MomSkoop
Busy weeknights call for meals that practically make themselves. Dump-and-bake dinners are exactly what they sound like — you toss your ingredients together, pop everything in the oven, and walk away while dinner does its thing.
No fancy skills, no pile of dishes, and no stress required. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or just want something warm and satisfying, these 13 recipes are about to become your new weeknight heroes.
1. Southwest Chicken Pasta
Bold flavors and zero fuss make this dish an instant weeknight win.
Southwest Chicken Pasta brings together tender chicken, pasta, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and a generous blanket of melted cheese — all baked in one pan.
The smoky spices do all the heavy lifting, turning simple pantry staples into something that tastes like it took real effort.
Just dump your uncooked pasta, raw chicken chunks, canned goods, broth, and seasonings into a baking dish, cover tightly with foil, and bake.
No boiling, no browning, no extra steps needed.
Kids love the cheesy topping, and adults appreciate the bold, zesty kick that makes every bite feel satisfying and full of personality.
2. Gratin Dauphinois (Potato Gratin)
Few things in life are as comforting as thinly sliced potatoes swimming in warm, garlicky cream with a golden, bubbling cheese crust on top.
Gratin Dauphinois is a classic French dish that sounds fancy but is surprisingly simple to pull off at home.
Originally from the Dauphin region of France, this recipe has been warming dinner tables for centuries.
Layer raw potato slices in a buttered baking dish, pour over a mixture of cream, garlic, salt, and nutmeg, then top with shredded Gruyere.
Cover and bake low and slow until everything is impossibly tender.
The result is rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying — a true crowd-pleaser every single time.
3. Ham and Potato Casserole
Sunday dinner nostalgia hits hard the moment this casserole comes out of the oven.
Ham and Potato Casserole is the kind of recipe that feels like a warm hug — simple, filling, and made from ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Diced potatoes, chunks of cooked ham, cream of mushroom soup, shredded cheddar, and a splash of milk all go into one baking dish without any pre-cooking required.
Stir everything together, spread it out evenly, and bake covered until the potatoes are fork-tender.
Remove the foil at the end to let the cheese get gloriously bubbly and golden.
Leftovers reheat beautifully, making this a smart meal-prep option too.
4. Buffalo Chicken Macaroni And Cheese
What happens when two comfort food legends collide?
You get Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese — and it is absolutely worth the hype.
Spicy, tangy buffalo sauce meets ultra-creamy cheddar cheese sauce, all wrapped around tender macaroni and shredded chicken baked together in one dish.
The trick to making this dump-and-bake style is using evaporated milk and uncooked pasta with enough liquid to cook everything together in the oven.
A sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles on top adds an authentic buffalo wing flavor that takes this over the top.
Serve with a drizzle of extra hot sauce and some celery sticks on the side to balance the richness perfectly.
5. Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Jerk chicken carries the soul of Jamaica in every smoky, spiced bite.
Traditionally cooked over pimento wood on open grills, this oven-baked version captures those bold flavors beautifully without needing a backyard or a grill.
The magic is all in the marinade — a fiery blend of scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, thyme, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar that coats every piece of chicken deeply.
Marinate overnight if possible, then dump everything into a roasting pan and bake until the skin is dark, caramelized, and irresistible.
The heat level is bold but balanced by subtle sweetness.
Pair it with coconut rice and fried plantains for a full Caribbean-inspired dinner that feels like a mini vacation.
6. Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole
Egg noodles, shredded chicken, creamy soup, and a mountain of melted cheese — honestly, what more could you ask for on a cold evening?
Cheesy Chicken Noodle Casserole is the upgraded cousin of classic chicken noodle soup, baked into a scoopable, satisfying dinner that kids go absolutely crazy for.
Uncooked egg noodles soften perfectly right in the oven when combined with enough cream of chicken soup and broth to keep everything moist and saucy.
Top with crushed crackers or breadcrumbs mixed with melted butter before baking for an irresistible crunchy finish.
Rotisserie chicken makes this even faster to assemble.
From prep to table in under an hour, it is effortlessly weeknight-friendly and endlessly comforting.
7. Parmesan Baked Cod
Light, flaky, and ready in under 25 minutes — Parmesan Baked Cod is proof that healthy weeknight dinners do not have to be boring or complicated.
Fresh cod fillets get coated in a simple mixture of grated Parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, dried herbs, and a little melted butter that crisps up beautifully in the oven.
No marinating, no flipping, no fussing required — just lay the fillets in a baking dish, press on the coating, and bake.
Cod’s naturally mild flavor makes it a great choice for picky eaters who are new to fish.
Squeeze fresh lemon over the top right before serving to brighten every bite.
Pair with roasted vegetables or a simple green salad for a complete, balanced meal.
8. Oven Baked BBQ Chicken
Sticky, saucy, finger-licking BBQ chicken does not require a grill or perfect weather — your oven handles it all like a champ.
Bone-in chicken pieces get generously coated in your favorite barbecue sauce, then baked low and slow until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender and the sauce caramelizes into a deeply flavored glaze.
The key is layering the sauce — apply one coat before baking, then brush on a second coat halfway through for maximum stickiness.
Broiling for the last few minutes creates that gorgeous, slightly charred exterior that tastes just like summer cookout chicken.
This recipe works with any BBQ sauce you love, so feel free to go smoky, sweet, spicy, or tangy based on your mood.
9. Chicken And Vegetable Enchilada Casserole
All the bold, saucy flavors of classic enchiladas come together in one easy layered casserole that skips the rolling and stuffing entirely.
Shredded chicken, bell peppers, black beans, and corn get layered between corn tortillas and drenched in red enchilada sauce before getting topped with a thick blanket of shredded cheese.
Bake until the cheese is bubbly and the edges of the tortillas turn slightly crispy — that contrast in texture is seriously addictive.
This dish is a brilliant way to sneak extra vegetables into a meal without anyone noticing or complaining.
Top individual servings with sour cream, fresh cilantro, sliced avocado, and a squeeze of lime to bring the whole dish to life beautifully.
10. Baked Ziti
There is something almost magical about a bubbling dish of baked ziti fresh from the oven — all that melted mozzarella, hearty marinara, and creamy ricotta layered between perfectly cooked pasta.
The beauty of the dump-and-bake version is that you skip boiling the pasta separately altogether.
Uncooked ziti goes straight into the baking dish with jarred marinara, water or broth, ricotta, and Italian seasoning, then gets covered tightly and baked until the pasta absorbs all that saucy goodness.
Uncover, add a generous layer of shredded mozzarella, and return to the oven until golden and irresistible.
Add browned Italian sausage or ground beef for a heartier version.
This is the kind of dish that disappears fast at the dinner table.
11. Oven Baked Ribs
Low, slow, and outrageously tender — oven-baked ribs might just be the most rewarding dump-and-bake recipe on this entire list.
Season a full rack of pork ribs generously with a dry rub of brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper, then wrap tightly in foil and bake for three hours at a low temperature.
The foil traps steam, essentially braising the ribs in their own juices until the meat practically slides off the bone without any effort.
Unwrap, slather with your favorite BBQ sauce, and broil for a few minutes to caramelize that glaze beautifully.
No smoker needed, no outdoor setup required — just patience and a hot oven to deliver fall-apart, restaurant-quality ribs at home.
12. Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna Noodle Casserole is one of those old-school recipes that never goes out of style — and for very good reason.
Budget-friendly canned tuna, egg noodles, frozen peas, cream of mushroom soup, and a crunchy buttered cracker topping come together in one baking dish for a meal that is pure, unpretentious comfort food.
What makes this dump-and-bake version so clever is that the uncooked noodles soften directly in the oven when mixed with enough liquid from the soup and a little added milk.
No pre-boiling means fewer dishes and less time standing at the stove.
Crush a sleeve of Ritz crackers over the top before baking for that signature golden crunch that makes every serving feel special and nostalgic.
13. Chicken And Rice Casserole
If there is one dump-and-bake recipe every home cook should have memorized, it is Chicken and Rice Casserole.
Raw chicken thighs sit right on top of uncooked rice, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, and onion soup mix — cover it tightly, slide it in the oven, and walk away for 90 minutes.
What comes out is nothing short of astonishing: perfectly cooked, impossibly juicy chicken resting on a bed of fluffy, flavor-packed rice that absorbed every drop of savory liquid during baking.
The onion soup mix adds a depth of seasoning that makes this taste like it simmered all day on the stovetop.
Sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving for a little color and brightness that ties the whole dish together.