Name: The Easiest Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 300 min
Total time: 310 min
Ingredients: 2 Chicken Breasts; 6 cups Chicken Broth; 1 cup Frozen Peas and Carrots; 16 ounces Refrigerated Biscuit Dough; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Ground Black Pepper; 1 tsp Garlic Powder; 2 Bay Leaves

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Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings is the ultimate comfort food. They’re warm, creamy, and loaded with tender chicken and fluffy biscuit dumplings. This cozy dish is perfect for busy weeknights, lazy weekends, or when you just want something hearty without spending hours in the kitchen. With just a few kitchen staples and a slow cooker, you can have this classic Southern favorite ready with minimal effort.

Overhead image of Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings in a brown bowl

What Makes This Total Comfort Food

Hands-off cooking. The slow cooker does the heavy lifting, so you can go about your day while dinner practically makes itself.
Rich and creamy flavor. The combination of tender chicken, creamy broth, and fluffy dumplings makes every bite taste like home.
Budget-friendly. Made with simple, affordable ingredients that stretch into a hearty meal.
Family favorite. Comfort food at its finest. Kids and adults alike will be asking for seconds.

Whether it’s a chilly evening or you just need a little bowl of comfort, this slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe will hit the spot every time.

What Do Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings Taste Like?

This dish is cozy, creamy, and full of flavor. The chicken cooks low and slow until it’s fall-apart tender, while the broth becomes rich and savory. The dumplings soak up the flavor and turn into pillowy bites of comfort. It’s like a warm hug in a bowl. This Crock Pot recipe is perfect for those days when only true comfort food will do.

Ingredients To Grab

Chicken Breasts– The main protein of the dish. As they cook low and slow, the chicken becomes tender and easy to shred, creating hearty bites in every spoonful.
Chicken Broth– Acts as the flavorful base for the dish, infusing the chicken and vegetables with rich, savory taste while forming the “gravy-like” sauce for the dumplings.
Frozen Peas and Carrots– Add sweetness, color, and texture to the dish without the extra prep work. They balance the richness of the creamy broth and chicken.
Refrigerated Biscuit Dough– The shortcut dumplings! When placed on top of the bubbling chicken mixture, they cook up fluffy and tender, mimicking homemade dumplings with far less effort.
Spices– A blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and bay leaves enhances the overall flavor, ensuring the dish is savory, comforting, and well-rounded.

How To Make Slow Cooker Chicken And Dumplings

Two chicken breasts in a slow cooker with broth and spices

Cook the chicken. Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker with chicken broth and all of the spices. Cook on low heat for 4-6 hours until the chicken is fall-apart tender.

Cooked and shredded chicken breasts in a slow cooker

Shred the chicken. Remove the bay leaves. Use two forks to carefully shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Biscuits cut into pieces on a cutting board

Prepare the dumplings. Open a can of biscuits and cut each biscuit into 8 pieces. They don’t have to be perfect, just close in size so they cook evenly.

Chunks of biscuit dough and vegetables in a slow cooker with chicken and broth

Add biscuits and veggies. Place the chunks of biscuit dough and the frozen veggies into the slow cooker with the shredded chicken and broth.

Close up image of partially cooked crockpot chicken and dumplings

Finish cooking. Place the lid back onto the slow cooker and continue cooking for 30 minutes. Use a spoon and carefully separate the dumplings. Replace the lid and continue cooking for another 30 minutes until the dumplings are cooked through.

Close up image of slow cooker chicken and dumplings in a brown bowl

Serve and enjoy! Serve the dumplings with a sprinkle of parsley and your favorite sides for a wonderfully comforting meal.

Tips And Tricks

Making Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings is wonderfully simple, but a few smart tips can take it from good to absolutely irresistible. Here are some tried-and-true tricks to help you get the best results every time:

Don’t lift the lid often. Every peek releases steam and can slow down the dumpling cooking process. Just once to separate the dumplings halfway through the cooking process is plenty.
Cut dumplings small. Smaller biscuit pieces cook evenly and won’t clump together.
Add veggies last for more texture. For firmer vegetables, stir them in during the last 30 minutes instead of when you add the dumplings.
Thicken the broth. If you like it extra creamy, stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water) during the last 30 minutes. This will make it less soupy and closer to a slow cooker casserole.

Variations

One of the best things about Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings is how easy it is to customize! With just a few simple swaps or add-ins, you can create a version that perfectly fits your taste and pantry. Here are some tasty variations to try:

Make it herby. Add thyme, rosemary, or sage for extra flavor.
Spice it up. A pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes gives it a gentle kick.
Swap the protein. Use turkey or even rotisserie chicken for a shortcut version.
Add more veggies. Green beans, cubed potatoes, or corn all work well in this dish.

What Goes With Chicken And Dumplings?

When serving Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings, pairing it with the right sides can balance out the richness of the dish and round out your meal beautifully. Here are some tasty ideas to serve alongside it:

Fresh Side Salad– A crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette helps cut through the creamy richness.
Roasted Vegetables– Carrots, green beans, or Brussels sprouts add color, texture, and extra nutrition.
Mashed Potatoes or Rice– Perfect for soaking up that creamy broth if you want even more comfort on your plate.

How Long Do They Last?

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings is best enjoyed fresh, but leftovers can definitely be saved for later. Stored in an airtight container, it will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator. The dumplings may soften as they sit, but the flavor will remain comforting and delicious.

How To Reheat Chicken And Dumplings

To reheat, place the chicken and dumplings in a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of water or broth, and microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also reheat larger portions on the stovetop in a pot over medium-low heat with additional broth for 5-10 minutes.

Can You Freeze Them?

If you’d like to keep them longer, you can freeze them, but with a little care. The chicken and broth freeze very well for up to 3 months, but the dumplings don’t always hold their fluffy texture once thawed, often becoming a bit soggy.

For best results, freeze the chicken and sauce separately, then make a fresh batch of dumplings when you’re ready to reheat and serve. This way, you’ll still get that soft, pillowy dumpling texture along with the hearty chicken stew base.

More Simple Slow Cooker Recipes

If you love this Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe as much as our family does, make sure you share it with your friends on social media so they can try it too! Don’t forget to save it so you can make it again next time you need some simple comfort food.