15 Slow Cooker Easy Dinner Recipes Dump & Go (Simple Make-Ahead Meals)

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beef stew
15 Slow Cooker Easy Dinner Recipes Dump & Go (Simple Make-Ahead Meals)

Hands-Free Weeknight Cooking

Dump and go slow cooker meals revolutionize weeknight cooking by requiring only ingredient dumping in the morning. These fifteen easy slow cooker recipes prove that minimal effort creates maximum flavor and satisfaction. Simply combine ingredients, turn on the slow cooker, and return home to a completely prepared dinner. Perfect for busy families and hectic schedules, these recipes deliver restaurant-quality results with virtually no active cooking time required.

Why Dump & Go Slow Cooker Meals Work

Dump and go cooking requires no afternoon preparation or monitoring. Extended cooking time transforms simple ingredients into deeply flavorful meals. Slow cooking tenderizes tougher, more affordable meat cuts beautifully. Morning prep takes just minutes while slow cooker handles all cooking throughout the day. These meals prove convenience need not compromise taste or nutrition quality.

Easy Dump & Go Chicken Meals

1. Salsa Chicken with Black Beans

Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Three-ingredient chicken becomes versatile in tacos, over rice, or in soups.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • 2 cups salsa
  • 1 can black beans, drained

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add chicken breasts to slow cooker.
  2. Pour salsa over chicken.
  3. Add black beans.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  5. Shred chicken with forks when done.
  6. Stir to combine with salsa and beans.
  7. Serve with rice, tortillas, or as desired.

2. Honey Soy Chicken

Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 5-6 Hours on Low

Quick-prep chicken with sweet and savory sauce cooks into tender perfection.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Cooked rice for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
  2. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce and honey.
  3. Pour mixture over chicken.
  4. Sprinkle minced garlic.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours.
  6. Chicken should be very tender.
  7. Serve over cooked rice.

3. Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 6-7 Hours on Low

Tender chicken thighs with aromatic garlic and herbs create satisfying dinner.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 8 bone-in chicken thighs
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Place chicken thighs in slow cooker.
  2. Dot with butter pieces.
  3. Sprinkle minced garlic over chicken.
  4. Add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
  6. Chicken should be very tender.
  7. Serve hot with pan juices.

4. Lemon Herb Chicken

Prep: 7 Minutes Cook: 6-7 Hours on Low

Bright lemon and herbs infuse chicken during slow cooking.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • 3 lemons, sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
  2. Layer lemon slices over chicken.
  3. Sprinkle minced garlic.
  4. Add oregano and thyme.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
  6. Chicken should be tender and absorb lemon flavor.
  7. Serve hot with lemon slices.

5. Chicken Cacciatore

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 6-7 Hours on Low

Italian-style chicken with tomatoes and vegetables becomes one-pot meal.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 6 boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add chicken to slow cooker.
  2. Add crushed tomatoes, diced onion, and diced bell pepper.
  3. Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
  5. Chicken should be very tender.
  6. Serve over pasta or with crusty bread.

Easy Dump & Go Beef Meals

6. Beef Stew

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Classic beef stew becomes simple with minimal chopping required.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 pounds beef stew meat
  • 4 carrots, sliced
  • 3 potatoes, cubed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add beef to slow cooker.
  2. Add sliced carrots, cubed potatoes, and diced onion.
  3. Pour in beef broth.
  4. Add thyme, salt, and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  6. Beef and vegetables should be very tender.
  7. Serve hot in bowls.

7. Pulled Beef Sandwiches

Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Tender pulled beef becomes versatile for sandwiches or other meals.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 3 pound beef chuck roast
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • Sandwich rolls for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Place beef roast in slow cooker.
  2. Pour barbecue sauce and beef broth over roast.
  3. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  4. Shred beef with forks when very tender.
  5. Stir to combine with sauce.
  6. Serve on sandwich rolls.

8. Beef and Vegetable Chili

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 7-8 Hours on Low

Hearty chili with ground beef and vegetables develops deep flavor overnight.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 1.5 pounds ground beef, browned
  • 2 cans kidney beans, drained
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain excess fat.
  2. Add beef to slow cooker.
  3. Add kidney beans, diced tomatoes, and diced onion.
  4. Sprinkle chili powder and cumin.
  5. Add salt and pepper.
  6. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
  7. Stir occasionally if possible.
  8. Serve hot.

9. Cranberry Beef Soup

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Festive soup combining tender beef with tart cranberries.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 1.5 pounds beef stew meat
  • 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
  • 6 cups beef broth
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon rosemary
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add beef to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced carrots and diced onion.
  3. Pour in beef broth.
  4. Add rosemary, salt, and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  6. Add fresh cranberries in the last hour.
  7. Cranberries will burst and add tartness.
  8. Season with salt and pepper.
  9. Serve hot.

Easy Dump & Go Pork Meals

10. Pulled Pork

Prep: 5 Minutes Cook: 8-10 Hours on Low

Simple pork shoulder becomes tender and versatile when slow cooked.

Ingredients (Serves 10):

  • 4 pound pork shoulder
  • 1 cup barbecue sauce
  • 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
  • Sandwich rolls for serving

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Place pork shoulder in slow cooker.
  2. Mix barbecue sauce with apple cider vinegar.
  3. Pour mixture over pork.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
  5. Shred pork with forks when very tender.
  6. Stir to combine with sauce.
  7. Serve on sandwich rolls.

11. Pork and Sweet Potato Stew

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 7-8 Hours on Low

Hearty combination of pork and sweet potatoes creates comfort food.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 1.5 pounds pork shoulder, cubed
  • 3 sweet potatoes, cubed
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add cubed pork to slow cooker.
  2. Add cubed sweet potatoes and diced onion.
  3. Pour in chicken broth.
  4. Add sage, salt, and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.
  6. Pork and potatoes should be very tender.
  7. Serve hot.

Easy Dump & Go Vegetarian Meals

12. Bean and Vegetable Chili

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Hearty vegetarian chili with beans becomes deeply flavorful.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 3 cans beans, drained
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add all beans to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced tomatoes, onion, and bell pepper.
  3. Sprinkle chili powder and cumin.
  4. Add salt and pepper.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  6. Stir occasionally if possible.
  7. Serve hot.

13. Lentil and Vegetable Soup

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Protein-packed lentil soup becomes nourishing comfort food.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 cups dried lentils
  • 4 carrots, sliced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add lentils to slow cooker.
  2. Add sliced carrots and diced onion.
  3. Pour in vegetable broth.
  4. Add thyme.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  6. Lentils should be tender.
  7. Season with salt and pepper.
  8. Serve hot.

14. Chickpea Vegetable Curry

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Aromatic curry with chickpeas and vegetables satisfies completely.

Ingredients (Serves 6):

  • 2 cans chickpeas, drained
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons curry powder
  • 2 cups chopped vegetables (spinach, peppers, zucchini)

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add chickpeas to slow cooker.
  2. Add coconut milk, diced tomatoes, and diced onion.
  3. Sprinkle curry powder.
  4. Add chopped vegetables.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  6. Vegetables should be tender.
  7. Serve over rice.

15. Minestrone Soup

Prep: 10 Minutes Cook: 6-8 Hours on Low

Italian vegetable soup with beans becomes hearty and satisfying.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 2 cans white beans, drained
  • 1 can diced tomatoes
  • 8 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cups chopped vegetables (zucchini, celery)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Add white beans to slow cooker.
  2. Add diced tomatoes and vegetable broth.
  3. Add diced carrots, diced onion, and chopped vegetables.
  4. Sprinkle Italian seasoning.
  5. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.
  6. Vegetables should be tender.
  7. Serve hot.

Dump & Go Slow Cooker Tips

Brown meat for flavor:

If using ground meat, brown it in a skillet first to develop flavor. This takes just minutes but dramatically improves final taste. Drain excess fat before adding to slow cooker.

Layer ingredients strategically:

Place harder vegetables and meat on bottom layer. More delicate ingredients go on top. This ensures everything cooks properly despite uneven heat distribution.

Don’t overfill the slow cooker:

Fill slow cooker between half and three-quarter full for optimal cooking. Overfilling prevents proper heat circulation and uneven cooking. Underfilling works but may require recipe adjustments.

Resist lifting the lid:

Each time you lift the lid, cooking time increases by 15 to 20 minutes. Rely on cooking times provided rather than peeking. Trust the process for best results.

Prep the night before:

Chop vegetables and measure ingredients the evening before. Store in containers in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply combine ingredients in the slow cooker. This approach makes morning assembly truly dump and go.

Use removable liners:

Disposable slow cooker liners make cleanup effortless after cooking. Simply remove the liner and discard. This small convenience makes hosting or batch cooking more enjoyable.

These fifteen dump and go slow cooker meals revolutionize weeknight cooking by combining minimal morning effort with impressive dinner results. Simple morning preparation means complete meals waiting when you arrive home hungry and ready to eat.

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