23 Dump Dinners That Require Zero (Or Very Little) Upfront Prep

Can't stand prep? Me neither.

Alexa Fishman / BuzzFeed

Short on time, motivation to cook, or just want to put that slow cooker to good use?

Whatever the case, we've rounded up a ton of easy slow-cooker dump dinner recipes that require zero to very little prep work. Just toss all the ingredients into a Crock Pot and go about your day while your meal cooks itself.

1. Easiest Crock Pot Chicken Verde

fitfulfocus.com

Salsa verde + chicken breasts are all you need to make this. Top with optional avocado, tortilla strips, and your favorite hot sauce.

Recipe: Easiest Crock Pot Chicken Verde

2. Lentil Sloppy Joes

simplyquinoa.com

Sloppy Joes: Vegetarian edition! Serve it on toasted hamburger buns or whatever sturdy bread you have around.

Recipe: Lentil Sloppy Joes

3. Buttery Buffalo Chicken

thekitchn.com

Just chicken + butter + hot sauce + broth. Totally fool-proof — and works in hoagies, pitas, or over rice or greens.

Recipe: Buttery Buffalo Chicken

4. Vegan Creamy Potato, Corn, and Jalapeño Soup

sweetpeasandsaffron.com

After all the ingredients are cooked, you'll just have to take out the potatoes and mash 'em with some almond milk. Then toss back in the pot, stir, and you're ready to eat.

Recipe: Vegan Creamy Potato, Corn, and Jalapeño Soup

5. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

gimmesomeoven.com

This might look fussy, but most of the ingredients — black beans, tomatoes, corn — are canned, making this a legit drop-and-go dinner.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

6. Eggplant Lasagna

eatingeuropean.com

The trick here is salting your eggplant slices first — which will draw out excess water and prevent a soggy final dish.

Recipe: Eggplant Lasagna

7. Shortcut Sesame Chicken

togetherasfamily.com

This shortcut recipe uses a seasoning packet to jumpstart the flavor — but you can also make your own quick DIY mix with pantry spices. To make it into a full meal, microwave some instant rice and frozen veggies.

Recipe: Shortcut Sesame Chicken

8. Chicken and Noodles

spendwithpennies.com

Start with a rotisserie chicken here for ease. If you don't have frozen egg noodles, just cook regular dry egg noodles in a separate pot and add it to the slow cooked dish when it's done.

Recipe: Chicken and Noodles

9. No-Chopping Chicken Taco Soup

kristineskitchenblog.com

For a no-fuss Taco Tuesday, whip up this soup and top it with all your favorite taco fillings like avocado, shredded cheese, or sour cream.

Recipe: No-Chopping Chicken Taco Soup

10. African Peanut Stew

thegirlonbloor.com

Feel free to combine the ingredients in a Ziploc bag ahead of time and cook it on low heat for six hours on the day of.

Recipe: African Peanut Stew

11. Easiest Chicken and Stuffing

bigbearswife.com

Sometimes, the best part about recipes is that they make you consider ingredient combinations you'd never have thought of before. Take this recipe, which combines stuffing mix and cream of chicken soup for the perfect savory meal.

Recipe: Easiest Chicken and Stuffing

12. Boneless Country-Style BBQ Ribs

happymoneysaver.com

Apple sauce + brown sugar + barbecue sauce are the powerful trifecta behind this. If you want, pair everything with slaw or potato salad for the perfect summer-inspired meal.

Recipe: Boneless Country-Style BBQ Ribs

13. Red Lentil Curry

pinchofyum.com

Vegetarian recipes are especially slow cooker-friendly because they don't require any defrosting or pan searing ahead of time.

Recipe: Red Lentil Curry

14. Beef and Potato Au Gratin

themagicalslowcooker.com

You'll have to brown the beef before placing it in the slow cooker, but I promise it'll give the whole dish a level of savory and caramelized flavor you wouldn't get otherwise.

Recipe: Beef and Potato Au Gratin

15. Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry

simplyrecipes.com

Prep involves cutting up a sweet potato, a bell pepper, and an onion but the result will be totally worth this effort. Plus, this is the perfect protein-packed recipe to make in bulk and eat for lunch throughout the week.

Recipe: Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry

16. Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

wonkywonderful.com

Don't be intimidated by the ingredient list — it's mostly just toss-and-go assembly.

Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

17. Lemon Italian Chicken With Capers

realhousemoms.com

This goes well with a bowl of pasta, but you can also swap it for whatever other base you have, like rice, quinoa, or even a tortilla wrap.

Recipe: Lemon Italian Chicken With Capers

18. Butternut Squash Risotto

slowcookergourmet.net

While traditional risotto involves constant stirring and watching over a pot, this recipe comes together with just about 15 minutes of prep.

Recipe: Butternut Squash Risotto

19. Beer-Braised Chicken

halfbakedharvest.com

Minimal prep here — just chopping an onion + red pepper — and the beer adds a subtle earthy flavor. (It also gives you an excuse to drink another while you're waiting for it to cook!)

Recipe: Beer-Braised Chicken

20. Split Pea Soup

tabsandtidbits.com

We're all turning to comfort foods now more than ever before. This dish is especially fitting, since its vegetarian and vegan-friendly.

Recipe: Split Pea Soup

21. Tuscan White Bean Soup

tasty.co

Who says you can't have soup during the warmer months? This recipe goes perfectly with that sourdough bread everyone's been baking.

Recipe: Tuscan White Bean Soup

22. Balsamic Roast

julieseatsandtreats.com

The secret ingredient here is balsamic vinegar, which tenderizes the beef and adds even more flavor.

Recipe: Balsamic Roast

23. Creamy Mac 'n' Cheese

dinnerthendessert.com

With this recipe, there's no need to boil water and cook your pasta in a separate pot. Just add all the ingredients to your slow cooker and cook on low.

Recipe: Creamy Mac 'n' Cheese