There’s nothing quite like coming home to a warm, cozy bowl of Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings after a long day. This easy slow cooker recipe combines tender, juicy chicken, creamy broth, hearty vegetables, and soft, fluffy dumplings for the ultimate comfort food dinner.
The best part? You only need a few simple ingredients, and the crockpot does most of the work! This easy chicken and dumplings recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, chilly fall and winter evenings, Sunday dinners, or whenever you’re craving a comforting homemade meal.
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
- Easy to make: Let your slow cooker do the hard work.
- Comfort food favorite: Creamy, savory, and incredibly satisfying.
- Family-friendly: A dinner that even picky eaters tend to love.
- Perfect for busy nights: Minimal prep and simple ingredients.
- One-pot meal: Less mess and fewer dishes!
- Great for leftovers: It reheats beautifully for an easy next-day lunch.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Soup
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cups carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup frozen peas
For the Dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
- ¾ cup milk
How to Make Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
1. Add the Chicken and Vegetables
Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the diced onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic.
Season everything with salt, black pepper, parsley, thyme, and poultry seasoning.
2. Add the Broth and Cream of Chicken Soup
Pour the chicken broth over the chicken and vegetables. Add the cream of chicken soup and gently stir around the edges to combine.
Cover and cook on LOW for 5–6 hours or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
3. Shred the Chicken
Remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred it with two forks. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir everything together.
Add the heavy cream and frozen peas.
4. Make the Dumpling Dough
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly stir in the milk until a soft dough forms.
Be careful not to overmix—the dumplings are best when the dough stays light and tender.
5. Add the Dumplings
Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough over the top of the chicken mixture.
Cover the slow cooker again and cook on HIGH for about 45–60 minutes, or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
Avoid lifting the lid too often while the dumplings cook. That trapped steam is what helps them become soft and fluffy!
6. Serve
Once the dumplings are cooked, gently stir the chicken mixture and serve hot.
Spoon plenty of creamy chicken, vegetables, and dumplings into each bowl and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
Don’t overmix the dumpling dough. Overworking the dough can make your dumplings dense instead of fluffy.
Keep the lid closed. When the dumplings are cooking, try not to peek. The slow cooker needs the steam to cook them properly.
Use chicken thighs for extra flavor. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be substituted for the chicken breasts if you prefer darker meat.
Cut your vegetables evenly. Similar-sized pieces help the carrots and celery cook at the same rate.
Add the peas near the end. Frozen peas only need a few minutes to warm through, so adding them later helps keep their color and texture.
Can I Use Biscuit Dough for the Dumplings?
Absolutely! If you want to make this recipe even easier, refrigerated biscuit dough can be used instead of homemade dumplings.
Simply cut the biscuit dough into small pieces and place them over the chicken mixture during the final cooking stage. Keep the slow cooker covered until the biscuits are completely cooked through.
Can I Make Chicken and Dumplings Ahead of Time?
Yes! Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings makes a fantastic make-ahead meal.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. When reheating, add a splash of chicken broth or milk if the sauce has thickened too much.
The dumplings will absorb some of the creamy broth as they sit, so adding a little extra liquid helps bring the dish back to its original consistency.
What to Serve With Chicken and Dumplings
This recipe is hearty enough to serve as a complete meal, but you can pair it with:
- A simple green salad
- Steamed green beans
- Roasted broccoli
- Corn on the cob
- Cranberry sauce
- A side of roasted vegetables
- Homemade dinner rolls
Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Nutrition Facts
Estimated nutrition per serving based on 8 servings:
- Calories: 515
- Protein: 38g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 1,080mg
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary depending on the specific brands and ingredients used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen chicken?
For food-safety reasons, it is best to thaw chicken before putting it into a slow cooker. Thawed chicken cooks more evenly and reaches a safe temperature more reliably.
Why are my dumplings hard?
Hard or dense dumplings are usually caused by overmixing the dough, using too little liquid, or allowing too much steam to escape while they cook. Mix the dough just until combined and keep the lid closed.
Can I make this without cream of chicken soup?
Yes. You can replace the canned soup with a homemade creamy chicken sauce, although the canned soup makes this recipe especially quick and easy.
Can I freeze chicken and dumplings?
The chicken and creamy soup mixture can be frozen, but the dumplings may become softer or change texture after freezing and reheating. For the best results, freeze the chicken mixture separately and make fresh dumplings when reheating.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for an easy crockpot dinner recipe that tastes like it simmered all day, this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is definitely one to save. Tender shredded chicken, creamy savory broth, vegetables, and fluffy homemade dumplings come together in one seriously cozy meal.
It’s the kind of old-fashioned comfort food that makes the whole house smell amazing—and it’s especially delicious on a chilly evening.
Save this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings recipe to Pinterest so you can make it for your next cozy family dinner!
I hope you enjoyed learning about how to make this classic and cozy crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe! If you liked this one, you should check out my Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Meatballs Recipe and the rest of my blog. If you have any questions, please contact me at: [email protected]