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Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

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This easy crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food, featuring tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fluffy dumplings all slow-cooked to perfection. Perfect for busy families, it’s a cozy, hands-off meal that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (whole milk can be substituted)
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh thyme)
  • 1 tsp dried parsley (or 1 tbsp fresh parsley for serving)
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 can (16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (such as Pillsbury Grands)
  • OR for homemade dumplings: 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup whole milk, 2 tbsp melted butter
  • Optional: 1 cup frozen peas
  • Optional: 1 cup diced potatoes (Yukon gold recommended)
  • Optional: Pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Chop the onion, carrots, and celery. Mince the garlic. Dice potatoes or other add-ins if using.
  2. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker. Add onion, carrots, celery, and garlic on top. Sprinkle with thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Pour in chicken broth and dot with butter.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4-5 hours, until chicken is fork-tender and veggies are soft.
  4. Remove chicken to a plate and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Stir in heavy cream or half-and-half. Add peas if using.
  5. For biscuit dough dumplings: Cut each biscuit into quarters and drop evenly over the hot mixture. For homemade dumplings: In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in milk and melted butter until just mixed. Drop spoonfuls (about 1 tbsp each) onto the bubbling surface.
  6. Cover and cook on HIGH for 30-45 minutes, or until dumplings are puffed and cooked through. Avoid uncovering too often.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If broth is too thin, cook uncovered for the last 10 minutes; if too thick, add extra broth.
  8. Ladle chicken, veggies, and dumplings into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

For richer flavor, sauté onions, carrots, and celery in butter before adding to the crockpot. Use chicken thighs for juicier meat, or breasts for a lighter dish. To make gluten-free, use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend or GF biscuit dough. For dairy-free, substitute coconut cream and vegan butter. Let dumplings sit a few minutes after cooking to firm up. Leftovers thicken as they sit; add broth or milk when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot chicken and dumplings, slow cooker, comfort food, family dinner, easy chicken recipe, biscuit dumplings, creamy chicken stew, one-pot meal

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/crockpot-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe-easy-comfort-food-for-families/