13 Delicious Dump And Go Crockpot Dinners For Busy Families

It’s 5 PM. The kids are hungry, you’re exhausted from a long day, and the thought of chopping, sautéing, and juggling multiple pans feels completely overwhelming. What if dinner could practically make itself?

This daily scramble is a universal pain point for busy families. The pressure to put a healthy, homemade meal on the table often clashes with the reality of hectic schedules, leading to takeout temptation or a rotation of the same three uninspired dishes. It feels like a choice between your time and a good meal, and you’re always losing.

Here’s the deal: dump and go crockpot dinners are simple recipes where all ingredients are added to the slow cooker at once with no pre-cooking, like browning meat. This method saves significant prep time, making it perfect for busy families who want a hot, homemade meal ready at the end of the day. As a busy parent, I live by my slow cooker. These aren’t just recipes I found; they are the tried-and-true meals that have saved my weeknights, updated and tested for this year.

Tired of the 5 PM Dinner Scramble? What If Dinner Could Make Itself?

Dump and go crockpot dinners are simple recipes where all ingredients are added to the slow cooker at once with no pre-cooking, like browning meat. This method saves significant prep time, making it perfect for busy families who want a hot, homemade meal ready at the end of the day.

The real magic of these meals isn’t just about convenience; it’s about reclaiming your evening. Imagine coming home to the incredible aroma of a fully cooked meal, with only a few minutes of work needed to get it on the table. No pile of prep dishes, no last-minute panic.

As a busy parent, I live by my slow cooker. It’s my secret weapon against weeknight chaos. These aren’t just recipes I found online; they are the tried-and-true meals that have saved my weeknights countless times. I’ve tested and tweaked them to ensure they are truly “dump and go” and deliver maximum flavor with minimal effort.

13 Delicious Dump And Go Crockpot Dinners For Busy Families

Some of the best dump and go crockpot meals include classics like Mississippi Pot Roast, White Chicken Chili, and BBQ Pulled Pork. The list below features 13 of our absolute favorite, minimal-effort recipes that have been selected for their simplicity and crowd-pleasing flavors, perfect for even the pickiest eaters.

We’ve grouped the recipes by protein—Chicken, Beef & Pork, and Meatless & More—to make finding the perfect dinner for tonight even easier. Get ready to set it and forget it!

1. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

This recipe creates a creamy, zesty, and comforting chicken chili with virtually no effort, making it a perfect weeknight warmer.

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 (15 oz) cans Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (4 oz) can diced green chiles
  • 1 (16 oz) jar salsa verde
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • Optional: 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• Instructions:
  1. Place chicken breasts at the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Pour the beans, green chiles, salsa verde, diced onion, chicken stock, and seasonings over the chicken.
  3. Stir briefly to combine.
  4. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  5. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the crockpot. If using, stir in softened cream cheese until fully melted and creamy.

Pro-Tip: In my experience, using one can of cannellini beans and one can of Great Northern gives the best texture. The slightly different sizes make the chili feel more substantial and homemade.

Pin this cozy chili recipe for your next family dinner!

2. Mississippi Pot Roast

This famous recipe uses just a handful of ingredients to produce an incredibly tender and flavorful beef roast with its own rich, tangy gravy.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 (3-4 lb) chuck roast
  • 1 (1 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
  • 1 (1 oz) packet au jus gravy mix
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
  • 5-6 pepperoncini peppers (and a splash of the juice)
• Instructions:
  1. Place the chuck roast in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Sprinkle the ranch dressing mix and au jus mix over the top of the roast.
  3. Place the stick of butter on top of the seasonings.
  4. Arrange the pepperoncini peppers around the roast.
  5. Cook on LOW for 8 hours without opening the lid.
  6. Shred the beef with two forks directly in the slow cooker and stir to combine with the juices.

Lesson Learned: Don’t add any extra liquid! The first time I made this, I was tempted to add broth, but it’s a mistake. The roast creates its own delicious, concentrated gravy. Trust the process.

Save this classic comfort food recipe to your ‘Weeknight Wins’ board!

3. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork

This is the easiest way to make smoky, sweet, and fall-apart tender pulled pork for sandwiches, tacos, or salads.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 (3-4 lb) boneless pork shoulder (pork butt)
  • 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Instructions:
  1. Place the chopped onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Place the pork shoulder on top of the onions.
  3. In a small bowl, mix the BBQ sauce, brown sugar, and smoked paprika. Pour evenly over the pork.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours.
  5. Remove the pork from the slow cooker, shred it using two forks, and discard any large pieces of fat.
  6. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir to coat with the juices. Add more BBQ sauce if desired.

Pro-Tip: For a hint of tangy flavor that cuts the sweetness, I always add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar along with the BBQ sauce. It also helps tenderize the meat.

Perfect for parties! Pin this easy pulled pork recipe now.

4. Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Tacos

With just three simple ingredients, you can make the easiest, most versatile shredded chicken for an epic taco night.

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (16 oz) jar of your favorite salsa
  • 1 packet (1 oz) taco seasoning
• Instructions:
  1. Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the chicken.
  3. Pour the entire jar of salsa over the top.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours, until the chicken is cooked through.
  5. Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker with two forks. Stir to combine with the salsa.
  6. Serve warm in tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

Pro-Tip: From my own testing, I’ve found it’s best to use a thick and chunky salsa for this recipe. A thin, watery salsa can make the final shredded chicken a bit too liquidy for tacos.

Make taco night a breeze! Pin this 3-ingredient recipe.

5. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This recipe creates a sweet, savory, and sticky honey garlic sauce that perfectly coats juicy chicken thighs, tasting better than takeout.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1 tsp ginger, freshly grated (optional)
  • Garnish: sesame seeds, sliced green onions
• Instructions:
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, garlic, lime juice, and ginger.
  2. Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
  3. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken, turning to coat.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-5 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours.
  5. Serve whole or shredded over rice, garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.

Pro-Tip: If you want a thicker, stickier sauce (and who doesn’t?), remove the chicken once cooked. Pour the sauce from the crockpot into a small saucepan and simmer on the stove for 5-10 minutes until it reduces and thickens beautifully.

Pin this for a dinner that’s easier than takeout!

6. Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This recipe delivers a classic, hearty beef stew with tender vegetables and fall-apart beef, all without the extra step of browning the meat.

• Ingredients:
  • 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1.5 lbs Yukon gold potatoes, chopped
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 4 cups low-sodium beef broth
  • 1 (1 oz) packet onion soup mix
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
• Instructions:
  1. Add the beef stew meat, potatoes, carrots, and onion to the slow cooker.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the beef broth, onion soup mix, tomato paste, and thyme.
  3. Pour the broth mixture over the meat and vegetables. Stir to combine.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours, until the beef is fall-apart tender.

Lesson Learned: Using waxy potatoes like Yukon Gold or red potatoes is key. I learned the hard way that starchy russet potatoes tend to disintegrate during the long cook time, making the stew mushy.

Save this ultimate comfort food recipe for a chilly day!

7. Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

This is the ultimate comfort food hack: a creamy, decadent, no-boil mac and cheese where the pasta cooks right in the cheesy sauce.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 (16 oz) box elbow macaroni, uncooked
  • 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
• Instructions:
  1. Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
  2. Combine the uncooked macaroni, 3 cups of the cheddar cheese, all the Monterey Jack cheese, evaporated milk, whole milk, salt, and pepper in the slow cooker. Stir well.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours, stirring once or twice to prevent sticking.
  4. Once the pasta is tender, sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of cheddar cheese on top, cover, and let it melt for another 10 minutes before serving.

Pro-Tip: I can’t stress this enough: shred your own cheese! Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starches that prevent caking but can make your sauce gritty. Shredding a block of cheese yourself results in a much smoother, creamier mac. It’s worth the extra two minutes.

Pin the cheesiest, easiest Mac and Cheese you’ll ever make!

8. Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie Soup

Enjoy all the cozy, creamy flavors of chicken pot pie in a simple soup, without any of the work of making a crust.

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (16 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • For serving: cooked biscuits or pie crust crackers
• Instructions:
  1. Place chicken, cream of chicken soup, frozen vegetables, onion, chicken broth, and thyme into the slow cooker.
  2. Stir to combine.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.
  4. Remove chicken, shred it, and return it to the soup.
  5. Stir well and serve hot in bowls, topped with a warm biscuit.

Pro-Tip: For a thicker, richer soup that really feels like pot pie filling, mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry. Stir it into the soup during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Save this recipe for the ultimate comfort in a bowl!

9. Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

This recipe makes restaurant-quality French Dip sandwiches with tender, juicy beef and a rich, savory dipping sauce.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 (3 lb) beef rump roast or chuck roast
  • 2 (10.5 oz) cans beef consommé
  • 1 (10.5 oz) can French onion soup
  • 1 cup water
  • Crusty hoagie rolls
  • Sliced Provolone cheese
• Instructions:
  1. Place the beef roast in the slow cooker.
  2. Pour the beef consommé, French onion soup, and water over the roast.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
  4. Carefully remove the roast and shred or slice it thinly.
  5. Strain the liquid (au jus) left in the crockpot into a bowl for dipping.
  6. To assemble, pile the beef onto hoagie rolls, top with Provolone cheese, and toast under the broiler until melted. Serve with a small bowl of au jus.

Pro-Tip: In my experience, you should never skip the broiling step! Toasting the bun and getting that cheese perfectly melted and bubbly is what takes this sandwich from good to great.

Pin this crowd-pleasing sandwich recipe for your next game day!

10. Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

This veggie chili is so hearty, healthy, and packed with flavor that even meat-eaters will ask for a second bowl.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (28 oz) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp cumin
• Instructions:
  1. Combine all ingredients—beans, tomatoes, sweet potato, bell pepper, onion, garlic, broth, and spices—in the slow cooker.
  2. Stir everything together until well-mixed.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until the sweet potatoes are tender.
  4. Serve with desired toppings like avocado, sour cream, or shredded cheese.

Pro-Tip: The fire-roasted diced tomatoes are a game-changer. They add a smoky depth that gives the chili a ‘cooked-all-day’ flavor right from the start. It’s my favorite shortcut for amazing flavor.

Save this for your next Meatless Monday! #vegetarian

11. Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

This classic delivers juicy Italian sausage and tender vegetables in a rich tomato sauce, perfect for serving on crusty rolls.

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs sweet or hot Italian sausage links
  • 2-3 bell peppers (a mix of colors), sliced
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 1 (24 oz) jar of your favorite marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Instructions:
  1. Place the sliced peppers and onions in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Arrange the uncooked sausage links on top of the vegetables.
  3. Pour the marinara sauce over everything and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 5-6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours, until sausages are cooked through.
  5. Serve on hoagie rolls or over pasta.

Pro-Tip: If you have an extra minute, prick the sausage casings with a fork a few times before cooking. This allows some of the fat to render into the sauce, adding incredible flavor to the peppers and onions.

Pin this super simple, flavor-packed dinner idea!

12. Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

This 4-ingredient recipe creates tender chicken smothered in a savory, creamy gravy, making it the ultimate comfort food to serve over mashed potatoes.

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 (0.87 oz) packet of chicken gravy mix
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
• Instructions:
  1. Place chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the cream of chicken soup, chicken gravy mix packet, and chicken broth until smooth.
  3. Pour the gravy mixture over the chicken.
  4. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 3 hours.
  5. Serve the chicken whole or shredded with the gravy over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.

Lesson Learned: Whisking the gravy mix with the soup and broth before pouring it in is crucial. I once just dumped the dry packet in, and it clumped up during cooking. A quick whisk at the start ensures a perfectly smooth gravy every time.

The ultimate comfort food. Pin this 4-ingredient recipe!

13. Slow Cooker Taco Soup

This “7-can” style soup is a budget-friendly, pantry-staple meal that’s hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd.

• Ingredients:
  • 1 lb ground beef or turkey, browned and drained (Note: This is the one recipe where pre-browning is highly recommended for best results, but you can use pre-cooked ground meat crumbles for a true dump-and-go version)
  • 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 (15 oz) can corn, drained
  • 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (like Ro-Tel), undrained
  • 1 (1 oz) packet taco seasoning
  • 1 (1 oz) packet ranch dressing mix
  • 2 cups beef broth
• Instructions:
  1. Add the cooked ground beef, beans, corn, diced tomatoes with chiles, taco seasoning, ranch mix, and beef broth to the slow cooker.
  2. Stir everything to combine.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
  4. Serve hot with toppings like tortilla strips, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Pro-Tip: The packet of ranch dressing mix is the secret ingredient! It adds a tangy, creamy element that balances the spice of the taco seasoning perfectly. Don’t skip it!

Pin this budget-friendly soup for a weeknight fiesta!

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to dump and go crockpot dinners

• No Pre-Cooking Needed: The beauty of these recipes is their simplicity. For most, you can skip browning meat or sautéing vegetables, saving you precious time and an extra pan to wash.
• Pantry Staples are Your Best Friend: Many of these meals rely on canned goods (beans, tomatoes), broths, and dry seasonings, making them budget-friendly and easy to prepare on a whim.
• Low and Slow is Key: Cooking on the LOW setting for a longer period (6-8 hours) almost always yields more tender meat and deeper flavor than cooking on HIGH.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Customize: Use these recipes as a base. Swap proteins, add extra veggies, or adjust spices to fit your family’s tastes.
• Thicken Sauces at the End: If a sauce is too thin, a cornstarch slurry or stirring in cream cheese in the last 30 minutes can create a richer, thicker consistency.

People Also Ask About dump and go crockpot dinners

Do you have to brown meat before putting it in a Crockpot?

For most dump-and-go recipes, you do not have to brown meat first. The long, slow cooking process will cook the meat thoroughly and make it tender. While browning can add an extra layer of flavor and better texture, especially for ground meat, it is not a required step for safety or tenderness in recipes like pot roasts or chicken breasts.

What is the difference between a dump dinner and a regular slow cooker meal?

A “dump dinner” specifically refers to a recipe where all ingredients are added to the slow cooker raw, with no pre-cooking required. A regular slow cooker meal might include steps like browning meat, sautéing onions, or searing vegetables before they go into the crockpot. Dump dinners are designed for maximum convenience and minimal prep time.

Can you put frozen chicken in a slow cooker?

While technically possible, food safety experts, including the USDA, advise against putting frozen chicken or other meat directly into a slow cooker. The slow heating time can allow the meat to stay in the “danger zone” (40°F-140°F) for too long, promoting bacterial growth. It’s always safest to thaw chicken completely before slow cooking.

Final Thoughts

Embracing dump-and-go crockpot dinners is about more than just easy meals; it’s about giving yourself a break and creating more time for what truly matters—enjoying moments with your family. We hope these recipes help make your weeknights a little less hectic and a lot more delicious.

What’s your go-to, can’t-live-without slow cooker recipe? Share it in the comments below