Time to get cozy with these Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings. The chicken and veggies cook in the crockpot all day until tender and flavor packed. Then we're making homemade dumplings to throw into the mix. It's the ultimate comfort food and super low effort!
I moved to the South when I was 9 years old and Chicken and Dumplings have been my favorite Southern food ever since.
I love this slow cooker version because it's super easy to make in the crockpot. Don't be intimated by the homemade dumplings. They are so easy to make in one bowl and taste way better than using canned biscuits.
For more popular comfort food recipes, check out this Broccoli Cheese Gnocchi, Beef Broth Bowls, Zucchini Risotto, and One Pound Meatloaf.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe:
- Save Time at Dinner. Prep it in the morning and let the crock pot do the work for an easy dinner.
- A Family Favorite. My whole family loves this recipe, and believe me..I have picky eaters.
- Easy. Simple techniques that anyone can follow, even beginner cooks!
- A Fall and Winter Must Make. Grab a bowl and cozy up on the couch on a chilly day.
If you love slow cooker recipes, you'll want to try these Slow Cooker Carnitas, Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs, and Crock Pot Beef Sandwiches.
Ingredients:
Chicken Stock: Made with bones for a richer taste. I recommend stock over broth for better overall flavors. The Kirkland's brand from Costco and Kitchen Basics are my favorite chicken stock brands.
Cornstarch: This helps to turn the chicken stock into a thicker sauce when serving.
Butter: Use salted butter for this recipe or add in an extra 1-2 teaspoons to taste before serving.
*Find the full recipe ingredients and quantities in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations:
If you don't want to make homemade dumplings, you can use a can of biscuits and add it in as pieces, but I promise the dumplings taste so much better.
For a similar version that doesn't use the slow cooker, try this Chicken and Dumpling Soup. *It's ready in about 1 hour if you need a quicker version.
For more Fall and Winter Chicken dinners, try this White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese, Chicken Broccoli Pasta, and Marry Me Chicken Tortellini.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken Dumplings:
Step 1: In a medium skillet over medium low heat on the stovetop, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add in carrot, celery, onion, pepper and 1 teaspoon salt and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened, stirring often. Toss in garlic and thyme and cook for another 2 minutes, then turn off heat. *Note: If any browning starts, reduce the heat to low. We only want softened textures here.
Step 2: Into the crockpot, add in raw chicken breast, softened veggies from the pan and bay leaf. Pour in chicken stock, then cover and cook on low for about 5 hours.
Step 3: After 5 hours, take tongs (or two forks) and shred the chicken apart into pieces. It should shred apart super easily. Increase the crockpot heat to high. In a small bowl, add in the cornstarch and then ladle about 1 cup of broth from the slow cooker over the cornstarch. Whisk to combine, then pour the cornstarch and broth back into the slow cooker and stir.
Step 4: After adding the cornstarch to the crockpot, it's time to make the homemade dumplings. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet on the stovetop (or in the microwave), then allow to cool for a few minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Pour in the melted butter and milk. Use a wooden spoon to gently mix the dumpling mixture, just until combined. Use a spoon to drop in small chunks of dumpling dough into the slow cooker.
Step 5: Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes until the dumplings are fully cooked, then remove the lid and turn off the slow cooker. *If you continue to cook, the dumplings will eventually dissolve into smaller pieces and blend with the broth.
Step 6: Top with parsley, serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips:
- Make sure to blend the cornstarch into a cup of the broth and not into the whole crockpot liquid. It will clump up in the crockpot if not blended first.
- Don't leave the dumplings in the crockpot for longer than 30-40 minutes or they will start to dissolve into the liquid.
Try these popular Boneless Beef Short Ribs too!
More Comfort Food You'll Love:
If you tried this Chicken Dumplings in the Slow Cooker Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!
PrintRecipe
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
- Total Time: 5 hours, 50 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Time to get cozy with these Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings. The chicken and veggies cook in the crockpot all day until tender and flavor packed. Then we're making homemade dumplings to throw into the mix.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 carrots, peeled and diced
- 2 celery stalks, finely diced
- 1 cup sweet yellow onion, diced (about ½ a large onion or 1 small onion)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 large chicken breast
- 48 ounces chicken stock (1.5 containers)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced
Homemade Dumplings:
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk
Instructions
- In a medium skillet over medium low heat on the stovetop, melt 4 tablespoons butter. Add in carrot, celery, onion, pepper and 1 teaspoon salt and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened, stirring often. Toss in garlic and thyme and cook for another 2 minutes, then turn off heat. *Note: If any browning starts, reduce the heat to low. We only want softened textures here.
- Into the crockpot, add in raw chicken breast, softened veggies from the pan and one bay leaf. Pour in chicken stock, then cover and cook on low for about 5 hours.
- After 5 hours, take tongs (or two forks) and shred the chicken apart into pieces. It should shred apart super easily. Increase the crockpot heat to high. In a small bowl, add in the cornstarch and then ladle about 1 cup of broth from the slow cooker over the cornstarch. Whisk to combine, then pour the cornstarch and broth back into the slow cooker and stir.
- After adding the cornstarch to the crockpot, it's time to make the homemade dumplings. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet on the stovetop (or in the microwave) and allow to cool for a few minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients of flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Pour in the melted butter and milk. Use a wooden spoon to gently mix the dumpling mixture, just until combined. Use a spoon to drop in small chunks of dumpling dough into the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked, then remove the lid and turn off the slow cooker. *If you continue to cook, the dumplings will eventually dissolve into smaller pieces and blend with the broth.
- Top with parsley, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to blend the cornstarch into a cup of the broth and not into the whole crockpot liquid. It will stay in clumps if it's not blended first.
- Don't leave the dumplings in the crockpot for longer than 30-40 minutes or they will start to dissolve into the liquid.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours, 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: southern
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