25 Dinners That Are Just Dump, Stir & Bake

Some nights, cooking just isn’t happening. That doesn’t mean dinner has to be takeout or a sad snack from the fridge. These dump, stir, and bake recipes keep things simple—just throw the ingredients together, let the oven or slow cooker do the work, and you’re done. No extra steps, no hovering over the stove, just real meals with minimal effort. Whether it’s a casserole, a sheet pan dinner, or something that practically makes itself, these recipes get food on the table without taking up your whole evening.

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This slow cooker favorite is as easy as dumping everything in and walking away. Chicken cooks in a sweet and sticky honey garlic sauce, picking up all the flavor while you do anything else. Better than takeout, way less effort.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Salsa Chicken

Chicken, salsa, corn, and cheese bake together in this easy, one-dish meal. The chicken comes out tender and packed with flavor, and you barely have to lift a finger. Perfect for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Salsa Chicken

Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Ground beef, black beans, peppers, and tomatoes bake into a cheesy, hearty dish that’s ready in 40 minutes. This one’s great when you need a quick, throw-it-together dinner that everyone will actually eat.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Casserole

Cheddar Chicken Bake

Shredded chicken, quinoa, and cheddar cheese turn into a simple, filling casserole with almost no prep. Perfect for busy nights when you need something easy but still want a solid meal.
Get the Recipe: Cheddar Chicken Bake

Sriracha Honey Salmon Vegetable Packets

Toss salmon and veggies in foil packets, bake, and let the oven do the work. The honey and sriracha create a sweet and spicy glaze while everything steams together. No mess, no stress, just a great meal.
Get the Recipe: Sriracha Honey Salmon Vegetable Packets

Forgotten Chicken

Dump it, stir it, and forget it until dinner. Chicken breasts, rice, and a trio of creamy soups cook together into a hearty, no-effort meal. Everything bakes in one dish, soaking up big flavor while you go do something else. Perfect for nights when you need dinner to cook itself.
Get the Recipe: Forgotten Chicken

Ritz Chicken

Chicken breasts slow-cooked in a creamy sauce, topped with buttery Ritz crackers. It’s crunchy, creamy, and ridiculously easy. Throw everything in the slow cooker, walk away, and come back to a great meal. Serve it over rice or noodles and call it a win.
Get the Recipe: Ritz Chicken

Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

No need to boil the pasta first—just dump everything in and let the oven handle it. Meatballs, pasta, marinara, cream, and cheese come together in one pan for a hearty, no-fuss dinner. This is a solid choice for nights when cooking feels like too much work.
Get the Recipe: Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

Sheet Pan Roast Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

One sheet pan, one great meal. Pork tenderloin and potatoes roast together, soaking up garlic, herbs, and all those delicious juices. The oven does all the work while you kick back. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you just don’t want to deal with dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Roast Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes

Zucchini Casserole

Got zucchini? This easy casserole turns it into a cheesy, baked dish with minimal effort. Just mix, bake, and pull a golden, bubbly dinner out of the oven. No complicated steps, just straight to the good part.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Casserole

Pizza Chicken Bake

Chicken, marinara, and melted cheese—this is pizza without the crust. Customize it with any toppings you like, throw it in the oven, and boom, dinner’s done. Perfect for those nights when you want pizza flavors but don’t feel like making actual pizza.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Chicken Bake

Banana Pepper & Tomato Baked Chicken

Bored of plain chicken? Not anymore. This dish bakes juicy chicken breasts with banana peppers and tomatoes for a big punch of flavor. Toss everything in a dish and let the oven do the work. Easy, flavorful, and far from boring.
Get the Recipe: Banana Pepper & Tomato Baked Chicken

Vegan Baked Spaghetti

No meat, no problem. This baked spaghetti is loaded with pantry staples, making it a great option when you need something easy. Just mix, bake, and pull out a bubbling, saucy pasta dish that feeds the whole family with zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Baked Spaghetti

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Layer it, bake it, and you’ve got an enchilada dinner with none of the rolling. Shredded chicken, tortillas, enchilada sauce, and cheese come together in a dish that basically makes itself. A great option when you’re craving Mexican but don’t feel like doing extra work.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Tandoori Vegetables Platter

Big flavors, low effort. Just toss veggies in seasoning, let them roast, and serve up a vibrant, flavorful dish with almost no hands-on time. It’s a great way to get a bunch of vegetables on the table without any complicated steps.
Get the Recipe: Tandoori Vegetables Platter

Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

Shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes—baked, not boiled. This sheet pan version of a shrimp boil keeps all the bold flavors without the giant pot of water. Dump everything on a pan, bake it, and dinner’s done.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp Boil

Turkey Breast and Veggies

Roasting turkey doesn’t have to be a whole production. This one-pan meal gives you juicy turkey breast and flavorful roasted veggies with almost no effort. Just throw it in the oven and let it handle dinner for you.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Breast and Veggies

Lazy Ravioli Lasagna Baked Casserole

No layering, no boiling, no hassle. Ravioli takes the place of traditional noodles in this shortcut lasagna. Toss everything in a baking dish, and let the oven do the work. Same cheesy, saucy goodness, way less effort.
Get the Recipe: Lazy Ravioli Lasagna Baked Casserole

Baked Chicken & Potatoes

Chicken and potatoes get a boost from ranch seasoning in this simple, dump-and-bake meal. No need for extra sides—everything cooks together for an easy dinner that’s great for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Baked Chicken & Potatoes

Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables

Load up a sheet pan with sausage and veggies, season, and bake. That’s it. No standing over a stove, no extra steps—just a great dinner with almost no cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage and Vegetables

Creamy Baked Boursin Tomato Pasta

Throw Boursin cheese, tomatoes, and red onion in a dish, bake it, and mix in pasta. The cheese melts into a creamy sauce with zero effort from you. Big flavor, barely any work.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Baked Boursin Tomato Pasta

One-Pot Easy Pasta Bake

No meat, no mess, no stress. Everything bakes together in one dish, creating a saucy, cheesy, plant-based pasta that requires almost no effort. A great way to get dinner on the table without a pile of dishes.
Get the Recipe: One-Pot Easy Pasta Bake

Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice

Chicken, rice, and cheese come together in a one-pan meal that basically cooks itself. Bold spices, tender chicken, and plenty of melty cheese make this a family favorite that takes zero extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mexican Chicken and Rice

Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

Chicken, bacon, ranch, and cheese—all baked into one ridiculously easy dish. Everything gets mixed together, tossed in the oven, and turns into a creamy, cheesy dinner that disappears fast.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

Mongolian Beef

Let the slow cooker handle dinner. This takeout-style Mongolian beef cooks low and slow until it’s tender and packed with flavor. Serve it over rice, and you’ve got a great meal with almost no work.
Get the Recipe: Mongolian Beef