21 Best Ever Dump & Go Crockpot Dinners

The whole point of having a crockpot should be that it makes life easier, and I thought it was about time that I shared a collection of my favorite dump & go slow cooker recipes! Here we’re all about fuss-free meals that don’t require tons of extra steps. Because that’s just not what I’m about on busy weeknights when I’ve got a family to feed.

Of course, “dump and go” means very different things depending on who you ask. For this collection, we’re keeping it truly simple. These crockpot dinners don’t require browning meat, sautéing veggies, or dirtying extra pans before anything hits the slow cooker. If it doesn’t go straight into the crockpot, it didn’t make the list.

Many of these recipes are as easy as adding your protein and a ready-made sauce, then walking away. A few include a quick stir, shred, or simple addition near the end so everything cooks perfectly. But there’s no babysitting, no complicated steps, and no standing over the pot. Just real, weeknight-friendly dinners that let the slow cooker do the work.

If you’re craving cozy, low-effort meals that actually live up to the dump-and-go promise, you’re in the right place and I think you’re going to love these!

Crockpot Hawaiian Meatballs

Sweet, savory, and barely any effort. This one checks all the dump-and-go boxes! Frozen meatballs go straight into the crockpot with a BBQ sauce, pineapple, and bell peppers, and that’s pretty much it. A few hours later, you’ve got tender meatballs swimming in a sticky-sweet sauce that tastes better than takeout. Spoon everything over rice and dinner is done without turning on the oven or dirtying extra dishes.

Crockpot Lemon Chicken Soup

Light, bright, and wonderfully comforting without being heavy, this crockpot lemon chicken soup is a true feel-good dinner. Everything starts cooking together in the slow cooker, letting the chicken become tender and flavorful with minimal effort. About 30 minutes before serving, you’ll quickly shred the chicken and stir in the orzo so it cooks just right. The result is a fresh, wholesome soup that’s cozy enough for winter but light enough to crave year-round.

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

Rich, creamy, and seriously comforting, this crockpot beef stroganoff is the kind of dinner that feels like a hug in a bowl. The beef and mushrooms slow-cook together until tender and flavorful, with almost all the work done right at the start. About 20 minutes before serving, you’ll stir in the cream cheese and sour cream to create that silky, classic stroganoff sauce. 

Crockpot Shrimp Boil

This might just become your new favorite way to make a shrimp boil! Sausage, potatoes, and corn all get dumped into the crockpot to simmer away until tender and flavorful, then the shrimp are added during the last 30 minutes so they cook perfectly. It looks impressive and feels a little special, but it’s secretly a super-easy, dump-and-go dinner that does all the work for you.

Crockpot Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

This one’s inspired by my go-to Thai takeout order, but made extra easy at home. Using cooked chicken (leftover rotisserie is perfect here) means everything gets dumped into the crockpot and turns ultra-flavorful in less time, with hardly any prep. The coconut broth is rich, fragrant, and packed with bold flavor, making it taste way more involved than it actually is. It’s a cozy, crave-worthy soup and a great excuse to put those leftovers to good use.

Crockpot Beef & Barley Soup

This one’s pure cozy comfort with very little effort involved! Everything gets dumped into the crockpot at the start to slowly turn into a rich, hearty beef soup, then quick pearl barley is stirred in during the last 30 minutes so it stays perfectly tender. It’s the kind of wholesome, winter-warming dinner that feels like you spent all day on it, but really, the slow cooker did all the work!

Crockpot Chicken Curry

This crockpot chicken curry is big on flavor but easy enough for a weeknight, and mild enough that the whole family can enjoy it. Everything gets dumped in at the start and slow-cooked until tender and fragrant, with just one quick step at the end. Stir in a simple cornstarch slurry during the last 15 minutes to thicken the sauce perfectly, then serve it up with rice and warm naan for an effortless, comforting dinner.

Crockpot Potato Soup

This crockpot potato soup is pure cozy comfort with almost zero effort. Tender potatoes simmer away in a rich, flavorful broth while the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting for you. Just dump everything in, let it cook all day, and finish each bowl with cheese, bacon, and green onions for that classic loaded potato soup vibe that never gets old.

Crockpot Minestrone Soup

Cozy, colorful, and loaded with feel-good ingredients! The base simmers low and slow in a rich tomato broth, letting the flavors build with zero babysitting. During the final hour, you’ll stir in the kidney beans, cannellini beans, thawed green beans, and dried ditalini pasta so everything cooks perfectly.

Crockpot Catalina Roast Beef

This crockpot Catalina roast beef is one of my favorite weekend dinners when I want something hearty without the hassle of a traditional Sunday roast. A chuck roast and veggies get dumped into the slow cooker with tangy Catalina dressing, which caramelizes as it cooks into an incredibly flavorful sauce. The beef turns fall-apart tender, and you get that cozy, roast-style dinner vibe with almost no hands-on work at all.

Crockpot Chicken & Stuffing

Creamy, savory, and about as easy as it gets, this crockpot chicken and stuffing really does feel like it cooks itself. Tender chicken breasts simmer all day in a rich, herby sauce, while the buttery stuffing on top soaks up all that flavor as it cooks. It’s classic comfort food made completely fuss-free!

Crockpot Ham, Green Beans, & Potatoes

This crockpot ham, green beans, and potatoes dish is simple, soothing, and full of comfort. It lands somewhere between a soup and a stew, with everything slowly simmering into a warm, feel-good meal. It’s one I always turn to when someone’s under the weather or we just need something cozy and nourishing, and it’s also a great way to use up leftover ham.

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan Soup

This crockpot chicken parmesan soup brings all the cozy Italian vibes with hardly any work. The chicken slow-cooks until tender, then gets shredded near the end before adding the pasta, cream, and cheese so everything turns out perfectly rich and comforting. It’s a dump-and-go dinner with a quick final stir that transforms into a creamy, cheesy soup that feels special but stays weeknight-easy.

Crockpot Creamy Ranch Pork Chops

A simple mix of ranch seasoning, brown gravy, and cream soups comes together in the slow cooker to create an ultra-cozy, flavorful sauce while the pork chops cook until tender. Just toss everything in, let it do its thing, and you’ve got an easy, satisfying dinner that feels like a classic family favorite.

Crockpot BBQ Chicken

This crockpot BBQ chicken might be the easiest dinner in this entire collection! With just two ingredients and a true dump-and-go method, it’s the kind of recipe you can throw together in minutes and forget about until dinnertime. It’s perfect for busy days, meal prep, or anytime you need something reliable and low-effort that everyone will eat.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce of choice, divided

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour in ¾ cup of the barbecue sauce. Stir gently to coat the chicken.

2. Cover and cook on high for 3–4 hours or low for 5–6 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and shreds easily with a fork.

3. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and shred using two forks.

4. Carefully drain the liquid from the slow cooker and discard it, or reserve for another use if desired.

5. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and add the remaining ¾ cup barbecue sauce. Stir until evenly coated. Garnish with chopped onion and cilantro. 

Crockpot Shredded Chicken

This crockpot shredded chicken is a true meal prep favorite. Simple, dependable, and easy to use in just about anything. Everything goes straight into the slow cooker, and a light herb-and-garlic seasoning gives the chicken flavor without overpowering it. It’s neutral enough for bowls, salads, wraps, and soups, but still tastes good all on its own.

Serves: 4–5

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)

• ¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning

• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.

2. Pour the chicken broth over the chicken, then sprinkle evenly with the salt, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.

3. Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours or high for 2–3 hours, until the chicken reaches at least 165°F and shreds easily with a fork.

4. Using two forks, gently shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, stirring it into the cooking liquid to keep it moist.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

This crockpot salsa chicken is one of those back-pocket dinners you’ll come back to again and again. With just chicken, salsa, and a bit of taco seasoning, it’s a true dump-and-go recipe that delivers big flavor with almost no effort. It’s incredibly versatile, too. Use it for tacos, burrito bowls, salads, or wraps throughout the week. Minimal ingredients, minimal steps, maximum payoff.

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 (16 oz) jar salsa

• ½ packet taco seasoning

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.

2. Pour the salsa over the chicken and sprinkle evenly with the taco seasoning.

3. Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with a fork.

4. Shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, stirring it into the sauce before serving. I like to garnish with limes and cilantro. 

Crockpot Sweet Chili Chicken

This crockpot sweet chili chicken is sticky, saucy, and surprisingly easy for how much flavor it delivers. The chicken cooks low and slow in a sweet-and-savory chili sauce until it’s perfectly tender, with just one quick step at the end to thicken everything up. It’s the kind of hands-off dinner that tastes like takeout but fits right into a busy weeknight routine.

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• ½ cup sweet chili sauce

• 1 cup chicken stock

• ¼ cup soy sauce

To thicken after cooking:

• ¼ cup water

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch or arrowroot powder

Instructions

1. In the slow cooker, stir together the sweet chili sauce, chicken stock, and soy sauce.

2. Add the chicken breasts and turn to coat in the sauce.

3. Cover and cook on low for 2½–3½ hours, until the chicken is tender.

4. About 30 minutes before serving, whisk together the water and cornstarch. Stir the mixture into the slow cooker, working quickly and replacing the lid as soon as possible.

5. Switch the slow cooker to high and cook for 20–30 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.

6. Remove the chicken, shred with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker. Spoon in as much sauce as you like and stir to coat.

7. Garnish with chopped cilantro before serving.

Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken

This crockpot teriyaki chicken is the definition of low-effort, high-reward. Just chicken and bottled teriyaki sauce go into the slow cooker, and a few hours later you’ve got tender, flavorful chicken that’s perfect for easy bowls or weeknight dinners. If you want to round it out, you can toss in broccoli near the end so it stays bright and slightly crisp. 

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (fresh or frozen)

• 1 cup teriyaki sauce

Optional:

• 1 cup broccoli florets

• Sesame seeds, for garnish

• Sliced green onions, for garnish

Instructions:

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker and pour the teriyaki sauce over the top, turning the chicken to coat.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

3. If using broccoli, add it during the last 30 minutes of cooking so it stays tender-crisp.

4. Shred the chicken if desired, then stir it back into the sauce.

5. Serve with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and green onions, if using.

Crockpot Ranch Chicken

This crockpot ranch chicken is creamy, cozy, and made for busy days when you need dinner to take care of itself. A quick mix of ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and broth turns into a rich, savory sauce as the chicken slow-cooks underneath. It’s a true dump-and-go recipe that delivers big comfort with minimal effort.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts

• 1 packet ranch dressing mix

• 1 (10.5-oz) can cream of chicken soup

• ½ cup chicken stock

Instructions:

1. In the slow cooker, whisk together the ranch dressing mix, cream of chicken soup, and chicken stock until smooth.

2. Add the chicken breasts, pressing them down into the sauce.

3. Cover and cook on low for 4–6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

4. Remove the chicken, shred with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker and stir to coat in the sauce.

5. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions before serving.

Crockpot Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken

This crockpot honey garlic chicken is sweet, savory, and shockingly easy for how much flavor it delivers! Juicy chicken thighs slow-cook in a simple honey-soy sauce with plenty of garlic and a splash of lime, creating a sticky, fragrant base with almost no hands-on work. It’s one of those set-it-and-forget-it dinners that always feels like more effort than it actually is.

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• ⅓ cup soy sauce

• ⅓ cup honey

• 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• Juice of 1 lime

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, garlic, and lime juice until well combined.

2. Add the chicken thighs to the slow cooker. Pour about ¾ of the honey garlic sauce over the chicken and toss to coat. Set the remaining sauce aside.

3. Cover and cook on high for 2–4 hours or low for 4–6 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and very tender.

4. Remove the chicken to a cutting board and let it cool slightly, then shred with two forks.

5. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

If there’s one thing all of these crockpot dump-and-go dinners have in common, it’s that they make getting dinner on the table feel doable, even on the busiest days. No browning, no babysitting, and no long ingredient lists. Just simple recipes you can toss together in minutes and let the slow cooker handle the rest!

Whether you’re stocking your freezer, planning easy weeknight meals, or just need a few reliable, easy dinners to fall back on, these recipes are meant to make life easier. Save your favorites, mix and match sauces, and don’t be afraid to make them your own. Because stress-free dinners are always a win.