Oh, you know those nights? The ones where you walk in the door, arms full of groceries, and your brain just *refuses* to think about complicated cooking? Yeah, me too. That’s exactly why I adore dump and go crockpot dinners easy. They’re like a little culinary magic trick! This Easy Dump and Go Teriyaki Chicken is one of my absolute saves for those whirlwind evenings. You literally just toss everything in, and let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting. My grandmother used to say good food shouldn’t be a chore, and this recipe is proof of that – maximum flavor, minimal fuss!
Why You’ll Love These Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners Easy
Seriously, just dump and go! Prep time is practically zero. Busy weeknights? This recipe practically cooks itself. The flavors are amazing – sweet, savory, and totally satisfying. Perfect for feeding the whole family. Minimal cleanup is a huge win, right? Great for meal prepping lunches for the week, too!
Ingredients for Your Easy Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners
Here’s what you’ll need to whip up this super simple teriyaki chicken. It’s all about grabbing what you need and tossing it in!
- About 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs – they stay so nice and tender in the slow cooker!
- 1 cup of your favorite teriyaki sauce.
- 1/4 cup of soy sauce.
- 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, for that touch of sweetness.
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, to help thicken things up.
- 1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger – it just adds that zing!
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced nice and fine.
- About 1/2 cup of pineapple chunks, make sure they’re drained.
- And finally, 1/4 cup of chopped green onions for a fresh finish.
How to Make Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners: Easy Teriyaki Chicken
Okay, let’s get this show on the road! Making this really is as simple as it sounds. That’s the beauty of dump and go crockpot dinners, right? You just have to trust the process. It’s honestly one of my go-to recipes when I need a win without a lot of fuss. If you’re as big a fan of chicken thighs as I am, you’ll want to check out these boneless, skinless chicken thigh recipes too!
Step 1: Prepare Your Crockpot
First things first, grab your slow cooker. I usually use my trusty 6-quart one for this recipe. Just lay those boneless, skinless chicken thighs right into the bottom of the pot. Make sure they’re in a single layer if you can!
Step 2: Mix the Teriyaki Sauce
Grab a medium bowl and whisk together the teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, grated ginger, and minced garlic. Make sure you get it all mixed really well, especially the cornstarch, so you don’t get any clumps later on.
Step 3: Combine and Cook
Now, pour that lovely sauce mixture all over the chicken in the crockpot. Easy peasy! Toss in the drained pineapple chunks too – they add such a nice little burst of sweetness as it all cooks. Pop the lid on tight. You can cook this on low for about 6 to 8 hours, or if you’re in a bit of a rush, high for 3 to 4 hours works too. Just make sure that chicken is cooked through. For even more crockpot chicken goodness, you can check out more crockpot chicken thigh recipes.
Step 4: Shred and Finish
Once the chicken is tender and cooked, take two forks right there in the crockpot and shred it all up. It usually falls apart so easily at this point! Give it a good stir into the sauce. Then, just stir in those chopped green onions for a pop of freshness and color. That’s it! Your super easy dump and go teriyaki chicken is ready to go.
Tips for Perfect Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners
You know, even with these super simple recipes, a few little tricks can make all the difference. It’s all about getting that perfect saucy goodness and making it your own!
Achieving the Right Sauce Consistency
So, if you peeked at the recipe notes, you saw I mentioned thickening the sauce. If you’re like me and love a really thick, clingy sauce, just mix another teaspoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and stir it in during the last 30 minutes of cooking. It makes a world of difference!
Ingredient Substitutions and Additions
While this teriyaki chicken is amazing as is, don’t be afraid to play around! You could totally swap in chicken breasts if you prefer, just keep an eye on them so they don’t dry out. And if you want to jazz it up even more, a sprinkle of sesame seeds or a dash of Sriracha for a little heat works wonders. Maybe even try some honey sesame chicken sometime when you’re feeling adventurous!
Serving Suggestions for Your Easy Crockpot Meal
This Easy Dump and Go Teriyaki Chicken is fantastic served over a fluffy bed of steamed white or brown rice. It’s also really yummy alongside some quick-steamed broccoli or snap peas for a bit of green. If you’re feeling a little fancier, some simple stir-fried noodles would be amazing, or even a scoop of that easy restaurant-style Mexican rice – sounds a bit different, but trust me, it’s a fun combo!
Make-Ahead and Storage for Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners
One of the biggest wins with these dump and go crockpot dinners is how fantastic they are for meal prep! If you ask me, Tuesdays are almost as good as Fridays when I know I’ve got perfectly portioned teriyaki chicken ready to go for lunch. You can totally prep the chicken mixture the night before and just dump it into the slow cooker in the morning – saves even more time! Once it’s cooked and shredded, just let it cool down a bit, then portion it into airtight containers. It’ll stay good in the fridge for about 3-4 days. To reheat, I usually pop it in the microwave for a couple of minutes, stirring halfway through, or gently warm it up on the stovetop. It tastes just as good as when it was made fresh! For more ideas like this, check out my meal prep crockpot recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners
Got questions? I’ve got answers! These dump and go crockpot dinners easy are so straightforward, but sometimes a little extra info helps make things perfect. Here are a few things folks often ask:
Can I use chicken breast for this dump and go crockpot recipe?
You sure can! Chicken breast works in a pinch. Just know it can get a bit drier than thighs. I’d cook it on high for about 3-4 hours, or until it’s just cooked through. Overcooking it will definitely make it dry, so keep an eye on it!
What is the best size crockpot for this easy crockpot meal?
For this recipe, where you’ve got about 1.5 pounds of chicken and all those yummy sauce ingredients, a 4-quart to 6-quart crockpot is usually just perfect. It gives everything enough room to cook evenly without being too crowded. If your crockpot is too small, things might cook unevenly. You can find some great small crock pot recipes if that’s what you’ve got!
How long can I store leftovers of this dump and go teriyaki chicken?
These leftovers are gold! Once cooled, you can keep your delicious dump and go teriyaki chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. It’s still great reheated for lunches or a quick dinner later in the week.
Nutritional Information for Easy Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners
Now, as much as I love cooking, I’m not a scientist, so these numbers are just a rough estimate! Things can change a bit depending on your exact ingredients, but here’s a general idea of what you’re looking at per serving of this tasty teriyaki chicken.
Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350
Fat: 15g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 11g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 20g
Sugar: 15g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 120mg
Sodium: 1200mg
Remember, these are just estimates! Using low-sodium soy sauce or different cuts of chicken can change things up a bit, but it’s always good to have a ballpark idea.
Share Your Easy Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners Experience
Alright, y’all! I just *love* hearing from you. Have you tried this super simple dump and go teriyaki chicken? I’d be tickled pink if you’d leave a comment below and tell me how it turned out for you! Did you add anything special? Did the kids devour it? And if you snap a picture, please tag me on social media – I live for seeing your kitchen creations! You can also send in any questions or requests via my contact page. Happy cooking!
Share Your Easy Dump and Go Crockpot Dinners Experience
Alright, y’all! I just love hearing from you. Have you tried this super simple dump and go teriyaki chicken? I’d be tickled pink if you’d leave a comment below and tell me how it turned out for you! Did you add anything special? Did the kids devour it? And if you snap a picture, please tag me on social media – I live for seeing your kitchen creations! You can also send in any questions or requests via my contact page. Happy cooking!
Print
Easy Dump and Go Teriyaki Chicken
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A simple dump and go crockpot recipe for teriyaki chicken, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup teriyaki sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup pineapple chunks, drained
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
Instructions
- Place chicken thighs in your crockpot.
- In a bowl, whisk together teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, cornstarch, ginger, and garlic.
- Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken.
- Add the pineapple chunks.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through.
- Shred the chicken with two forks directly in the crockpot.
- Stir in the green onions.
- Serve hot over rice.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, you can mix an additional teaspoon of cornstarch with a tablespoon of water and stir it into the crockpot during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- This recipe is great for meal prep. Portion it out into containers for lunches throughout the week.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg



