15+ Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners For Kids
Finding crockpot recipes that your kids will actually enjoy can be challenging, and even more impossible on some very busy weeknights to get a healthy dinner on the table.
Today I’m sharing the top 15 dump and go crock pot recipes on Pinterest for your lovely little angels that are kid-friendly, easy, and taste amazing, and will definitely make life easier on busy nights.
Trust me, these recipes are going to be your new best friend.
Real quick before we get into this…
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The Best Dump and Go Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken That Wont Give You Watery Sauce
I used to think teriyaki anything from a slow cooker was gonna turn out swimming in that thin, sad sauce.
You know what I’m talking about right? Like soupy chicken that tastes like it gave up halfway through cooking.
This one’s different though.
4 ingredients. Maybe 5 if you wanna throw in garlic and ginger which honestly you should because why not.
You dump everything in, walk away, and come back to chicken that’s falling apart in this thick sticky glaze that actually coats the meat instead of just… sitting there like broth.
The trick is a cornstarch slurry at the end. Sounds fancy but it’s literally two tablespoons of cornstarch whisked into cold water.
Stir it in while the sauce is still bubbling and it thickens up real nice in like ten minutes. Perfect combo for anyone who’s been burned by watery crockpot teriyaki before.
And the broccoli goes in at the very end.
Last 30 minutes only.
I cannot stress this enough because if you toss it in at the start you’re gonna get brown mush and nobody wants that on their plate.
My kids will actually eat the broccoli when it’s still got a little crunch to it, which honestly feels like a parenting win I did not expect on a Friday.
Serve it over white rice with some sesame seeds and green onions on top.
The whole thing takes maybe five minutes of actual hands on work.
The rest is just your crockpot doing its thing while you’re out living your life.
If you’re always looking for dump and go crockpot chicken dinners that don’t taste like you phoned it in, save this one immediately.
Oh and you can freeze it too.
Raw chicken plus sauce in a freezer bag, good for three months.
Thaw overnight then dump. Future you will be so grateful.
Crockpot Ravioli Lasagna That Has No Business Being This Easy
Have you ever wanted lasagna but also wanted to do absolutely nothing? Because same. And this crockpot ravioli lasagna is the answer to that very specific prayer.
You literally just layer stuff. Ravioli, meat sauce, cheese. Ravioli, meat sauce, cheese.
That’s it.
No boiling noodles, no making bechamel, no spending your whole Saturday afternoon in the kitchen feeling like you signed up for a cooking show you did’nt audition for.
The ravioli gets soft and pillowy while it cooks, the cheese goes all gooey and pulls apart in those long stretchy strings.
It’s giving comfort food without the commitment and I’m honestly here for it.
Six hours on low. Four servings.
Perfect for a weeknight when you want something that feels like Sunday dinner but you’ve got maybe three brain cells left after work.
This is what I pull out when my family’s being picky because nobody, and I mean nobody, says no to melted cheese over ravioli.
It’s one of those dump and go crockpot dinners that makes you look like you tried way harder than you did.
Fair warning though. Leftovers dont last long in my house.
This Crockpot French Dip Will Ruin All Other Sandwiches For You
I’m not being dramatic when I say this french dip changed my whole sandwich game.
Like there was before this recipe and theres after it, and I don’t wanna go back.
572 ratings. Almost a perfect five stars. That’s not a fluke, that’s a whole community of people who tried it and went yeah, this is the one.
So heres what happens. You take a 3 to 4 pound beef roast, half an onion, a packet of onion soup mix, some garlic and beef broth.
Everything goes in the crockpot.
Walk away for 8 hours on low. Come back and the beef just falls apart.
Shreds like butter. I’m not exaggerating, you barely have to touch it.
Pile that tender shredded beef onto a toasted hoagie roll, lay two slices of provolone on top and run it under the broiler til the cheese is all bubbly and the bread gets that golden crust.
Then you dip it in the broth.
The dipping part is everything.
That warm, beefy, oniony broth soaking into the bread?
It’s like a hug for your mouth. And if you want the au jus a little thicker you can mix cornstarch with water and stir it in.
Totally optional but kinda nice when you want more of a sauce situation instead of straight broth.
What I love about this is it’s a legit dump and go crockpot beef dinner that feels restaurant quality. Chuck roast works best because it shreds so easy and soaks up all that flavor.
You can even throw a bay leaf in there or a splash of Worcestershire if you’re feeling adventurous.
My auntie does it with a little soy sauce too and honestly it adds this depth that’s hard to explain but once you taste it you’ll get it.
This one freezes beautifully by the way.
Prep it all in a bag, freeze it raw, and just dump it in the crockpot whenever you need dinner to basically make itself.
At 594 calories per serving with 46 grams of protein it’s filling without going overboard.
Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Pasta That Feels Like a Warm Blanket
You know those meals that just make everything feel okay?
Like you walk in the door and the house smells incredible and suddenly the day wasn’t that bad after all? That’s this pasta.
Growing up we always had big one pot meals on Sundays. It was less about the food honestly and more about everybody being in the same room, talking over each other, laughing too loud.
My mom would have something going on the stove for hours and the whole house would just smell like love.
I think about that every time I make something like this.
Carrying it forward in my own kitchen, you know?
Modern version of the same feeling.
The recipe itself is pretty simple in the best way. Beef stew meat, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, heavy cream, some dried herbs.
Everything goes in the slow cooker for 6 to 8 hours on low.
The beef gets so tender you can pull it apart with a fork.
And that sauce, oh my god.
It’s rich and creamy and coats the pasta like it’s been simmering for days.
Cook your penne or fusilli separately about 30 minutes before everything’s done. Stir it into the slow cooker with a cup of parmesan cheese and just let it all meld together.
The cheese melts into the sauce and turns it into this velvety situation that’s almost too good.
I make this on days when I know everyone needs a little extra comfort. Rainy Sundays, rough weeks, first cold snap of the season.
It’s that kind of food.
And if you’re someone who’s always searching for easy crockpot recipes that still feel homemade and special, put this on your list.
Leftovers reheat great too.
Just add a splash of cream or broth when you warm it up so the sauce stays creamy instead of getting thick and clumpy.
The sauce freezes well on its own but cook fresh pasta when you’re ready to eat it again. Trust me on that part.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti That’s Cheesy Gooey and Stupid Easy
Sometimes you just need cheese.
Like an unreasonable amount of melted, bubbly, stretchy cheese on top of pasta and you need it to require zero effort.
That’s this baked ziti and I will not apologize for how often I make it.
It’s classic comfort food but the crockpot version, so you’re not heating up your whole kitchen or babysitting an oven for an hour.
Layer it up, set it, forget about it. Come back to gooey cheesy perfection that tastes like it took way more work than it actually did.
Every single bite has that ratio of pasta to sauce to cheese that’s just right.
Not dry, not soupy.
Just this perfect in between where everything melds together but you can still tell what you’re eating.
My kids go absolutely feral for this one and honestly so do I.
If you’re trying to round out your slow cooker game and you already have the chicken and beef recipes on lock, maybe check out some crockpot pork chop dinners too.
Or if youre watching carbs theres a whole collection of low carb dump and go crockpot dinners that are worth bookmarking.
But for tonight? Make the ziti. You wont regret it.
So yeah. That’s dinner sorted.
Crockpot Chicken Alfredo Tortellini
So if you’re looking for easy crockpot dinners that don’t need you hovering around the kitchen – this one’s it.
Just toss everything in and let it do its thing for like six hours while you’re doing literally anything else.
The chicken gets stupid tender, the tortellini soaks up all that creamy Alfredo situation, and honestly it’s one of those crockpot kid friendly meals where nobody’s gonna complain.
Takes about 6 hours 15 minutes total, feeds four people.
Maybe more if your kids aren’t in that phase where they eat everything in sight.
And here’s the thing – it’s actually rich enough that you don’t need much on the side. Some garlic bread if you’re feeling it.
Steamed broccoli if you wanna pretend you’re being healthy.
Worth it though.
Crockpot Cheesy Ranch Beef Pasta
There’s this comment from someone who made it and she said her browser had like a gazillions tabs open trying to find the right recipe.
I felt that in my soul.
But yeah, this cheesy ranch beef thing is one of those kids friendly crockpot meals that gets requested on repeat.
You brown the ground beef first – takes maybe ten minutes – then everything goes in the pot.
Pasta shells, cream of mushroom soup, ranch packet, beef broth.
Five hours later you’ve got this creamy, cheesy situation that’s basically comfort in a bowl.
The mozzarella and cheddar combo is what makes it. Not just one cheese. Both.
Feeds six people which is good because leftovers the next day? Even better than the first night, honestly.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy
Carla tried this and served it with mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn and cranberry sauce like it was Thanksgiving dinner on a random Wednesday.
That’s the vibe here.
Most people use chicken broth instead of water which – yeah that makes sense.
And the gravy’s a little thin straight outta the pot but that’s kinda perfect if you’re doing it over rice or mashed potatoes cause it soaks right in.
If you want it thicker just hit it with some cornstarch mixed with cold water. Problem solved.
Someone said they cut the chicken into cubes before cooking and it was done way faster.
Good move if you’re in a rush or if your kids are those hangry types who can’t wait.
This is one of those easy crockpot kid friendly recipes where you literally dump cream of chicken soup, cream of mushroom soup, ranch and gravy packets over chicken breasts.
That’s it.
Six to eight hours on low and dinner’s handled.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Okay so not everything has to cook all day in the crockpot right? Sometimes you just need something fast on the stove.
This homemade version is way better than the box stuff. Like, way better.
You brown your ground beef with onions and garlic, add the pasta right into the pan with some broth and let it soak everything up while it cooks.
Then you stir in heavy cream and a stupid amount of cheese.
One person said the noodles turned out hard so they added extra broth during cooking. Another said they used half the cheese cause two cups felt like a lot.
Both fair adjustments depending on your family.
Kids devour this. Even the picky toddlers who normally pick apart their food.
And if you’re someone who’s been teaching yourself how to cook for like eight years and it still doesn’t come naturally – I see you.
This might not be the easiest recipe if you’re still figuring things out.
But if you’re comfortable with stovetop meals this one’s solid.
Crock Pot Cheesesteak Tortellini
All the Philly cheesesteak flavors but in pasta form with cheese tortellini. Which sounds kinda weird til you try it and then you’re like oh okay this makes total sense.
You’ve got beef, peppers, onions, mushrooms cooking in beef broth for hours til everything’s tender.
Then at the end you add frozen or fresh tortellini, cream cheese, and mozzarella. Stir it all together and let it hang out for like 15 more minutes.
Someone made it on the stovetop instead and said it was amazing.
Another person said it came out great and they’re definitely making it again. Pretty good track record for a recipe that’s essentially dump and walk away.
This is one of those crockpot recipes for kids where the veggies are cooked down enough that even veggie-haters won’t pick em out. They just blend into the whole thing.
Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta
Sometimes you just want garlic. Like, a lot of garlic.
This one’s got four cloves going in with the chicken, plus Italian seasoning and that whole creamy Parmesan situation.
Chicken breasts cook in chicken broth for like six hours then you shred em up, add heavy cream and grated Parmesan, toss in some cooked pasta.
Honestly the smell while this is cooking is enough to make you wanna stand by the crockpot and just wait.
It’s gluten free if you use gluten free pasta which is cool if that matters to your family.
And it feeds four people but let’s be real, if you’ve got teenagers that might only stretch to three servings cause they’re gonna want seconds.
Fresh parsley at the end makes it look fancy even though you did basically nothing.
Crockpot Chicken Enchiladas Casserole
You know those mornings when you’re barely functional but you gotta get dinner sorted before you leave the house?
This is that recipe.
Chicken breasts or thighs go in the crockpot with enchilada sauce, fire roasted tomatoes, green chiles, and a taco seasoning packet.
That’s it for the morning part. Set it on low and forget about it for eight hours.
When you get home you shred the chicken right in the pot, add black beans, frozen corn, shredded cheese, and torn up corn tortillas.
Give it like 30 more minutes to get everything melty and mixed together.
Gluten free if you use gluten free tortillas and seasoning. Feeds eight people which means you might actually have leftovers for once.
This is one of those dinner recipes crockpot style where the longer it sits the better it gets cause all those flavors just keep hanging out together.
Crockpot Pizza Casserole
What if pizza was a pasta casserole though.
That’s basically what this is and kids lose their minds over it.
You’ve got pasta, marinara sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, and mozzarella all cooking together in the crockpot.
Whatever pizza toppings your family likes you can throw in there – mushrooms, olives, bell peppers, whatever.
The cheese gets all melty and gooey on top.
The pepperoni gets kinda crispy around the edges if you’re lucky.
And it’s one of those kids favorite crockpot meals where they’ll actually eat it without 20 minutes of negotiation first.
Good for game days too if you’re having people over and need something that feeds a crowd without much effort.
Easy Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
Okay hear me out on this one.
Frozen meatballs are not cheating they’re just smart.
This recipe uses a bag of frozen meatballs so you skip the whole rolling and browning situation.
They go straight into the crockpot with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and a bunch of spices including allspice and nutmeg which sounds fancy but you probably already have em.
At the end you make a roux on the stove with butter and flour, add some of the cooking liquid and heavy cream, then pour it back over the meatballs.
Serve it over egg noodles and suddenly you’ve got this whole cozy Swedish vibe happening even though it took minimal effort.
This is comfort food that doesn’t require you to actually do much comforting of anyone cause it handles itself.
Just one of those easy yummy crockpot meals where the crockpot does most of the work.
Easy Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Pasta
Someone said their kids absolutely loved this and their husband asks for it on repeat. That’s the review you wanna see right?
Chicken breasts cook with ranch seasoning and garlic in chicken broth.
When it’s done you shred the chicken, add uncooked pasta right into the crockpot along with cream cheese and milk. Let it sit til the pasta’s tender and the sauce gets all creamy.
One person mentioned they weren’t sure how angel hair pasta would cook in the crockpot so they boiled the liquid separately and added water to the chicken and pasta to loosen it up.
Smart move if you’re worried about the noodles.
Another added red pepper flakes cause her family likes spice.
And if you need something quick to throw together before work this one’s real simple – just dump everything in and you’re good.
These recipes are definitely a lifesaver for busy parents because serving healthy meals now becomes much more manageable.
Preparing satisfying, flavorful meals should never be time-consuming or complicated.
These are the recipes busy families come back to again and again.
Let me know what you think! I look forward to reading your comments and emails.
