Let’s be honest, after a long day, who wants to spend hours in the kitchen? That’s why my Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings is a weeknight lifesaver. It’s a cozy classic the whole family will devour – minimal effort, maximum flavor. What’s not to love? This Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings recipe is simple, affordable, and definitely stick-to-your-ribs good.
Top Reasons To Make It
This isn’t just any old chicken and dumplings recipe. It’s made with love (and a slow cooker!). Seriously though, it’s a Crock Pot meal with chicken that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Throw everything in, go about your day, and come home to a delicious and comforting meal. It’s an excellent Slow Cooker main dish recipe that also makes great leftovers! Plus, this recipe is inexpensive–a win for those cheap Crock Pot dinners for a family.
Ingredients
Below are the ingredients with precise measurements included in the recipe card below. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need and why:
- Chicken: We’ll use boneless, skinless thighs for extra flavor and moisture.
- Chicken broth: The base of our flavorful broth.
- Celery: Adds a classic, aromatic flavor.
- Carrots: For sweetness and color.
- Onion: Adds depth and savoriness.
- Garlic: Because everything’s better with garlic.
- Bay leaf: Enhances the savory notes of the broth.
- Thyme: An earthy, herbal touch.
- Salt and pepper: To season everything perfectly.
- All-purpose flour: For thickening the broth.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps create those light, fluffy dumplings.
- Milk: Keeps the dumplings tender.
- Baking powder: The key to light and airy dumplings.
Instructions
- Place the chicken, broth, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is so, so tender.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, melted butter, milk, baking powder, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture onto the hot chicken and broth. Do not stir.
- Cover and cook on high for another 30-45 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through and fluffy.
- Remove the bay leaf before serving. So good.
Crockpot Tips For Success
- Don’t overcook the chicken or it’ll dry out. It should shred easily with a fork.
- Resist the urge to stir after adding the dumplings. It makes them gummy!
- For a thicker broth, mix a bit of cornstarch with cold water and stir it in towards the end of cooking.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like peas or green beans during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Want to have some extra fun? Let family members customize their bowl—add a dash of cayenne if you like it spicy!
Variations & Substitutions
Honestly, if you hate heat, skip the cayenne. But If you want to experiment with some fun variations, try using cream of chicken soup instead of some of the broth. To make if healthier, use low sodium broth and whole wheat flour for the baking powder dumplings. Swap chicken thighs for chicken breasts (though they can be a wee bit drier), or use all veggies for a hearty vegetarian version.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave. Be sure to check that the dumplings are heated through. You can freeze cooled leftovers for another 2-3 months, although the dumplings may become softer after reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I prep this the night before? A: Absolutely! Combine all ingredients except the dumplings in a resealable bag or container for easy Crockpot food prep recipes, in the morning, just dump it in, cook, and make the dumpling topping at the end.
Q: Looking for some easy night recipes or other Crockpot food prep recipes for the slow cooker? A: This Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings is just the beginning! You might also enjoy my Slow Cooker Beef Stew, Crockpot Chili or my Slow Cooker Pulled Pork.
And that’s my Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings—a Texan teacher’s trick for a busy weeknight meal. Enjoy!
Print
Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
- Total Time: 7 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
This Slow Cooker Chicken & Dumplings recipe is the ultimate cozy, comforting dinner. With tender chicken, fluffy dumplings, and a savory broth, it’s a set-it-and-forget-it classic for any night of the week.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
4 cups chicken broth
2 celery stalks, diced
3 carrots, peeled and sliced
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Dumplings:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Place the chicken, broth, celery, carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaf, thyme, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker.
2. Cook on LOW for 6–8 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is tender and easily shreds.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, milk, and melted butter until smooth.
4. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough directly onto the hot broth and chicken mixture. Do not stir.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for another 30–45 minutes, or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
6. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Serve warm and enjoy that comfort in a bowl!
Notes
For added flavor, stir in a splash of heavy cream at the end.
You can substitute chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs stay juicier.
Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 2–3 days.
To reheat, add a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Keywords: chicken and dumplings, slow cooker recipe, comfort food dinner, crockpot chicken and dumplings, cozy fall dinner