What the heck is a dump dinner? No, it has nothing to do with garbage (thank goodness). Basically, you dump a bunch of ingredients together into your Crock-Pot (or skillet or baking sheet or—you get the picture). From there, everything is totally hands-off. No searing, no sautéing, no babysitting. At its core, a dump dinner is no-fuss. Our favorite kind of dinner.
15 Low-Maintenance Dump Dinners That Basically Make Themselves
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Published Mar 29, 2019
Dump And Bake Seasoned Tuscan Chicken
A ridiculously easy dinner that even your picky toddler will love. And you don’t have to boil the noodles—they bake in a creamy garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, Italian herbs, garlic and chicken.
Slow-cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
It's the quickest way to prep this warming classic. Almost as easy as opening up a can of soup…but so much more flavorful.
Slow-cooker Chicken Teriyaki
Sure, you can serve it with rice like the recipe suggests—but to save time, you could wrap it in a romaine leaf or a tortilla.
Slow-cooker Creole Chicken And Sausage
Smoked Andouille sausage, beans and bell peppers simmered together in a spicy tomato sauce = our idea of heaven.
Slow-cooker Vegetarian Chili
The farro in this stew does double duty, thickening the broth and adding an extra heartiness. (If you’re gluten-free, swap in quinoa for the same punch.)
One-pot, 15-minute Pasta Limone
We’re willing to bet you have most of these ingredients already in your pantry. Plus, it’s ready in almost no time (well, 15 minutes, to be precise). Is it cool if we always make pasta this way?
One-pan Roasted Chicken With Carrots
Toss the ingredients together on a baking sheet, then stick it in the oven and wait for 20 minutes while the flavors mingle and everything gets magically crispy.
Baked Chicken And Mushroom Risotto
It’s hard to believe that a dish this fancy qualifies as a dump dinner. But yep, you literally just dump everything into a skillet and pop it into the oven.
Crock-pot Italian Chicken And Broccoli Rabe Chili
Hello, big and beautiful bowl of goodness. We want to eat you, like, right now with an extra slice of bread. Luckily, you’re just a few stirs away.
Easy Slow-cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken
Bonus: This chicken lasts for up to four days in the fridge, and many months more in the freezer. If you meal prep, we promise it’s about to become your best friend.
One-pot Mac And Cheese
You’ll simmer pasta directly in a cream sauce for maximum efficiency. So darn brilliant (and tasty).
15-minute Miso Coconut Chicken Ramen Recipe
Ready thy Instant Pot. This rich and creamy concoction gets an extra punch of flavor from white miso paste and mushrooms.
Baking Sheet Quesadillas
Layer tortillas and cheese on a baking sheet, then slice into squares with a pizza cutter and serve immediately with sour cream and salsa.
Slow-cooker Tomato, Kale And Quinoa Soup
Comfort food without the guilt is something we can get behind. Luckily, this recipe makes eight servings, so we can eat it all week long.
Slow-cooker Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice Soup
Just a tad of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese make this recipe taste downright decadent (but it’s still a light and easy choice for weeknights).
