Homestyle Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (Print Version)

Comforting Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings: Your family will love this easy, hearty meal. Simple ingredients, minimal fuss for a warm, soul-satisfying dinner.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 20 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 240 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 260 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Standard

# Ingredients:

→ Main Comfort Base

01 - 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 4 cups low sodium chicken broth
03 - 1 (10.5 oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
04 - 1/2 cup milk (whole or 2%)
05 - 1 (10 oz) bag frozen mixed vegetables

→ Flavor Foundations

06 - 1 small onion, finely diced
07 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
08 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
09 - 1 tsp dried thyme
10 - 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
11 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

→ Dumpling Delight

12 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
13 - 2 tsp baking powder
14 - 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
15 - 1/2 cup cold milk

→ Optional Garnishes

16 - Fresh parsley, chopped (for serving)

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, get your chicken thighs ready. Pat them dry, then give them a good sprinkle with salt and pepper. Don't be shy here! Next, finely dice your onion and celery. I always find myself tearing up a bit with the onion, but it's worth it for the flavor. Toss the chicken, onion, celery, minced garlic, dried thyme, and rosemary right into your slow cooker. It's starting to smell good already, even before cooking! Pour in the chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. Give it a gentle stir to combine everything. This is where the magic begins, honestly.
02 - Now, cover your slow cooker and set it to low for 4-6 hours, or high for 2-3 hours. The goal here is for the chicken to be super tender, practically falling apart. I usually aim for low and slow; it just develops the flavors better, you know? While it's cooking, resist the urge to peek too often! Every time you lift that lid, you lose heat, and that just slows down the cooking process. I'm so guilty of this, but I'm trying to be better, promise!
03 - Once the chicken is cooked through and wonderfully tender, carefully remove it from the slow cooker. You can use two forks to shred it right on a cutting board – it should be so easy, hon. While that's happening, stir in the milk and frozen mixed vegetables into the slow cooker liquid. Give it a good whisk to make sure everything is smooth and creamy. Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Oh, the aroma now! It's starting to look like the comforting slow cooker chicken and dumplings you've been dreaming of.
04 - In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder. Then, cut in the cold butter. You want it to be pea-sized crumbs. I use a pastry blender, but your fingertips work just as well—just don't overwork it! Gradually add the cold milk, stirring until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Don't knead it too much; we want light dumplings, not tough ones. It's okay if it looks a little messy, that's part of the charm!
05 - Now for the fun part! Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough directly onto the simmering chicken mixture in the slow cooker. Don't worry about them being perfectly shaped; rustic is totally in. Make sure they're mostly on top of the liquid, not submerged, so they can steam properly. I always try to leave a little space between each one, though sometimes they just want to cuddle. Cover the slow cooker again.
06 - Let the dumplings cook on high for another 20-30 minutes, or until they're puffed up and cooked through. They should feel light and springy to the touch. I usually poke one with a toothpick to make sure it's done—no raw dough here, please! Give it a final taste test and adjust seasonings if needed. Ladle generous portions into bowls. Look at that! A truly comforting slow cooker chicken and dumplings, ready to warm your soul.

# Notes:

01 - Don't overmix the dumpling dough; that's the secret to light, fluffy dumplings, not dense hockey pucks. I learned that the hard way, many times.
02 - Make sure your slow cooker is actually simmering before adding the dumplings; they need that steam to cook through.
03 - Taste and adjust seasonings at the end! It's a game-changer for getting that perfectly balanced flavor.

# Tools You'll Need:

01 - Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
02 - Cutting board
03 - Knife
04 - Measuring cups and spoons
05 - Whisk
06 - Medium bowl
07 - Pastry blender (optional)
08 - Two forks

# Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):

Calories: 450
Total Fat: 25g
Total Carbohydrate: 35g
Protein: 25g

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