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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Lifesaver Recipes You Can Just Dump and Forget

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on October 23, 2025, updated September 17, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    These 22 recipes are perfect for busy days when you want a home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Just dump the ingredients into your slow cooker or pot, set it, and forget it. You'll come back to a delicious meal ready to enjoy with minimal effort.

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli

    Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Chicken thighs and broccoli are cooked together in a simple sauce made from soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger paste, and some common seasonings. This dish is perfect for a quick and tasty one-pot meal that doesn't require much effort. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something satisfying without spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

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    Instant Pot Chili

    Chili With Ground Meat And Beans.
    Photo credit: Melanie Cooks.

    All you need to do is toss everything into the Instant Pot, and you can have a tasty chili ready in under 30 minutes. This is a quick and easy meal that fits perfectly into a busy schedule. With minimal effort, you can enjoy a hearty dish that everyone will love.

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    Butternut Cauliflower Soup

    A bowl of soup topped with cheese and bacon.
    Photo credit: Peas and Crayons.

    This soup is simple to make with either a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot Butternut Cauliflower Soup is full of flavor and doesn't need much prep time, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.

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    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole

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

    This casserole features tater tots, a southwestern twist, and plenty of cheese. It's a simple dish that combines comfort food with a bit of spice, making it a great choice for any meal. Perfect for busy nights, this meal is easy to prepare and satisfying for everyone at the table.

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    Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

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

    This easy slow cooker recipe brings the classic tastes of Tuscany right to your home. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without a lot of work. Just set it up and let the slow cooker do its magic, filling your kitchen with wonderful aromas.

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    Cheesy Pizza Pasta Bake

    Pizza pasta bake.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This pizza pasta bake is perfect for busy nights when you need something simple and satisfying. You can throw everything together right in the pan, and there's no need to cook the pasta beforehand. With its cheesy goodness and delicious pizza flavors, it's a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy.

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    Crockpot Steak Fajitas

    Crockpot Steak Fajitas Recipe
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun With my 3 Sons.

    Crockpot Steak Fajitas offer a simple way to enjoy a delicious Tex-Mex meal any night. The steak cooks slowly with peppers and onions in a tasty fajita sauce, creating a satisfying dish. Just wrap everything in a warm tortilla, and you have a meal that's both easy to prepare and enjoyable to eat.

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    Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs

    Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Forked Spoon.

    Garlic Mushroom Chicken Thighs are easy to make and highlight crispy, golden chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful garlic and white wine sauce with tender mushrooms. This dish is great for a weeknight dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

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    White Chicken Chili

    White Chicken Chili .
    Photo Credit: Chew Out Loud.

    This crockpot white chicken chili is a warm and filling dish that everyone will enjoy. With just a few basic ingredients, it packs a lot of flavor and is super easy to prepare. It's creamy and satisfying, making it a great choice for a cozy meal.

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    Slow Cooker Rosemary Lemon Chicken Thighs

    Slow Cooker Rosemary Lemon Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: Mommy Evolution.

    Lemon and rosemary come together to create a delicious flavor in these slow cooker chicken thighs. This dish is sure to be a favorite at dinner, bringing a fresh and inviting taste to your meal. It's simple to prepare and perfect for any night of the week.

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    Salsa Chicken

    A bowl of salsa chicken.
    Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    Crockpot Salsa Chicken is a simple dinner option that fits perfectly into a busy schedule. With just a few ingredients and under five minutes of prep time, you can have a delicious meal ready with minimal effort. It's a dish that the whole family will enjoy.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken And Rice Tray Bake

    Chicken And Rice Tray Bake.
    Photo Credit: Sweet Caramel Sunday.

    Chicken and Rice Tray Bake is a simple and tasty meal that comes together in one pan. It features tender marinated chicken and fluffy rice, all baked in the oven for an easy dinner. The marinade seeps into the rice, giving it a nice sticky texture. With just 10 minutes of prep time, you can have this dish ready to bake.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With just four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it prepped in about five minutes and on the table in under 40 minutes. It's perfect for busy evenings when you want a quick and satisfying meal.

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    Slow Cooker American Goulash

    Slow Cooker Goulash.
    Photo Credit: Cincy Shopper.

    Slow Cooker American Goulash is a hearty dish packed with beef and vegetables. It's a simple meal that you can throw together in the slow cooker, making it perfect for dinner. This recipe is straightforward and requires minimal effort, so you can enjoy a comforting meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta

    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Bacon Pasta features juicy chicken, crispy bacon, mushrooms, and spinach all mixed with pasta in a flavorful tomato sauce. It's a great option for family dinners or when you're hosting friends. This meal is simple to prepare and requires minimal effort, making it a go-to choice for busy evenings.

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    Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Cheesy chicken and rice casserole dish.
    Photo Credit: Rose Bakes.

    This recipe is all about simplicity, using canned soups and ready-made rice mixes to create a hearty meal. It's ideal for busy weeknights or whenever you want a comforting dish without spending too much time in the kitchen. Just throw everything together and let it bake, making dinner a breeze.

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    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Mayo

    Slow Cooker Whole Chicken with Mayo.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This slow cooker mayo chicken is packed with flavor and is super easy to prepare. It's a dish that everyone in the family will enjoy, including the kids. With minimal effort, you can have a delicious meal ready to serve.

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    Slow Cooker Sausage Gnocchi Soup

    Slow Cooker Sausage Gnocchi Soup.
    Photo Credit: Posh Journal.

    This gnocchi soup is a cozy dish inspired by the well-loved Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden. It's an easy recipe that you can throw together in a slow cooker, so it's great for days when you don't have much time to spend in the kitchen. Just set it up and let it do its thing while you go about your day.

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    Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

    Slow Cooker Greek Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Lazy Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Greek Chicken is a simple and tasty dinner option for busy weeknights. It features tender chicken and baby potatoes cooked in a light, zesty lemon sauce, all thanks to your slow cooker. The addition of briny kalamata olives and creamy feta cheese adds a burst of flavor without requiring much work.

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    Chicken Cacciatore

    Chicken cacciatore with pasta.
    Photo credit: Scarlati Family Kitchen.

    This dinner is full of flavor and perfect for a quick weeknight meal or a relaxed Sunday dinner. It's a classic Italian dish that cooks slowly, allowing all the tastes to blend together beautifully. You can serve it over pasta, polenta, or mashed potatoes for a satisfying meal.

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    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole

    Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Winding Creek Ranch.

    This simple meatball casserole combines uncooked pasta, frozen meatballs, and marinara sauce into a tasty one-pan meal. There's no need to boil the pasta or brown the meatballs beforehand. Just layer everything in a casserole dish and let the oven handle the cooking.

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    More Recipe Roundups

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      20 Air Fryer Dishes That Will Impress Your Guests
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      43 Gourmet Meals Ready in 60 Minutes or Less
    • Potato chicken sausage casserole.
      21 Set It and Forget It Dinner Casseroles That Keep You Warm and Cozy
    • Brownies for halloween.
      17 Spooky Sweets That Will Leave Your Guests Spellbound

    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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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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