Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe – Easy and Hearty

This slow cooker chicken and dumplings is one of our favorite cozy dinners, tender shredded chicken in a creamy broth with fluffy dumplings, made almost effortlessly in the slow cooker. For us that kind of warm, hands off comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of dinner that feels like a warm hug at the end of a long day, tender shredded chicken in a creamy broth with fluffy dumplings, all made hands off in the slow cooker.

Chicken slow cooks with broth, carrots, celery, and herbs, then gets shredded and finished with cream and quartered biscuit dough that steams into pillowy dumplings. This slow cooker chicken and dumplings is the kind of soul warming, classic comfort food that feels like home. Letting the chicken slow cook with the vegetables and herbs and then finishing with cream and steamed biscuit dumplings gives you soul warming, classic comfort food that feels like home.

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Tender chicken in a creamy broth with fluffy dumplings makes this slow cooker chicken and dumplings a soul warming comfort classic.

Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

• Set and forget. The slow cooker does most of the work for a cozy, creamy meal.
• Fluffy dumplings. Quartered biscuit dough steams into pillowy dumplings right in the pot.
• Tender shredded chicken. Slow cooking keeps the chicken juicy and easy to shred.
• Creamy and comforting. A rich broth with cream makes it pure comfort food.
• Family favorite. A classic that warms everyone up on a cold day.

What Makes This Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings So Good

A great slow cooker chicken and dumplings starts by slow cooking the chicken with broth, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs, which builds a savory, comforting base while keeping the chicken tender. Slow cooking the chicken with broth, carrots, celery, garlic, and herbs builds a savory, comforting base over hours while keeping the meat meltingly tender and easy to shred.

Shredding the cooked chicken and stirring in cream turns the broth rich and velvety, while peas add a pop of color and sweetness to round out the dish. Shredding the cooked chicken and stirring in cream turns the broth rich and velvety, while a handful of peas adds a pop of color and gentle sweetness to round it out.

The key to this slow cooker chicken and dumplings is the dumplings. Dropping quartered biscuit dough over the top and cooking on high lets them steam into light, fluffy pillows that soak up the creamy broth. Dropping quartered biscuit dough over the top and cooking on high lets the pieces steam into light, fluffy pillows that soak up the creamy broth beneath them.

Optional Pro Tip: Add Dumplings at the End

Drop the biscuit dough in only during the last thirty to forty five minutes, cooking on high so the dumplings steam and rise. For the best slow cooker chicken and dumplings, keep the lid closed while they cook so the trapped steam makes them light and fluffy. Adding the biscuit dough only in the last stretch and cooking on high lets the dumplings steam and rise, and keeping the lid closed traps the steam that makes them light and fluffy.

Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Shred the chicken so the slow cooker chicken and dumplings is hearty, and add the cream and peas before the dumplings go in. Shredding the chicken keeps the dish hearty, and stirring in the cream and peas before the dumplings go in ensures the broth is rich and ready when they steam on top.

Cut the biscuit dough into quarters and space the pieces out, then cover and cook on high without lifting the lid so the dumplings steam properly. Cutting the biscuit dough into quarters and spacing the pieces out gives them room to puff, and keeping the lid closed lets them steam through properly into fluffy dumplings.

Variations and Add Ins

• Extra veggies. Add mushrooms, corn, or extra carrots.
• Herb forward. Add extra thyme, rosemary, or fresh parsley.
• Homemade dumplings. Use a simple flour and milk dumpling dough instead of biscuits.
• Thicker broth. Stir in a cornstarch slurry for a thicker, gravy like base.
• Lighter. Use half and half in place of heavy cream.

How to Store and Make Ahead

Store leftover slow cooker chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The dumplings soften but stay delicious. Stored airtight, it keeps its cozy flavor for a few days, and while the dumplings soften as they sit, they stay tender and comforting when reheated.

Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if it has thickened too much. Stir carefully so the dumplings stay intact. A splash of broth stirred in while reheating loosens the broth if it has thickened, and gentle stirring keeps the tender dumplings intact rather than breaking them up.

Serving Suggestions for Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Serve this hot in bowls on its own, since it is a complete meal, or with a simple green salad or crusty bread. A sprinkle of fresh parsley brightens it up. It is hearty enough to be a complete meal on its own, though a simple green salad or crusty bread rounds it out, and a sprinkle of parsley brightens it up.

This dish is a slow cooker take on chicken and dumplings, a Southern comfort classic of stewed chicken topped with biscuit dumplings, as described in this overview of chicken and dumplings. That cozy tradition is the heart of this slow cooker chicken and dumplings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken breasts or thighs?

Both work. Breasts are leaner, while thighs stay especially tender. Either shreds nicely after slow cooking. Both work beautifully, with breasts leaner and thighs especially tender, and either shreds nicely after the long, gentle slow cook.

When do I add the dumplings?

In the last thirty to forty five minutes, cooked on high so they steam and rise into fluffy dumplings. Adding the dumplings in the last stretch, cooked on high so they steam and rise, is the timing that gives you light, fluffy dumplings rather than dense ones.

Why are my dumplings gummy?

Lifting the lid lets steam escape. Keep it closed while they cook, and give them enough time to cook through. Gummy dumplings usually come from lifting the lid, which lets steam escape, so keeping it closed and giving them enough time to cook through is the simple fix.

Can I use canned biscuits?

Yes. Quartered refrigerated biscuit dough makes easy, fluffy dumplings. Homemade dough works too. Quartered refrigerated biscuit dough makes easy, fluffy dumplings, though homemade dough works just as well if you prefer to make it from scratch.

How do I thicken the broth?

Stir in a cornstarch slurry before adding the dumplings for a thicker, gravy like base. Stirring a cornstarch slurry in before the dumplings go on is the easy way to turn the broth into a thicker, gravy like base.

Can I add more vegetables?

Yes. Mushrooms, corn, or extra carrots all work well in the pot. Mushrooms, corn, or extra carrots all stir in nicely, so you can add color and extra vegetables to make the pot even heartier.

Can I make it ahead?

Yes. It keeps for up to three days, though the dumplings soften as they sit. Reheat gently. It keeps for a few days, though the dumplings soften as they sit, so reheat gently and expect a slightly softer, equally cozy bowl.

Can I freeze it?

The chicken and broth freeze well, but dumplings can get soft. For best results, freeze before adding dumplings. The chicken and broth freeze well, but the dumplings can turn soft, so for the best texture, freeze the base before adding them and steam fresh dumplings when you reheat.

What cream should I use?

Heavy cream gives the richest broth. Half and half works for a lighter version. Heavy cream gives the richest broth, while half and half lightens it nicely if you prefer a slightly leaner version.

What can I serve with it?

It is a complete meal, but a green salad or crusty bread pairs nicely. It is a complete meal in a bowl, though a green salad or a slice of crusty bread pairs nicely alongside.

A Soul Warming Comfort Classic

This slow cooker chicken and dumplings turns a beloved comfort dish into an easy, hands off meal thanks to the slow cooker. Tender chicken, creamy broth, and fluffy dumplings are hard to resist. It turns a beloved comfort dish into an easy, hands off meal, with tender chicken, creamy broth, and fluffy dumplings that are hard to resist.

Let it cook all day, drop in the dumplings near the end, and serve warm for a cozy dinner. It is a classic, crowd pleasing meal perfect for chilly evenings. Let it cook all day, drop in the dumplings near the end, and serve it warm for a classic, crowd pleasing dinner on chilly evenings.

If you love warm, comforting chicken dishes like this, you will also enjoy our slow cooker chicken stew, another favorite from our kitchen.