Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings: A Cozy, Comforting Slow Cooker Recipe

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is the perfect meal for anyone who loves warm, hearty comfort food with minimal preparation. Tender chicken, soft dumplings, and a creamy, savory broth come together in the slow cooker to create a satisfying dish that tastes like something prepared in a family kitchen on a chilly evening. The best part is that most of the cooking happens without constant attention, making this recipe ideal for busy weekdays, relaxed weekends, or family dinners.

This classic comfort food combines simple ingredients with rich flavor. As the chicken slowly cooks with vegetables, broth, and seasonings, it becomes tender enough to shred easily. The dumplings are added near the end, allowing them to cook directly in the flavorful broth until soft and fluffy.

Whether you are preparing a meal for your family or looking for a dependable recipe to add to your weekly dinner rotation, these Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings are sure to become a favorite.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• Easy preparation: The slow cooker handles most of the work, leaving you with very little hands-on cooking.

• Tender, flavorful chicken: Slow cooking allows the chicken to absorb the seasonings and develop a rich, comforting flavor.

• Creamy consistency: Cream of chicken soup creates a smooth, satisfying broth without requiring a complicated sauce.

• Soft, fluffy dumplings: Refrigerated biscuit dough provides a convenient shortcut to delicious dumplings.

• Perfect for family meals: The recipe makes generous servings and pairs beautifully with simple vegetable sides.

Preparation and Cooking Time

• Prep time: 15 minutes

• Slow cooking time: 4–5 hours on HIGH or 7–8 hours on LOW

• Dumpling cooking time: Approximately 45–60 minutes

• Total time: Approximately 5–6 hours on HIGH or 8–9 hours on LOW

• Servings: 6

Ingredients

For the Chicken and Creamy Broth

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

• 2 celery stalks, chopped

• 2 cans (10.5 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup

• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon onion powder

• ½ cup frozen peas, optional

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional

For the Dumplings

• 1 can (16 ounces) refrigerated biscuit dough

• ½ teaspoon dried parsley, optional

• A small pinch of black pepper

Ingredient note: Refrigerated biscuit dough makes this recipe especially convenient. If you prefer homemade dumplings, you can prepare a simple biscuit-style dough using flour, baking powder, milk, and butter instead.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Begin by peeling and slicing the carrots into small, evenly sized pieces. Chop the onion and celery, then mince the garlic.

Cutting the vegetables into relatively small pieces helps them soften evenly during the slow cooking process. Avoid making the carrot slices too thick, as they may take longer to become tender.

Spread the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and garlic across the bottom of your crockpot. This creates a flavorful base for the chicken and broth.

Step 2: Add the Chicken

Place the chicken breasts or thighs over the vegetables in a single layer when possible.

Chicken thighs generally produce a richer flavor because they contain slightly more fat, while chicken breasts offer a leaner option. Both work well in this recipe.

Sprinkle the chicken with thyme, poultry seasoning, black pepper, salt, and onion powder. Add the butter in small pieces over the chicken and vegetables.

These seasonings give the broth a traditional home-cooked flavor without overpowering the creamy sauce.

Step 3: Prepare the Creamy Broth

In a medium bowl, whisk together the condensed cream of chicken soup and chicken broth until the mixture is mostly smooth.

Pour the mixture evenly over the chicken and vegetables. Use a spoon to distribute it around the crockpot so the ingredients are surrounded by the liquid.

The soup thickens the broth as it cooks, while the chicken broth adds moisture and savory flavor. There is no need to prepare a separate sauce on the stove.

Cover the slow cooker with its lid.

Step 4: Slow Cook Until the Chicken Is Tender

Cook the mixture on HIGH for approximately 4–5 hours or on LOW for 7–8 hours, depending on your slow cooker and the thickness of the chicken.

Keep the lid closed as much as possible. Frequently lifting it releases heat and can extend the cooking time.

The chicken is ready for shredding when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and is tender enough to separate easily with two forks.

If you are using particularly thick chicken breasts, check the temperature toward the earlier end of the cooking window rather than relying on time alone.

Step 5: Shred the Chicken

Carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker and place it on a clean cutting board or in a large bowl.

Using two forks, pull the chicken apart into bite-sized shreds. You can make the pieces small for a more traditional, spoonable texture or leave them slightly larger for a heartier meal.

Return the shredded chicken to the crockpot and stir it gently into the creamy broth.

Taste the mixture and adjust the salt and pepper if necessary. At this point, the chicken should be tender and flavorful, and the broth should have a rich, savory aroma.

Step 6: Prepare the Dumplings

Open the refrigerated biscuit dough and separate the biscuits.

Cut each biscuit into four to six small pieces, depending on the size of the biscuits and how large you want the dumplings to be. Smaller pieces cook more evenly and are easier to serve with the chicken.

If desired, sprinkle the dough pieces lightly with dried parsley and a pinch of black pepper.

Allowing the dough to remain in small, separate pieces helps create soft dumplings throughout the dish instead of a few large, doughy portions.

Please Head On keep  on Reading  (>)