4273468 Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Recipe

Comforting Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Comfort food reaches new heights when you make crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe on a busy weeknight or lazy weekend afternoon.

Something magical happens when tender protein simmers for hours in a savory broth that becomes incredibly rich and satisfying.

Slow cooking allows flavors to develop deeply while requiring minimal hands-on attention from you.

Families gather around the table faster when dinner practically prepares itself during the day.

Cold months call for meals that warm you from the inside out without demanding constant supervision.

One-pot dinners mean less cleanup and more time to relax after everyone has been fed.

Pull out that trusty appliance and prepare for compliments that will have you adding this meal to regular rotation.

Standout Details in Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

  • Hands-Off Cooking: Dump everything in the crockpot in the morning and come back to a fully developed meal without standing over the stove.
  • Comfort Food That Fills You Up: Tender chicken, vegetables, and fluffy dumplings create a satisfying dish that sticks with you through the day.
  • Works For Busy Families: Minimal prep means less stress on hectic days, and one pot means fewer dishes to wash afterward.
  • Budget-Friendly Ingredients: Chicken, broth, canned soup, and frozen vegetables cost less than takeout and feed a crowd easily.

Fresh Ingredients Behind Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

Main Proteins And Broth:
  • 1.5 pounds Boneless Chicken Breasts: Pick breasts that are similar in size so they cook evenly throughout.
  • 4 cups Chicken Broth: Use low-sodium broth if available so the salt content stays in your control.
Vegetables:
  • 1 cup Carrots, Sliced: Slice them about 1/4 inch thick so they soften properly during the long cooking time.
  • 1 cup Celery, Chopped: Chop into bite-sized pieces that match the size of your carrot slices.
  • 1 cup Onion, Diced: A medium onion works best; dice it into small, even pieces for consistent flavor throughout the dish.
  • 1 cup Frozen Peas: Keep these frozen until it’s time to add them so they maintain their bright color and texture.
Seasonings And Creaminess:
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme, 1 teaspoon Salt, 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper: These seasonings build a savory foundation that works with the long cooking process.
  • 1 can (10.5 oz) Cream Of Chicken Soup: This concentrated soup adds richness and helps thicken the broth without extra effort.
Dumplings:
  • 1 can Refrigerated Dumplings (biscuits): Look for these in the refrigerated section near the cinnamon rolls; they puff up nicely when cooked in the crockpot liquid.

Best Tools to Make Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

  • 6-Quart Crockpot: Large enough to hold all the chicken, broth, and ingredients while giving the dumplings room to cook.
  • Cutting Board: Essential for chopping your carrots, celery, and onion into bite-sized pieces.
  • Sharp Knife: Needed for dicing vegetables and shredding the cooked chicken efficiently.
  • Measuring Spoons: Helps portion out garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper accurately.
  • Wooden Spoon: Perfect for stirring the mixture when adding cream of chicken soup and peas.
  • Tongs or Fork: Makes removing the cooked chicken from the hot broth much easier.

Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Recipe Directions

Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Recipe Directions
1

Build Your Base

Add the chicken breasts to your crockpot along with the broth and vegetables. Here’s what goes in:

  • 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup carrots, sliced
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 cup onion, diced

Then sprinkle in the seasonings:

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Give everything a gentle stir so the seasonings distribute evenly throughout your pot.

2

Cook The Chicken Through

Set your crockpot to low and let it run for 6 to 8 hours.

This slow cooking makes the chicken tender and infuses all those flavors into the broth. You can check on it occasionally, but there’s no need to stir constantly.

The chicken is done when it shreds easily with a fork.

3

Shred The Chicken

Once the cooking time finishes, take the chicken breasts out of the pot and place them on a cutting board or plate.

Use two forks to pull the meat apart into bite-sized shreds. This takes just a few minutes, and the chicken should fall apart without much effort since it’s been cooking so long.

4

Return The Chicken To The Pot

Put all your shredded chicken back into the crockpot with the broth and vegetables. Stir it in so the pieces distribute throughout.

5

Add Creaminess And Vegetables

Pour in the cream of chicken soup and stir it well so there are no lumps. Then add the frozen peas directly from the bag.

You don’t need to thaw them first.

  • 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 cup frozen peas
6

Prepare The Dumplings

Take your can of refrigerated dumplings and cut each one into quarters using a knife. This smaller size helps them cook evenly and makes them easier to eat in a bowl.

7

Cook With Dumplings On High

Add all your dumpling pieces to the crockpot and stir gently to combine. Switch the heat to high and cook for 30 minutes.

The dumplings will puff up and become fluffy when they’re ready. After 30 minutes, your dish is finished and ready to serve.

Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Preparation Tips

  • Layer Your Ingredients Strategically: Put the chicken and vegetables in first, then add the soup and peas later so everything cooks properly without the delicate ingredients breaking down.
  • Shred Chicken While It’s Still Warm: Pulling apart the chicken right after it finishes cooking makes the job easier and lets it absorb the broth better.
  • Cut Dumplings Into Smaller Pieces: Breaking them into quarters prevents them from getting too dense and helps them cook evenly in just 30 minutes.
  • Don’t Overcrowd With Dumplings: Add them gradually and stir gently so they have room to expand without sticking together into one clump.
  • Watch The High Heat Phase Closely: Check around the 20-minute mark to see how the dumplings are progressing, since cooking times vary depending on how thick they are.

Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Flavor Combos

  • Creamy Mushroom Version: Sauté 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms in butter before adding them to the crockpot along with the initial ingredients, then reduce the chicken broth to 3 cups since mushrooms release liquid as they cook.
  • Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap regular dumplings for gluten-free biscuits or dumplings, using the same amount and cooking time, and make sure your cream of chicken soup is certified gluten-free.
  • Lighter Take With Vegetables: Keep the base recipe the same but add 2 cups of fresh spinach and 1 cup of diced zucchini along with the peas in step 4, and use low-sodium broth to balance the extra vegetables.
  • Herbed Biscuit Version: Make your own dumplings using a basic biscuit dough mixed with 1 teaspoon of fresh thyme and dried parsley, then cut and cook as directed, giving everything a homemade herb flavor throughout.

Best Matches for Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

  • Serve Four To Six People: This recipe fills a standard crockpot generously and makes enough for a family dinner with maybe one small portion left over.
  • Pair With A Simple Green Salad: Crisp greens with vinaigrette balance the richness of the cream and dumplings without competing for attention.
  • Add Crusty Bread On The Side: A piece of bread soaks up the broth nicely and rounds out the meal without needing anything else.
  • Serve In Wide Bowls: Shallow bowls show off the dumplings and chicken better than deep ones, making each spoonful feel more satisfying.

Storage Guide for Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

  • Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days, and the flavors actually deepen as it sits, making it taste even better the next day.
  • Freeze portions in individual containers before adding the dumplings if you want to keep this dish longer than a few days; the broth freezes beautifully while the dumplings stay tender when thawed and reheated gently.
  • Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat rather than microwaving, stirring occasionally so the dumplings don’t get tough or rubbery.
  • Store the dumplings separately from the broth if you have extra dough and plan to save the dish for several days, since they hold their texture better that way.

FAQs

FAQ

Can I use fresh dumplings instead of frozen ones?

Fresh dumplings work, but they cook faster. Add them during the last 15-20 minutes on high instead of 30 minutes. Check them early to prevent them from falling apart.

FAQ

What if I don’t have cream of chicken soup?

Mix together 1 cup of heavy cream with 2 tablespoons of flour and a pinch of salt. This creates a similar creamy base that works just as well.

FAQ

Do I need to use a whole chicken or can I use chicken breasts?

Chicken breasts are perfect for this. They cook a bit faster than a whole chicken, so check them around the 5-hour mark to see if they’re done.

FAQ

Can I add the dumplings at the beginning instead of at the end?

It’s not recommended. They’ll get too soft and break apart. Adding them in the last 30 minutes keeps them tender but still holds together nicely.

FAQ

What can I substitute for frozen peas?

Fresh or canned peas work great. Add canned peas at the very end since they’re already cooked. Fresh peas go in with the dumplings so they cook through.

FAQ

Is there a way to make this less creamy?

Skip the cream of chicken soup and add an extra cup of broth instead. The dish stays flavorful and lighter without losing that comforting feel.

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4273468 Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Recipe

Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings Recipe


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 34 reviews

  • Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes-8 hours 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Description

Slow cooker chicken and dumplings is comfort food that comes together with minimal effort, letting you toss in chicken, vegetables, and broth before the cooking does the work for you. Biscuit dough drops right into the simmering liquid during the last stretch of cooking, soaking up all those savory flavors as it becomes tender and delicious.


Ingredients

Scale

Protein:

  • 1.5 pounds boneless chicken breasts

Vegetables:

  • 1 cup carrots, sliced
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 cup onion, diced
  • 1 cup frozen peas

Broth and Seasonings:

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 can refrigerated dumplings biscuits

Instructions

  1. Add your 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken breasts to the crockpot along with 4 cups of chicken broth, 1 cup sliced carrots, 1 cup chopped celery, 1 cup diced onion, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Set your crockpot to low and let everything cook for 6 to 8 hours until your chicken is fully cooked through.
  3. Take out the chicken pieces and shred them using two forks, then return the shredded chicken back into your crockpot.
  4. Stir in your 10.5 ounce can of cream of chicken soup and 1 cup of frozen peas into the mixture.
  5. Cut your refrigerated dumplings into quarters and add them directly to your crockpot.
  6. Switch your crockpot to high heat and cook for 30 minutes until your dumplings are completely cooked through.

Notes

  • Shred your chicken while it’s still warm from the broth, as it separates much more easily than cooled chicken.
  • Add your cream of chicken soup and peas only after the chicken is shredded so they don’t overcook during the long cooking time.
  • Drop your dumplings in during the last 30 minutes on high heat to keep them from becoming mushy and falling apart.
  • For a lighter version, replace the cream of chicken soup with an extra cup of broth and add a splash of milk at the end instead.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6 hours 30 minutes-8 hours 30 minutes
  • Category: Slow Cooked Chicken
  • Method: Slow Cooking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6
  • Calories: 345 kcal
  • Sugar: 4 g
  • Sodium: 720 mg
  • Fat: 12 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0.2 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 34 g
  • Cholesterol: 75 mg
Kaiden Poole

Kaiden Poole

Co-Founder & Culinary Story Specialist

Expertise

Global Cuisine Inspiration, Cooking Techniques, Cross-Culture Fusion, Food Trends & Recipe Innovation, Flavor Storytelling, Food Writing, Creative Seasonal Menus

Education

Vancouver Island University – Culinary Arts Certificate
  • Program: Culinary Arts Certificate (Professional Cook 1 & 2)
  • Focus: Fundamental kitchen techniques, food safety, menu planning, and real-world kitchen experience.
Online Gastronomy & Food Culture Courses (Various Platforms)
  • Programs included nutrition, food sustainability, and creative cooking explorations.

Kaiden Poole brings global influence and culinary storytelling to the team. Based in Vancouver, BC, he earned his Culinary Arts Certificate from Vancouver Island University and expanded his knowledge through studies in gastronomy, nutrition, and sustainability. He focuses on cross-cultural flavors and creative fusion, crafting recipes that make international cuisine accessible to home cooks. For Kaiden, food is about curiosity, creativity, and connection around the table.

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