21 Dump-and-Go Dinners For Hot Days

When it’s hot out, the last thing I want to do is stand over a stove or deal with a pile of dishes. I still want dinner to feel like a real meal, but I want it to take as little thought and effort as possible. That’s where these dump-and-go recipes come in. You throw everything in a dish, pot, or slow cooker, walk away, and come back to something that tastes amazing and feels totally homemade.

Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Ground beef, black beans, tomatoes, and peppers bake together with cheese in a single dish, no extra steps required. It’s a practical choice when the weather’s too hot to stand over the stove and you still want something hearty. Everything goes into the dish cold, and about 40 minutes later you’ve got dinner without having to monitor a thing.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Instant Pot Bolognese

This meat sauce has the slow-simmered flavor you want without babysitting a pot for hours. Toss in the ground beef, tomatoes, and seasonings, seal the lid, and let the Instant Pot do the work. It’s a solid dinner for hot days when you want to avoid turning on the oven and still get something that tastes like you put in more effort.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Bolognese

Creamy Burrito Casserole

This layered bake turns tortillas, beef, and cheese into a full meal without any stove time. No need to pre-cook anything, just stack everything in a dish and bake until hot and bubbly. It’s a great example of how dump-and-go can still feel like real food without dirtying every pot in your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Burrito Casserole

Million Dollar Spaghetti

Pasta, ground beef, and cheese come together in this baked casserole that works well when you need to feed a few people without much effort. It uses common pantry ingredients and skips anything complicated, which is perfect when it’s too hot to think straight. Just assemble and bake.
Get the Recipe: Million Dollar Spaghetti

Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

This one-dish meal bakes uncooked rice and raw ground beef together with cheese and seasoning, skipping any stovetop prep. It’s great when you want something filling but don’t want to hover in a hot kitchen. You just mix, bake, and let it take care of itself.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef and Rice Casserole

Ground Beef Burrito Skillet

This skillet dinner brings together beef, beans, and rice in one pan without boiling anything ahead. It’s a great pick when you need something fast but still substantial. Each step stays in the same pan, which keeps cleanup simple and dinner moving along.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Burrito Skillet

Salsa Chicken

Dump chicken breasts, salsa, corn, and cheese into a baking dish and walk away. The oven does all the work, and the result is a hot, flavorful dinner ready in under 30 minutes. It’s exactly the kind of hands-off meal you need on a weeknight when the heat zaps your motivation.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu

This ragu uses short ribs and the slow cooker to build rich flavor without lifting a finger after setup. It works well for nights when you want comfort food but not the heat of a stovetop. Serve it over pasta or mashed sweet potatoes for a dinner that tastes way more complicated than it is.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu

Instant Pot Coconut Pork

Boneless pork cooks until tender in coconut milk with warming spices like turmeric and cinnamon. Once everything is in the pot, you’re done until it’s time to serve. This is a great way to keep flavor high while keeping your kitchen cool.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Coconut Pork

Instant Pot Tomato & White Beans

These beans are comforting without being heavy and cook up quickly in the Instant Pot with minimal prep. You throw everything in and press a button. Serve over crusty bread for a full meal that doesn’t heat up the kitchen or take much effort.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tomato & White Beans

Baked Skillet Gnocchi

This one-skillet dinner combines ground pork, tomatoes, spinach, and gnocchi with melted mozzarella on top. It’s built entirely in the same pan and then baked, so everything comes together easily. It’s perfect for days when the thought of multiple steps feels like too much.
Get the Recipe: Baked Skillet Gnocchi

Instant Pot Picadillo

This version uses lentils, tempeh, potatoes, and bold ingredients like olives and raisins for a plant-based dinner that still feels hearty. Everything cooks quickly in the Instant Pot and comes out with tons of flavor, making it a smart option for nights when stove time is out of the question.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Picadillo

Bomb Meatloaf

This meatloaf earns its name with juicy ground beef and a sweet and tangy glaze baked on top. It’s simple to mix and toss in the oven, and it holds up well for leftovers. A solid choice when you want a classic dinner that doesn’t require a bunch of prep work.
Get the Recipe: Bomb Meatloaf

Taco Biscuit Bake with Ground Beef

Ground beef and taco seasoning are layered with biscuit dough and baked until golden. You only need to brown the meat before assembling the rest, and then the oven takes care of the rest. Great for when you want something fun but low effort.
Get the Recipe: Taco Biscuit Bake with Ground Beef

Mexican Ground Beef Taco Soup with Black Beans

All the taco flavors you want in soup form, this one-pot meal uses beans, broth, beef, and seasoning to create a hearty dinner without any complicated steps. You throw everything in and let it simmer, which makes it great for hot weather when you want minimal involvement.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Taco Soup with Black Beans

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Frozen meatballs and dry pasta bake in marinara and cheese without boiling anything first. You dump it all in cold and let the oven bring it together. It’s the definition of low-effort dinner with high reward, especially on busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Tortellini Bake

Pre-made tortellini, beef, sauce, and cheese get layered in a baking dish and go straight into the oven. There’s almost no prep, and the result feels like a complete meal. It’s a weeknight win when it’s too hot to mess around but you still want comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Bake

Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

Zucchini slices and seasoned ground beef bake under a layer of cheese for a one-dish dinner that doesn’t ask for any stovetop time. It’s a smart way to use up summer vegetables and stretch a pound of meat without dragging out the process.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

Crock Pot Ground Beef Taco Meat

Dump your beef and taco seasoning into the slow cooker and forget about it until dinner. This method frees up your evening and gives you ready-to-go meat for tacos, wraps, or bowls with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ground Beef Taco Meat

Cheddar Chicken Bake

This cheesy quinoa bake is a simple way to use up leftover chicken without much prep. Everything mixes in one bowl and bakes in one dish, making it great for hot nights when you want real food without hovering over the stove.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake

Salsa Verde Chicken

Chicken breasts and jarred salsa verde go into the oven with just a few extra ingredients and turn into a flavorful dinner that feels hands-off in the best way. It’s quick to prep and even better as leftovers, which makes it a regular in the rotation.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Verde Chicken