7 Slow Cooker Freezer Kits (The Safe Way to Do Dump Dinners)
Prep seven slow cooker dinners into freezer bags in an hour, then thaw overnight and cook. Includes the step most dump-dinner recipes skip.
"Dump dinners" are popular for a reason: you put raw ingredients in a bag, freeze it, and later tip it into the slow cooker. It is a great system with one important change.
Thaw the kit first
The USDA says to always thaw meat and poultry before it goes into a slow cooker. A slow cooker heats gradually, and frozen meat can spend too long in the temperature danger zone. So move tomorrow's kit from the freezer to the fridge the night before (set it in a bowl in case it leaks), then dump and cook in the morning.
Packing a kit
- Label each gallon bag with the name, date, cook time and anything to add later (such as cream or cheese).
- Lay bags flat to freeze; they thaw faster overnight.
- Most kits keep their best quality for about 3 months in the freezer.
Turning a regular recipe into a slow cooker one? Use our slow cooker time converter.
Salsa chicken
- 2 pounds boneless chicken thighs
- 1 1/2 cups salsa
- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans
- 1 cup corn
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
Cook the thawed kit on Low 4 to 6 hours to 165°F. Shred for tacos or bowls.
Honey garlic chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 cups broccoli (add at the end)
Cook on Low 4 to 5 hours, thicken the sauce with cornstarch and add the broccoli for the last 20 minutes.
Beef stew
- 2 pounds beef chuck, cubed
- 1 1/2 pounds potatoes
- 4 carrots
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 cups beef broth (add on the day)
Put the vegetables in the bottom, then the beef. Add the broth and cook on Low 8 hours.
Pulled pork
- 3 pounds pork shoulder
- 1 onion
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- Barbecue sauce (on the day)
Cook on Low 8 to 10 hours until it shreds, then toss with sauce.
White chicken chili
- 2 pounds chicken breasts
- 2 (15-ounce) cans white beans
- 1 (4-ounce) can green chiles
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 4 cups broth and 4 ounces cream cheese (on the day)
Cook on Low 6 hours, shred the chicken and stir in the cream cheese.
Italian sausage and peppers
- 2 pounds Italian sausage
- 3 bell peppers
- 1 onion
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara
Cook on Low 6 hours, until the sausage reaches 160°F. Serve on rolls or pasta.
Vegetable lentil soup
- 1 1/2 cups lentils
- 2 carrots
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 onion
- 1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 6 cups broth (on the day)
Cook on Low 7 to 8 hours. A good meatless kit.
Questions, answered
Can you put frozen meat in a slow cooker?
No. The USDA says to always thaw meat and poultry before slow cooking, so it does not stay too long at unsafe temperatures. Thaw freezer kits in the fridge overnight.
How long do slow cooker freezer meals last?
They stay safe frozen, but for best quality use them within about 3 months.
Should I add liquid to a dump dinner?
Usually a little: slow cookers lose very little moisture, so most kits need only a cup or so of broth or sauce. Add dairy such as cream or cheese at the end.
