There’s nothing quite like a hot, all comforting bowl of chicken and dumplings. This crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe will give you all the great flavors from the real dish but in a nice and easy, slow-cooker twist. This is a recipe that has tender chunks of chicken, fluffy dumplings, and a creamy rich broth – great for hectic weeknight chores, or when you want good warm comfort food that’s no trouble at all. So without getting too deep, here is a simple, wonderfully tasty recipe that will definitely become a favorite for your family!
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Broth:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (1.5 lbs, cut into chunks)
- Onion (1 medium, diced)
- Carrots (2, peeled and sliced)
- Celery (2 stalks, chopped)
- Garlic (2 cloves, minced)
- Chicken broth (4 cups)
- Cream of chicken soup (1 can, 10.5 oz)
- Butter (3 tbsp)
- Dried thyme (1 tsp)
- Dried parsley (1 tsp)
- Salt (1 tsp)
- Black pepper (½ tsp)
- Bay leaf (1)
For the Dumplings:
- All-purpose flour (1 ½ cups)
- Baking powder (2 tsp)
- Salt (½ tsp)
- Milk (¾ cup)
- Butter (3 tbsp, melted)
- Fresh parsley (2 tbsp, chopped, optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients
Place the chicken chunks, diced onion, sliced carrots, chopped celery, minced garlic, and butter in the slow cooker. Add the chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, dried thyme, dried parsley, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Stir to combine.
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Step 2: Cook the Chicken and Vegetables
Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.
Step 3: Make the Dumpling Dough
About 30 minutes before serving, prepare the dumpling dough. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk and melted butter until just combined; do not overmix. The dough should be thick and sticky.
Step 4: Add the Dumplings to the Slow Cooker
Remove the bay leaf from the slow cooker. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the hot chicken mixture. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 25-30 minutes, or until the dumplings are puffed up and cooked through.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy
Spoon the chicken, vegetables, and dumplings into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Enjoy this comforting and hearty meal!
Serving and Storage Tips
- Serve this dish with a side of steamed green beans, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad for a complete meal.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To reheat, warm on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally, or microwave in short intervals until heated through.
Helpful Notes
When the dumplings are to be added, you too can whip up half-a-cup of heavy cream or half-and-half in a bowl with the liquid in the slow cooker before that’s done with Step 4.
Thicken the broth with 2 tablespoons of water mixed with 1 tablespoon of cornstarch 30 minutes before serving, if you are wishing for a thicker base.
Fast fixes are pre-made biscuit dough or refrigerated secure dough.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
Ina Garten recommends making sure to use homemade chicken broth for greater flavor.
Ree Drummond suggests going bold by adding some hot sauce in the broth for zest.
Alton Brown suggests that the dumpling dough be rested a little for about five minutes first before putting into the slow cooker, so they will result in fluffy dumplings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How about making this gluten-free?
Get one of those gluten-free flours for the dumplings and make sure other ingredients such as cream of chicken soup are gluten-free.
Can other vegetables be added?
Certainly! Peas, corn, mushrooms, or green beans would also serve as great accompaniments.
Say I don’t have cream of chicken soup.
Combining 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon of flour, ½ cup of chicken broth, and ½ cup of milk thickens instantly to a makeshift substitute-solving thing.
Is it possible to make it on a stovetop instead of a crockpot?
Yes, but use the same preparation steps except that you should cook the chicken and veggies in a huge pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. After the chicken is cooked, you add the dumplings, then cover and simmer until done.
Could I use canned biscuits as dumplings?
Yep. Just halve and drop the canned biscuits into your slow cooker. Cook on high until those puppies are puffed and cooked through.
How do I know whether the dumplings are finished cooking?
They should be fluffy and cooked through. Insert a toothpick into the center of a dumpling, and it should come out clean.
How can I make it sans dairy?
Use dairy-free butter and replace the milk with almond or oat milk.
Can you freeze chicken and dumplings?
Yes, you can freeze the chicken mixture (before adding the dumplings) up to three months in a freezer. Then slow-cook or stovetop-thaw and reheat it with dumplings.
Over chicken and dumplings, what do you suggest is served?
Serve with a piece of crusty bread, a green salad, and some steamed veggies for a lovely balanced meal.
Enjoy cooking as well as hearty meals by creating this crockpot Chicken and dumplings recipe.
