These slow cooker chicken and dumplings are the perfect choice for a delicious comfort food meal! Tender chicken, creamy sauce, a few favorite vegetables, and pillowy dumplings make for a great all-in-one meal. Making these in the slow cooker turns it into a perfect weeknight meal that cooks while you work.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
I grew up eating chicken and dumplings. It's a standard in the South and a classic easy way to make dinner go a bit further. Somehow, you can take a small amount of chicken, a can of biscuits, and suddenly you have a meal for a large family and everyone is full. If you need to stretch your budget and offer an easy, one pot meal, this is the one for you.
If you need more one-pot meals on your menu, this list of Dutch oven one-pot meals is a great source to check out. Of course, the skillet chicken pot pie is another excellent choice to add to your routine. It's comforting and packed with fresh herb flavor.
Can I Use Chicken Thighs for Dumplings?
Of course! You can use chicken thighs and chicken breasts interchangeably in this recipe. My grandma and mom always used leftover chicken from when they had baked a whole chicken to shred and add in their homemade chicken and dumplings. You can do this also if you wish. Just check out this roasted chicken with garlic butter if you want to check out that method of cooking the chicken instead.
What If I Don't Want to Use Canned Soup Concentrate?
Some prefer to use homemade soup concentrate in place of canned. Canned soups can be very high in sodium, and if that is a concern, you can change this out to something a bit different. There are lower sodium and healthier options available to choose from. Alternately, you could make a batch of homemade cream of chicken soup and pour it into this recipe. That would add some time and work to the process, but it can be useful if you prefer the cleaner version of this recipe.
What Vegetables Go With Dumplings?
I never had anything other than celery or onion in my dumplings as a child. Until I was an adult, I didn't realize how many people add other vegetables to theirs. For this recipe, frozen peas and carrots are added. You can use any number of vegetables, and below are some that work exceptionally well.
- Yellow onion, white onion, garlic, celery.
- Carrots, potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, parsnips, kohlrabi
- Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus
- Squash, zucchini, eggplant
If you would add the vegetable to a chicken pot pie, then it would definitely work in this recipe. The flavor profiles are pretty similar, and while not exact, they definitely compliment so could be interchangeable with additions and herbs.
What is in Italian Seasoning Blend?
If you don't have an Italian seasoning blend on hand, you can make your own. When I make it, I typically make a full batch then store extra in a small jar or airtight container.
To make the blend, combine:
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 2 tablespoons dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Just use 1 teaspoon of this blend in the recipe below then store the extra for use later down the road.
What Is The Best Thing to Use for Dumplings?
For this version, the classic canned biscuit works wonderfully. You can use other items in place of those if you prefer. Homemade biscuit dough, Bisquick biscuits, frozen biscuits, or even flour tortillas can all work in place of the canned biscuits if you prefer.
Ingredients
- Onion
- Chicken breasts
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Cream of chicken soup
- Chicken broth
- Frozen peas and carrots
- Canned biscuits
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Crock-Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Season the chicken breasts generously on all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
In a 5-quart slow cooker, add the onion and chicken, as well as any additional seasoning left.
Cover with chicken broth, then add the cream soup on top. You don't need to stir it at this time.
Cover with lid, and cook on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours (depending upon how thick chicken breasts are).
Use a fork to shred the chicken and stir it together with the broth and condensed soup until well combined.
Add in the frozen peas and carrots and stir to combine.
Cut canned biscuits into quarters, then place in a single layer over the top of the chicken and vegetable mixture.
Cover again, and cook on high for an additional 1 ½ to 2 hours.
Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired before serving.
Chef's Tips
All slow cookers heat at slightly different temperatures. If you find that yours tends to be slower than others, you may want to increase the cook time. Otherwise, the best method of making sure the chicken is ready to shred is to check that it has reached 165°F internally. When it is easy to shred and no longer has pink inside it also indicates the chicken is done.
Additionally, after adding the vegetables and biscuits, you may find that your slow cooker is hot enough still that it will only require 30 minutes to 1 hour to cook. Test the times when making this for the first time in your own cooker to make sure what temperatures are best for you.
More Comfort Food Recipes
If you want more comforting ideas for your menu, we have tons to share. Below you will find some of my favorites that pack great flavor, are easy to prepare, and fit the comfort food notes you desire. Make sure to bookmark, pin, or print the recipe for future use.
- 35+ Instant Pot Comfort Food Meals for Busy Weeknights
- Traditional Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Tomato Sauce
- The Best Ever Skillet Pork Chops with Pan Gravy
- Comforting Bean and Sausage Casserole Recipe
- Southern Style Chicken Fried Chicken with Country Gravy
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
The slow cooker makes chicken and dumplings simple and easy to make. This is a perfect comfort food meal!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb chicken breasts (680 gm)
- ½ onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt (5 gm)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper (5 gm)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (5 gm)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (5 gm)
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup (298 gm)
- 28 oz chicken broth (794 gm)
- 1 (8 ct) can biscuits
- 1 (12 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables (340 gm)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts generously on all sides with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- In a 5-quart slow cooker, add the onion and chicken, as well as any additional seasoning left.
- Cover with chicken broth, then add the cream soup on top. You don't need to stir it at this time.
- Cover with lid, and cook on high for 2 ½ to 3 hours (depending upon how thick chicken breasts are).
- Use a fork to shred the chicken and stir it together with the broth and condensed soup until well combined.
- Add in the frozen peas and carrots and stir to combine.
- Cut canned biscuits into quarters, then place in a single layer over the top of the chicken and vegetable mixture.
- Cover again, and cook on high for an additional 1 ½ to 2 hours.
- Taste and add additional salt and pepper if desired before serving.
Notes
All slow cookers heat at slightly different temperatures. If you find that yours tends to be slower than others, you may want to increase the cook time. Otherwise, the best method of making sure the chicken is ready to shred is to check that it has reached 165°F internally. When it is easy to shred and no longer has pink inside it also indicates the chicken is done.
Additionally, after adding the vegetables and biscuits, you may find that your slow cooker is hot enough still that it will only require 30 minutes to 1 hour to cook. Test the times when making this for the first time in your own cooker to make sure what temperatures are best for you.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 267Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1222mgCarbohydrates: 10gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 38g
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