Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Slow cooker chicken and dumplings are an easy way to create your favorite comfort food recipe.

Simple steps with big flavors; tender shredded chicken in a thick gravy mixture and homemade dumplings in each bite.

This chicken and dumplings recipe is perfect for fall and winter.

It reheats well the next day and is a total comfort food.

If you are a lover of chicken I have a few recipes to consider: chicken and noodle soup, chicken curry, or chicken and stuffing casserole.

Reasons To Try This Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings Recipe

• You can toss things in the slow cooker in the morning and let it handle the rest as it cooks all day.
• Made with authentic homemade dumplings, which elevates the flavor tremendously.
• Easy cleanup, especially if you use a slow cooker liner.
• You might already have the ingredients on hand in your pantry and fridge.
• Great for your crew or serve up to a crowd.

Ingredients Needed

Poultry Seasoning: Now you can buy this seasoning or make it from scratch and then use to flavor.

Cream Soup: I used a cream of chicken soup for the base of the recipe. It truly enhances the overall flavor.

Oil and Butter: You will use both for his recipe. Any oil from canola to olive oil works.

Chicken: Any boneless chicken works great, including chicken breasts, boneless thighs, or tenderloins. Just remove the skin.

Flour: Flour is used for the base and, of course, for making dumplings. All-purpose flour works great.

Vegetables: Diced onion, frozen peas, and frozen carrots help to enrich the flavor of this dish’s base.

Baking Powder: You need baking powder, as it will help the dumpling dough rise and become fluffy as it cooks.

Seasonings: Salt and garlic powder are used to slightly flavor the dumplings.

Milk: Milk is used for the dumpling batter. Stir it up to create a light and fluffy dumpling.

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

Full directions and measurements are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page.

This is a quick walkthrough of how it is made.

Step 1: Start by adding water to a bowl. Mix in the poultry seasoning and cans of soup. Mix well, then set to the side.

Step 2: Next, add oil, chicken, and butter to the slow cooker.

Step 3: Pour the soup mixture over, add some flour and vegetables, and then mix.

Step 4: Cover and cook as directed.

Once the chicken is done, remove it and then shred it.

Step 5: In a small bowl, make your dumpling mixture.

Then, slowly add drops of the chicken mixture.

Step 6: Cover and let cook for another hour. Once the dumplings are done, scoop up and enjoy.

Variations and Substitutes

• You can use a cream of mushroom soup, celery, etc.
• Use a turkey breast instead of chicken if you want a bit of a twist in flavor.
• If you don’t have poultry seasoning, you can use any blend of spices: season salt and dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, sage, etc.
• You can swap raw chicken for leftover rotisserie chicken or frozen diced or shredded chicken if you have prepped some for your meal.
• Vegetables: You can leave veggies out or substitute a different kind. Green beans or even corn would both be good swaps.
• Mix 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar cheese into the dumpling mixture for a cheesy dumpling.
• If needed, use plant-based milk to swap in.

Storing Leftovers

Store any of the dumplings in the fridge in an airtight container.

It will last for up to 4 hours. Just make sure when you reheat stir every now and again to ensure it fully reheats.

How to Freeze

Due to the ingredients this doesn’t thaw the best if you freeze. The texture can vary in the dumplings.

You are welcome to freeze for 1-2 months if you choose, and want to try for yourself and see if you like the leftovers.

Tips for Success

• Seasoning the chicken is a must, or you will end up with bland chicken.
• If the broth mixture is not thickened enough, you can make a cornstarch slurry to whip up and stir for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Do not overmix the dumpling dough; you can make the texture dense and heavy.
• Cooking on low helps the chicken slowly cook and hold moisture better than cooking on a high temperature.
• Try not to lift the lid except to add dumplings. When the lid is open, air is released, and it takes time for the slow cooker to come back up to the proper temperature.

More Slowcooker Recipes

If you liked this slowcooker recipe, you’ll love these ones too:

• Slowcooker Beef Chuck Roast Dinner – a slow cooker roast paired with potatoes and carrots and smothered in a flavorful gravy.
• Slowcooker Vegetable Beef Soup – this recipe is the perfect fall comfort food.
• Slowcooker Sloppy Joes – Skip the canned sloppy joe mix and make homemade slow cooker sloppy joes for dinner tonight.
• Slowcooker Split Pea Soup with Ham – this is a classic recipe that you can throw together quickly and allow it to cooke all day!