20 Dump-and-Go Crockpot Dinners

Let’s face it, life is busy. Between work, school, and after-school activities, finding time to cook a healthy meal can feel like a full-time job in itself. That is exactly why we love an easy weeknight dinner that does the work for us! If you are a busy parent, the slow cooker is about to become your best friend.

There is nothing quite like the "set it and forget it" magic of a crockpot. You literally dump the ingredients in during the morning, and by the time 5:00 PM rolls around, your house smells amazing and dinner is served. Even better? Every single one of these recipes is part of our 5 ingredient dinners collection, meaning you don't need a massive grocery list to feed your family well.

Ready to simplify your evenings? Here are 20 incredible dump-and-go crockpot dinners that will save your sanity.

1. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pot Roast

The ultimate American classic. This roast is tender, juicy, and takes about five minutes of prep. Just add your beef chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, a packet of onion soup mix, and a splash of beef broth. It’s the king of beef dinners that everyone loves.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is the kind of cozy “Sunday dinner” you can totally pull off on a Tuesday—because the slow cooker does the heavy lifting.

Ingredients (5):

• 3–4 lb beef chuck roast
• 1 lb baby potatoes (or chopped russets)
• 3–4 carrots, peeled and chunked
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 cup beef broth

Simple Instructions:

1. Add potatoes and carrots to the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Place the chuck roast on top.
3. Sprinkle onion soup mix over the roast.
4. Pour in beef broth around the sides.
5. Cook on LOW 8–9 hours (or HIGH 4–5), until fork-tender. Slice or shred and serve with the veggies.

2. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Brisket

Want that smoky BBQ flavor without the grill? This brisket is your answer. Combine a beef brisket with your favorite bottled BBQ sauce, some sliced onions, a bit of garlic, and beef stock. It’s perfect for sandwiches or served over mashed potatoes.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Make it once, then use the leftovers for super-fast sandwiches all week.

Ingredients (5):

• 3–4 lb beef brisket
• 1 1/2 cups bottled BBQ sauce
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic paste)
• 1 cup beef stock

Simple Instructions:

1. Add sliced onion to the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Place brisket on top.
3. Mix BBQ sauce, garlic, and beef stock, then pour over the brisket.
4. Cook on LOW 8–10 hours (or HIGH 5–6) until it shreds easily.
5. Shred, toss with the sauce in the crockpot, and serve on buns or over mashed potatoes.

3. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew

This is a rich, hearty meal that feels fancy but is so simple. The Guinness adds a deep flavor to the beef and vegetables that you just can't get any other way. It is one of our favorite slow cooker dinners for chilly nights.

Easy weeknight dinner note: It tastes like you worked all day… because you kinda did (the crockpot did).

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb stew beef (or chuck roast, cubed)
• 12 oz Guinness (1 bottle)
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 lb baby potatoes (or chopped potatoes)
• 1 packet onion soup mix

Simple Instructions:

1. Add beef, carrots, and potatoes to the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle onion soup mix over everything.
3. Pour Guinness in and gently stir to coat.
4. Cook on LOW 8 hours (or HIGH 4–5) until beef is tender.
5. Stir, taste, and serve hot (it will thicken a bit as it cools).

4. 5-Ingredient Taco Soup

This is the definition of "dump and go." Open a few cans of beans, corn, and diced tomatoes, add some ground beef (or keep it vegetarian) and taco seasoning. This taco soup is a crowd-pleaser every single time.

Easy weeknight dinner note: If your people like tacos, they’ll love this—same vibes, way less work.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 lb ground beef (or ground turkey)
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes (with juices)
• 1 packet taco seasoning

Simple Instructions:

1. Add ground beef to the slow cooker (break it up as best you can).
2. Dump in beans, corn, and diced tomatoes.
3. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the top and stir.
4. Cook on LOW 6–8 hours or HIGH 3–4 hours (stir once if you can).
5. Serve as-is, or top with whatever you’ve got (chips, cheese, sour cream—optional).

5. 5-Ingredient Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Who says you have to go to a bakery cafe for good soup? You can easily adapt our 5-ingredient broccoli cheddar soup for the slow cooker. Just dump in your broccoli, broth, onions, and cream, then stir in the cheese at the end for a creamy, comforting bowl of goodness.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This one feels like comfort food in a bowl, and nobody has to leave the house.

Ingredients (5):

• 4 cups broccoli florets (fresh or frozen)
• 3 cups chicken broth (or veggie broth)
• 1 small onion, diced (or 1 tbsp onion flakes)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Simple Instructions:

1. Add broccoli, broth, and onion to the crockpot.
2. Cook on LOW 5–6 hours or HIGH 2–3 until broccoli is very tender.
3. Stir in heavy cream.
4. Blend slightly (optional) with an immersion blender for a smoother soup.
5. Stir in cheddar cheese until melted and creamy, then serve.

6. 5-Ingredient Beef and Broccoli

Skip the takeout! You can make a delicious beef and broccoli right in your crockpot. Use flank steak, beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and plenty of frozen broccoli florets. Serve it over rice for a complete easy weeknight dinner.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is takeout night… but cheaper and you still get to wear sweatpants.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 1/2–2 lb flank steak (or sirloin), sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 4 cups frozen broccoli florets

Simple Instructions:

1. Add sliced beef to the crockpot.
2. Pour in beef broth, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Stir.
3. Cook on LOW 5–6 hours or HIGH 3–4 until beef is tender.
4. Stir in frozen broccoli for the last 20–30 minutes (until hot and tender-crisp).
5. Spoon over rice (optional) and serve.

7. 5-Ingredient Meatball Casserole (Slow Cooker Version)

This is a fun twist on a comfort food favorite. Layer frozen meatballs, marinara sauce, and plenty of mozzarella cheese in your slow cooker. It’s essentially a hands-off version of our meatball subs and is always a hit with the kids.

Easy weeknight dinner note: If you’ve got kids (or just hungry adults), this one disappears fast.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 (28–32 oz) bag frozen meatballs
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella
• 8 oz pasta (penne/rotini)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Simple Instructions:

1. Add frozen meatballs and marinara to the crockpot and stir.
2. Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3 until meatballs are hot.
3. Cook pasta separately right before dinner (per package directions) and drain.
4. Stir pasta into the crockpot.
5. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan on top, cover for 10–15 minutes until melty, then serve.

8. 5-Ingredient Honey Garlic Meatballs

For something a little sweet and tangy, these honey garlic meatballs are perfect. They work great as an appetizer or served as a main dish over a bed of fluffy white rice.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Sweet + garlicky + saucy meatballs = everyone suddenly shows up in the kitchen “to help.”

Ingredients (5):

• 1 (28–32 oz) bag frozen meatballs
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic paste)
• 2 tbsp ketchup

Simple Instructions:

1. Add frozen meatballs to the crockpot.
2. Whisk honey, soy sauce, garlic, and ketchup together.
3. Pour sauce over meatballs and stir.
4. Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3.
5. Stir and serve over rice (optional) or with toothpicks.

9. 5-Ingredient French Dip Sandwiches

Tender beef that melts in your mouth, what’s not to love? These French dip sandwiches use a beef roast and a flavorful au jus that cooks all day. Just pile the meat onto rolls and dip away!

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is a “hands-off all day, hero at dinner” kind of meal.

Ingredients (5):

• 3–4 lb chuck roast
• 1 packet onion soup mix
• 1 packet au jus gravy mix
• 4 cups beef broth
• Hoagie rolls

Simple Instructions:

1. Place chuck roast in the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle onion soup mix and au jus mix over the roast.
3. Pour beef broth around the sides.
4. Cook on LOW 8–9 hours or HIGH 4–5 until shreddable.
5. Shred beef, pile onto rolls, and serve with the cooking liquid for dipping.

10. 5-Ingredient Sausage and Tortellini Soup

This is a restaurant-quality meal made with almost zero effort. Combine Italian sausage, chicken broth, diced tomatoes, spinach, and cheese tortellini. It’s a complete meal in a bowl and one of our top-rated easy weeknight dinners.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Soup that eats like a full meal = always a win on a busy night.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot)
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes (with juices)
• 3 cups fresh spinach
• 1 (20 oz) package refrigerated cheese tortellini

Simple Instructions:

1. Add sausage to the crockpot (break it up a bit).
2. Pour in chicken broth and diced tomatoes.
3. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4.
4. Stir in tortellini and spinach for the last 20–30 minutes, until tortellini is tender.
5. Stir and serve hot.

11. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

This is the easiest chicken recipe on the planet. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot and cover with a jar of your favorite salsa. Shred it at the end of the day for tacos, nachos, or salads. It’s a staple in our chicken dinners category.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is the “I have no time” dinner that somehow still tastes great.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 (16 oz) jar salsa
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 packet taco seasoning

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken breasts to the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken.
3. Pour salsa on top, then add black beans and corn.
4. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4, until chicken shreds easily.
5. Shred chicken in the crockpot, stir, and serve in tacos, bowls, or salads.

12. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Perfect for game day or a spicy Tuesday! Chicken breasts, buffalo sauce, ranch seasoning, and a little butter. Shred it up and serve on rolls or over a baked potato.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Spicy, saucy, and basically makes itself—love that for us.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup buffalo wing sauce
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 4 tbsp butter
• Sandwich buns (or slider rolls)

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken to the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning over the chicken.
3. Pour buffalo sauce on top and add butter.
4. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4.
5. Shred and pile onto buns (or serve over baked potatoes—optional).

13. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

A true "set it and forget it" champion. Use a pork shoulder, a bottle of BBQ sauce, a little apple cider vinegar, and onions. This is a must-have for anyone looking for simple pork dinners.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Make a big batch and you’re basically set for sandwiches, bowls, or baked potatoes.

Ingredients (5):

• 3–4 lb pork shoulder (pork butt)
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 1/2 cups BBQ sauce
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar

Simple Instructions:

1. Add sliced onion to the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Place pork shoulder on top.
3. Mix BBQ sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar; pour over the pork.
4. Cook on LOW 8–10 hours or HIGH 5–6 until it shreds easily.
5. Shred pork, stir into the sauce, and serve.

14. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chili

Nothing beats a warm bowl of chili. Ground beef, kidney beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, and diced onions. Let it simmer all day to let those flavors meld together perfectly.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is classic American comfort food, and it’s basically impossible to mess up.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 2 cups tomato sauce (or 1 (15 oz) can + 1 (8 oz) can)
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 small onion, diced

Simple Instructions:

1. Add ground beef to the slow cooker and break it up.
2. Add kidney beans, tomato sauce, chili powder, and onion.
3. Stir well.
4. Cook on LOW 6–8 hours or HIGH 3–4.
5. Stir again and serve (chips or shredded cheese optional).

15. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken

Sweet, savory, and so simple. Chicken thighs, teriyaki sauce, garlic, ginger, and a bag of stir-fry veggies. It’s a healthy, colorful dinner that the whole family will enjoy.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This is the easiest way to get that sweet-salty takeout flavor at home.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup teriyaki sauce
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 tsp garlic paste)
• 1 tsp ground ginger (or 1 tbsp fresh grated)
• 1 (12–16 oz) bag frozen stir-fry vegetables

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken thighs to the crockpot.
2. Pour teriyaki sauce over the chicken, then add garlic and ginger.
3. Cook on LOW 5–6 hours or HIGH 3–4.
4. Stir in frozen veggies for the last 30–45 minutes.
5. Serve over rice (optional) or eat as-is.

16. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

A creamy alternative to traditional chili. Use white beans, shredded chicken, green chiles, chicken broth, and a dollop of sour cream added at the very end.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Creamy, cozy, and mild enough for most picky eaters (you can always add hot sauce at the table).

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cans great northern beans, drained
• 1 can diced green chiles
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken, beans, green chiles, and broth to the crockpot.
2. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4.
3. Shred chicken right in the crockpot.
4. Stir in sour cream at the very end until creamy.
5. Serve hot.

17. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Garlic Butter Steak Bites

Yes, you can cook steak in a crockpot! Cubed steak, plenty of garlic, butter, beef broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce makes for an incredibly tender and flavorful meal.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Steak night without babysitting a skillet? Yup, we’re doing it.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb sirloin steak, cut into bite-size cubes
• 4 tbsp butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced (or 1 1/2 tsp garlic paste)
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Simple Instructions:

1. Add steak cubes to the crockpot.
2. Add butter, garlic, beef broth, and Worcestershire.
3. Stir gently to coat.
4. Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3, until tender.
5. Stir and serve (great over mashed potatoes or rice—optional).

18. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Pesto Chicken

For a touch of bright flavor, try pesto chicken. Chicken breasts, a jar of pesto, chicken broth, and some sun-dried tomatoes. It’s delicious over pasta or even sliced on top of a salad.

Easy weeknight dinner note: This one tastes fresh and “fancy,” but it’s literally dump, cook, eat.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup basil pesto
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes (drained, sliced)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken to the crockpot.
2. Spoon pesto over the chicken.
3. Pour in chicken broth and add sun-dried tomatoes.
4. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4.
5. Sprinkle in Parmesan, stir, and serve (over pasta or with salad—optional).

19. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Meatballs

The ultimate party food that also doubles as a great dinner. Frozen meatballs, BBQ sauce, and a little grape jelly (our secret ingredient!) make the most addictive sauce ever.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Sweet-and-smoky BBQ sauce that the kids go nuts for—and you didn’t even turn on the oven.

Ingredients (5):

• 1 (28–32 oz) bag frozen meatballs
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/2 cup grape jelly
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Sandwich buns (or rolls)

Simple Instructions:

1. Add frozen meatballs to the crockpot.
2. Add BBQ sauce, grape jelly, and Worcestershire.
3. Stir to coat.
4. Cook on LOW 4–5 hours or HIGH 2–3.
5. Serve on buns (or over rice—optional).

20. 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken

Keep it light and fresh with lemon and garlic. Chicken thighs, fresh lemon juice, garlic cloves, chicken broth, and rosemary. It’s a simple, elegant meal that feels like a weekend treat on a busy Tuesday.

Easy weeknight dinner note: Bright, cozy, and not heavy—perfect when you want something simple that still tastes special.

Ingredients (5):

• 2 lb bone-in or boneless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tsp dried rosemary (or Italian seasoning in a pinch)

Simple Instructions:

1. Add chicken thighs to the crockpot.
2. Add lemon juice, garlic, chicken broth, and rosemary.
3. Spoon some liquid over the chicken.
4. Cook on LOW 6–7 hours or HIGH 3–4 until chicken is tender.
5. Serve with a spoonful of the lemony broth over the top.

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Why You’ll Love This

You’ll love these recipes because they remove the stress from your afternoon. By utilizing 5 ingredient dinners, you spend less time shopping and prepping and more time enjoying your evening. These meals are designed to be budget-friendly and kid-approved, focusing on those simple American flavors we all grew up with.

Tips for Success

• Don't Peek: Every time you lift the lid of your slow cooker, you let out heat and add about 20 minutes to the cooking time. Keep that lid closed!
• Layering Matters: Place harder root vegetables (like potatoes and carrots) at the bottom where they are closer to the heat source.
• Thicken it Up: If your sauce is too thin at the end, whisk a tablespoon of cornstarch with a little water and stir it in for the last 30 minutes.

Variations

• Make it Spicy: Feel free to add red pepper flakes or sliced jalapeños to any of these dishes to kick the heat up a notch.
• Vegetarian Swaps: Most of the beef and chicken recipes can be adapted by using hearty vegetables like mushrooms or cauliflower and switching to vegetable broth. Check out our vegetarian dinners for more inspiration.

Serving Suggestions

To keep your easy weeknight dinner simple, serve these main dishes with a quick side. A bag of salad greens, some microwave-in-bag steamed veggies, or a loaf of crusty bread are all you need to round out the meal. If you have an air fryer, you can even whip up some quick fries or roasted veggies from our air fryer dinners list!

Making dinner shouldn't be the hardest part of your day. With these 20 dump-and-go crockpot recipes, you can breathe easy knowing that a delicious, 5-ingredient meal is waiting for you at home!