Dump dinners have become an increasingly popular way for busy families to get a nutritious homemade meal on the table quickly and easily. But what exactly is a dump dinner and how does it work?
What is a Dump Dinner?
A dump dinner, also sometimes called a dump and go meal, is a meal where you dump all the ingredients into a slow cooker, instant pot, or oven and let it cook until done. The term “dump” refers to quickly adding or dumping the ingredients into the cooking vessel without a lot of complex prep work.
Dump dinners are designed to be simple, budget-friendly meals that require minimal hands-on time in the kitchen. All you have to do is gather your ingredients, prepare them as needed (chopping vegetables, browning meat, etc.), dump everything into your slow cooker or instant pot, and let it cook while you go about your day. The long, slow cooking time tenderizes meats and melds flavors together into a delicious finished dish.
Benefits of Dump Dinners
There are many reasons why dump dinners have become so popular among home cooks:
- They save time – Dump dinners require very little active cooking time. Just toss in the ingredients and let your slow cooker or instant pot do the work.
- They’re budget friendly – Dump dinners are typically made with inexpensive ingredients like beans, lentils, chicken thighs, chuck roast, and vegetables.
- They’re family-friendly – Kids love meals that are slowly simmered until fall-apart tender and full of flavor.
- They make weeknight meals easy – Dump everything in in the morning before work or school and dinner is ready when you get home.
- One-pot cooking means less cleanup – With just the insert of your slow cooker or instant pot to wash, cleanup is a breeze.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get dinner on the table quickly during busy weeknights, dump dinners are the perfect solution for your family.
How to Make a Dump Dinner
Making a dump dinner is simple. Just follow these steps:
- Choose a recipe – Find a tasty dump dinner recipe for your slow cooker, instant pot, or oven. Good options include stews, chilis, stuffed peppers, casseroles and one-pot meals.
- Prep the ingredients – Wash, peel, chop or trim vegetables and meats as needed so they are ready to toss into your cooker.
- Brown any meats – For better flavor you’ll want to brown ground meats or chicken before adding to the slow cooker or instant pot.
- Add seasonings and liquid – Flavor your dish with herbs, spices, broth, or sauce.
- Dump ingredients into cooker and stir – Add prepared ingredients to slow cooker or instant pot and give a quick stir to combine.
- Cook on low/high – Set your cooker to low or high heat, attach the lid, and let it cook hands-free for 3-8 hours.
- Serve when done – Once cooked through, dish it out into bowls and enjoy your comforting one-pot meal!
That’s really all there is to it. Let your slow cooker, instant pot, or oven do the hard work while you go about your day. Come meal time you’ll open the lid to a hearty ready-to-eat family meal.
Tips for Dump Dinner Success
Follow these tips and tricks to get the most out of your dump dinners:
- Prep ahead – Take time on your grocery shopping day or the night before to wash and chop ingredients so they are ready to toss in.
- Don’t peek – Lifting the lid prolongs cook times. Resist the urge to check it or stir more than once.
- Layer ingredients – Place vegetables and potatoes on the bottom since they take longer to cook than meat.
- Use flavorful liquids – Chicken or vegetable broth and wine add lots of flavor.
- Brown meats – Browning beef or chicken before adding to the cooker boosts flavor.
- Thicken as needed – If the finished dish is thinner than you like, mix a little cornstarch with water and stir in at the end to thicken.
10 Popular Dump Dinner Recipes
Need some dump dinner inspiration? Here are 10 of the most popular and easy dump dinner recipes:
| Recipe | Prep Time | Total Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Pot Roast | 10 mins | 8 hours |
| Beef Stroganoff | 15 mins | 6-8 hours |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup | 10 mins | 4-6 hours |
| Chicken Parmesan Casserole | 15 mins | 4 hours |
| Salsa Verde Chicken Tacos | 10 mins | 4-6 hours |
| Lazy Lasagna | 15 mins | 4 hours |
| Cranberry Apple Pork Roast | 10 mins | 8 hours |
| Hawaiian Meatballs | 10 mins | 3-4 hours |
| Vegetarian Chili | 15 mins | 6-8 hours |
| Ranch Chicken Tacos | 10 mins | 3-4 hours |
Dump Dinner Grocery List
To be prepared to make quick and easy dump dinners, stock up on these ingredients:
Proteins
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Pork chops or roast
- Stew meat or beef cubes
- Ground beef or turkey
- Sausage (Italian, kielbasa, etc.)
- Diced ham
- Canned beans (pinto, black, kidney, etc.)
- Lentils
Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Onions
- Frozen mixed veggies
- Canned tomatoes
- Frozen spinach
- Canned corn
Seasonings
- Chicken, beef or vegetable broth/stock
- Canned diced tomatoes
- Tomato sauce or pasta sauce
- Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce
- Garlic
- Onion powder
- Dried herbs – basil, oregano, thyme
- Chili powder
- Cumin
- Pepper
Plus oils, salt, pepper and any other favorite herbs and spices to customize the flavor.
Slow Cooker vs Instant Pot for Dump Dinners
You can make dump dinners in either a slow cooker or an instant pot. Here is a comparison:
| Slow Cooker | Instant Pot | |
|---|---|---|
| Cook time | 6-8 hours on low | 30-60 mins under pressure |
| Convenience | Completely hands-off | Needs monitoring while coming to pressure |
| Flavor | Long cook times meld flavors | Shorter time means less flavor melding |
| Texture | Very tender and soft | Still tender but retains some bite |
| Safety | Low risk – food never reaches boiling temp | Must follow proper pressure cooking guidelines |
The slow cooker is truly “dump and go” while the instant pot requires monitoring during the pressure cooking cycle. However, the instant pot cooks foods much more quickly.
Conclusion
Dump dinners are the busy home cook’s best friend when it comes to getting dinner on the table. Their ease and convenience make home-cooked meals completely achievable on your busiest nights. Simply take a few minutes to prep your ingredients, dump them in your slow cooker or instant pot, and walk away until dinner is ready. With minimal hands-on time and delicious results, dump dinners are sure to become weeknight regulars in your family!