“Wait, what’s a dump dinner,” you ask? These magical meals are all about dumping a bunch of ingredients into a slow-cooker and pushing start. Ta-da: Come back a few hours later and you have a fully prepped entrée. Presenting 15 recipes to get you started.
15 Slow-Cooker Dump Dinners That Basically Make Themselves
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Published May 14, 2019
Slow-cooker Chicken Teriyaki
The most hands-on this recipe gets: Shred the chicken, then sprinkle scallions and sesame seeds on top. Done and done.
Vegan Slow-cooker Tofu Tikka Masala
Toss all the veggies, spices and garam masala into your slow-cooker. Push start. Leave for work. Return from work. Dinner is ready, courtesy of Coterie member Monique Volz.
Slow-cooker Pumpkin Curry Beef Stew
Who says you can’t eat pumpkin all year round? Serve up this hearty beef stew on rainy days when you need some extra oomph. (Oh, and definitely top it with Greek yogurt and cashews.)
Italian Pork Ragu With Garlic Riced Cauliflower
OK, Coterie member Ali Maffucci’s ragu and riced cauliflower requires two pans—but it’s worth it. Your slow cooker simmers the classic pork ragu while you’ll quickly heat the cauliflower rice with garlic and red pepper flakes on the stovetop. We know you can do it.
Two-ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Toss in chicken and your favorite salsa, then add tortillas and a slice of lime. Voilà, you’ve got a Mexican meal with almost zero effort.
Instant Pot Or Slow-cooker Barbacoa Beef
Literally dump everything in the slow cooker and you’ve got this classic Mexican dish in just a few hours. (Serve it with warm tortillas and slices of avocado.)
Slow-cooker Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Cue the “yums.” Soup is a classic slow-cooker dinner, and pasta e fagioli is no exception. It’s full of fragrant herbs like thyme and bay leaves, plus white beans, veggies, pasta and Parm.
Slow-cooker Asian Bbq Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Yes, you have to assemble the sandwiches after the slow cooker dings, but the extra step is so worth it. Just look at these.
The Modern Proper
Slow-cooker Mushroom Mac And Cheese
Toss out that blue box. Gruyère and cream cheese bind this slow-cooker mac and cheese. Mushrooms add umami. You add the wine.
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Slow-cooker Chicken And Veggie Dinner
What’s more classic than chicken and vegetables? Dump in chicken thighs, carrots, potatoes, celery and fresh herbs for a tried-and-true dinner.
Red Lentil, Fennel, And Chicken Slow-cooker Soup
While this lentil and chicken stew is cooking, pop out to buy a baguette. When you get home, dinner is done. (Thanks for the easy recipe, Coterie member Katie Workman.)
Slow-cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This enchilada casserole is basically lasagna. But instead of layering the chicken and spicy sauce with pasta, you use corn tortillas. Now where’s the cerveza?
Slow-cooker Curried Lentil Soup
You do ten minutes of prep. The slow cooker does the rest. Now that’s a dump dinner.
Slow-cooker Fiesta Ranch Cream Cheese Chicken
Not gonna lie, we like to eat this chicken on a bed of tortilla chips, sprinkled with cheese. That can be dinner, right?
Slow-cooker Swimming Rama
Serve this Thai chicken with fresh spinach—no rice necessary. The peanut butter sauce is next-level delicious.