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    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    28 Cozy Dump-and-Cook Dinners Anyone Can Make

    Published: Apr 20, 2026 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    When life gets busy, quick and easy dinners can be a lifesaver. These 28 dump-and-cook recipes are perfect for those nights when you want comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen. Just toss everything together, let it cook, and enjoy a warm meal with minimal effort.

    Slow Cooker Shredded Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

    Slow Cooker Shredded Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich.
    Photo Credit: Flavor Mosaic.

    This recipe combines the spicy goodness of Nashville Hot Chicken with the smoky flavor of BBQ chicken. It's a simple and satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

    Get the Recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew

    Chicken stew.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken Stew is super simple to prepare. Just spend 10 minutes getting it ready, then let the pot do the work, and you'll have a delicious, veggie-filled meal in less than 45 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie

    Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie {with Biscuits}.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This crock pot chicken pot pie is a simple way to enjoy a warm and filling meal. Tender chicken and vegetables are combined with creamy soups and topped with fluffy biscuits.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple

    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple.
    Photo credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Sheet Pan Jerk Chicken with Pineapple combines spicy and sweet flavors that everyone will love. It's an easy and quick meal to prepare using just one pan, filled with healthy vegetables.

    Get the recipe

    Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole

    Gorgonzola tortellini casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This tortellini casserole is perfect for anyone who loves cheese and pasta. With a mix of two cheeses, a bit of tang from Gorgonzola, and a nice crunch from walnuts, it's a simple dish that comes together in under 40 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo

    Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo is a simple and tasty dinner option. The sauce, made with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and vinegar, goes perfectly with rice and steamed vegetables.

    Get the Recipe

    Creamy Crockpot Tortellini

    A bowl filled with Creamy Crockpot Tortellini.
    Photo Credit: Slow Cooker Meals.

    Creamy Crock Pot Tortellini is a simple and tasty dish that comes together quickly. With frozen tortellini simmered in a rich sauce, this pasta meal is sure to please everyone at the table.

    Get the recipe

    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    Ravioli casserole.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With just four ingredients and some ready-made items, you can have it ready in 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

    Get the recipe

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty, perfect for a cozy meal. It's the kind of comfort food that everyone loves.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

    Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This dish features tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fluffy buttermilk biscuit dumplings all simmered in a creamy broth. It's a satisfying meal that's simple to put together.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Gnocchi With Bacon & Mushrooms

    Gnocchi with bacon and mushrooms.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This simple meal uses just 8 ingredients and is perfect for a tasty dinner any night. Featuring soft gnocchi, crispy bacon, earthy mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it's a dish that everyone will love.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

    Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This is a tasty one-pot meal that everyone in the family will enjoy. Garlic parmesan wing sauce combines with cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, milk, and some pantry staples to create a flavorful dish.

    Get the Recipe

    Crockpot Lasagna

    Crockpot Lasagna.
    Photo Credit: Little Sunny Kitchen.

    Crockpot lasagna combines ease with a cozy feel. This cheesy and saucy dish is just as satisfying as any classic baked lasagna.

    Get the Recipe

    Old Fashioned Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken baked on top of rice.
    Photo credit: Food Folks and Fun.

    Chicken and Rice Casserole is a classic dish that everyone loves. With well-seasoned chicken and perfectly cooked rice, this is a good dinner option that requires minimal effort.

    Get the recipe

    Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce

    Crock Pot Spaghetti Sauce.
    Photo Credit: Easy Family Recipes.

    This slow cooker spaghetti sauce is a simple way to enjoy a classic family dinner. In just 10 minutes of prep time, you can set it and let the slow cooker do the rest.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

    Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Slow cooker white chicken chili is easy to make and really filling, needing just a few ingredients and no pre-cooking. You can find tips for thickening it with or without dairy, plus plenty of ideas for toppings.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken

    Slow Cooker Peanut Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Almond Eater.

    Peanut Chicken is a simple and tasty option for a weeknight dinner. With just 5 minutes of prep and a flavorful Thai-inspired peanut sauce, this dish is both easy to make and satisfying.

    Get the Recipe

    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
    Photo Credit: Seasonal Cravings.

    Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas are a great option when you're short on time and need to feed everyone. They come together quickly and will be ready to eat in a flash.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

    Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Our Love Language is Food.

    This slow cooker recipe is full of flavor and is perfect for your family's dinner. It's an easy option that requires minimal effort, making it great for busy nights.

    Get the Recipe

    Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    A serving of Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This chicken enchilada casserole combines all the classic enchilada flavors in a simple layered dish. With corn tortillas, lots of cheese, and red enchilada sauce, it's a satisfying meal that comes together easily.

    Get the recipe

    Instant Pot Chicken & Potatoes

    Chicken and tomatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Instant Pot Chicken and Potatoes is a tasty meal that you can whip up in under 45 minutes. With a rich tomato sauce made from fresh ingredients, this is a simple dinner option for busy nights.

    Get the recipe

    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is super simple to prepare. In just 10 minutes of prep and 45 minutes in the oven, you can enjoy a delicious one-pan dish loaded with Cheddar and Gruyere cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs

    Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs.
    Photo Credit: My Chef's Apron.

    This beef short ribs recipe is simple and healthy, featuring ribs seasoned with a great spice mix and slow-cooked until they're tender. It's a tasty family dinner that goes well with any vegetable side.

    Get the Recipe

    Falafel Bake

    Falafel bake on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This recipe is perfectly simple but incredibly tasty! Premade falafel, beans, tomatoes, kale and a cheesy topping make for a comforting vegetarian traybake casserole that you will look forward to making again and again.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Potato Soup

    Crockpot Potato Soup.
    Photo Credit: Living Chirpy.

    Crockpot Potato Soup is a warm and filling dish that's simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It includes all the tasty toppings of a baked potato, like bacon, cheese, and green onions.

    Get the Recipe

    Slow Cooker Lamb Soup

    Slow Cooker Lamb Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Pretty Bee.

    This slow cooker lamb soup is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It's a great choice for a cold day, especially when paired with your favorite bread or gluten-free crackers.

    Get the Recipe

    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for quick weeknight meals. With just a little chopping to begin, you end up with a delicious mix of chicken, veggies, and sauce all cooked together in one pan.

    Get the recipe

    Baked Lamb Chops & Veggies

    Baked lamb chops with veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet pan meal is a simple way to enjoy lamb without the stress of overcooking it. The lamb chops cook in the flavorful juices from the vegetables, resulting in tender meat that's delicious.

    Get the recipe

    More Dump and Go Meals

    • Southwest chicken casserole.
      26 Simple Dump-and-Go Dinners Anyone Can Pull Together Fast
    • Carne guisada.
      24 Dump-and-Cook Beef Dinners With Almost No Cleanup
    • Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
      23 Dump-and-Bake Dinners That Take the Work Out of Weeknights
    • Lazy lasagna.
      22 Dump and Bake Dinners That Practically Make Themselves
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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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