Some nights you have time to chop, sauté, and layer flavors like a chef. But most nights? You just need dinner to cook itself while you get through work, homework, and after-school chaos. That’s where dump and go slow cooker meals shine — toss in a few simple ingredients in the morning, turn it on, and come home to a hot, hearty dinner that’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and completely stress-free.

1. Salsa Chicken

Dump chicken breasts, salsa, and taco seasoning (GF) into the slow cooker. Shred and serve over rice or in GF tortillas.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa (GF)
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1. Place chicken in slow cooker.
2. Pour salsa over chicken and sprinkle with spices.
3. Cover and cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
4. Shred chicken with forks and serve over rice or in GF tortillas.

2. Beef & Sweet Potato Stew

Beef stew meat, cubed sweet potatoes, carrots, onion, beef broth, and herbs.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs beef stew meat
• 2 cups cubed sweet potatoes
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth (GF)
• 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp rosemary
• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on low 8 hours or high 4–5 hours, until beef and vegetables are tender.

3. BBQ Pulled Pork

Pork shoulder, BBQ sauce (check GF/DF), and sliced onions. Serve on GF buns or baked potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 cup GF BBQ sauce
• 1 onion, sliced

Instructions:

1. Place pork in slow cooker, top with onion and BBQ sauce.
2. Cover and cook on low 8–10 hours or high 4–6 hours.
3. Shred pork and toss with sauce. Serve on GF buns or baked potatoes.

4. Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Chicken breasts, mixed vegetables, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, and seasonings.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 3 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, peas, green beans)
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 4 cups chicken broth (GF)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
3. Remove chicken, shred, and return to soup. Serve hot.

5. Teriyaki Chicken

Chicken thighs, GF teriyaki sauce, pineapple chunks, and bell peppers.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup GF teriyaki sauce
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1 bell pepper, sliced

Instructions:

1. Place chicken, pineapple, and bell pepper in slow cooker.
2. Pour teriyaki sauce on top.
3. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
4. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice.

6. Turkey Chili

Ground turkey, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes, chili powder, and cumin.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 tsp chili powder, 1 tsp cumin

Instructions:

1. Brown ground turkey in a pan (optional, adds flavor).
2. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
3. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.

7. Lemon Garlic Chicken

Chicken thighs, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and Italian seasoning.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
3. Serve with rice or roasted vegetables.

8. Beef Barbacoa

Beef chuck roast, GF beef broth, chipotle peppers in adobo (check label), garlic, cumin, and oregano.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 1/2 cup beef broth (GF)
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp oregano

Instructions:

1. Place beef in slow cooker, add remaining ingredients.
2. Cook on low 8–10 hours or high 4–6 hours.
3. Shred beef and serve with rice or tacos.

9. White Chicken Chili

Chicken breasts, great northern beans, green chiles, onion, chicken broth, and spices. Serve with avocado on top.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 can great northern beans, drained
• 1 can green chiles
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 cups chicken broth (GF)
• 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp chili powder

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
3. Shred chicken before serving. Top with avocado slices.

10. Coconut Curry Chicken

Chicken thighs, coconut milk, curry powder, diced potatoes, and peas.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 2 potatoes, diced
• 1 cup peas

Instructions:

1. Add chicken, coconut milk, curry powder, and potatoes to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
3. Stir in peas last 30 minutes. Serve over rice.

11. Italian Chicken

Chicken breasts, GF Italian dressing, and sliced bell peppers. Serve with GF pasta or zucchini noodles.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup GF Italian dressing
• 1 bell pepper, sliced

Instructions:

1. Place chicken and bell pepper in slow cooker.
2. Pour dressing over top.
3. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours. Serve with GF pasta.

12. Pot Roast with Veggies

Beef chuck roast, carrots, potatoes, onion, and GF beef broth.

Ingredients:

• 2–3 lbs beef chuck roast
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 3 potatoes, cubed
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth (GF)

Instructions:

1. Place roast and veggies in slow cooker.
2. Pour broth over top.
3. Cook on low 8–10 hours or high 5–6 hours.

13. Honey Garlic Chicken

Chicken thighs, honey, garlic, GF soy sauce or coconut aminos, and sesame seeds.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup GF soy sauce or coconut aminos

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours.
3. Serve with rice or veggies.

14. Shredded Beef w/Taco Seasoning

Beef chuck roast, salsa, taco seasoning (GF), and green chiles.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck roast
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can green chiles
• 2 tsp taco seasoning (GF)

Instructions:

1. Place beef, salsa, chiles, and seasoning in slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 8–10 hours or high 4–6 hours.
3. Shred beef and serve with rice or GF tortillas.

15. Chicken & Rice Soup

Chicken breasts, uncooked brown rice, celery, carrots, onion, and chicken broth.

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup uncooked brown rice
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth (GF)

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
2. Cook on low 6–7 hours or high 3–4 hours, until rice and chicken are fully cooked.
3. Shred chicken before serving.