepare, making it a great option for busy weeknights. This dish is also elegant enough to impress your guests when you have company over.

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    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.

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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.

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    Slow Cooker Bloody Mary Soup

    Slow Cooker Bloody Mary Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    This Slow Cooker Bloody Mary Soup is loaded with rich tomato flavor and all the classic ingredients you'd expect in a bloody mary. It features a mix of vegetables like celery, along with a kick from hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Perfect for a cozy meal, this soup is easy to prepare and lets you enjoy a hearty dish without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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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.

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    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

    More Dump and Go Meals

    • Ribs.
      23 Old-Fashioned Dump-and-Cook Meals Anyone Can Pull Together
    • 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
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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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