I like to cook, and I enjoy the benefits that come from not having to cook as well. This describes the essence of dump dinners in the crockpot perfectly. You put it all together, walk away for a bit, and it smells like you’ve been really organized all day. I use these meals for the wild school nights, crazy scrambles to sports practices, and any other weekdays that are just plain rude.
I can tell you from experience in my own kitchen that the term “dump dinner” doesn’t mean “no thought put in at all”. Some recipes can be better if you do a little quick sear first, or remove it at the end to avoid breakage. Use a meat thermometer to check. Some people adjust the temperatures on their slow cookers, which can change the cooking time. Anyway, let me get you fed.
Contents
- 1) Mississippi Pot Roast
- 2) Salsa Verde Chicken
- 3) Honey Garlic Chicken
- 4) Beef And Bean Chili
- 5) Italian Meatballs
- 6) Ranch Chicken And Potatoes
- 7) BBQ Pulled Pork
- 8) Chicken Tortilla Soup
- 9) Lemon Garlic Chicken
- 10) Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
- 11) Sausage And Peppers
- 12) Butter Chicken
- 13) Beef Stroganoff
- 14) White Chicken Chili
- 15) Balsamic Beef
- 16) Chicken And Dumplings
- 17) Slow-Cooker Lasagna
- 18) Sweet Potato Black Bean Stew
- 19) Chicken Fajitas
- 20) Ham And Potato Soup
- 21) Slow-Cooker Chicken Shawarma
- 22) Green Enchilada Chicken
- 23) Beef Barbacoa
- 24) Stuffed Pepper Soup
- 25) Slow-Cooker Lentil Soup
- 26) French Dip Sandwiches
- 27) Chicken Parmesan
- 28) Coconut Curry Chickpeas
- 29) Turkey Taco Soup
- 30) Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- 31) Vegetable Beef Stew
1) Mississippi Pot Roast
It may seem odd to pair ranch seasoning, an au jus mix, butter, and pepperoncini, but somehow, it works! Place a chuck roast in the Instant Pot, sprinkle ranch and au jus mix packets over it, toss in some pepperoncini and their brine, and finish it with a dollop of butter. Then, cook it on low for about 8-9 hours. The roast will be so tender, that you can probably stare at it into collapse. The sauce from the roast has a somewhat briny flavor, and I love to soak it up with my mashed potatoes.
2) Salsa Verde Chicken
I realize that this dish might not take much thought, after all, it is just putting in a few chicken thighs or breasts, maybe a little cumin and garlic, and some salsa verde, and that’s it! After 6 to 7 hours is done on low heat (or after 3 to 4 hours on high), shred and let it absorb the sauce for 10 more minutes. In the absence of a kitchen goblin, we usually grab it right out of the container and eat it in tortillas, or over rice, or from a bowl straight at the counter!
3) Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey and garlic, while sounding like a weird combination, is easy to make and quite tasty! Combine honey, soy sauce, ketchup, and minced garlic with a dash of ginger and you’re set! Put this mixture on your chicken thighs and let it cook. If you’d like to make the sauce thicker, add some cornstarch in the last 20-30 minutes and turn your slow cooker to high.
4) Beef And Bean Chili
Everyone will want to grab a sweater when this dinner is cooking outside. You can put some browned ground beef in it (it’s better), or if you really don’t have time, raw is fine too. Mix beans, crushed tomatoes, onion, chili powder, and cumin. Leave it on low and let it simmer for 6-8 hours until it thickens and mellows out. Serve with tortilla chips, and any toppings that your family likes.
5) Italian Meatballs
I always have a bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer for when I’ve been attacked by the night. \n\n Toss them into the marinara sauce with a splash of water or broth. Then, set the timer for another 4 to 6 hours on the low setting. They soak up the sauce and get super tender making them more “Sunday” than “Wednesday.” We do meatball subs, but you can also just throw them on top of spaghetti, and that’s a win too.
6) Ranch Chicken And Potatoes
This food is meant to be enjoyed without having to worry about what is popular. For this recipe, add the chicken, halved baby potatoes, carrots if you want to add them, ranch seasoning, chicken broth, and one canned condensed cream of chicken soup. Let it cook for 6 to 7 hours on low and all of the ingredients will become soft. If you are adding a dairy product, stir that at the end to keep it smooth and avoid it from separating.
7) BBQ Pulled Pork
In crockpot cooking, pork shoulder is a star cut because it is the most forgiving. Mix some brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and diced onions, then add a splash of broth to the mixture. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, shred the meat, and mix with your favorite barbeque sauce. I like to put some of my vinegar-y slaw on top, but not everyone in my house is like that (I don’t mind, more for me).
8) Chicken Tortilla Soup
This soup is a great way to use ingredients I have around my fridge again. Add chicken, diced tomatoes, black beans, corn, onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and broth, then cook on low for 6–7 hours. You can finish it off with some lime juice to add some brightness to it. Then shred the chicken. If you want to add some added heat, steer towards a chopped chipotle in adobo for some smoky and a little bit spicy intrigue.
9) Lemon Garlic Chicken
It still feels sort of like a mini holiday despite being a break from spelling and laundry. Cook chicken with broth, lots of garlic, lemon slices, oregano, and a drizzle of olive oil. Put in the cooked orzo (or rice) at the end to avoid it becoming mushy. Rather than causing a pucker, the lemon mellows and the savory notes are cleansed throughout the pot.
10) Teriyaki Chicken Bowls
Kids will surely enjoy a meal with “teriyaki” in it! You can set it for low six hours and just shred the meat after. If you want the sauce to have a glossy finish you can use cornstarch to thicken it. I just made some broccoli in the microwave and I look like I meal prepped!
11) Sausage And Peppers
Without humans or the shame, it smells like street fair food. Slice Italian sausage, add bell peppers and onions, pour in a jar of marinara (or crushed tomatoes with Italian seasoning), and let it go 6–7 hours on low. The sauce becomes richer as the sausage seasons everything and the peppers become sweet and silky. You can also place them in rolls or, if you want to be a little fancier, serve them over polenta.
12) Butter Chicken
I wouldn’t say this is restaurant quality butter chicken, but it works on a busy night. Just toss the chicken, a jar of tikka masala or butter chicken simmer sauce and some garam masala if you’ve got any, and let it cook low for 6 hours. For a creamy finish add a little heavy cream or coconut milk. If your family is sensitive to spice, start with milder ingredients. The bowl is always open for your personal touch.
13) Beef Stroganoff
This dinner makes Tuesday feel a bit better. Add stew beef, mushrooms, onion, garlic, beef broth, and a spoon of Dijon, then cook on low for 7–8 hours. To keep it creamy rather than grainy, add the sour cream (or cream cheese) at the very end. Try to slow down with the first bowl. Also, serve it over egg noodles.
14) White Chicken Chili
White chili is my answer to “I want chili, but I’m bored with chili.” Chicken, white beans, green chiles, onion, cumin, oregano, and broth go in, then low for 6–7 hours. Lastly, blend in some cream cheese to add some richness and some lime juice to add a bit of zing. For the average person, the dish is mild, but if you want some heat, you can ask for some hot sauce at the table.
15) Balsamic Beef
You can really tell some effort was put into this. Slice some onions and combine them with beef broth, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, thyme and a chuck roast. Set your slow cooker to low for 8-9 hours. Shred the meat and let it soak in the sauce for a while. Surprisingly, adding provolone to the top of some toasted bread with this is really good. It’s sweet and tangy too!
16) Chicken And Dumplings
This is the meal I make when someone has that slightly sad, ‘I need comfort,’ voice. After 6 hours on low, shred some of the meat. Put some biscuit dough (or dumpling dough) in the pan and set to high until they puff up and cook through. It is, in the most positive way, very nostalgic.
17) Slow-Cooker Lasagna
I found it hard to believe I could make lasagna in a crockpot instead of the oven. It only works if you layer it like you mean it. Sauce, noodles, ricotta mix, and mozzarella. Repeat that! Cook for 4 to 5 hours on low or until the noodles are tender. After that, let it rest with the lid ajar so that it can help set up. This does not have the baked edges that other lasagnas might have, but the ease makes up for it.
18) Sweet Potato Black Bean Stew
This stew has no meat and is proud of it! This recipe is packed with sweet potatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, and cumin. You can set your slow cooker for 6-7 hours. When done cooking, add lime juice and a pinch of salt. I love how crushed tortilla chips add a different texture to the stew.
19) Chicken Fajitas
This dinner option is almost self-preparing. Add chicken, sliced peppers and onions, fajita seasoning, and a little salsa or canned tomatoes. Once the six hours are done, shred or slice the chicken, and mix everything together. The peppers may not have the char marks that they would have from the skillet, but they do soften. The flavor however, still nails the fajita score.
20) Ham And Potato Soup
You can think of the ham sitting in the fridge as your ticket for this soup. Toss in some diced potatoes, chopped ham, onion, garlic, broth, and thyme, and let it cook on low for 7-8 hours until your potatoes are tender. To thicken your soup, mash some of the potatoes in the pot, then add some milk or cream at the end. It’s the sort of bowl that makes you exhale without you even realizing you were holding your breath.
21) Slow-Cooker Chicken Shawarma
It might not be street cart shawarma but it definitely gives you an option for an uncomplicated weekday. Mix the chicken with garlic, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, lemon juice, and a dash of oil. Let it cook on low for 6 hours. After that, shred the mixture and serve it in pitas along with some cucumbers and simple yogurt sauce. Just the smell makes it seem like there are a million things to do in the kitchen.
22) Green Enchilada Chicken
This is a bit like a story where you get to pick what happens as you go along, and there is a lot of room for writing. It is time to place the chicken, along with some green enchilada sauce, onions, and a sprinkle of cumin. Shred it after 6 hours on low. After that, you can use it for enchiladas, burrito bowls, quesadillas, or whatever you can throw together for dinner. After flattening all the bags in the freezer, I felt like a domestic goddess for about 5 minutes.
23) Beef Barbacoa
With Barbacoa, you can enjoy the rich, bold flavor without paying a fortune. Just place the chuck roast with chipotle in adobo, garlic, cumin, oregano, vinegar, and broth, and let it cook on low for 8-9 hours. Shred the meat and mix it back with the juices so it doesn’t dry out. If you’re concerned about spiciness, use half of the chipotle and taste before adding more.
24) Stuffed Pepper Soup
Stuffed pepper soup is one of the few good things about the slow cooker. It is a soup with ground beef, peppers (all three colors), onion, garlic, tomato, broth, and some rice. I set the slow cooker to low for 6-7 hours and if you’re worried the rice will get too mushy add some cooked rice at the end. This is one of those meals you can eat while wearing sweatpants.
25) Slow-Cooker Lentil Soup
For a weeknight meal, this is pretty tough to beat! Throw in some lentils, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, broth, and a bay leaf. 7-8 hours on low and it gets super thick and delicious. A splash of vinegar or lemon at the end is magical!
26) French Dip Sandwiches
It’s like you’ve just rung a dinner bell and the whole house comes running! Place the beef roast in the slow cooker with the beef broth, sliced onion, garlic, and some Worcestershire sauce. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours. Shred or slice the meat, and serve with the cooking liquid as au jus in rolls.
27) Chicken Parmesan
It’s a weeknight and you don’t want to spend time or money on fancy breading for a chicken parmesan. Don’t worry about it. This example is chicken with marinara, garlic, and Italian spices, with melting mozzarella and a touch of parmesan.
You just need to set your slow cooker to low for 6 hours and when it’s done, put a little cheese on top and wait for that to melt (you can do this while the pasta is cooking). You may not want to think about the fact that you just made a “dump dinner,” but the reality is, you probably want to and that’s okay.
28) Coconut Curry Chickpeas
I enjoy this recipe because I like mixing things up. \n\nFor the ultimate slow cooker recipe, throw in some chickpeas, canned diced tomatoes, an onion, some garlic, and a spoon of curry powder (or paste) + coconut milk. Don’t forget to add spinach at the end of the cook time to prevent army green color. Even the leftovers heat up well.
29) Turkey Taco Soup
Taco soup is super easy to make. Just brown some ground turkey, and add it to the slow cooker with beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and some broth. Cook it on low for 6–7 hours, and you’re done! It’s so thick and cozy. You can even add extra beans if you have surprise guests! Personally, I love to add some crushed chips on top, and some lime to add a little zing to it.
30) Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
After a long day, it looks like this is the kind of dish someone could order in their sweatpants. Shred the chicken after the broth, garlic, and seasonings get done simmering for 6 hours. Mix the cream cheese with the parmesan cheese until it’s completely smooth. Just before serving, add the cooked pasta (don’t add uncooked pasta). If the sauce is too thick, loosen it by adding a splash of broth.
31) Vegetable Beef Stew
Stew is the original dinner for “you’re doing fine.” Add the stew beef, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, tomato paste, beef broth, and a little thyme, and cook on low for 8 hours. If you want it thicker, cook on high for 10 minutes after adding a cornstarch slurry. As a busy mom, you appreciate the miracle of silence.
