18 Crock Pot Dump Dinners for Busy Nights

Dinner with zero prep and zero babysitting: just dump everything in the crock pot and walk away. These eighteen dump dinners turn busy nights into cozy, home-cooked evenings with almost no effort.

Below you’ll find 18 reader-favorite recipes, each with a photo, ingredients, and step-by-step instructions. Save your favorites and enjoy!

1. Dump-and-Go Beef Stew

Classic hearty beef stew that practically cooks itself.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb beef stew meat
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

1. Add the beef, broth, potatoes, carrots, onion, thyme, and salt to the crock pot.
2. Stir once to combine.
3. Cover and cook on LOW 7 to 8 hours.
4. Whisk the cornstarch with cold water and stir in.
5. Cook on HIGH 20 minutes to thicken.
6. Serve in deep bowls with crusty bread.

2. Salsa Chicken Dump Dinner

Three-ingredient salsa chicken that shreds into perfect taco filling.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 1 jar (16 oz) salsa
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained
• 1 cup corn
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 2 cups cooked rice
• Toppings: cheese, sour cream

Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Pour the salsa over the top.
3. Add the beans, corn, cumin, and chili powder.
4. Cover and cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Shred the chicken with two forks and stir.
6. Serve over rice with toppings.

3. Dump Barbecue Pulled Pork

Sweet-smoky pulled pork with a 2-minute dump-and-go prep.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb pork tenderloin
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 8 brioche buns
• Coleslaw, for serving

Instructions

1. Place the pork tenderloin in the crock pot.
2. Whisk the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, and broth.
3. Pour over the pork.
4. Cook on LOW 7 to 8 hours.
5. Shred and stir back into the sauce.
6. Pile onto buns with coleslaw.

4. Dump Chili con Carne

Thick, meaty chili that simmers itself to perfection.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, browned
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cans (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 cup beef broth
• Shredded cheese, for serving

Instructions

1. Add the browned beef and all remaining ingredients to the crock pot.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on LOW 6 to 7 hours.
4. Stir once halfway through if you are home.
5. Taste and adjust salt.
6. Serve with shredded cheese and cornbread.

5. Honey Garlic Chicken Dump

Sticky-sweet honey garlic chicken that tastes like takeout.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken thighs
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• Sesame seeds and green onions

Instructions

1. Place the chicken thighs in the crock pot.
2. Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, and pepper.
3. Pour over the chicken.
4. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Transfer the chicken out; whisk cornstarch slurry into the sauce and cook on HIGH 15 minutes.
6. Pour the thickened sauce over the chicken; top with sesame seeds.

6. Sausage and Peppers Dump

Classic sausage and peppers that pile perfectly into hoagies.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb Italian sausage links
• 3 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 6 hoagie rolls
• Shredded mozzarella
• Fresh basil

Instructions

1. Add the sausage, peppers, onion, marinara, and Italian seasoning to the crock pot.
2. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
3. Slice the sausage links.
4. Toast the hoagie rolls.
5. Fill with sausage and peppers.
6. Top with mozzarella and basil.

7. Dump Chicken Pot Pie

All the comfort of pot pie with a biscuit topping, no rolling required.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken breasts
• 2 cans (10 oz) cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1 can refrigerated biscuits
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Add the chicken, soups, broth, onion, vegetables, thyme, and pepper to the crock pot.
2. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
3. Shred the chicken and stir.
4. Cut the biscuits into quarters and arrange on top.
5. Cook on HIGH 1 hour more until the biscuits are done.
6. Serve hot.

8. Mississippi Pot Roast Dump

The famous 5-ingredient roast: buttery, tangy, and fall-apart tender.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb beef chuck roast
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 1 packet au jus mix
• 1/2 cup butter
• 6 pepperoncini peppers
• Mashed potatoes or buns, for serving

Instructions

1. Place the chuck roast in the crock pot.
2. Sprinkle with the ranch seasoning and au jus mix.
3. Top with the butter and pepperoncini.
4. Cook on LOW 8 hours.
5. Shred the meat and stir into the juices.
6. Serve over mashed potatoes or in buns.

9. Hawaiian Pineapple Pork Dump

Sweet-tangy island pork with caramelized pineapple.

Ingredients

• 2 lb pork shoulder
• 1 can (20 oz) crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• Cooked rice and green onions

Instructions

1. Place the pork shoulder in the crock pot.
2. Whisk the pineapple with juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic.
3. Pour over the pork.
4. Cook on LOW 8 hours.
5. Shred the pork; thicken the juices with a cornstarch slurry on HIGH 15 minutes.
6. Serve over rice with green onions.

10. Buffalo Chicken Dump Sandwiches

Spicy shredded buffalo chicken piled on soft buns.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts
• 1 cup buffalo sauce
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 4 tbsp butter
• 8 brioche buns
• Blue cheese crumbles
• Celery sticks

Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the crock pot.
2. Pour over the buffalo sauce and sprinkle with ranch seasoning.
3. Top with the butter.
4. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Shred and stir into the sauce.
6. Serve on buns with blue cheese.

11. Cajun Sausage Potato Dump

One-pot Cajun dinner with sausage, potatoes, and green beans.

Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
• 1 lb green beans, trimmed
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Add everything to the crock pot.
2. Toss to coat in the broth and seasoning.
3. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
4. Stir once if you are home.
5. The potatoes should be fork-tender.
6. Serve straight from the pot.

12. Sweet Barbecue Country Ribs

Fall-off-the-bone ribs in a sweet barbecue glaze.

Ingredients

• 2 lb boneless pork ribs
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup grape jelly
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Coleslaw
• Buns, for serving

Instructions

1. Place the ribs in the crock pot.
2. Whisk the barbecue sauce, grape jelly, Worcestershire, and paprika.
3. Pour over the ribs.
4. Cook on LOW 7 to 8 hours.
5. The meat should shred easily.
6. Serve on buns with coleslaw.

13. Dump Creamy Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Creamy Tuscan chicken tossed with penne and mozzarella.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken thighs
• 1 jar (24 oz) marinara
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 12 oz penne
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• Fresh basil
• 1/2 cup Parmesan

Instructions

1. Add the chicken, marinara, cream cheese, and Italian seasoning to the crock pot.
2. Cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours.
3. Shred the chicken and stir until creamy.
4. Cook the penne separately and add to the pot.
5. Stir in the mozzarella and Parmesan.
6. Top with basil and serve.

14. Dump Turkey Minestrone

Hearty Italian soup with turkey, beans, and tender pasta.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey, browned
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cans (14 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) white beans
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 8 oz small shells
• Grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. Add everything except the pasta to the crock pot.
2. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
3. Stir in the small shells.
4. Cook on HIGH 30 minutes until the pasta is tender.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Serve with Parmesan.

15. Beer-Braised Beef Dump

Malty, deeply savory beef braised in beer.

Ingredients

• 2 lb beef stew meat
• 1 bottle (12 oz) beer
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp thyme
• 3 cups beef broth
• Crusty bread, for serving

Instructions

1. Add the beef, beer, onion, tomato paste, brown sugar, thyme, and broth to the crock pot.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on LOW 8 hours.
4. The beef should be spoon-tender.
5. Skim any excess fat.
6. Serve in bowls with crusty bread.

16. Thai Red Curry Chicken Dump

Fragrant coconut curry chicken with crisp vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts
• 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
• 3 tbsp red curry paste
• 1 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 bell peppers, sliced
• 1 cup snap peas
• Jasmine rice and cilantro

Instructions

1. Whisk the coconut milk, curry paste, fish sauce, and brown sugar.
2. Pour over the chicken in the crock pot.
3. Cook on LOW 5 to 6 hours.
4. Shred the chicken lightly.
5. Stir in the peppers and snap peas; cook on HIGH 20 minutes.
6. Serve over jasmine rice with cilantro.

17. Kielbasa Cabbage Dump Dinner

Smoky kielbasa simmered with sweet cabbage and potatoes.

Ingredients

• 1 lb kielbasa, sliced
• 1 head cabbage, chopped
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp caraway seeds
• 1 tbsp mustard
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Layer the cabbage, potatoes, and onion in the crock pot.
2. Add the kielbasa on top.
3. Pour over the broth; sprinkle with caraway, salt, and pepper.
4. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
5. Stir in the mustard.
6. Serve in bowls.

18. Teriyaki Drumstick Dump

Sticky teriyaki drumsticks the kids will devour.

Ingredients

• 2 lb chicken drumsticks
• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• Sesame seeds
• Cooked rice

Instructions

1. Place the drumsticks in the crock pot.
2. Whisk the teriyaki sauce, honey, vinegar, and garlic powder; pour over.
3. Cook on LOW 6 hours.
4. Transfer the drumsticks to a platter.
5. Thicken the sauce with a cornstarch slurry on HIGH 15 minutes.
6. Pour over the drumsticks; sprinkle with sesame seeds.