Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (Print)

Chicken and savory dumplings simmer in a rich, creamy broth for a cozy, comforting main dish.

# Components:

→ Chicken and Broth

01 - 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 1 large yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 medium carrots, sliced
04 - 3 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
08 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
09 - 1 bay leaf
10 - 1 teaspoon salt
11 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
12 - ½ cup heavy cream

→ Dumplings

13 - 1½ cups all-purpose flour
14 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
17 - ¾ cup whole milk
18 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# Directions:

01 - Place chicken, diced onion, sliced carrots, sliced celery, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried parsley, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper into the slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and stir to combine all ingredients.
02 - Secure the lid and cook on the low setting for 5 hours, or until the chicken is exceptionally tender.
03 - Carefully remove the cooked chicken from the slow cooker. Shred the chicken using two forks and return it to the pot. Discard the bay leaf. Stir in the heavy cream until fully incorporated.
04 - In a separate medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Incorporate the cold, cubed butter using your fingertips or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gently stir in the whole milk and optional fresh parsley until just combined; avoid overmixing.
05 - Increase the slow cooker setting to high. Drop spoonfuls of the prepared dumpling dough, approximately 2 tablespoons each, onto the surface of the simmering soup.
06 - Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 1 hour, or until the dumplings are puffed and thoroughly cooked through.
07 - Taste the dish and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Requires minimal hands on time with just 20 minutes of prep
  • Creates a complete one pot meal that feeds the whole family
  • Uses basic ingredients you likely already have in your pantry
  • Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekend cooking
  • Results in restaurant quality comfort food with almost zero effort
02 -
  • Perfect recipe for meal prepping on Sunday for easy weekday dinners
  • Contains a balanced mix of protein vegetables and carbohydrates in one dish
  • Extremely forgiving recipe that works well with substitutions
  • The dumplings will continue to absorb liquid if stored overnight
03 -
  • Always use cold butter and milk for the dumplings. The cold butter creates steam pockets as it melts, resulting in fluffier dumplings.
  • For maximum flavor, brown the chicken thighs in a skillet before adding to the slow cooker. This extra step takes just 3 minutes per side but adds incredible depth.
  • The perfect dumpling should be light and fluffy. To achieve this, handle the dough as little as possible and don't peek during the steaming process.
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