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Home Popular Recipes

15+ Dump-and-Go Slow Cooker Recipes

★★★★★ 5 /5 Updated: 1/10/23
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This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Easy and delicious crockpot recipes… this is what we do! Even better, we’ve rounded up 15+ amazing dump-and-go slow cooker recipes. Every single one is freezer-friendly and includes instructions on how to prep it ahead and thaw it.

dump and go slow cooker meals

What Is a “Dump-and-Go” Slow Cooker Recipe?

We define it as a meal that requires no cooking techniques on the front end. You simply dump the ingredients in the slow cooker, pop on the lid, and slow cook.

In its best form, a “dump-and-go” recipe is a lifesaver for busy days!

pizza soup in the crock pot

See All of Our Slow Cooker Recipes

Browse through our growing list of slow cooker recipes. You’ll be sure to find some new family favorites!

See them All
chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, and taco seasoning in a crockpot

The Good & the Bad of Dump-and-Go Meals

The Bad News:

Oftentimes dump-and-go slow cooker meals can taste… meh. They lack flavor, texture, and oftentimes provide incorrect cooking times and come out dry.

The Good News:

We’ve tested hundreds of slow cooker recipes over the years. We’ve pulled together several of our very best dump and go crock pot meals that we know work.

You may have to do a little work on the back end after the meal slow cooks (i.e. broil for a few minutes, thicken a sauce, shred the meat), but it shouldn’t take long. Pinky swear!

French dip in a crock pot

Dump-and-Go Meals + The Freezer = The Ultimate Time Saver

Freezer meals are the ultimate time-saver. A smart way to use your time efficiently is to double each of the freezer-friendly recipes below and freeze one for later. In fact, every recipe below has freezer meal instructions. Your future self will thank you for doing this!

When you’re ready to use your dump and go freezer meal, be sure to FULLY THAW it either in the refrigerator for 24 hours or using one of these safe thawing methods.

It is NOT safe to put frozen food in the crockpot according to the USDA, so we don’t recommend that.

freezer meal

Download Our Printable Freezer Meal Labels

If you plan to freeze these meals, be sure to label them so you know what’s in your freezer. We’d love to give you our cute and printable freezer labels for FREE ($4.99 value).

free freezer meal labels

Free Freezer Meal Labels

Keep your freezer meals organized with freezer meal labels. Download and print as many as you want!

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15+ Dump-and-Go Slow Cooker Recipes

Alright, you’ve heard our best tips and tricks regarding dump and go meals. Now it’s time to get cooking!

honey bourbon chicken on a white plate

Honey Bourbon Chicken

A little sweet and a little spicy, this easy chicken recipe is BIG on flavor and takes just minutes to throw in the slow cooker. Stir fry some veggies while it cooks and then serve it all over rice. A reader favorite!  This can also be made in the Instant Pot.

See the Recipe
french dip sandwiches on a tray with au jus

French Dip Sandwiches

My kids cheer when they see this drop-and-go crock pot meal on the menu plan. It slow cooks all day long and is fall-apart tender by dinnertime. Simply shred the meat, put together the sandwiches (a quick broil toasts up the rolls and melts the cheese), and dip them in the leftover au jus. Or…turn them into grilled cheese sandwiches to take them over the top!

See the Recipe
bbq chicken sliders

BBQ Chicken Sliders

With 3 simple steps, you’ll have finger-licking good BBQ Chicken Sliders. The perfectly seasoned, shredded chicken breasts are served on mini buns and topped with BBQ Sauce to make an easy weeknight meal or a scrumptious meal for groups of people.

See the Recipe
vegetarian tortilla soup

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

This pantry staple Vegetarian Tortilla Soup recipe is a meatless “one pot wonder” that I’ve been making and freezing for years for my family. Filled with beans, tomatoes, chilis, corn, and more, it only gets better the longer it sits in the fridge (or freezer).

See the Recipe
A bowl of easy beef stew with potatoes, carrots, onions, green beans, and stew meat in it. On a wooden table.

Easy No Peek Stew

Friends, making beef stew gets NO EASIER than this recipe. My mother-in-law taught me this one when I first got married, and I’ve been serving it up to big crowds ever since. Slow cooker (or oven) directions are included in the recipe.

See the Recipe

BBQ Chicken Sliders

With 3 simple steps, you’ll have finger-licking good BBQ Chicken Sliders. The perfectly seasoned, shredded chicken breasts are served on mini buns and topped with BBQ Sauce to make an easy weeknight meal or a scrumptious meal for groups of people.

See the Recipe
marinades for chicken breasts in freezer bags

Chicken Marinades

These 7 easy marinades for chicken breasts will transform this boring cut into several tasty and healthy meals! They can all be cooked in the slow cooker. Here are the recipes:

  • Lemon Garlic Chicken Marinade
  • Asian Sesame Chicken Marinade
  • Cilantro Lime Chicken Marinade
  • Balsamic Herb Chicken Marinade
  • Honey Dijon Chicken Marinade
  • Southwest Chicken Marinade
  • The BEST Savory Chicken Marinade
Get the Marinade Cheat Sheet
chicken marinade cheat sheet
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crock pot baby back ribs that have been broiled on a sheet pan with BBQ sauce

Crockpot Baby Back Ribs

You don’t need a smoker or to heat up your kitchen with the oven for hours to make amazing ribs. Your slow cooker and a few minutes under the broiler will do all the hard work for you, resulting in fall-off-the-bone, caramelized BBQ ribs.

See the Recipe
Top 5 Crock Pot Recipes

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a plate of carnitas with toppings in the background

Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

This is the type of dump and go recipe our readers go ga-ga over. Slow Cooker Carnitas are a dump-and-go crock pot meal that’s easy to make, freezes well before or after cooking, and everyone loves them!

Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas
a bowl of pizza soup

Pizza Soup

Two of our favorite meals–pizza and soup–come together in this gluten-free, dairy-free Pizza Soup recipe to create a meal that’s healthy, filling, and incredibly tasty. It’s absolutely delicious and can be prepped as a freezer meal.

See the Recipe
cuban paninis

Cuban Paninis

It’s got the perfect balance of complex flavor, texture, and gooey goodness. Trust us when we say, the interesting combo of ingredients results in one amazing hot sandwich. Plus, you can make the fall-apart pulled pork in either the slow cooker or the Instant Pot.

See the Recipe
overhead shot of balsamic shredded beef

Balsamic Shredded Beef

A reader favorite! It’s delicious, healthy, freezer friendly, and a great recipe for large groups.

See the Recipe

Slow Cooker Cooking Times Chart (Free!)

We spent years testing slow cooker timing for various recipes for our second cookbook. We put all our knowledge into one handy printable cheat sheet for you. Never overcook (or undercook) a crock pot meal again!

Download Now
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chicken parmesan sliders on a cutting board

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

This is hands-down one of my favorite kid-friendly meals on a busy night. By far one our easiest weeknight crockpot meals.

greek pork pitas with toppings

Greek Pitas with Pulled Pork

This recipe will quickly become a regular in your home. After the pork shoulder slow cooks all day in a blend of spices (or is cooked quickly in the Instant Pot), you’ll shred it and serve it on whole wheat pita bread. Top the shredded pork with chopped fresh veggies, tangy feta cheese, and our creamy, herb-infused Easy Tzatziki Sauce.

See the Recipe
4 ingredient drumstick on a cutting board

4 Ingredient Savory Drumsticks

These drumsticks require only 4 pantry ingredients and come out moist and delicious every time. Not only are they gluten-free and dairy-free but they work great as a make-ahead freezer meal too. All ages love these.

See the Recipe

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

A pork shoulder is one of the best cuts of meat to slow cook all day. Add in some seasoning and BBQ sauce for a comforting meal for a large group (or be prepared for leftovers). Serve with our 5 Ingredient Coleslaw.

See the Recipe
crockpot short ribs on plate with mashed potatoes and green beans

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Making Slow Cooker Beef Short Ribs is super easy and results in a fall-apart tender, decadent, gourmet dinner! This dump-and-go recipe is perfect for the holidays or a special birthday dinner.

See the Recipe
horizontal side shot of plated crockpot mexican chicken in a bowl with a fork with toppings

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This creamy, comforting Crockpot Mexican Chicken makes for a delicious, healthy, and EASY meal. Serve over brown rice with your favorite Mexican toppings. Freezer meal instructions included, so you can double the batch and have another later.

See the Recipe

BBQ Drumsticks

Making these BBQ chicken drumsticks in the slow cooker results in fall-apart tender and moist chicken on the bone. With a few minutes under the broiler at the end, you’ll have a crispy and perfectly seasoned dinner ready to go in no time.

See the Recipe
BBQ shredded beef sandwich on a plate with corn and grapes

BBQ Beef Sandwiches

Slow-cooked chuck roast with the perfect seasoning blend and BBQ sauce make these sandwiches to die for. Such an easy dump and go slow cooker recipe!

See the Recipe

Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!

overhead shot of balsamic shredded beef
★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

15+ Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes: Balsamic Shredded Beef

This flavorful, shredded beef is one of the most popular dump-and-go slow cooker recipes on Thriving Home. You’re going to love it!

Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
Prep: 10 minutesCook: 8 hoursTotal: 8 hours 10 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 – 3 pound boneless beef chuck roast
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1 cup beef broth (or sub chicken stock)
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (Gluten-free option: Use coconut aminos or gluten-free Tamari Soy Sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (increase if you want more heat)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions

Make It Now:

  1. Put roast beef into slow cooker and season with Kosher salt and pepper on all sides.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together all remaining ingredients. Pour over roast beef.
  3. Slow cook on LOW for about 8 hours, or until meat easily shreds apart.
  4. Using two large forks, shred the meat apart in the slow cooker.
  5. Serve meat warm on top of mashed potatoes or on a bun with a bit of the sauce over the top. There should be plenty of sauce for dipping sandwiches, too!

Freeze For Later:

Method 1: Uncooked

To Freeze: Place all ingredients together in a freezer friendly plastic bag and freeze. To prepare, let bag thaw in refrigerator for 24 hours.

To Prepare: Thaw using one of these three safe ways and then cook as directed.

Method 2: Fully Cooked

To freeze: Fully cook the meal (through Step #4). Let it cool completely. (Safety Note: Do not let the meat sit on the counter more than 2 hours.) Store meat and sauce in a freezer container or freezer bag after it’s cooled completely.

To thaw: Thaw using one of these three safe ways and then warm on the stove over low heat or in the microwave.

© Author: Rachel Tiemeyer
Method: Slow Cooker

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Rachel Tiemeyer

Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. AvatarNatalie says

    Posted on 1/11/23 at 7:25 am

    I love how u make it easy for the normal person to follow the recipes w/ a video as well

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Carla from Thriving HomeCarla from Thriving Home says

      Posted on 1/11/23 at 10:10 am

      Aw, thanks Natalie. We do strive to help people get in the kitchen and make yummy food!

      Reply
  2. AvatarEmily says

    Posted on 10/21/21 at 7:20 pm

    Do you think it would be good to add meat to the tortilla soup?? I was thinking of cooking up some ground beef first.

    Reply
    • Rachel TiemeyerRachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 10/22/21 at 8:02 am

      Absolutely! I’ve stirred in taco-seasoned ground beef before and shredded chicken.

      Reply

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