There are days when I don't need dinner to impress me. I need it to take charge. Tell me to throw everything in the crockpot, walk away, and come back when it's handled. No stirring, no checking three pans, and absolutely no asking me what's for dinner at 5 p.m.
These 19 dump-and-go crockpot meals are what I make when I've used up my decision-making for the day and need something warm, comforting, and capable of looking after me for a change.
Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice
There is no need to worry if your kitchen pantry looks incredibly bare tonight. You just throw five simple ingredients into your pot to get a hot, cheesy dinner without leaving the house.
Get the Recipe: Easy 5-ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
You can skip the extra step of boiling a separate pot of water for your pasta. The dry noodles cook right in the creamy cheese sauce, so all your prep and cleanup stays in one pan.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Spaghetti
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
I rarely have the energy to sear meat or whisk homemade gravy after a long, exhausting workday. This recipe relies on a packet of onion soup mix to make the beef tender while you relax.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
Standing at the stove to brown onions for an hour sounds like a chore when you are tired. You can just let frozen meatballs simmer in sweet onion gravy and enjoy the deep soup flavor later.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs
Slow Cooker Chicken a la King
You should grab yesterday's leftover chicken to build a creamy, retro dinner in under fifteen minutes. This comforting classic slowly bubbles into a velvety vegetable sauce while you focus on relaxing after a hard day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken a la King
Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup
Rolling individual leaves is a project for a quiet weekend rather than a hectic, busy weeknight. You get those exact traditional comfort flavors by tossing your browned meat and chopped cabbage straight into the pot.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup
Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder
I love making a double batch so I do not have to think about cooking lunch tomorrow. The sweet corn and chicken breast turn into a rich, thick soup with almost no hands-on time in the kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder
Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup
Please do not waste your evening peeling a giant, heavy bag of potatoes when you are exhausted. Frozen hash browns and a packet of ranch seasoning help you build a creamy bowl with fast prep.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Crack Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
Walking through your front door to a hot, finished meal is the best feeling in the world. The long, gentle simmer lets the beef and vegetables meld together beautifully without any checking or stirring.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Soup
Mississippi Chicken Recipe
You only need a few simple pantry items to make a flavorful dinner that practically cooks itself. The chicken simmers with ranch seasoning and tangy peppers until the juicy meat is ready to shred for rolls.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Chicken Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup
You can bypass the splattering grease of a hot skillet by throwing your fajita ingredients into a broth. The peppers and spices simmer together until the chicken is tender enough to pull apart with forks.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs
I love letting my slow cooker handle dinner when my kids are asking for smoky summer barbecue. These juicy drumsticks coat themselves in a sticky, sweet sauce that makes the meat fall off the bone.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs
Slow Cooker Lentil and Carrot Soup
Ignoring your stove for the entire afternoon is my favorite way to handle a busy weeknight. The brown lentils spend the day soaking up spices and tomatoes without needing a single stir from your spoon.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lentil and Carrot Soup
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
You do not need expensive ingredients to make your regular chicken routine feel exciting and new. Budget-friendly chicken thighs soften beautifully when they cook slowly in a bold, smoky Caribbean spice blend.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
You can easily skip the expensive restaurant bill and eat a high-end meal in your favorite sweatpants. Earthy mushrooms and sweet wine simmer quietly to give you rich flavors with zero kitchen stress or mess.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala
Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
These rich ribs get so tender after a long cook that they melt right off the bone. This savory sauce is my favorite comfort food to spoon over hot pasta when the weather starts turning chilly.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Short Rib Ragu
Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup
I always save my leftover holiday turkey to make a cozy pot of soup on stressful days. The soft rice and slow-cooked vegetables simmer into a comforting bowl that requires only ten minutes of prep.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey and Rice Soup
Slow Cooker Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup
You can officially leave your heavy cutting board in the cupboard because this soup requires zero chopping. Frozen potatoes and broccoli melt into a cheesy, warming bowl with almost no physical effort on your part.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Broccoli Potato Soup
Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting when standing over a hot stove sounds terrible. Thin flank steak absorbs a sweet ginger glaze and thickens up beautifully into a simple, takeout-style meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef
Pick the one that asks the least of you today. I think dinner can take it from here.
