Easy Crockpot Chicken Dumplings: Simple Comfort Food (Print Version)

Easy Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings: A comforting, creamy meal made simple! Perfect for busy weeknights, your family will love this fuss-free classic.

# Recipe Info:

Prep Time: 15 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 Hours 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 21 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: High-Protein

# Ingredients:

→ Base Ingredients

01 - Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs (about 1.5-2 lbs)
02 - Chicken Broth (low sodium, 4 cups)
03 - Cream of Chicken Soup (condensed, 1 can - 10.5 oz)
04 - Onion (1 medium, chopped)

→ Flavor Boosters

05 - Garlic (3-4 cloves, minced)
06 - Dried Thyme (1 teaspoon)
07 - Salt (1 teaspoon, or to taste)
08 - Black Pepper (1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)

→ Dumpling Essentials

09 - Self-Rising Flour (1.5 cups)
10 - Milk (whole or 2%, 1/2 cup)

→ Fresh Finishing

11 - Fresh Parsley (2 tablespoons, chopped, for garnish)

# Instructions:

01 - First things first, grab your trusty slow cooker – mine's seen some things, let me tell you. Toss in those boneless, skinless chicken thighs right at the bottom. Then, sprinkle over your chopped onion and minced garlic. It'll smell good even before it starts cooking, trust me. Pour in the chicken broth and the condensed cream of chicken soup. Give it a gentle stir just to combine the liquids a bit, making sure those savory flavors are ready to meld. Add your dried thyme, salt, and pepper now too; this is where the base really starts to sing.
02 - Pop that lid on your slow cooker. Set it to low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Honestly, I prefer low and slow for this easy crockpot chicken and dumplings recipe; the chicken just gets incredibly tender and practically falls apart. You'll start to notice the most incredible aroma wafting through your kitchen after a few hours – that's when you know good things are happening! Don't peek too much; every time you lift the lid, it adds cooking time, and we want that consistent heat.
03 - Once the cooking time is up and the chicken is super tender, carefully remove it from the slow cooker. You can use two forks to shred it right in a bowl – it should be super easy, like butter. I usually manage to get some broth on the counter at this stage, total kitchen chaos, but it's worth it! Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, giving it a good stir into that creamy, flavorful broth. Oh, the smell is just divine at this point!
04 - Now for the fun part: the dumplings! In a medium bowl, whisk together your self-rising flour and milk until it forms a soft, sticky dough. Don't overmix it, though; a few lumps are totally fine. Overmixing can lead to tough dumplings, and we're going for fluffy clouds here. This step always makes me feel like a kid again, playing with dough, even if it's just for a minute.
05 - Here's where it gets exciting! Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough directly onto the simmering chicken mixture in the slow cooker. Don't worry about making them perfectly round; rustic is the vibe. I usually use a tablespoon or two, making sure they're not piled on top of each other too much. They'll expand, trust me. Make sure they're mostly submerged in the liquid so they can cook through properly.
06 - Replace the lid on your slow cooker and cook on high for another 30-45 minutes, or until the dumplings are puffed up and cooked through. They should be light and fluffy when you poke them with a toothpick. When it's ready, the broth will be thick and creamy, the chicken tender, and the dumplings perfectly soft. Ladle generous portions into bowls and, if you're feeling fancy (or just want that fresh pop), sprinkle with some fresh chopped parsley. Honestly, this Easy Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is pure comfort in a bowl!

# Notes:

01 - Always use self-rising flour for the dumplings; I learned the hard way that regular flour makes them dense and sad without added leavening.
02 - Don't lift the slow cooker lid too often while the dumplings are cooking, or they won't steam properly and will take forever to get fluffy.
03 - Shredding the chicken *before* adding the dumplings ensures it's perfectly distributed and you don't accidentally overcook the dumplings trying to get the chicken right.
04 - For an extra layer of flavor, quickly sear the chicken thighs in a hot pan before adding them to the slow cooker; it really makes a difference.

# Equipment Needed:

01 - 6-Quart Slow Cooker

# Nutrition (Per Serving):

Calories: 450 kcal
Total Fat: 20g
Total Carbohydrate: 40g
Protein: 30g

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