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A slow cooker filled with chicken and dumplings, ready to serve.

Ultimate Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

This recipe features tender chicken and soft, fluffy dumplings cooked to perfection in a rich, savory broth. Ideal for a comforting weeknight meal with minimal effort.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Breakfast
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken Mixture:
  • 1.5 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup (or another cream of chicken for extra chicken flavor)
  • 1 can chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup water
  • small onion finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 2 carrots peeled and diced
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
For the Dumplings:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup cold butter cut into small pieces (or 1/4 cup shortening)
  • 3/4 cup milk (plus more if needed)

Equipment

  • Slow cooker
  • Forks
  • Mixing bowls
  • Pastry blender (optional)

Method
 

Chicken Mixture
  1. Place chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of the slow cooker.
  2. Add chopped onion, diced celery, diced carrots, both cans of soup, chicken broth, and water around the chicken.
  3. Sprinkle in parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper, then stir to combine liquids and submerge the chicken.
  4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until chicken is fully cooked and easily shredded.
Dumplings
  1. Remove and shred the cooked chicken with two forks, then return it to the slow cooker.
  2. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt; cut in cold butter or shortening until crumbs form.
  3. Gradually add milk, mixing until a soft, shaggy dough forms, without overmixing.
  4. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the hot chicken mixture.
  5. Cover tightly and cook on high for 20-30 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through, avoiding lifting the lid.
  6. Stir everything and serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider browning the chicken before adding it to the slow cooker. You can also add a bay leaf to the chicken mixture for a deeper aroma. Feel free to customize with other vegetables like peas or corn in the last hour of cooking. If you prefer a thicker stew, you can add a cornstarch slurry at the end.