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Dump Dinners: The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook
Home cooked meals have never been easier!
Dump dinners are super-easy, tasty meals for fast-paced families—all you do is “dump” a few readymade ingredients together, and voila, dinner is served. Getting a home-cooked meal on the table during a busy weeknight can be challenging, but The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook will show you how to make the most of pantry staples, pre-prepped fresh vegetables, and hidden gems in the frozen aisle to create comforting, delicious meals the whole family will love. Inside you’ll find:
• 75 incredibly flavorful recipes, including One-Pot Tomato-Basil Pasta, Chicken Enchilada Skillet, and Bacon, Potato, and Cheddar Frittata
• Handy tips for prepping meals in advance and freezing so you can prep once and eat all week
• Recommended ingredients to always keep on hand for when you need to toss something together quickly
• 10 stunning salad recipes for when you’re craving something fresh
Dump dinners are super-easy, tasty meals for fast-paced families—all you do is “dump” a few readymade ingredients together, and voila, dinner is served. Getting a home-cooked meal on the table during a busy weeknight can be challenging, but The Absolute Best Dump Dinners Cookbook will show you how to make the most of pantry staples, pre-prepped fresh vegetables, and hidden gems in the frozen aisle to create comforting, delicious meals the whole family will love. Inside you’ll find:
• 75 incredibly flavorful recipes, including One-Pot Tomato-Basil Pasta, Chicken Enchilada Skillet, and Bacon, Potato, and Cheddar Frittata
• Handy tips for prepping meals in advance and freezing so you can prep once and eat all week
• Recommended ingredients to always keep on hand for when you need to toss something together quickly
• 10 stunning salad recipes for when you’re craving something fresh
140 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2015
1154 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 8, 2025
Food your family wants to eat
The recipes in this book are easy to make. More importantly, they are foods your family will enjoy, and they are dishes you can easily share at potluck.
The recipes in this book are easy to make. More importantly, they are foods your family will enjoy, and they are dishes you can easily share at potluck.
May 29, 2020
If you are a very busy parent or just don't much like cooking, this will be a handy cookbook. The recipes are quite simple and quick to prepare, relying on prepared foods from the store (e.g. Rotisserie chicken, Ready Rice, etc.) combined in a single dish. There's a decent variety of flavors, so most readers will find a several things they like.
The down side is that buying prepared foods is expensive and they aren't usually as healthy as what you could make yourself. If you're watching your sodium (or counting calories), this book is not for you.
I've tried several of the recipes, mostly out of curiosity, and none were bad, but they also just aren't the kind of food we eat anymore. I ended up adapting most of the recipes to use ingredients made at home, but that pretty much defeats the purpose of the book, which is to save time and reduce the amount of cooking you have to do.
I can see using this cookbook for evenings when my meal plan has gone awry and I need a quick fill-in before my teens get hangry. I can't imagine cooking from it on the regular.
It might well prove useful for young adults who are cooking for themselves for the first time and aren't really comfortable in the kitchen. You could easily make one of these dishes and divide it into food prep containers to eat during the week. It's not economical, but none of the recipes is intimidating.
The down side is that buying prepared foods is expensive and they aren't usually as healthy as what you could make yourself. If you're watching your sodium (or counting calories), this book is not for you.
I've tried several of the recipes, mostly out of curiosity, and none were bad, but they also just aren't the kind of food we eat anymore. I ended up adapting most of the recipes to use ingredients made at home, but that pretty much defeats the purpose of the book, which is to save time and reduce the amount of cooking you have to do.
I can see using this cookbook for evenings when my meal plan has gone awry and I need a quick fill-in before my teens get hangry. I can't imagine cooking from it on the regular.
It might well prove useful for young adults who are cooking for themselves for the first time and aren't really comfortable in the kitchen. You could easily make one of these dishes and divide it into food prep containers to eat during the week. It's not economical, but none of the recipes is intimidating.
January 23, 2016
I bought this book on my kindle. I liked the title of the book. all of the recipes look very easy to do and not expensive. A fact I like. I have already written down the recipes I am interested in cooking. They are broke down into different categories. such as crock pot, sauce pan, casserole, pan type recipes. all are easy ones you "dump" together. I like that. it does not take a long time for preparation and cooking time.{except for the crock pot ones of course} looking forward to making some of these recipes.
December 17, 2025
Nice selection of dump recipes for busy days.
This short book covers a variety of recipes. There’s a lot of filler - pages dedicated to why dump meals are good, the advantages of cooking in one skillet, why slow cookers are awesome - all of that is pretty self explanatory. There’s also a salad section, because you just dump the veggies in a bowl, right? Technically correct, but I think that’s pushing the limit if you’re calling a salad a “dump” meal.
I think every recipe comes with directions for freezing (except the salads). That’s nice if you need it. If you prefer fresh, you’ll need to note that the cooked recipes are almost exclusively filled with frozen and canned vegetables. This is great, though, if you’re really pressed for time, and not something I would have thought of.
Having said all that, I did find a number of recipes I’m interested in. Some of the ingredients may no longer be available. I think Campbell no longer makes Cream of Shrimp Condensed Soup. However, what you can’t find can probably be worked around and substitutions are given for items that may be hard to find. For instance, adding shrimp bullion to another canned cream soup would work. FYI: If you’re a new cook, watch your salt there. Bullion cubes are salty and the soup will already be, too.
The book does try to cover a lot of variety when covering international dishes. Italian, oriental, and Mexican food styles are respectably represented, as are traditional American flavors. I don’t think anything is particularly gourmet, but these foods will fill bellies quickly with little fuss. And sometimes, on busy, stressful days, isn’t that what we all need?
This short book covers a variety of recipes. There’s a lot of filler - pages dedicated to why dump meals are good, the advantages of cooking in one skillet, why slow cookers are awesome - all of that is pretty self explanatory. There’s also a salad section, because you just dump the veggies in a bowl, right? Technically correct, but I think that’s pushing the limit if you’re calling a salad a “dump” meal.
I think every recipe comes with directions for freezing (except the salads). That’s nice if you need it. If you prefer fresh, you’ll need to note that the cooked recipes are almost exclusively filled with frozen and canned vegetables. This is great, though, if you’re really pressed for time, and not something I would have thought of.
Having said all that, I did find a number of recipes I’m interested in. Some of the ingredients may no longer be available. I think Campbell no longer makes Cream of Shrimp Condensed Soup. However, what you can’t find can probably be worked around and substitutions are given for items that may be hard to find. For instance, adding shrimp bullion to another canned cream soup would work. FYI: If you’re a new cook, watch your salt there. Bullion cubes are salty and the soup will already be, too.
The book does try to cover a lot of variety when covering international dishes. Italian, oriental, and Mexican food styles are respectably represented, as are traditional American flavors. I don’t think anything is particularly gourmet, but these foods will fill bellies quickly with little fuss. And sometimes, on busy, stressful days, isn’t that what we all need?
October 2, 2021
There are a lot of recipes in this book that I made sure to bookmark for later. That said, this book is very much made for those in North America (but mainly the US specifically). It calls for a lot of pre-prepared foods that might not be available everywhere such as specific varieties of frozen vegetables, ready made rice brands, pre shredded cooked chicken, fully cooked pot roasts, etc. I’m not saying that these more specialty items are in every recipe nor that there aren’t substitutes for them, but in general it just means that unless you can find those ingredients or are willing to make/prep them yourself from scratch, many of these meals will take longer than projected.
All that being said of course, for the busy parent or student, or for those who are not the biggest fans of cooking, this book has a lot of great simple recipes that can get food on the table with relative ease.
All that being said of course, for the busy parent or student, or for those who are not the biggest fans of cooking, this book has a lot of great simple recipes that can get food on the table with relative ease.
November 27, 2025
quick and easy
Wow! So many quick recipes with a wide variety of flavors, from Asian to Mexican, and everywhere in between. It includes vegetarian and gluten-free recipes as well. There are soup, salad, casserole, and sheet-pan recipes, as well as crock pot dishes. My only negative is that there are very few photos.
Wow! So many quick recipes with a wide variety of flavors, from Asian to Mexican, and everywhere in between. It includes vegetarian and gluten-free recipes as well. There are soup, salad, casserole, and sheet-pan recipes, as well as crock pot dishes. My only negative is that there are very few photos.
December 1, 2025
Meh.
This book might be okay for someone who doesn't know how to cook, but there are way too many pre-packaged and processed foods as ingredients for me to bother trying any of these recipes.
This book might be okay for someone who doesn't know how to cook, but there are way too many pre-packaged and processed foods as ingredients for me to bother trying any of these recipes.
May 17, 2022
A lot of really good recipes
August 25, 2023
Wow!
I just flipped through this book and got so many ideas and inspiration for family meals that are quick and easy for any night of the week. I would highly recommend!
I just flipped through this book and got so many ideas and inspiration for family meals that are quick and easy for any night of the week. I would highly recommend!
December 13, 2023
Pretty common sense recipes
January 6, 2024
Quick ideas
Having not tested the recipes yet I can not attest to them. However the recipes are simple, quick and great for someone who would like an idea of what to start with
Having not tested the recipes yet I can not attest to them. However the recipes are simple, quick and great for someone who would like an idea of what to start with
January 17, 2024
Not my kind of cookbook... I didn't realize all the recipes would include rotisserie chicken, canned chicken, and the like. None of this seemed like something my family would eat.
November 24, 2025
Variety
This book had a wide variety of dishes. The instructions were clear. Some colorful pictures were included which were helpful.
This book had a wide variety of dishes. The instructions were clear. Some colorful pictures were included which were helpful.
December 14, 2025
Great recipes that are easy!
I’ve made quite a few of these simple meals and my family has liked them. I think it is a worthwhile download.
I’ve made quite a few of these simple meals and my family has liked them. I think it is a worthwhile download.
December 16, 2025
Variety ~
This cookbook had a lot of good ideas, a couple I may even try. It was easy to understand and follow.
This cookbook had a lot of good ideas, a couple I may even try. It was easy to understand and follow.
December 28, 2025
Dump Dinners
I found quite a few really great looking recipes that I will be trying for my family meals. Can’t wait to try them!
I found quite a few really great looking recipes that I will be trying for my family meals. Can’t wait to try them!
January 5, 2026
Fun recipes
I found a number of the recipes easy to make and not a lot of ingredients. Two things important to me.
I found a number of the recipes easy to make and not a lot of ingredients. Two things important to me.
January 26, 2026
Easy meals
Good ideas for meals that don't take a lot of time or stress to make. Easy to follow instructions. Great for people who don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen
Good ideas for meals that don't take a lot of time or stress to make. Easy to follow instructions. Great for people who don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen
October 1, 2025
pretty good
Recipes are pretty good
Most ingredients except meat and dairy seem to me to be canned and not fresh
But if you live alone or have a small family you don't have to worry about the fresh stuff veggies etc spoiling before it's used
Recipes are pretty good
Most ingredients except meat and dairy seem to me to be canned and not fresh
But if you live alone or have a small family you don't have to worry about the fresh stuff veggies etc spoiling before it's used
February 10, 2021
Take anything from your pantry and use it in a recipe in this book. I have made about 5 dump dinners now. All super easy and super good. Great for if you’re trying to use up your food like cans that have just been sitting there.
September 16, 2025
Worth it!
There are a lot of delicious looking recipes in this book. I’m a lazy bachelor and can’t wait to try some of them
There are a lot of delicious looking recipes in this book. I’m a lazy bachelor and can’t wait to try some of them
February 19, 2016
I was hesitate on getting this cookbook and it being added to my cookbook graveyard as my husband calls it, to never be looked at again. Yet it went on sale for 99 cents in eBook format so decided to give it a try.
One of things I hate about some cookbooks is when its recipes have ingredients I don't have on hand or are hard to find at a local supermarket. The second is when the recipe calls for like a dozen plus ingredients that makes it laborious to collect and the dish expensive. All of the ingredients in this recipe book were non-perishable or frozen items I already had on had in my cabinets, stored in my pantry, or had in my freezer. Yay! Meats were easy to find. For example there were plenty of recipes that used precooked diced chicken (rotisserie, canned, freeze dried, precooked by you, or whatever format you wanted to use,). Plus the recipes didn't require a long list of ingredients. So joy again! There are tips for ingredient substitution or sides with every recipe.
The first chapter gives tips on freezing, canning, vacuum sealing, and other techniques/tips on storing food ahead of time for future use. The one on preparing avocados for freezing was great. There was also other advice on cooking techniques and use of different cookware. The individual chapters after that are on dump dinners in a pot, skillet, casserole dish, sheet pan, slow cooker, and bowl (salads, etc).
There are pictures in the intro and first chapter but not for the recipes, but 99% of the recipe books that I actually use that are not in the recipe book graveyard don't have pictures for every recipe. Plus I am dumping a bunch of stuff on top of each other. Do I really need a fake pretty commercial picture of the finished product? I am sure it cuts the cost of the book tremendously and I don't want to pay for extra pictures.
Everything made so far tastes great and looks like I worked harder than I did. This a great recipe book for children to be able to help you make dinner.
Source: My personal purchased library.
One of things I hate about some cookbooks is when its recipes have ingredients I don't have on hand or are hard to find at a local supermarket. The second is when the recipe calls for like a dozen plus ingredients that makes it laborious to collect and the dish expensive. All of the ingredients in this recipe book were non-perishable or frozen items I already had on had in my cabinets, stored in my pantry, or had in my freezer. Yay! Meats were easy to find. For example there were plenty of recipes that used precooked diced chicken (rotisserie, canned, freeze dried, precooked by you, or whatever format you wanted to use,). Plus the recipes didn't require a long list of ingredients. So joy again! There are tips for ingredient substitution or sides with every recipe.
The first chapter gives tips on freezing, canning, vacuum sealing, and other techniques/tips on storing food ahead of time for future use. The one on preparing avocados for freezing was great. There was also other advice on cooking techniques and use of different cookware. The individual chapters after that are on dump dinners in a pot, skillet, casserole dish, sheet pan, slow cooker, and bowl (salads, etc).
There are pictures in the intro and first chapter but not for the recipes, but 99% of the recipe books that I actually use that are not in the recipe book graveyard don't have pictures for every recipe. Plus I am dumping a bunch of stuff on top of each other. Do I really need a fake pretty commercial picture of the finished product? I am sure it cuts the cost of the book tremendously and I don't want to pay for extra pictures.
Everything made so far tastes great and looks like I worked harder than I did. This a great recipe book for children to be able to help you make dinner.
Source: My personal purchased library.
July 25, 2015
The dump Dinners cookbook has been such a time saver in my house!. I work a lot and don't always have time to prepare anything healthy. So having great recipes that take no time at all is essential!
In this cookbook, it teaches the reader how to prep foods before hand and having it ready to cook within minutes. The recipes include ingredients that are common and most of the time already on hand making it even easier to prep your meal.
The cookbook gives some great tips and tricks to make prep time and cook time much simpler, in turn saving a lot of time and money! A few tips I appreciated the most are to vacuum seal the ingredients you will be using for each meal ahead of time, making a meal plan, and planning for the leftovers.
It gives a detailed list of ingredients to keep on hand including dairy, meats and pantry items. I love how the cookbook has shown me how to save time when cooking so I am able to spend more of it with my family.
The recipes are easy to read and easy to make and I can't wait to try them all! I would recommend this to busy families and anyone who wants to save time and money when prepping meals!
I received this cookbook free for my review. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are my own.
In this cookbook, it teaches the reader how to prep foods before hand and having it ready to cook within minutes. The recipes include ingredients that are common and most of the time already on hand making it even easier to prep your meal.
The cookbook gives some great tips and tricks to make prep time and cook time much simpler, in turn saving a lot of time and money! A few tips I appreciated the most are to vacuum seal the ingredients you will be using for each meal ahead of time, making a meal plan, and planning for the leftovers.
It gives a detailed list of ingredients to keep on hand including dairy, meats and pantry items. I love how the cookbook has shown me how to save time when cooking so I am able to spend more of it with my family.
The recipes are easy to read and easy to make and I can't wait to try them all! I would recommend this to busy families and anyone who wants to save time and money when prepping meals!
I received this cookbook free for my review. I was not compensated for my review and all opinions are my own.
October 12, 2018
I've read this twice in the past two days. The recipes require few ingredients and are designed for six types of cooking, including refrigeration, top of stove, slow cooker and oven. My favorite part is how one can "dump" the ingredients in ziptop bags which are marked for contents, instructions, dates and frozen flat. Prep done for the most part, all one must do is pull a package or two to thaw in the refrigerator and then cook using the recommended process. Hints for side dishes, desserts and beverages are also offered.
May 22, 2016
I found this cookbook to be something I would use periodically but would not go out of my way to use. Loaded down with recipes that use canned or processed foods, it isn't my way to cook. That being said, it was a 99 cent purchase, so I am not concerned/disappointed with the purchase. I just know it will not be a "go to" book for me.
May 30, 2016
Dump dinners
Many of these recipes will make but I'll purchase chicken breasts and poach them and use that as an alternative to precooked as suggested. Iikewise the SME with sliced sirloin. But I really over this book and the ease of preparation. Although we don't have dessert very often I really liked the dessert suggestions that accompanied every recipe. A+
Many of these recipes will make but I'll purchase chicken breasts and poach them and use that as an alternative to precooked as suggested. Iikewise the SME with sliced sirloin. But I really over this book and the ease of preparation. Although we don't have dessert very often I really liked the dessert suggestions that accompanied every recipe. A+
July 6, 2015
Great ideas.
I bookmarked a ton of recipes and I am looking forward to trying them out. I only gave it a four because I really love cookbooks with pics...that is all that was missing.
I bookmarked a ton of recipes and I am looking forward to trying them out. I only gave it a four because I really love cookbooks with pics...that is all that was missing.
July 12, 2015
Not quite as I expected.
I really expected to see some recipes that were a little more creative and a bit more on the 'dump' side of this very clever idea. It's not all bad, there are a few well worth trying.
I really expected to see some recipes that were a little more creative and a bit more on the 'dump' side of this very clever idea. It's not all bad, there are a few well worth trying.
July 31, 2016
This is one of those books that you can go to on any night of the week and find something tasty to make up from what you have on hand. Very useful and chock-full of ideas!
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