20 Tasty Slow Cooker Dump Meals to Make Busy Days Easier
Pour, plug in, and turn on—that's all these slow cooker dump meals require! With little prep time and few (if any) ingredients to add later, these recipes can be tossed together in the morning without throwing off your routine. Come suppertime, you'll have a delicious meal waiting for you.
Slow-Cooked Beef and Veggies
When you're craving a comforting bowl of pot roast but don't want to turn on the oven, look no further than this slow cooker dump meal. You can easily prepare the beef and veggies up to three days in advance, so the only thing to do is dump the ingredients into the slow cooker before work and let the flavors meld all day.
Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas
Calling all who follow a low-carb eating plan: While many slow cooker suppers center around starches, such as potatoes, rice, or pasta, this dump dinner recipe relies on tender pork roast and vitamin-rich veggies as the base. Scoop the shredded meat into lettuce wraps; each serving will only add 8 grams of carbohydrates to your daily tally.
Spicy Spring Picnic Pork
These spicy pulled pork sandwiches can make any day feel like a spring picnic—but we give you permission to serve the slow cooker dump meal any season. Serve in toasted hamburger buns, rolled into a tortilla for a wrap, or piled on a bed of polenta for a supremely cozy bowl recipe.
Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese
The next time you want cheesy pasta, bypass the box and try this slow cooker dump meal. A spoonful of Cajun seasoning, a dash of hot sauce, and some andouille sausage help transport your taste buds to Louisiana. Drop everything in the slow cooker, cook for the afternoon, then finish with enough cheese and milk to reach your desired consistency.
New World Chili
If your favorite comfort food is a hearty bowl of chili, this is the dump dinner recipe for you. Instead of beef and beans, we use turkey with butternut squash, corn, cranberries, and jalapeño peppers for a flavor combination that is going to pleasantly surprise your tastebuds. Sprinkle with cheese and you'll be diving into one delicious bowl.
Maple-Mustard Turkey Thighs
You'll have plenty of time to make a side salad while this meat-and-potatoes dump dinner slow-cooks. Prep for this dish is faster than nearly any other recipe on this list. Why? You need to layer only five ingredients—just like in these healthy five-ingredient-or-less dinners! If you can't find or don't love turkey thighs, try the same ratios with chicken thighs instead.
Mexican Meatball Stew
You may not think Mexican flavors and meatballs go together, but one taste of this rich stew will convince you otherwise. To toss this slow cooker dump meal together in almost no prep time, start with frozen meatballs and corn. For a crunchy topper, sprinkle on fresh oregano and crushed tortilla chips just before serving.
Seafood Cioppino
Say hello to your new favorite seafood dinner. This slow cooker dump meal—which can also cook fast in your pressure cooker—simmers a rich tomato-veggie mixture all day. When you get home from work, drop in your favorite white fish, crab meat, shrimp, and white wine for the last 30 minutes of cook time. Serve with toasty bread for dipping.
Beer Brisket
Pitmasters tend their flames overnight, but you don't have to touch a thing after you get this slow cooker dump meal started. Tender, juicy brisket is a prime candidate for cooking low and slow all day for dinnertime. You can serve slices of meat on rolls for easy sandwiches, but we won't judge if you savor this brisket all on its own.
Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo
Zesty Cajun seasoning turns a blend of okra, bell peppers, tomatoes, and black beans into a spicy gumbo-style slow cooker dump meal. To make this vegetarian dinner even heartier, serve over hot cooked rice with a piece of buttery corn bread to soak up every last drop.
Cabbage Roll Soup
DIY an Asian-style slow cooker dump meal with ground beef, cabbage, fire-roasted tomatoes, and a blend of spices and seasonings. The cabbage stew takes only a few minutes of prep before it simmers for the day. This is one of the easiest Asian cuisine options to toss together in the morning on your way out the door.
Mango Chicken Tinga
Mango might not seem like your first choice when pairing with chicken, but we promise this is a dump recipe worth trying. The tropical fruit provides the perfect amount of sweetness to contrast with the warm, smoky flavors of fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle chile pepper. Serve the juicy chicken thighs over a bed of hot cooked rice for an unforgettable meal.
French Chicken Stew
This French-theme dump dinner recipe has a long ingredient list, but there's no time-consuming prep when you add everything to your slow cooker. The combination of chicken, veggies, and spices develops rich flavors in this stew while simmering throughout the day.
Mississippi Chicken
You'll need just eight ingredients to make this slow cooker chicken dinner. Once it's done, pile the shredded meat onto rolls for sandwiches or use it to top salads, pastas, or rice. As one BHG home cook shared, "This was one of the easiest easy dump-and-go crockpot dinners I ever made!"
Saucy Ravioli with Meatballs
Slow-cooker dump meals don't get easier than this. Stack spaghetti sauce, ravioli, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese, then let your handy small appliance take over. Like magic, this hearty Italian dinner is ready to serve in just a few hours.
Spicy Chipotle Chicken Lentil Stew
What makes this chicken stew so spicy? Chipotle peppers and a few pinches of chili powder add its namesake heat. Don't fret if you're not so much into spice: A few slices of avocado on top cool down the finished dump chicken slow cooker recipe.
Slow Cooker Indian Chicken Stew
Serve this slow cooker dump meal over rice and you'll have a comforting dinner everyone will love. Season chicken thighs with garlic, curry powder, ginger, and cayenne pepper before adding them to the slow cooker along with garbanzo beans, diced tomatoes, and spinach.
Red Bean, Chicken, and Sweet Potato Stew
Just before serving this slow cooker stew, stir in creamy peanut butter for a silky texture and nutty flavor. Brighten up the dump dinner with snipped fresh cilantro and a sprinkle of chopped peanuts.
Mississippi Pot Roast
Earning rave reviews, this slow cooker dump meal is rich and perfectly seasoned. The secret is a package each of ranch salad dressing mix and au jus gravy mix. As one reviewer shared, "This was super simple and so delicious. We had company and they loved it. We will make this again and again."
Slow-Cooked Beef Pozole
This twist on classic pozole is made with beef flank steak, hominy, and red potatoes. Round out the broth with diced tomatoes, chili powder, and garlic. Serve the finished dump meal with crumbled cheese, fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and chile peppers.