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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Easy Dump-and-Cook Recipes for Stress-Free Dinners

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on October 5, 2025, updated September 17, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    These 24 easy dump-and-cook recipes make weeknight dinners a breeze. With minimal prep and cooking time, you can enjoy delicious meals without the stress. Perfect for busy evenings, these recipes let you spend more time relaxing and less time in the kitchen.

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

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

    Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are seasoned well and cooked until they're super tender. You can serve them with any sides you like. This is a simple and quick main dish that everyone in the family will love.

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    Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta

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

    Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta is a tasty one-pot meal that everyone in the family will enjoy. The combination of garlic parmesan wing sauce with cream of chicken soup, cream cheese, milk, and some common pantry ingredients creates a rich and satisfying dish. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner

    Sausage Sheet Pan Dinner.
    Photo Credit: The Clean Happy Life.

    This sheet pan dinner features Italian sausage and a mix of vegetables, all roasted together for a delicious and hearty meal. With just a drizzle of olive oil and some spices, everything comes together easily. It's a satisfying option that requires little prep work and makes cleanup a breeze.

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    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Stuffed pepper soup is a comforting dish that brings all the flavors you love into a warm bowl. It's perfect for a filling meal, especially when you add some cheese on top and serve it with breadsticks. This soup is simple to make and is sure to satisfy your hunger.

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    Slow Cooker Camp Stew

    Slow Cooker Camp Stew.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Camp Stew is a classic comfort food that brings together tender chicken, tasty vegetables, and a touch of smokiness. It's an easy dish that everyone will enjoy, whether you're at home or out camping. This hearty meal is perfect for family dinners or gatherings with friends.

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    Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Tacos

    Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Tacos.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    These Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Tacos are a fun and simple way to enjoy a tasty meal. With just four ingredients, you can put together a delicious dinner without much effort. You might want to make extra because they're sure to be a hit!

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    Lentil Tortilla Soup

    A lentil tortilla soup.
    Photo credit: Peas and Crayons.

    Vegetarian Lentil Tortilla Soup is a simple and delicious dish that can be prepared in an Instant Pot, slow cooker, or on the stove. It's a hearty soup packed with flavor that everyone will enjoy. This meal is perfect for busy nights when you want something comforting without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Ground Turkey White Chili

    Ground Turkey White Chili.
    Photo Credit: The Perks of Being Us.

    This dinner dish is super easy to make in a slow cooker. It's perfect for busy weekdays, letting you do a little prep in the morning and come home to a hot meal. Just slice a lime, chop an avocado, and shred some cheese to top off the chili. This ground turkey recipe is a great option for a cozy winter night!

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    Baked Ranch Chicken

    Baked ranch chicken on a plate.
    Photo Credit: Quiche My Grits.

    This dish is simple to prepare and creates a creamy sauce while it bakes. The chicken turns out tender and juicy, covered in a tasty gravy and finished with a crunchy layer of panko breadcrumbs. It's a satisfying meal that requires minimal effort, perfect for busy nights.

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    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup

    Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This cheesy soup is a family favorite, packed with cooked ground beef, potatoes, melted Velveeta cheese, chicken broth, vegetables, and seasonings. The ingredients blend together beautifully, creating a dish that everyone will love. It's simple to prepare and perfect for a cozy meal.

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    Slow Cooker Lamb Curry

    Slow Cooker Lamb Curry.
    Photo Credit: Veena Azmanov.

    This Indian lamb curry is incredibly easy to prepare. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it do its thing. The lamb cooks slowly with flavorful curry powder and creamy coconut milk, resulting in tender meat that's full of flavor.

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    Mediterranean Veggie Casserole

    Veggie casserole.
    Photo credit: The Fiery Vegetarian.

    This casserole is super simple to prepare and only takes a few minutes to throw together before it goes in the oven. Once it's done, you'll have soft vegetables coated in a delicious, garlicky sauce. It's a comforting dish that's perfect for any night of the week.

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    Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Slow Cooker Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe is all about simple and tasty meals that anyone can whip up. With a bright mix of lemon and pepper, it brings a refreshing flavor to chicken thighs. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic, turning ordinary ingredients into a delicious and juicy dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Thai Curried Chicken Soup

    Slow Cooker Thai Curried Chicken Soup.
    Photo Credit: Lauren Kelly Nutrition.

    Thai curried chicken soup is a warm and satisfying dish that's easy to prepare. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a flavorful meal that everyone will enjoy. It's perfect for cozy nights when you want something hearty without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Garlic Parmesan Sheet Pan Drumsticks

    Garlic Parmesan Sheet Pan Chicken Drumsticks.
    Photo credit: xoxoBella.

    Oven baked chicken drumsticks are a tasty option for dinner, especially when you prepare them on a sheet pan to make cleanup easier. This recipe features the great flavors of garlic, parmesan, red pepper, and parsley, bringing a nice twist to your meal. It's simple to put together and perfect for a weeknight dinner.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, creating a hearty meal that's perfect for dinner. It's simple to prepare and will definitely provide you with some leftovers for later. Enjoy a satisfying and nutritious option that doesn't require much effort.

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    Crock Pot Vegetable Tortellini Soup

    Vegetable Tortellini Soup in Crockpot
    Photo Credit: Foodess.

    This creamy Tortellini Soup is a simple slow cooker dish packed with fresh green vegetables. With just a few basic ingredients and a little prep time, you can have a comforting meal ready to enjoy. It's perfect for those busy nights when you want something tasty without spending hours in the kitchen.

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    Sheet Pan Steak & Potatoes

    Sheet pan steak and potatoes.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    This sheet pan version of a classic meal combines tender roasted potatoes with perfectly cooked steak, all in one go. Everything cooks together under the broiler, giving it a nice golden brown finish. It's a comforting dish that's easy to prepare and leaves you with hardly any cleanup afterward.

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    Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken And Rice Casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This chicken and rice casserole is a great comfort food that's simple to prepare. It's packed with flavor and requires minimal effort, making it a go-to option for busy nights. With just a few ingredients, you can whip up a satisfying meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Crock Pot Chicken Tacos

    Crock-Pot Chicken Tacos.
    Photo Credit: Valerie's Kitchen.

    This dish features tender and tasty shredded chicken that's perfect for making tacos on a hectic day. It's really flexible and can be used in many different Mexican meals.

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    Slow Cooker Huli Huli Chicken

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

    Whip up this Hawaiian-inspired dish of slow-cooked Huli Huli Chicken, packed with bold island flavors and perfect served over a bed of rice.

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    Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Chicken

    Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This recipe features chicken breasts mixed with Italian dressing and brown sugar, all tossed together in a crockpot for a simple meal. It's an easy way to prepare dinner that everyone in the family will love. Pair it with your favorite sides for a complete meal that's full of flavor.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli Rice

    Slow Cooker Chicken Broccoli Rice.
    Photo Credit: Everyday Eileen.

    Slow Cooker Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice is a simple one-pot meal that's perfect for busy families. The chicken turns out tender, the rice is fluffy, and the crunchy broccoli adds a nice touch. This dish is great for a cozy dinner without a lot of work.

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    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti

    Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This is a simple meal that you can throw together quickly on busy weeknights. With familiar flavors that everyone in the family enjoys, this easy dinner is bound to become a regular part of your routine.

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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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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    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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