Dump & Go Slow Cooker Recipes
These dump-and-go slow cooker recipes are super quick and easy to prep – minimal chopping and zero additional cooking or pans needed – and you will have dinner on the table waiting for you for a change.
Find some favorites, rotate in new recipes from time to time, and create a variety of meals that require very little effort on your part!
Slow cooker to the rescue! 🏆
Maybe you keep your slow cooker on the counter for use multiple times a week. Or maybe you only haul it out of the closet on occasion.
Regardless, today, you’re going to fall in love with this magical appliance all over again.
Benefits of Slow Cooker Meals
Hands Off Cooking. Set it and forget it. Once everything is in and you’ve turned it on, you are done. You can safely walk away and let it do the hard work while you get on with your day. And then at dinner time, dinner is waiting on YOU!
Great for Busy Schedules. Yes, you can set it in advance and have it ready and waiting, which makes the end-of-day rush a little easier. And also, it’s great if you have family members coming and going for dinner at different times. It’ll keep the food warm and ready and waiting.
Lighter Options. You need less oil and fat for many slow cooker recipes, so they can be a light, healthy option.
Budget Friendly. Slow cooker recipes work well for less expensive cuts of meat because they will cook long enough to become tender and flavorful.
Keep the Kitchen Cool. My slow cooker is a great solution to the searing summer heat in the South. It doesn’t heat things up like an oven and we still get a warm meal.
Easy Clean Up. Since everything is cooking all together in the crock pot, that’s all you have to clean up! They even make liners that can be tossed after cooking if you want to try those.
Meal Prep and Leftovers. A lot of slow cooker recipes make a big batch, which means you can cook once and eat twice with the leftovers for another meal.
And while there are many, many amazing recipes out there that have a variety of steps and preparation for a more in-depth meal, we are not doing that today. We are keeping it simple.
Only quick and easy-to-prep recipes for us. Let’s get into the specifics…
What Makes a Dump & Go Slow Cooker Recipe?
- Simple prep. Maybe some light chopping and some opening of cans, but otherwise, there is very minimal prep time for these recipes (no more than 10 minutes and most are just 5 minutes to prep.)
- No skillets needed. These recipes don’t require you to brown your meat or saute some veggies or marinate anything in advance. No additional cooking happening before the slow cooker is set. (Cough, cough, unlike many other round-ups I’ve seen…)
- Slow cooker. I mean, duh maybe, but all of these recipes are cooked in a slow cooker/crock pot. We’re not using an Instant Pot here. If your have an Instant Pot with a slow cook function that works reliably for recipes intended for a crock pot, go for it.
OK, moving right along to the recipes so you can get to dumping and going. 😉
Dump & Go Slow Cooker Recipes
Scroll through the collection below. Click on the title or photo to be taken to the original recipe website for ingredients and instructions.
And come back often because we are always updating this and adding new recipes that fit.
Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken Breast
Total time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Ingredient count: 12
Step count: 5
Have a recipe you’d like to see included? Or other suggestions or feedback? Let us know!
Tips for Slow Cooker Recipes
Don’t overfill or underfill. For best results, the slow cooker should generally be about half to two-thirds of the way full.
Layer your ingredients. Follow the recipe but usually, dense and slower-cooking ingredients like root vegetables and larger cuts of meat should be at the bottom near the heat source. Quicker cooking items can be layered on the top.
Keep the lid on. No peeking as your food is cooking. Lifting the lid off of a slow cooker allows heat to escape and can require an extra 15-20 minutes of cook time to make up for it.
Adjust your liquids. You’ll need less liquid in a slow cooker than you would for a stovetop version of a recipe. That’s because they trap moisture and veggies and meats can also release liquids as they cook.
Low or high heat. Most recipes can be cooked at either setting, but default to what the recipe creator recommends. Generally speaking, you can cook it on low for a longer, all day timing or on high – generally about 1/2 the time – for a quicker cook time in the afternoon.
If you are in the market to buy a slow cooker, I have opinions. 😉
I have had two different brand name and expensive slow cookers over the years. One cracked multiple times and I kept having to replace it (under warranty, but still). The other worked fine for a couple of years until it stopped keeping heat and cooking evenly. We went through multiple meals more or less ruined before I gave up on it.
I’ve since bought not one but two more affordable Crock-Pot branded slow cookers and I love them. Zero issues. (And they get a lot of use!)
Slow Cooker Recipe FAQs
A standard slow cooker is typically 6 quarts. This feeds a family of 4-6 and will accommodate most recipes. Smaller crock posts are 3-4 quarts and larger ones can run up to 8 quarts. Adjust your recipe if needed for these sizes.
Recommendations encourage you to thaw meat before using it in the slow cooker. This ensures it doesn’t stay in the “danger zone” for too long as it heats, at a temperature where harmful bacteria might develop.
Also, frozen meats can have extra moisture that gets released and can impact the consistency of the dish.
Let it cool first before cleaning. Then wash with warm, soapy water until clean. Some models are safe to place in the dishwasher. If you have stuck-on food bits, soak the slow cooker in warm, soapy water for several hours or overnight and then clean it.
Most slow cookers can safely cook on low heat for up to 8-10 hours if you need to set it in the morning. Also, many models have a “keep warm” setting that the slow cooker can switch to after the cooking time is up, which can help prevent over cooking and drying out.
Allow the leftovers to cool slightly, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Most slow cooker meals will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Many are also good candidates for freezing (up to 4-5 months). Check individual recipes for details.
