Summer is warm and it is the time when you really want to be enjoying the outdoors. Enjoying the warm weather and summer events with the family not stuck indoors cooking endless meals for everyone. That’s why I love dump and go crockpot meals.
Who wants to stand over the stove and cook dinner when you could be outside enjoying more time with the family?
With dump and go slow cooker recipes you can set up dinner in the morning before you start the day, let it do its thing while you are out, and it is done by the time everyone is ready to eat. Dump and go recipes are simple, easy, and you get a delicious meal without all of the work.
These dump and go summer crockpot dinners are the easiest of meals that you can just throw in the slow cooker and have dinner on the table without any work.
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Your crockpot Is Your Secret Weapon
Let’s just confirm the language. A crockpot is also called a slow cooker. They are exactly the same, just called differently in different countries.
Tasty dump and go crockpot meals are tasty dump and go slow cooker meals. No difference. Same as ground beef (US) is beef mince in the UK.
Slow cookers are my secret weapon for easy dinner prep! They make it possible to prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal with minimal effort.
The best part is that you prep a meal in the morning when your energy levels are high, leave the slow cooker to do it’s work while you’re at work all day or running around after kids and other errands.
You come back to find perfectly cooked cheap dinners waiting right there ready for you exactly when you want them.
Slow cookers have become one of my favorite kitchen tools over the years; not only do they allow me to save so much time preparing our meals before going off into work every morning but also create excellent meals with minimum effort.
I have this
You don’t need a large slow cooker like mine but believe me, you can do so much more with a large one. I cook whole chickens in mine and make stock with the bones straight after.
Best Slow Cookers/Crock Pots For One Pot Meals
Slow Cookers (or Crock Pots) are the perfect tool for many of the tastiest one pot meals. Dump your ingredients in, go to work and come back to a tasty dinner.
These are some of the best slow cookers you can get. Choose the one that suits your family best.
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer
A 6 quart cock pot with digital timer and keep warm function. With a locking lid this is perfect for cooking at home and taking someplace else.
Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker with Dishwasher-Safe Stoneware Crock & Lid
A smaller 4 quart round slow cooker perfect for one family meal or a two person batch cooking session. No clearing up with dishwasher safe inner pot and lid.
Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Cooker, 6 Quart, 16 One-Touch Programs
This 10 in 1 pot cooks everything you'll every want in just one pot. A pricier option but perfect for smaller kitchens and those who prefer multi use tools.
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker
This lovely red slow cooker has carry handles and a locking lid for easy moving. Plus who wouldn't want this stylish pot on their counter top?
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What Cannot Be Cooked In A Slow Cooker?
Although you can cook most things in a slow cooker, there are a few things best left out. Dairy products can end up separating after long, slow cooking. Soft veggies don’t do well either because long cooking renders them into a mush which is not appealing in a meal. Although potentially perfect if you are wanting to cook soup!
Is it OK to leave a slow cooker on and go out?
Slow cookers are designed to cook food long and slow. As long as you follow the manufacturers safety guidelines then it will be okay to leave your slow cooker on while you go out. If in doubt, check the FAQs of your cooker’s manufacturer. Here’s the FAQs for Crock-Pot which you may find helpful.
Can you just throw everything into a slow cooker?
One of the best things about slow cookers is the fact that you really can just throw everything into it and still have a tasty meal a few hours later. Some recipes require a little prep before you throw everything in but many recipes require no prep at all. That’s the beauty of dump and go recipes, you dump them in and go about your day.
Cook Once Eat Twice With batch cooking
Every recipe can be doubled or tripled depending on how many people you are feeding. But the size of your recipe can also be increased in order for you to make more than one meal.
The term batch cooking makes it sound like you are cooking great vats of each recipe, but really, you decide on the bulk. I often cook a double batch of a recipe so we can eat it that day and have it again another day.
Most meals can be frozen, if not then it will last in the fridge for a few days, perfect for getting a meal on the table within 15 minutes of arriving home late.
17 dump and go Crockpot recipes perfect for summer
These dump and go slow cooker recipes are perfect for those busy summer days when you just need to throw a bunch of stuff in the crockpot and not think about it until dinner! Slow cooker dinners are taste just as delicious as any other dinner but with half the work.
The whole family will love these yummy and tasty no preparation slow cooker recipes. Plus, you will love how easy and fast prepping and cleaning up is!
If you are craving an easy to make dessert then check out my post on easy dump cake recipes. Tasty, fast and so easy!
Pulled Pork with Sparkling Cider
Pulled pork is so much nicer when it’s made in a crockpot. Moist and tender this pulled pork is a delicious dinner idea that only takes a few ingredients. Made with sparkling cider and so simple, it makes some seriously tasty sandwiches the whole family can enjoy.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Creamy and comforting, this slow cooker butter chicken is perfect for any season and is filling. I love that it’s spicy without being spicy hot. This is one of those super easy slow cooker recipes you will end up making time and again. Tasty moist chicken in a creamy and comforting sauce that works well with rice or naan bread or even a side salad.
Beef Broccoli
Throw some broccoli, stew meat, peppers, and other goodies into the crockpot until the meat is tender for a delicious and easy summer weeknight crockpot meal. I love that you can use frozen broccoli and not even bother thawing it first. My kind of simple recipe!
Hawaiian Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Bring some summer flavor to your slow cooker dinner with this tasty Hawaiian slow cooker pork chop recipe. Serve with rice and you have an easy summer dinner. Some people aren’t keen on pineapple in a savory dish, but I love it, the original sweet and sour taste.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
A great budget-friendly super easy slow cooker recipe using chicken thighs for low cost and high taste. Slow cook the chicken until it’s nice and juicy and then serve it in tacos, burritos or just enjoy it with some rice. And of course if you’re in the UK like me, think fresh coriander not cilantro!
For more cheap chicken recipes check out my post on the best cheap chicken dinners on a budget.
Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches
Full of flavor and slow cooked until the meat is tender, these French dip sandwiches can be dipped in the homemade au jus sauce for an unforgettable meal. Summer time meals need to keep your house cool, these amazing sandwiches will tantalize your taste buds while keeping the house cool!
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
The perfect dump and go summer recipe. Just dump everything into your crockpot and leave it to work it’s magic. Who doesn’t love a good sloppy joe sandwich combined with veggies or fries? This easy slow cooker recipe will make an easy summer dinner even the kids will love. Sloppy Joes are one of my favorite recipes that I have adopted from the US. So tasty and simple!
If your budget is tight, you’ll love my cheap ground beef recipes, budget friendly and scrummy!
Pineapple BBQ Glazed Drumsticks
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy drumsticks and this recipe combines the flavor of pineapple and BBQ for a delicious meal that’s easy to make. Chicken drumsticks are really cheap and full of taste, perfect for when you are feeling broke but still need to feed the family.
Hawaiian Ribs
Another Hawaiian flavored dish that you can set n’ go and let the crockpot do all the work, these ribs are full of flavor. When you want melt in the mouth ribs, you want them to be slow cooked and what better way to do it then in your slow cooker? Flavorsome and fall off the bone ribs is the result.
Keto Taco Casserole
Turn Taco Tuesday into something a little different with this easy crockpot taco casserole that’s keto friendly and easy to make. It’s rich, filling and hearty without the potential bloat from too many carbs. This is a gorgeous spicy recipe, for a milder version reduce the green chilis and add sour cream to your bowl.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Pasta
Pasta is a filling meal so after a fun day of play, you can come home and enjoy this Tuscan chicken dish with the whole family. This one pot meal is very budget-friendly (my perfect meal these days) and so easy to make. Cheap and easy? The perfect combination and of course it’s super tasty too.
Italian Garlic Chicken
Moist garlic chicken is slow cooked in the crockpot until tender and juicy. Enjoy the chicken with a side of veggies for a tasty summer meal. A great recipe using cheap chicken legs and I love that she removes the skin before cooking so no need to crisp them up before you eat. Seasoned fall off the bone chicken, perfect for a summer meal in the garden,
Gyro Rice Bowls
Made with a homemade tzatziki sauce, these gyro rice bowls are an easy summer meal that everyone in the family can enjoy. Shredded lamb with tzatziki sauce is my idea of heaven, nver mind the 4 servings this makes, I could keep the whole lot for myself. Perfect for a hot summers day, any day of the week.
Crockpot Ranch Pork Chops
Cooked until perfectly satisfying, these ranch pork chops are tender and moist making them perfect for any night of the week. An exceptionally easy 4-ingredient dump meal, grab your ingredients, dump them in and you’re done. Salad or sides will make this a complete meal in minutes.
Related post: 100+ cheap, fast easy recipes with few Ingredients (5 Or Less!)
Applesauce Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
Spiced applesauce barbecue sauce is the secret ingredient to this easy summer slow cooker dish that you can set and go. Gorgeous taste and so simple to make. Dump all the ingredients in your crockpot and go about your day. exactly what you need for busy days and nights.
Crockpot Baked Ziti
This is classic comfort food that can be enjoyed during the summer! Everyone will love this delicious baked ziti dish. It’s only recently that I found out you can cook pasta in a slow cooker and it not turn to mush! This baked ziti (or penne or any other pasta you have to hand) tastes a-mazing! It’s the cheese, cheese and more cheese that does it.
Fancy a meatless meal? Check out these posts:
21 budget meatless meals to save money
20 Easy Cheap Vegan Recipes Everyone Will Devour
Slow Cooker Sausage with Apples and Fennel
It wouldn’t be summer without making this slow cooker sausage with apples and fennel! An easy recipe that you can enjoy during the summer. Sausages and apples are such a tasty combination. The recipe suggests broiling the sausages first, I’m lazy and just dumped them in, it’s the taste that counts for me!
Tasty dump and go crockpot meals for summer that you’ll make time and again
Summer dump and go crockpot meals are a great way to take back your time and save money. Especially when it’s too hot to be stuck in the kitchen with a hot oven on the go.
Dump meals mean you choose the ingredients and recipes and dump them in your crockpot instead of paying someone else to buy and make the dinner for you.
Plus, not only is it easy on your wallet but also on your mind – with minimal prep work needed before heading out for the day or evening! So what’s stopping you from trying these easy soup recipes?
Want more slow cooker recipes? Check these posts out:
15 Slow Cooker Dinner Recipes For Busy Days
20 Super Easy Slow Cooker Soup Recipes
20 Easy Slow Cooker Dessert Recipes
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Last Updated on 4th June 2022 by Emma
