31 Dump-and-Go Crockpot Dinners for Busy Moms That Save Weeknights (and Your Last Nerve)

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I love cooking. I appreciate all the benefits that come with not needing to cook. This is the entire point of dump dinners in the crockpot. You put everything inside, leave, and it smells like you were perfectly organized all day. I use these meals to help with crazy school nights, mad dashes to sports practices, and other weekdays that are rude enough as it is.

Something that does come from my real kitchen: the phrase “dump dinner” does not imply “no thought whatsoever”. Some recipes can be improved or designated as better if you do a quick sear first, or take it off at the end to avoid it from breaking. Use a meat thermometer to confirm. Some users cook their slow cookers at different temperatures, which can alter the timing. Alright, let’s get you fed.

1) Mississippi Pot Roast

Despite the bizarre combination of ingredients (ranch seasoning, au jus mix, butter, pepperoncini), it works for pretty much everyone almost every time. Put in a chuck roast, sprinkle the seasoning packets, add some peppers and a bit of their brine, and top with butter. Cook on low for about 8-9 hours until it is so tender you can almost stare it into collapse. The sauce has a slightly briny kick that I personally really enjoy mopping up with some mashed potatoes.

2) Salsa Verde Chicken

I know I haven’t put much thought into this dish. All that must be done is put in some chicken thighs or breasts, a little bit of cumin, and some garlic, along with salsa verde, and you’re good to go! 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. Without a kitchen goblin, we eat it in tortillas, over rice, or straight from a bowl while standing at the counter.

3) Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey and garlic might sound like one of those combinations you’d find at a takeout restaurant, but in fact, they are delicious and super simple to make. Just mix honey, soy sauce, and ketchup with some minced garlic and a little bit of ginger, and you are ready to go! Pour this mixture over your chicken thighs and let it cook, then if you want to thicken the sauce a little, add some cornstarch in the last 20-30 minutes and turn the slow cooker to high.

4) Beef And Bean Chili

This is the dinner that reminds everyone to grab a sweater because it’s so cold outside. You can also add some browned ground beef (it’s better), or if you really don’t have the time, raw is fine too. Combine beans, crushed tomatoes, onions, chili powder, and cumin. Let simmer on low heat for 6 to 8 hours until it thickens and mellows. Serve with tortilla chips and any toppings your family likes.

5) Italian Meatballs

I keep a bag of frozen meatballs in the freezer for when I’ve been ambushed by the night. Include them in the marinara sauce with a little water or broth. After that, set the timer for another 4 to 6 hours on the low setting. They soak up the sauce and become incredibly tender, making them feel 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 is comfort food that couldn’t care less about being trendy. Add the chicken, halved baby potatoes, optional carrots, ranch seasoning, chicken broth, and a can of condensed cream of chicken soup. Cook for 6 to 7 hours on low until everything softens. If you’re using any dairy, like sour cream, stir that in at the end so it stays smooth and doesn’t separate.

7) BBQ Pulled Pork

In the realm of crockpot cooking, pork shoulder is a star because it’s patient. Combine some brown sugar, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and onions, then add a splash of broth to the mixture. Cook on low for 8-10 hours, then shred the meat and mix it with some of your favorite barbecue sauce. I enjoy adding some of my vinegar-y slaw on top, but that is not the case for everyone in my house (that’s fine, more for me).

8) Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup is a great way to utilize the ingredients I have lying 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. Finish with lime juice for some brightness, then shred the chicken. For teams that like some added heat, steer in a chopped chipotle in adobo for smoky and slightly spicy intrigue.

9) Lemon Garlic Chicken

Even while it is a break from spelling and laundry, it still feels like a mini holiday. Cook chicken with broth, lots of garlic, lemon slices, oregano, and a drizzle of olive oil. Add the cooked orzo (or rice) at the very end to prevent it from becoming mushy. Instead of causing a pucker, the lemon mellows out, and the savory flavors clean up the taste of the entire pot.

10) Teriyaki Chicken Bowls

The word “teriyaki” will surely also work for your kids to help decide what to have for dinner. You can put it on low for six hours, then shred the meat, and if you want the sauce to be glossy, you can thicken it with cornstarch. I just microwaved a bag of broccoli, and now I look like someone who meal preps.

11) Sausage And Peppers

It smells like a street fair dinner without the people and the embarrassment. 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 gets richer, the sausage seasons everything, and the peppers get sweet and silky. You can also put them in rolls or, if you’d like to get a bit fancier, serve them over polenta.

12) Butter Chicken

I wouldn’t say this is restaurant butter chicken, but it gets the job done on a busy night. Put the chicken, jarred tikka masala or butter chicken simmer sauce, and, if you have it, some garam masala, and cook on low for 6 hours. For a silky finish, add some heavy cream or coconut milk at the end. If your family is sensitive to spice, begin with milder options. The bowl is always open for your personal touch.

13) Beef Stroganoff

This dinner makes Tuesday feel a little softer. Add stew beef, mushrooms, onion, garlic, beef broth, and a spoon of Dijon, then cook on low for 7–8 hours. Add the sour cream (or cream cheese) at the end so it stays creamy and not grainy. Try to pace yourself with the first bowl. And serve 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, mix in cream cheese to add richness and lime juice to add a little zing. For the average person, the dish is mild, but those looking for heat can request hot sauce at the table.

15) Balsamic Beef

This tastes like some effort was put into it. Add the sliced onions, beef broth, balsamic vinegar, a little brown sugar, thyme, and a chuck roast. Cook on low for 8 to 9 hours, shred, and let it soak in the sauce for a bit. Adding a slice of provolone to toasted bread topped with this is surprisingly good. And it’s sweet and tangy.

16) Chicken And Dumplings

This is the meal I make when someone in the house has that slightly pitiful, ‘I need comfort,’ tone. After 6 hours on low, pull some of the meat apart. Place pieces of biscuit dough (or dumpling dough) into the pan and cook on high heat until they puff up and are fully cooked. It is, in the best sense, filled with a warm sense of nostalgia.

17) Slow-Cooker Lasagna

I found it hard to believe I could make lasagna in a crockpot instead of the oven. However, it only works if you layer it like you mean it. Sauce, noodles, ricotta mix, and mozzarella. Repeat. Cook for 4 to 5 hours on low or until the noodles are tender. After that, let it rest for a bit with the lid ajar so that it can help set up. This recipe lacks the crisp edges of baked lasagna, but the simplicity makes up for that.

18) Sweet Potato Black Bean Stew

And this one shows it’s possible to not include meat without being smug. Sweet potatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, and broth create a thick and hearty stew. Set the device for 6 to 7 hours on low. Then finish it with lime juice and a little bit of salt. I enjoy differing textures, so it is great to have the crushed tortilla chips added for some extra crunch.

19) Chicken Fajitas

This dinner option is one that nearly prepares itself. Add chicken, sliced peppers and onions, fajita seasoning, and a little salsa or canned tomatoes. After 6 hours of cooking on low temperature, shred or slice the chicken and mix everything. While the peppers don’t get that charred look like they do in the skillet, they still get soft. The flavor still hits the note of a fajita.

20) Ham And Potato Soup

In a way, the ham in the fridge is a ticket for this soup. Dump in diced potatoes, chopped ham, onion, garlic, broth, and thyme, then cook on low for 7–8 hours until the potatoes are tender. For thickening, mash some potatoes in the pot, then add some milk or cream at the end. It is the kind of bowl that makes you exhale without knowing that you were holding your breath.

21) Slow-Cooker Chicken Shawarma

Although it may not be a street cart shawarma, it most definitely provides an option for an orderly weekday. Mix the chicken with garlic, cumin, coriander, paprika, lemon juice, and a little oil. Cook on low for six hours. Shred the mixture and serve in pitas with cucumbers and a basic yogurt sauce. Even the smell gives the impression that there are things to do in the kitchen.

22) Green Enchilada Chicken

Basically, this is a choose-your-own-adventure story with plenty of space to write. Place the chicken with the green enchilada sauce, onions, and a dash of cumin. Shred after 6 hours on low. Then use it for enchiladas, burrito bowls, quesadillas, or anything else that you are able to make for dinner. After I flattened all the bags in the freezer, I felt like a domestic goddess for 5 minutes.

23) Beef Barbacoa

With Barbacoa, you can experience the rich, bold flavor without having to be shackled to the stove. Simply set 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 into the juices so it doesn’t dry out. If you’re worried about it being too spicy, use only half of the chipotle, and taste it before adding more.

24) Stuffed Pepper Soup

The biggest downside to making stuffed pepper soup is the relaxed, slow-cooking version. Ground beef, peppers (all three colors), onion, garlic, tomato, broth, and some rice comprise the soup. 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 the taste of a meal you can eat while wearing sweatpants.

25) Slow-Cooker Lentil Soup

It’s pretty hard to get better than this for a weeknight dinner. Lentils, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, broth, and bay leaf. 7-8 hours on low, and it becomes thick and delicious. A splash of vinegar or lemon makes a huge difference at the end.

26) French Dip Sandwiches

It’s like you just rang a dinner bell and the whole house comes running. Put the beef roast in the slow cooker with 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

A weeknight chicken parmesan that is simply not going to be worth it to me to make with traditional breading and frying. This dish includes chicken made with marinara sauce, garlic, and Italian spices, melting mozzarella with a sprinkle of parmesan. To prepare, set the slow cooker on low for 6 hours. Once it’s done cooking, sprinkle some cheese on top, cover, and wait for the cheese to melt. Pair it with pasta and attempt to disregard the fact that you made a “dump dinner,” which is totally a good thing.

28) Coconut Curry Chickpeas

This is one of my favorite recipes because I like to switch things up during my grocery shopping. For a perfect slow cooker recipe, combine chickpeas, diced tomatoes, an onion, some garlic, and a spoonful of curry powder (or paste) + coconut milk. Make sure you add the spinach at the end of the cook time so it doesn’t turn army green. Even the leftovers heat up well.

29) Turkey Taco Soup

One of the simplest kinds of dinners you can make is taco soup. Brown some ground turkey and add it to the slow cooker along with beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, and broth, and cook for 6–7 hours on low. It’s thick and cozy and easily stretches to fit extra beans if you have surprise mouths to feed. I like it with some crushed chips sprinkled on top for an added crunch and some lime to offset the richness.

30) Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

This seems like something someone would order after a long day when they’re even wearing sweatpants. Once the broth, garlic, and seasonings are finished cooking on low for 6 hours, shred the chicken. Then, continue mixing the cream cheese and parmesan cheese until completely smooth and combined. Add the cooked pasta (definitely do not add uncooked pasta) just before serving. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of broth to loosen it.

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 until the beef is tender. Cook on high for 10 minutes after adding a cornstarch slurry if you want it thicker. As a busy mom, you appreciate the miracle of silence.

Pantry & Tools I Reach For on Dump-and-Go Nights

The kit that quietly does the work while the slow cooker runs. Affiliate links: if you buy through them, HomeViable earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.

• Syntus Slow Cooker Liners. Cleanup that takes ten seconds instead of fifteen minutes.
• ThermoMaven Instant-Read Meat Thermometer. Pulls the Mississippi pot roast at perfect tenderness, catches the pulled pork at shred-ready, and confirms the chicken thighs are safe before the kids get to the table.
• Hontent Glass Food Storage Containers with Lids. For the half-batch of chili that becomes Wednesday’s lunch and the shredded chicken that lives on for fajitas, enchiladas, and tortilla soup.
• Cooler Kitchen Bamboo Cutting Board Set. For the prep that happens before the dump and the slicing that happens after.