Description

This Easy Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings recipe offers tender chicken simmered in a rich, savory broth filled with classic vegetables and topped with fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings. Perfect for cozy family dinners, this slow cooker meal requires minimal prep, making comforting homemade food effortless and stress-free any day of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Broth Base

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
6 cups chicken broth

Vegetables and Aromatics

2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced

Dumplings

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1 cup buttermilk or milk (or dairy-free alternative)

Seasonings and Herbs

Salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as thyme or parsley)
Optional: fresh parsley or thyme for garnish

Instructions

Prep the Ingredients: Chop the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into bite-sized pieces. Cut the chicken into chunks or leave whole if you plan to shred later. This ensures even cooking.
Build the Flavor Base: Place the chopped vegetables, chicken broth, chicken pieces, and seasonings into the crockpot. Stir gently to combine, forming a rich and flavorful broth.
Cook Low and Slow: Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours until the chicken is tender and the broth is infused with flavor.
Prepare the Dumpling Dough: Near the end of cooking, mix together flour, baking powder, salt, softened butter, and buttermilk (or substitute) until a soft dough forms.
Add Dumplings and Finish Cooking: Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the hot broth in the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 30-45 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
Shred Chicken and Serve: Remove whole chicken pieces to shred with forks, then stir shredded chicken back into the broth. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful meat.
Avoid opening the crockpot lid frequently to maintain heat and cooking time.
Use a spoon or small ice cream scoop to drop dumplings evenly for consistent cooking.
If broth is too thin, thicken with a cornstarch slurry before adding dumplings.
Add fresh herbs just before serving to keep flavors bright.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 hours (low) or 3-4 hours (high) plus 30-45 minutes for dumplings
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1⅙ cups)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 5 g
Sodium: 700 mg
Fat: 12 g
Saturated Fat: 6 g
Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 32 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg

Keywords: crockpot chicken and dumplings, slow cooker chicken recipe, comfort food, easy dinner, chicken stew, homemade dumplings