Chicken and dumplings are even more delicious when they simmer all day in the slow cooker. Try this easy recipe for slow cooker chicken and dumplings!
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Why we love this recipe
I adore my slow cooker. I adore shredded chicken. I adore dumplings. You know what’s coming next!
Because the only thing better than a plate of tender chicken with carrots and celery and fragrant herbed broth and fluffy warm dumplings is all that stuff cooked with no muss and no fuss in your trusty slow cooker. It’s the perfect storm of comfort food meets convenience meets delicious!
Now, the trick to this one (and trust me please, I have learned this from long, hard experience) is that you need to put the dumplings along the outside edge of the slow cooker – right up against the side where all the nice heat is.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities and nutritional information.
How to make this recipe
But I am getting ahead of myself, because first you need to start with the chicken. I use boneless chicken breasts for this one and usually I am all about getting all my frustrations out by pounding them thin with my trusty mallet, but in this case you are going to leave them nice and thick – they will cook up nice and tender that way.
You’re going to give them a quick sear on the top of the stove first which is going to give your chicken that nice brown roasted taste.
Now pop the chicken into the slow cooker and give the veggies a quick turn in the skillet, just enough to get them a little bit tender. Add in a little poultry seasoning and flour, and then a nice amount of chicken broth and white wine (or all broth if you are not a wine person) – this is all going to combine into a lovely fragrant sauce.
Pour the whole thing into the slow cooker with the chicken, add some more broth, cover it up and go find something else to do for 6 hours.
After that 6 hours is up, take the chicken out and using two forks, shred it into nice bite size pieces. Toss it back in and give everything a stir. Now mix up the dumpling ingredients and drop them in 1/4 cup amounts around the outer edge of the slow cooker – it’s perfectly fine if they are touching the sides. Put the cover back on and take a nap for an hour.
When you come back, your dumplings will be puffy and gorgeous – now scoop up ladlefuls of the chicken and veggies and rich sauce, and make sure everyone gets at least one dumpling.
Recipe FAQs
You can! Just make sure they are boneless and you are all set.
Well, searing does add a little more flavor but if you are in a rush (been there!) just pop them in the slow cooker without searing and they will still be just fine.
Poultry seasoning is a combo of ground thyme, sage, marjoram and sometimes a little black pepper. It gives that little something extra to chicken dishes (and I also sometimes use it on fish). You can find it in the spice aisle. I always have some in my spice drawer, but if you don’t have any on hand, you can combine dried sage (that spice is essential to poultry seasoning) with any of those others above and you will be just fine.
You can! Just add an equal amount of chicken broth.
Leave your question (or comment or suggestion) in the Comments box below the recipe and I will answer pronto!
Want to round out your meal?
Honestly, one of the great things about this recipe is that it is a full meal all by itself, what with the chicken and the veggies and the dumplings! But we still need dessert, and these mini apple pies are just the ticket!
Other slow cooker recipes we love
Looking for more slow cooker inspiration? Here is our complete collection of slow cooker recipes!
I like to serve this in warmed soup plates with James Taylor music playing in the background. James Taylor + chicken and dumplings = One Perfect Supper. Happy chicken and dumplings!
Could you leave us a review?
If you try this recipe, we would love to hear how it came out for you! I’d be super grateful if you could leave a star rating (you pick how many stars! 🌟 ) and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings are even more delicious when they simmer all day in the slow cooker. Try this easy recipe for slow cooker chicken and dumplings!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours, 15 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop and Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 onions, chopped
- 4 celery stalks, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 4 carrots, peeled and cut into one inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups chicken broth (I like the boxed Pacific and Imagine varieties)
- 1/2 cup white wine
Dumplings
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Sear the chicken on each side until it is brown, around 4 minutes per side. Transfer to slow cooker.
- Add remaining oil to skillet. Add onions, celery and carrots and cook until slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with flour and poultry seasoning and stir until coated.
- Stir in wine and one cup of the broth and stir until simmering. Pour everything into the slow cooker.
- Add remaining broth, cover and cook on low setting for 6 hours.
- After six hours, remove chicken from cooker and shred into bite sized pieces with two forks. Return chicken to cooker and stir.
- Make dumplings by mixing dry ingredients together in medium mixing bowl. Stir in milk and butter until combined. Drop 1/4 cup amounts of dumpling dough around the edges of the slow cooker (you should have about 8 dumplings) and cover. Continue cooking on low for another hour.
- Serve in soup plates and ejnoy!
Donna Baines says
Hi Kate, I wanted to cook comfort food on this election day. Still waiting on results of presidential race but this recipe is the clear winner!!!
Hi Donna and I feel exactly the same – we are having pasta! Fingers crossed that we both feel comforted and thank you for this sweet note!
Lalee Drew says
Probably the best chicken in a crock pot recipe I’ve made. The preparation of ingredients before cooking is a gamechanger! No change to anything (except I cheat and use Bisquick biscuits!)
Lalee – you made my day! So glad you liked this one (and Bisquick biscuits are NEVER a cheat!) :)
Jon says
I just found your website, and….I want to cook everything i see today! =) I’ve got the chicken barley soup in the cooker at home right now!
I’m so glad! Hope you come back often!
Jon says
oh trust me…i plan to! I love this blog already and have shared it with my friends and family. thank you so much for sharing your cooking expertise! and the photos are all wonderful too!
Thank you so much – you made my day!
Stephanie says
Pinned this a couple years ago! Finally making it this morning. Can’t wait to eat. :)
Oh yay!! Hope you love it! :)
Joni says
Have made this twice in the last 3 weeks…it’s is sooooooo good!
We KNOW we have a hit on our hands when we go into repeats, right? Glad you like it! :)
Lori says
IT’S DELISH!!! Followed everything sans the wine.
Delish is definitely the word. Yay!
Kate says
Wonderful recipe! Live in New Mexico so added Fresh Hatch green chili. We all enjoyed dinner with some crusty bread. Yum!
That sounds like a terrific variation! Glad you liked it. :)
Amanda says
Fantastic idea thanks. Made it yesterday for my kids and it went down a treat. Only addition I made was some lightly roasted pumpkin seeds sprinkled over the top. My family love these and theyโre so good for them.
Kate says
I love this idea – adds a little nice crunch, too!
Judith - Texas says
Just copied the recipe and put ingredients on my shopping list – it will be dinner sometimes next week- love chicken and dumplings and anxious to try it using the slow cooker. Thanks for sharing.
Kate says
Hurray! Happy chicken and dumplings.
Jocelyn says
These look and sound so wonderful. My family is going to have to try this very soon! Thanks for all your inspiration!
Kate says
My pleasure and I hope they love it! :)
Rachel says
Superb looking, but try to make the dumplings with a mixture of cornmeal and flour. It’s my favorite way to do dumplings now. Would also fit right in with the southern influence in your house!
Kate says
Okay, I’m up for that! Thanks! :)
Joanne says
I’m always amazed by just how many things slow cookers can make…dumplings are on my “REALLY?!?” list. :)
Kate says
Really, truly, really. Really!
Robyn Stone | Add a Pinch says
Oh my goodness gracious, Kate! This looks amazing. My slow cooker and I are the very best of friends and I really think this needs to happen soon at my house! xoxo
Kate says
Aren’t slow cookers the best?? Mine never gets put away. :)
Amy says
We eat this over white rice and forgo the dumplings and it’s super yummy. Other times I’ll just pop a can of biscuits. Not as good but quick. I love this recipe.
Chicken and rice – one of my favorite comfort foods and yes! the perfect alternative to biscuits and dumplings. :)