What Is A Dump Dinner, Exactly?

When you hear "dump dinner," you may be transported back in time to one of mom's goulashes, casseroles, or even a frozen tray heaped from microwave to plate. As uninspired as the name sounds, "dump dinner" is more congenially defined as a "dump and go" dinner. These concoctions are far from dumpy. Instead, the modern day "dump and go" dinner consists of combining ingredients into a Crock-Pot, Instant Pot, baking pan, or grill, and letting your cooking vessel of choice complete your work — the hack for a quick and convenient meal (with leftovers). Dump your food, then carry on!

Let technology be your kitchen assistant. Throwing items into one vessel may sound haphazard, but with a little strategizing, you may find the spoils are well worth some groundwork. Whether you're looking to simplify your weekly meal planning or save time on busy weeknights, researching cook times of meat and vegetable mixes can save you loads of time and stress. A little homework can lead to efficiency and ease, as well as a home-cooked meal that may become not only a time saver, but a life saver for those on the go.

"Dump dinner" options range from white chicken chili to lasagna. Pick your favorite or most convenient method of cooking, and start there. Slow cookers are the perfect tool for kitchen novices, busy bees, and the "dump and go" method. Plus, there are tons of slow cooker recipes out there that will keep you busy for months of mouth-watering inspiration. Instant Pots, with the capacity to cook rice, are ideal for "dump and go" casseroles. Don't have any of the aforementioned, new-fangled kitchen gadgets? A classic baking sheet can act as your "dump dinner" platform. No need to be down in the dumps over dinner. 

Learning vegetable cook times will give you a leg up and avoid mushy, overcooked results. Fresh beets, squash, and cabbage are long roast vegetables that bake for 30-35 minutes. Mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, and onions generally take 20-25 minutes of roasting. Carrots, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and small potatoes are also medium roast vegetables, but take a little longer at 25-30 minutes. Need dinner in a flash? Short roast vegetables include zucchini, bell peppers, and asparagus that cook in 10-15 minutes. Being aware of these cook times can guide your partnering choices.

Sausage lends itself well to "dump dinners" on the grill or single pan dishes. It often comes precooked, allowing for flexible reheating with short roast veggies. Chicken breasts of 5-7 ounces take 21-26 minutes to cook, so coupling cutlets with Brussels sprouts and small potatoes produces a bountiful sheet pan or grill recipe base. Dump and bake coconut tofu will make a breeze of a vegan meal. Seafood boils are also considered "dump and go", although you do need to add ingredients at different times; consider it the final boss of the "dump dinner" game.  

Best of all, "dump bags" can be made ahead of time and frozen for later use to increase efficiency for future you. Beef curry, sweet and sour chicken, and Bolognese can all be freezer bagged and thrown into a slow cooker. No time to gather ingredients or research cook times? Sometimes life comes at you fast, leaving you with your freezer's stockpile as your only edible resource. Toss frozen protein and vegetables into a slow cooker or Instant Pot, kick your feet up, and pat yourself on the back for having a delicious, healthy meal in your back pocket — or, rather, on your dinner table.