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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    26 Dump-and-Cook Recipes That Will Keep You Cozy This Winter

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on January 24, 2025, updated January 22, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    As the winter chill sets in, there's nothing better than cozying up with warm, comforting meals. These 26 dump-and-cook recipes are perfect for busy days, allowing you to throw everything into a pot or slow cooker and let it do the work for you. Enjoy hearty dishes that will fill your home with warmth and make mealtime a breeze.

    Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

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

    Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken is a tasty twist on the classic Mississippi Pot Roast, featuring ranch seasoning, gravy mix, pepperoncini peppers, and butter. This dish is tangy and pairs perfectly with plain white rice.

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    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.

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    Slow Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

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

    This soup is perfect for anyone who enjoys stuffed peppers. It's a filling meal, especially when served with cheese and breadsticks.

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    Crockpot Enchiladas

    Crockpot Enchiladas.
    Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

    Crockpot enchiladas are a simple mix of ground beef, veggies, enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, and cheese, all cooked together in the slow cooker. This is a great dish for weeknight family dinners or when you want to prepare meals ahead of time.

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    Baked Cod in Foil

    A foil pack with cod and potatoes.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    These baked cod packs are easy to prepare and full of flavor, taking just 5 minutes to get ready. With cod, tomatoes, potatoes, and lemon all cooked together, this is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

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    Cowboy Stew

    Cowboy Stew
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

    Cowboy Stew is a great choice for feeding a crowd with minimal effort. It's loaded with ground beef, smoked sausage, potatoes, beans, and veggies, making it a filling meal that everyone will enjoy.

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    Chicken Butternut Squash Soup

    Chicken Soup with Butternut Squash.
    Photo Credit: Like Hot Keto.

    This chicken soup is simple to prepare and everything cooks in one pot. The winter squash brings a nice warmth, making it feel like a cozy fall meal.

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    Slow Cooker Lamb

    Slow Cooker Lamb.
    Photo Credit: Veena Azmanov.

    Lamb cooked in a slow cooker is a fantastic way to enjoy this meat, as you can simply toss everything in and let it cook. In just 4 hours, you'll have tender, juicy lamb with a rich, creamy sauce that's perfect over rice or with some crusty bread.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features plenty of chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's perfect for cold weather and you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole

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

    Slow Cooker John Wayne Casserole features tater tots with a southwestern twist and plenty of cheese. This dish is perfect for cozy nights when you want something warm and filling.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare and ready in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Slow Cooker Mexican Bubble Up Casserole

    Slow Cooker Mexican Bubble Up Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This Mexican Bubble Up Casserole is a cozy dish packed with all the delicious flavors of a classic Mexican pizza. With just five simple ingredients, it’s an easy meal that your family will love.

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    Pizza Baked Butter Beans

    Baked butter beans in a bowl.
    Photo credit: Life as a Strawberry.

    Pizza baked beans are a quick and easy meal for busy weeknights. Just combine some canned beans with pizza sauce and your favorite toppings, then bake for a cozy dinner that pairs well with crusty bread, all in just 30 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole

    Crockpot Mexican Casserole with Ground Beef.
    Photo Credit" Haute & Healthy Living.

    This crockpot Mexican casserole is packed with all the delicious flavors you love. It's a simple and affordable option for busy nights when you want something hearty and satisfying.

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    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs & Sweet Potatoes

    Sheet pan chicken thighs.
    Photo credit: Recipes from a Pantry.

    This comforting and filling recipe is perfect for cold weather. It uses simple pantry ingredients and is ready in just 30 minutes.

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    Baked Chicken Drumsticks & Veggies

    Drumsticks and veggies.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sheet-pan dinner is perfect for busy weeknights when you want something simple. With just a little chopping to begin, everything cooks together with chicken, veggies, and plenty of sauce for a delicious meal.

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    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 cozy dinner any night. With tender gnocchi, crispy bacon, hearty mushrooms, and crunchy pine nuts, it’s a dish that everyone will love.

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    Chicken & Dumplings

    Chicken and dumplings.
    Photo credit: Belle of the Kitchen.

    This is a simple take on a classic comfort food that cooks all day in the crockpot. It's a delicious option for chilly days.

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    Slow Cooker Nacho Soup

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

    This Nacho Soup is a warm and comforting dish that brings all the great flavors of nachos into a hearty bowl. With ground beef, Rotel, black beans, corn, and taco seasoning simmered together in a crock pot, it’s perfect for chilly days.

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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 ingredients and some ready-made items, you can have it ready in 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

    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 is delicious.

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    Crockpot Mac and Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons.

    This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is creamy and simple to prepare. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and let it cook on low, with no need to cook the pasta beforehand.

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    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie

    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie is a cozy dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It combines ground beef, carrots, peas, and mashed potatoes for a hearty meal that's easy to prepare.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, perfect for a cozy meal. It's a simple and satisfying option for chilly days.

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    Gorgonzola Mac and Cheese

    Gorgonzola mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This cheesy mac and cheese is made in just one dish, so there's no need to pre-cook anything. With mozzarella and gorgonzola, it’s a simple and comforting meal that’s perfect for chilly days.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

    Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup.
    Photo Credit: Simple Everyday Recipes.

    This creamy chicken and rice soup is incredibly simple to make. It's made with carrots, celery, onions, mushrooms, chicken, rice and a variety of spices, and finished off with cream. Pair this with grilled cheese or crusty bread for dinner on a cold evening!

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      18 Easy Summer Casseroles to Feed a Crowd
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      20 Heavenly Desserts That Will Satisfy Your Cravings
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      30 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes We Crave Every Week

    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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