Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Nothing beats the cozy comfort of homemade chicken and dumplings simmering away in your slow cooker! This hearty recipe is perfect for busy families who want a warm, satisfying meal waiting for them at the end of a long day. The best part is that your crock pot does all the work while you go about your day.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 25 minutes, Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes, Serves: 8 people

Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free, Nut-Free, High-Protein, Egg-Free

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 419 Calories, 16g Fat, 36g Carbs, 33g Protein

Ingredients You’ll Need

Chicken breasts: You’ll need 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They’ll get so tender and easy to shred after slow cooking!

Cream of mushroom soup: Two 10½-ounce cans of reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup create that rich, creamy base we all love.

Button mushrooms: One 8-ounce package, trimmed and sliced (about 3 cups). These add such great flavor and texture to every bite.

Carrots: 2 large carrots chopped up give you about 1½ cups. They add natural sweetness and beautiful color.

Yellow onion: 1 medium onion chopped (about 1½ cups) brings that savory foundation flavor.

Celery: 2 large stalks chopped (about 1 cup) add that perfect crunch and fresh taste.

Liquids: 1 cup water and ½ cup reduced-sodium chicken broth help create the perfect consistency.

Seasonings: 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon ground pepper bring all the flavors together.

Fresh parsley: 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided. This brightens up the whole dish!

Thickening paste: 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 3 tablespoons softened unsalted butter make the perfect thickener.

Biscuits: 1 can (12-ounce) refrigerated 2-inch biscuits, quartered. These become your fluffy dumplings!

How to Make Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Step 1: Place chicken, soup, mushrooms, carrots, onion, celery, water, broth, thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper in your 6-quart slow cooker. Stir everything together until well combined. Cover and cook until the chicken reaches 165°F – about 2½ hours on High or 4 to 5 hours on Low.

Step 2: Keep your cooker on and carefully transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Use two forks to shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the shredded chicken back to the cooker. Add 2 tablespoons of parsley and mix well, then cover again.

Step 3: In a small bowl, mix the flour and softened butter until it forms a smooth paste. Add this mixture to your cooker and stir until it’s fully mixed in and the liquid thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.

Step 4: Quarter your biscuits and arrange the pieces on top of the stew. Make sure they don’t overlap! Cover and cook on High until a wooden pick inserted in the center of a biscuit comes out clean, about 1 hour.

Step 5: Gently stir the cooked biscuits into the stew, then mix in your thawed peas. Top with the remaining 2 tablespoons of fresh parsley and serve!

Easy and Quick Crock Pot Chicken & Dumplings Version

Want to save even more time? You can use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken instead! Just add 3 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken during Step 2 and skip the long cooking time. You’ll only need about 30 minutes on High to heat everything through before adding your biscuits. This cuts your total time down to about 2 hours!

Serving Ideas

This hearty dish is pretty much a complete meal all on its own! If you want to add something extra, try serving it with warm dinner rolls or a simple green salad. A glass of sweet tea or lemonade makes it feel like Sunday dinner any day of the week.

Storage

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in a covered container. To reheat, warm it gently on the stove over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. You can also microwave individual portions for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Substitutions

No cream of mushroom soup? No problem! Use cream of chicken soup instead for the same creamy texture. If you don’t like mushrooms, just leave them out or swap them for extra carrots. You can also use chicken thighs instead of breasts – they’ll be even more tender and flavorful!

Pro Tips

Perfect thickening: Make sure your butter is really soft before mixing with flour. This prevents lumps in your stew!
Dumpling success: Don’t lift the lid while the biscuits are cooking – they need that steam to get fluffy.
Extra flavor: Add a bay leaf or two during the initial cooking for deeper flavor. Just remember to remove them before serving!
Vegetable prep: Cut all your vegetables about the same size so they cook evenly.

FAQs

Is chicken good for you?

You bet! Chicken breast is packed with lean protein, choline, vitamin B6, and vitamin B5. Plus, some studies suggest that eating lean white meat might help reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It’s a win-win for taste and health!

Does celery have any health benefits?

Sure does! Celery is 95% water, making it super hydrating and full of electrolytes. One stalk gives you about 10% of your daily vitamin K needs. Plus, it’s loaded with fiber for gut health and antioxidants that help fight inflammation.

Are mushrooms healthy?

Absolutely! Mushrooms are rich in B vitamins, potassium, fiber, and antioxidants. They have anti-inflammatory properties and may boost gut health. Some varieties even provide vitamin D, which many people don’t get enough of!

Can I substitute the cream of mushroom soup?

Sure! Reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup works perfectly as a substitute. It has the same creamy texture but with a rich chicken flavor that’s amazing in this recipe.

What can I use to thicken chicken and dumplings in a crock pot?

The flour and butter paste (called beurre manié) is perfect for this! When the butter melts, it spreads the flour evenly through the liquid without creating lumps. Just make sure to stir it in really well until it’s completely mixed in.

What type of biscuits should I use?

Any canned refrigerated biscuits work great! Buttermilk or classic homestyle biscuits are my favorites because they get perfectly fluffy when cooked in the slow cooker.

How do I know when the dumplings are cooked?

The dumplings are done when they’re fluffy in the center, not dense or doughy. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, just like testing a cake!

I hope you and your family love this comforting chicken and dumplings recipe as much as mine does! Let me know how it turns out for you – I always love hearing about your cooking adventures. Happy cooking, friends!