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These dump and go crockpot meals are how dinner gets made in my house on the days I am out from breakfast to teatime. You tip everything into the pot in the morning, put the lid on and walk away, and the kitchen smells wonderful by the time you are back through the door.
In short, here are 13 slow cooker dinners: five chicken, four beef and pork, two soups and two family bakes. Ten go straight into the pot raw, and total times run from 4 hr 10 min for crockpot chicken alfredo to 9 hr 10 min for BBQ pulled pork, serving 4 to 8.
All thirteen are recipes I cook myself, so every link below goes to a tested recipe with full times and quantities. I have grouped them into chicken, beef and pork, and soups and family bakes, then added a cooking time chart, a dump and go week, my freezer notes and the questions readers ask me most.
Quick Breakdown
What Makes Dump and Go Crockpot Meals Different
A true dump and go recipe skips the browning, the sautéing and the second pan. Raw ingredients go straight into the slow cooker, and the long, gentle heat does the work. Ten of the thirteen here are exactly that. However, I want to be honest about the other three, because nothing is more annoying than a “dump” recipe that quietly needs a frying pan:
- Recipes 1 to 10 go straight into the pot with no pan at all. A few ask for a quick stir or a thickening slurry at the end.
- Recipes 11 to 13 need one short step first: softening the vegetables for the minestrone, or browning the beef for the cowboy casserole and the lasagna. After that, they are just as hands off.
Chicken Dump and Go Crockpot Meals
Chicken is the backbone of my weekday slow cooking. These five need nothing more than a knife and a measuring spoon before the lid goes on.
1. Slow Cooker Thai Green Curry
This slow cooker Thai green curry takes eight ingredients, one stir and nothing else, then 5 to 6 hours on Low. Chicken, coconut milk, curry paste, courgette and red pepper simmer gently all day, so the sauce stays silky instead of splitting the way it can on a fierce hob. I taste it near the end and add a squeeze of lime, then spoon it over rice. Honestly, it beats our local takeaway.
Get the Slow Cooker Thai Green Curry recipe →
2. Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Crockpot marry me chicken takes ten minutes of prep and gives you the creamy, garlicky, sun-dried tomato chicken everyone talks about. Everything goes in raw, and a quick cornflour slurry at the end pulls the Parmesan sauce back into something glossy. It reheats so well that I often double it for packed lunches.
Get the Crockpot Marry Me Chicken recipe →
3. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Slow cooker honey garlic chicken cooks in its own sauce for 4 to 6 hours on Low and serves 6. This started on late Mondays when the fridge held nothing but chicken and a squeezy bottle of honey. Whisk honey, soy, garlic and a splash of vinegar, pour it over the chicken and leave it. Because the meat sits in its own sauce, it stays far juicier than you would expect from breast.
Get the Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe →
4. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Slow cooker teriyaki chicken is diced thighs in a homemade glaze, cooked on Low for 4 to 5 hours and serving 6. No bottled sauce here, just soy, honey, garlic and fresh ginger poured over diced thighs. The thighs stay tender over the long cook, and a little cornflour at the end turns the juices into a sticky glaze. Scatter over sesame seeds and spring onions, and dinner is done.
Get the Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken recipe →
5. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
Crockpot chicken alfredo is a true one pot pasta dinner for 5, because even the pasta cooks in the pot. Chicken breasts sit in cream, broth, butter and garlic until they shred with a fork, then the dry penne goes straight in for the last half hour. A big handful of freshly grated Parmesan at the end makes the sauce smooth and rich. My children think this is restaurant food.
Get the Crockpot Chicken Alfredo recipe →
Beef and Pork
Tougher, cheaper cuts are where a slow cooker really earns its keep. Long, gentle heat melts the connective tissue, so you get spoon tender meat from chuck and shoulder.
6. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Slow cooker beef stroganoff takes 10 minutes of prep and 6 to 8 hours on Low. Chuck, onion, mushrooms, a tin of soup and a few seasonings go in, and by evening the beef falls apart. The only thing I add at the end is the soured cream, warmed first with a ladle of hot sauce so it never curdles. Spoon it over egg noodles for the cosiest bowl of the week.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff recipe →
7. Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Slow cooker beef and broccoli is takeaway style beef and broccoli without the wok, cooked on Low for 5 to 6 hours. Thinly sliced beef cooks low in stock, a stir fry sauce, garlic and brown sugar, then the broccoli goes on top for the last half hour so it stays bright green. Slice the beef against the grain, because that is what keeps it tender.
Get the Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe →
8. Mississippi Pork Roast
Mississippi pork roast needs five minutes of prep, and I am not exaggerating. A pork shoulder goes in with a packet of ranch seasoning, a packet of au jus mix, butter and a few pepperoncini. Eight hours later it shreds under a fork into tangy, buttery strands. Pile it on mash, in rolls or over rice.
Get the Mississippi Pork Roast recipe →
9. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
Slow cooker BBQ pulled pork serves 8, and it is my go to for feeding a crowd. Pork shoulder steaks get a simple spice rub and a splash of broth, and that is it until they pull apart. Then I shred them, stir in the barbecue sauce and give it half an hour more so every strand turns sticky. Brioche buns and slaw make it a party.
Get the Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork recipe →
Soups and Family Bakes
The first of these is a pure dump. The other three each need one quick step first, which I have flagged so there are no surprises.
10. Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Slow cooker Italian wedding soup is a brothy meatball, pasta and spinach soup for 6, and a bag of small frozen meatballs is the shortcut that makes it so easy. They go in with the broth, carrots, celery and seasoning, and the pasta and spinach join for the last half hour. The result is light, brothy and comforting, and it holds in the fridge better than most soups.
Get the Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup recipe →
11. Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
Slow cooker minestrone soup is my vegan favourite, built on cannellini beans, tinned tomatoes and a proper soffritto. This is one of the three with a quick first step: I soften the onion, carrot and celery in a pan for a few minutes, because it gives the broth real depth. After that, everything sits in the pot all day.
Get the Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup recipe →
12. Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
Slow cooker cowboy casserole is seasoned beef, sweetcorn, soup and cheddar under a lid of tater tots, and children adore it and grown ups always come back for seconds. You brown the beef first and drain it, then everything else is a straight dump. Pop it under the grill for two minutes at the end if you like the tots extra crisp.
Get the Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole recipe →
13. Crockpot Lasagna
Crockpot lasagna is the most hands on recipe here, and still far easier than oven lasagna. You brown the mince and simmer the sauce for five minutes, then layer it with uncooked sheets, ricotta and mozzarella. The noodles soften in the sauce all afternoon, so there is no boiling and no oven.
Get the Crockpot Lasagna recipe →
All 13 Crockpot Dinners at a Glance
Here are all thirteen slow cooker dinners side by side, so you can see how long each one needs before you start in the morning. Times and servings come from the recipe cards.
| Recipe | Main ingredient | Total time | Serves or makes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow Cooker Thai Green Curry | Chicken | 5 hr 40 min | 4 |
| Crockpot Marry Me Chicken | Chicken | 5 hr 30 min | 4 |
| Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken | Chicken | 5 hr 10 min | 6 |
| Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken | Chicken | 4 hr 40 min | 6 |
| Crockpot Chicken Alfredo | Chicken | 4 hr 10 min | 5 |
| Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff | Beef or pork | 7 hr 10 min | 6 |
| Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli | Beef or pork | 6 hr 10 min | 5 |
| Mississippi Pork Roast | Beef or pork | 8 hr 5 min | 8 |
| Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork | Beef or pork | 9 hr 10 min | 8 |
| Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup | Soup or bake | 4 hr 40 min | 6 |
| Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup | Soup or bake | 6 hr 45 min | 8 |
| Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole | Soup or bake | 4 hr 40 min | 6 |
| Crockpot Lasagna | Soup or bake | 5 hr 15 min | 8 |
Dump and Go Crockpot Meals by Cooking Time
Most of these dump and go crockpot meals give you a choice of Low or High, while a few are written for one setting only. So, here is how to match them to your day, straight from my recipe cards.
| Recipe | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Marry me chicken | 4 to 5 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Honey garlic chicken | 4 to 6 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Teriyaki chicken | 4 to 5 hours | Low only |
| Thai green curry | 5 to 6 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
| Chicken alfredo | High only | 3 1/2 hours, then 30 minutes for the pasta |
| Beef stroganoff | 6 to 8 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| Beef and broccoli | 5 to 6 hours | Low only |
| Mississippi pork roast | 8 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| BBQ pulled pork | 8 to 9 hours | 5 to 6 hours |
| Italian wedding soup | 4 to 5 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Minestrone soup | 6 to 7 hours | 3 to 4 hours |
| Cowboy casserole | 4 to 5 hours | 2 to 3 hours |
| Crockpot lasagna | 4 to 5 hours | Low only |
In short, the pork and beef are the ones to start before a long working day, while the chicken suits a shorter window or a late morning start.
A Dump and Go Week
This is a real week of dump and go crockpot meals from my kitchen, planned so the longest cooks land on the busiest days.
- Monday: Mississippi pork roast, started before the school run.
- Tuesday: slow cooker teriyaki chicken with rice.
- Wednesday: beef stroganoff over egg noodles.
- Thursday: Italian wedding soup with crusty bread.
- Friday: Thai green curry, our fakeaway night.
- Saturday: BBQ pulled pork buns for friends.
- Sunday: crockpot lasagna, with leftovers for Monday lunch.
Meanwhile, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has lovely slow cooker tips for busy weeknights, including chopping and trimming at the weekend and assembling the removable insert the night before, which is exactly how I get Monday’s pot going in two minutes.
Freezer Notes
Most dump and go crockpot meals freeze beautifully, but not all of them, so here is the honest list from my recipe cards.
- Freeze after cooking: marry me chicken and lasagna for up to 3 months; teriyaki chicken, stroganoff, Mississippi pork and pulled pork for up to 2 months.
- Freeze before the pasta: the wedding soup and minestrone, then cook fresh pasta when you reheat.
- Freeze without the topping: the cowboy casserole, adding fresh tots on the day.
- Do not freeze: the chicken alfredo, which keeps 3 days in the fridge instead.
I freeze leftovers one portion at a time in glass meal prep containers, so a packed lunch is simply a case of moving one to the fridge the night before.
Tips for Dump and Go Crockpot Meals
- Thaw raw meat first. Texas A&M AgriLife’s slow cooker safety guide warns against putting frozen raw meat or chicken in the pot, because it sits too long at unsafe temperatures while it thaws.
- Fill it half to two thirds full. That same guide explains that it keeps enough liquid in the pot for steady, even heat.
- Keep the lid on. Every peek costs heat and adds cooking time, so resist until the last half hour.
- Do not add extra liquid. Nothing evaporates under the lid, so sauces come out thin if you top them up.
- Add dairy, pasta and greens late. Soured cream, penne, orzo, spinach and broccoli all go in near the end, so they stay creamy, tender or bright.
On the stickier nights, the honey garlic and teriyaki especially, a slow cooker liner means the insert only needs a quick rinse afterwards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing Dump and Go Crockpot Meals
What are some good dump and go dinner ideas?
Start with the Mississippi pork roast (five minutes of prep), honey garlic chicken and Thai green curry, because they need almost no prep at all. After that, the stroganoff and marry me chicken are crowd pleasers that feel far fancier than the effort involved.
Are there any 4 ingredient crockpot dump meals?
Almost. The slow cooker teriyaki chicken is the closest, with chicken, soy sauce, honey and garlic doing the heavy lifting, plus optional ginger and a little cornflour. The Mississippi pork roast is only six items, and two of those are seasoning packets.
Which crockpot dinners are best for picky eaters?
Crockpot chicken alfredo, slow cooker cowboy casserole and crockpot lasagna win every time with children. Of course, the honey garlic chicken is sweet and mild too, so it is a safe bet for fussy grown ups as well.
Making Them Work
Can you make slow cooker dump bags ahead of time?
Yes, as fridge prep. Chop and trim at the weekend and keep everything in the fridge, or assemble the insert the night before. Do not put frozen raw meat straight into the pot; I prefer to freeze these dishes after cooking, for up to 2 or 3 months.
Should crockpot dump meals cook on Low or High?
Low gives the most tender results, especially for beef and pork shoulder. High roughly halves the time, so honey garlic chicken takes 4 to 6 hours on Low or 2 to 3 on High. The teriyaki chicken, beef and broccoli and lasagna are written for Low only.
What are the best tips for dump and go recipes?
Thaw raw meat, keep the pot half to two thirds full, leave the lid alone and add dairy and pasta at the end. Then check the meat is cooked through before serving: 165°F (74°C) for chicken and 145°F (63°C) with a 3 minute rest for whole cuts of beef and pork.
Which crockpot dinner here is quickest?
Crockpot chicken alfredo, at 4 hr 10 min in total. On High, crockpot marry me chicken, honey garlic chicken, Italian wedding soup and cowboy casserole all cook in 2 to 3 hours.
How long do slow cooker leftovers last in the fridge?
Usually 3 to 4 days in an airtight container: the BBQ pulled pork keeps 4 days and the chicken alfredo 3 days. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat them to 165°F (74°C).
