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What can I throw in the oven for dinner? That’s the question that so many of us ask multiple nights per week, because no matter what else is on the agenda, our family needs to eat! Some days we have time for made-from-scratch casseroles or more time-consuming, complicated meals (like the ultimate pot roast), but often the schedule is tight, we’re tired, and we feel uninspired in the kitchen. That’s where these easy dump dinners come into play!
There’s almost zero prep necessary, and then the oven does the work. Sound too good to be true? It’s not. I have an entire category on this website devoted to dump-and-bake recipes. This convenient compilation is designed to highlight some of our favorite dump dinners, organized in a way that’s easy for you to find them quickly. Bookmark this page so that you can come back to it later, because these are the lifesavers that you’ll turn to again and again. Let’s dive in!
What does Dump Dinner mean?
A dump dinner is any meal that comes together with almost no preparation. In other words, you “dump” the ingredients into the pan, pot, casserole dish, or slow cooker, and your job is done! Sometimes called “dump and go dinners,” “dump and run” options, or “dump-and-bake” recipes, these are easy dinner ideas to throw in the oven!
For instance, instead of pre-boiling the rice, it’s added to the pan while the rice is still raw. Instead of chopping a bunch of vegetables, you might just reach for a bag of pre-diced frozen mixed vegetables. Instead of making a roux from scratch, you might start a casserole sauce with a can of cream of chicken soup. You get the idea! These are quick-prep, simple dinner solutions for the busiest (or laziest!) home cooks. No, they’re not the finest gourmet meals, but sometimes good is good enough!
Our Favorite Dump-and-Bake Dinners
I’ve pulled together some of our favorite (or most popular) dump-and-bake dinners, broken down into the following categories:
Dump and Bake Chicken Dinners
Dump and Bake Beef Recipes
Pork Recipes to Dump and Go
Vegetarian Dump and Bake Recipes
Healthy Dump and Bake Dinners
Dump and Bake Pasta
Dump and Bake Rice
Dump and Bake Chicken Dinners
From Chinese takeout-inspired meals to saucy baked chicken breast and cozy casseroles, these family-friendly chicken dump dinners are sure to please!
It's baked, not fried! This healthy General Tso Chicken recipe is a lighter version of the Chinese restaurant classic. Just one dish and about 10 minutes of prep!
With just one dish and 10 minutes of prep, this Dump-and-Bake Sweet and Sour Chicken is an easier, healthier version of the Chinese restaurant classic!
In the oven or in the slow cooker, this Dump-and-Bake Crack Chicken is an addicting easy dinner recipe that your family will love! Serve the creamy, cheesy, bacon and Ranch chicken in sandwiches, in wraps, on a salad, or over rice or pasta.
​​​​​​​This Dump-and-Bake Chicken and Cornbread Casserole comes together in about 10 minutes and requires only a handful of kitchen staples. A cozy, comfort food meal has never been quicker!
Dump-and-Bake Chicken Sausage, Apple and Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet, savory and full of flavor, this healthy Dump-and-Bake Chicken Sausage, Apple and Sweet Potato Casserole is an easy dinner recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes!
Skip the Chinese restaurant carryout and prepare an easier, lighter version of your favorite dish! This Dump-and-Bake Kung Pao Chicken requires just 10 minutes of prep for an easy dinner recipe that the whole family can enjoy.
This honey apricot chicken only requires 10 minutes prep and is full of flavor! Better yet it’s all made on one pan so there’s less cleaning up involved too!
With just 10 minutes of prep, this Dump-and-Bake French Onion Chicken is an easy dinner recipe that wins the stamp of approval from even the pickiest little kids!
Let the oven do the work, and just stir together the raw ingredients for this Dump-and-Bake Ground Beef Casserole with Rice — an easy and healthy dinner!
For an easy 5-minute dinner in the oven or in the Crock Pot, just toss together these 5-Ingredient Dump-and-Bake Meatball Subs! Adjust the recipe to serve just one or two people…or make meatball subs for a crowd!
The easiest weeknight dinner recipe! This Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Sausage comes together on a single pan, and roasts in the oven until the dumplings are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
This Sheet Pan “Low Country Boil” is an entire dinner that cooks on one tray! With just 5 minutes of prep and a quick clean-up, it’s an easy weeknight meal that’s perfect for busy nights!
Dump-and-Bake Boneless Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing
These Dump-and-Bake Boneless Pork Chops with Apples and Stuffing are full of flavor, require just a few minutes of prep, and stay moist and tender thanks to a few special tricks.
Looking for a “Meatless Monday” option? Or just a budget-friendly way to get a meal on the table quickly? Try one of these simple and flavorful vegetarian dump and bake dinners!
These Dump-and-Go Burrito Bowls are an easy dinner recipe with almost no prep work! Just toss all of the ingredients into a pot and you’ll have a healthy vegetarian meal to nourish your family — in less than an hour.
With just 3 ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep, this Dump-and-Bake Wagon Wheel Pasta Casserole is an easy and healthy vegetarian dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights!
Keep it light and fresh with these healthy dump and bake dinners! We’ve got a 4-ingredient casserole, a salmon sheet pan supper, and Italian-inspired chicken dishes to choose from.
This Dump-and-Bake Moo Shu Chicken is a lighter, healthier version of the Chinese restaurant classic. With just one dish and about 10 minutes of prep, it’s an easy dinner recipe that’s even better than take-out!
This Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole is a one-dish dinner that’s healthy, easy to prepare, and incredibly family-friendly! Just combine the raw ingredients in a pan and pop it in the oven — no prep work involved!
Love pasta? These easy dump dinners allow you to add uncooked pasta straight to the baking dish, and let the oven do the work. No pre-boiling necessary!
​​​​​​​You don’t even have to boil the pasta for this easy Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole! With only 5 simple ingredients, family-friendly weeknight dinners don’t get much better than this!
You don’t even have to boil the pasta for this nutritious and cozy Dump-and-Bake Chicken Noodle Casserole! All of the ingredients cook together in one dish for a simple comfort food dinner on a cool evening!
Family-friendly dinners don’t get much easier than this 4-Ingredient Dump and Bake Pizza Casserole! There’s no need to boil the pasta ahead of time, since all of the ingredients cook together in one dish!
You don't even have to boil the pasta or pre-cook the chicken! For a quick and easy dinner recipe with just 5 minutes of prep, you can't beat a Dump-and-Bake Chicken Mushroom Casserole!Â
A 10-minute crowd-pleaser, this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta is an easy dinner recipe for your busiest weeknights — and you don’t even have to boil the pasta!
You don’t even have to boil the pasta! For an easy dinner with just 10 minutes of prep, stir together this Dump-and-Bake Chicken Penne Pasta Recipe and let the oven do the work!
That’s right — you can even dump-and-bake rice! Try these shrimp, jambalaya, or chicken and rice dinners that don’t require you to pre-cook the rice before throwing the whole pan into the oven. So simple!
This Dump and Bake Italian Chicken and Rice is an easy and healthy dinner recipe that comes together in about 10 minutes! Just stir together the raw ingredients and pop it in the oven!
There’s no prep work necessary for this Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake! Just dump the raw ingredients into a dish and pop it in the oven for an easy dinner recipe that the whole family will love!
Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!
Wow, this is a great resource for busy households, and good timing of the post with school starting! Thought I had seen all of your Dump and Bake recipes, but found a couple that I had somehow overlooked. Thanks for putting this together, Blair!
Love this post! I have saved so many recipes to try!
That’s great, Beverly. I’m so glad that it’s helpful!
Wow, this is a great resource for busy households, and good timing of the post with school starting! Thought I had seen all of your Dump and Bake recipes, but found a couple that I had somehow overlooked. Thanks for putting this together, Blair!
Thank you, Norma! I’m so glad that you might have a few new options!