Description
This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a comforting, hands-off meal that combines tender chicken, rich broth, and fluffy dumplings cooked low and slow. Perfect for any day of the week, it delivers classic comfort food with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Vegetables
- 1.5 to 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Dumplings
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup milk (or plant-based milk alternative)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter (or vegan margarine)
Instructions
- Prepare the Base: Layer chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery at the bottom of your crockpot. Add the chicken breasts or thighs on top, then pour in the chicken broth and sprinkle herbs. This layering ensures the flavors meld beautifully during cooking.
- Slow Cook the Chicken: Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender enough to shred easily. This slow simmer develops the rich, savory broth characteristic of the dish.
- Mix and Add Dumplings: While the chicken cooks, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and melted butter to prepare your dumpling dough. Once the chicken is done, shred the meat inside the crockpot and drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough into the hot broth evenly.
- Cook Dumplings Until Fluffy: Cover and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes on high, allowing the dumplings to steam and puff up, soaking in the broth’s flavor without overcooking.
- Final Touches and Serve: Before serving, stir gently to distribute dumplings and sprinkle fresh herbs like parsley or thyme on top for a burst of freshness. Ladle into bowls and enjoy your comforting meal.
Notes
- Use bone-in chicken for extra flavor, though boneless is easier.
- Shred chicken directly in the pot to save dishes and absorb more broth flavor.
- Do not rush the dumplings; cooking them on high after adding ensures perfect fluffiness.
- Adjust liquid carefully as dumplings absorb broth; add more broth if needed to keep the soup soupy.
- Add fresh herbs at the end for brightness and to maintain their flavor impact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high) + 30-40 minutes for dumplings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximately 1 1/2 cups)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: crockpot chicken and dumplings, slow cooker chicken recipe, comfort food, easy chicken dinner, gluten-free dumplings