19 Dump Dinner Recipes for Easy Slow Cooker Dinners

By Karla Walsh
Updated May 15, 2019
Blaine Moats
Pour, plug in, and turn on—that's all these dump dinner recipes require! With little prep time and few, if any, ingredients to add later, these slow cooker dump meals can be tossed together in the morning without throwing off your routine. Come suppertime, you'll have a delicious meal waiting for you.
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1 of 19

Barbecue Chicken Macaroni and Cheese

Andy Lyons
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When you’re craving grilled food but the weather isn’t cooperating, this dump chicken slow cooker recipe is a solution. Tender chicken thighs, sweet-tangy barbecue sauce, and salty bacon team up for a meal reminiscent of one from a backyard barbecue. No-boil pasta is key to trim down on prep work. Your only task after slow cooking is to stir in cheese and top with barbecue sauce, bacon, and green onions.

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Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas

Andy Lyons
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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 succulent pork roast and vitamin-rich veggies as the base. Scoop the shredded meat into lettuce wraps, and each serving will only add 8 grams of carbohydrate to your daily tally.

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Texas Beef with Butternut Squash

Jason Donnelly
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This hands-off Mexican mole-inspired meal is the ultimate example of a warm-you-from-the-inside dinner. Toasty cumin, spicy chili powder, and rich cocoa powder add complex layers of spicy flavors.

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Spicy Spring Picnic Pork

Andy Lyons
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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-and-go 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.

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Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese

Jason Donnelly
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The next time you want cheesy pasta, bypass the box and try this slow cooker dump dinner. 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.

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Salsa Verde Beef Taco Salad

Jacob Fox
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A lot of slow cooker dump meals lack fresh ingredients, but not this taco salad. Pour ground beef, pinto beans, and salsa (homemade, if you please!) into your slow cooker to simmer throughout the day. For a fresh finish, serve on top of a bed of lettuce with other vegetable toppings like chopped tomatoes.

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Maple-Mustard-Sauced Turkey Thighs

Jacob Fox
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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.

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Mexican Meatball Stew

Jason Donnelly
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You may not think Mexican flavors and meatballs go together, but one taste of this rich stew will convince you otherwise. To toss together this dump dinner recipe with almost no prep time, start with frozen meatballs and corn. For a fresh topper, sprinkle on fresh oregano and crushed tortilla chips just before serving.

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Beer Brisket

Jacob Fox
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Pitmasters tend their flames overnight, but you don’t have to touch a thing after you get this dump dinner 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.

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Italian Pork with Sweet Potatoes

Blaine Moats
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When the smell of this tender pork roast fills your kitchen, you'll have to resist the temptation to take a peek. Look for bags of precut sweet potatoes in your grocery store’s produce department—then you won't have to do any chopping to complete this dump dinner recipe. Or for a yummy fall swap, substitute diced butternut squash for the spuds.

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Cajun-Seasoned Vegetarian Gumbo

Andy Lyons
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Zesty Cajun seasoning turns a blend of okra, sweet 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—and with a piece of buttery corn bread to soak up every last drop.

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Lamb Birria with Barley and Dried Plums

Karla Conrad
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Indulge a little tonight. This spicy lamb stew simmers in chicken broth and red wine with a spiced blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Just before the slow cooker dump meal hits your table, top each hearty serving with crispy tortilla strips, tomato, and parsley.

Buy It: Crock Pot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, $59.99, Amazon

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Japanese Cabbage Stew

Jason Donnelly
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DIY an Asian-style dump dinner with pork, bok choy, red sweet peppers, 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.

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Dijon Beef Stew

Karla Conrad
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Start this dump dinner recipe in the morning, and you'll have a warm, hearty bowl of beef stew waiting for you at the end of the day. Tender beef and veggies spend the day simmering in broth and a blend of garlic and spices to create this homey, comforting meal.

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Beer-Braised Beef Short Ribs

Blaine Moats
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There's no fuss involved with prepping these juicy dump dinner ribs: Just place them in your slow cooker and top with beef broth, dark beer, onions, and a few spices. Serve with mashed potatoes or a slice of toast to sop up extra juice.

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French Chicken Stew

Andy Lyons
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Julia Child would be proud! 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 it simmers throughout the day.

Buy It: Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Volume 1 by Julia Child, $21.95, Amazon

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Saucy Ravioli with Meatballs

Blaine Moats
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Slow cooker dump recipes don’t get easier than this. Stack spaghetti sauce, ravioli, meatballs, and mozzarella cheese, then let the handy small appliance take over. Almost like magic, this hearty Italian dinner is ready to serve in just a few hours.

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Spicy Chipotle Chicken Lentil Stew

Jason Donnelly
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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.

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Quinoa with Sausage and Peppers

Blaine Moats
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Looking for more ways to add quinoa to your meal plan? It doesn't get much easier than this slow cooker dump-and-go recipe. Cooked alongside chicken sausage and sweet peppers, this dinner is a super easy (and delicious) way to introduce the protein-packed grain to your dinner.

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