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    Home » Dump and Go Meals

    22 Set It and Forget It Southern Recipes for Easy Meals

    Published: Sep 6, 2025 by Emmeline Kemperyd · post_comments]

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    These 22 set-it-and-forget-it recipes let you enjoy hearty meals without spending hours in the kitchen. From classic dishes to modern twists, these easy meals will bring warmth and flavor to your table.

    Slow Cooker Texas Trash Dip

    Slow Cooker Texas Trash Dip.
    Photo Credit: The Lazy Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Texas Trash Dip is a great choice for gatherings and casual get-togethers. It's full of flavor and super easy to prepare, making it a hit for game days or potlucks. You can serve it warm straight from the crockpot, and everyone will love digging in.

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    Crockpot Ham with Coke

    Crockpot Ham with Coke.
    Photo Credit: The Feathered Nester.

    This crockpot ham with Coke is both tender and full of flavor, using just a handful of ingredients. It's a simple dish that's great for holiday dinners or Sunday meals. The glaze, made from Coca-Cola, pineapple juice, brown sugar, and Dijon mustard, turns a regular ham into something really special.

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    Lemon Butter Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

    Lemon Butter Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Razzle Dazzle Life.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are cooked slowly in a rich garlic butter sauce, resulting in juicy and tender meat that's full of flavor. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal, as it requires minimal effort and lets the slow cooker do all the work.

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    Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice

    Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice.
    Photo Credit: The Cagle Diaries.

    Creamy red beans and rice with a kick of Cajun spice simmered slowly in the slow cooker create a warm and satisfying meal. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something hearty without putting in a lot of work. Just set it up and let it cook while you go about your day.

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    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on a Bun

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on a Bun.
    Photo Credit: Food Meanderings.

    Slow Cooker Pulled Pork on a Bun features tender, smoky shredded pork served on a bun, topped with a simple slaw and pepperoncini. This dish is great for summer BBQs or potlucks, but it also works well for cozy winter dinners. It's perfect for casual gatherings or when you need to feed a crowd without putting in too much effort.

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    Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Country Ribs

    Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Country Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Country Ribs are tender and flavorful, cooked low and slow until they easily fall off the bone. The sweet peach BBQ sauce adds a delightful twist that makes this dish really enjoyable. This is a great meal for busy nights when you want something tasty without putting in a lot of work.

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    Slow Cooker Gumbo

    Slow Cooker Gumbo.
    Photo Credit: The Cagle Diaries.

    Slow Cooker Gumbo is a great choice for a warm and filling meal that brings the taste of New Orleans right to your table. This dish is packed with rich flavors and is easy to prepare, making it ideal for busy days. Just set it up in the slow cooker and let it do its thing while you go about your day.

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    Crock Pot Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

    Ham and Scalloped Potatoes in the Crock Pot.
    Photo Credit: Grits and Pinecones.

    This dish is creamy and cheesy, filled with soft potatoes and tasty ham. It's perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings. The great thing is that your slow cooker handles everything, so you can just sit back and enjoy your time.

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    Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

    Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker

    A slow cooker shrimp boil is a simple and enjoyable dish that combines shrimp, sausage, and vegetables, all packed with flavor. It's a great option for summer get-togethers, allowing you to serve a delicious meal without putting in a lot of work. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do its thing, making it perfect for those busy days when you want to relax and enjoy time with friends and family.

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    Slow Cooker Jambalaya Pasta

    Slow Cooker Jambalaya Pasta.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Slow Cooker Jambalaya Pasta is packed with flavor and requires minimal effort. It combines chicken, smoked sausage, shrimp, vegetables, and pasta all simmered together in a rich broth. This dish brings the classic taste of jambalaya to your table in a much simpler way.

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    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili.
    Photo Credit: Haute & Healthy Living.

    This slow cooker buffalo chicken chili has a nice spicy and tangy flavor that makes it a great choice for a cozy family meal. It's easy to prepare and packed with taste, allowing you to let your slow cooker handle the cooking while you relax. Perfect for busy nights, this dish is both healthy and satisfying.

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    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans.
    Photo Credit: Maria's Mixing Bowl.

    Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans are a delicious twist on traditional baked beans. With a mix of beef, bacon, onions, bell peppers, and three kinds of beans, this dish is full of rich flavors. The zesty BBQ sauce ties everything together, creating a filling meal that's perfect for any gathering.

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    Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese

    Slow Cooker Cajun Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: The Cagle Diaries.

    This dish puts a creamy and spicy spin on a Southern favorite. It's packed with soft pasta, melty cheddar cheese, and a bold kick from Cajun seasoning and Andouille sausage. This is the perfect comfort food that brings a taste of Louisiana right to your table.

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    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole

    John Wayne casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This casserole has tater tots, southwestern flair and lots of cheese!

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    Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Chef Savvy.

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs are cooked slowly for 8 hours, resulting in tender meat that falls right off the bone. This dish is simple to prepare and perfect for a laid-back meal. Just set it up and let the slow cooker do all the work, making it a great choice for busy days.

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    Slow Cooker Ritz Chicken

    Slow cooker Ritz chicken with pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Cookin' Chicks.

    This slow cooker Ritz chicken is a simple and tasty dinner option. With a mix of crispy breadcrumbs and flavorful spices, it's sure to please everyone at the table. Just set it up and let the slow cooker do the work, giving you a delicious meal with minimal effort.

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    Slow Cooker Dilled Pot Roast

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Manila Spoon.

    This Dilled Pot Roast is simple to prepare with just five main ingredients. The roast turns out incredibly tender and flavorful, thanks to the delicious dilled sour cream gravy that really enhances the dish. It's a comforting meal that's perfect for any day of the week.

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    Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatloaf

    Slow Cooker Barbecue Meatloaf.
    Photo Credit: Manila Spoon.

    BBQ meatloaf is a hearty dish that brings together ground beef, breadcrumbs, and spices, all topped with a zesty barbecue glaze. It's a comforting meal that the whole family will enjoy. This slow cooker version results in a juicy and tender meatloaf with a delicious smoky-sweet flavor, and it's simple to make for any weeknight dinner.

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    Pulled Pork Burgers

    Pulled Pork Burgers.
    Photo Credit: In the Kitch.

    Pulled pork burgers topped with a special sauce add a Southern BBQ twist to your dinner. They have a unique flavor that stands out from regular burgers. With minimal prep time, the slow cooker does all the hard work, allowing you to enjoy a tasty meal with ease.

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    Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs

    Slow Cooker Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs.
    Photo Credit: Heavenly Home Cooking.

    This dish features a delicious orange sweet and sour sauce that coats tender St. Louis style ribs, creating a flavorful glaze as it caramelizes. It's a simple yet satisfying meal that brings a taste of the South to your table. Perfect for a laid-back dinner, these ribs are sure to please everyone.

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    Crock Pot Babyback Ribs

    Crock Pot Babyback Ribs.
    Photo Credit: The Feathered Nester.

    Fall-off-the-bone tender ribs are easy to achieve with these crock pot baby back ribs. They cook slowly, soaking up all the tasty teriyaki flavor while remaining juicy and soft. With just a handful of simple ingredients and your slow cooker, you can whip up a dish that feels special but is super easy to prepare.

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    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

    Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken.
    Photo Credit: My Therapist Cooks.

    Barbecue chicken cooked in the slow cooker with a simple homemade BBQ sauce is a tasty option that requires very little effort. This dish is perfect for busy days when you want something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen. Just set it up and let the slow cooker do the work while you go about your day.

    Get the Recipe

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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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