When you crave a comforting, home-cooked meal that practically prepares itself, slow cooker chicken and dumplings is hard to beat. These tender morsels of chicken swim in a creamy, herb-kissed broth, all topped off with fluffy dumplings that soak up every bit of savory goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery ribs, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup baking mix (store-bought biscuit mix or homemade)
- ⅓ cup milk (for dumplings)
Instructions
To start, warm the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic for about five minutes, or until they’re just beginning to turn soft and fragrant. Transfer this mixture to your slow cooker.
Nestle the chicken thighs on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle the thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper over everything, then pour the chicken broth around the meat. Cover and cook on low for about four hours, until the chicken is tender.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and flour until there are no lumps. Carefully stir this mixture into the slow cooker, letting it blend with the cooking juices. Switch the heat to high for about 15 minutes, or until the broth thickens slightly.
Meanwhile, prepare the dumpling dough by mixing the baking mix with ⅓ cup milk. Stir until just combined (avoid overmixing). Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough over the hot mixture in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for another 30 minutes, or until the dumplings are firm and puffy on top.
Once the dumplings are cooked through, take the lid off the slow cooker and give everything a gentle stir. The sauce should be creamy and aromatic, filled with fork-tender chicken and pillowy dumplings.
There’s nothing more soothing than coming home to the aroma of slow cooker chicken and dumplings. This recipe is great for families, busy weeknights, or a lazy Sunday supper. Health-wise, it’s easy to add extra vegetables like peas or green beans, and you can use reduced-sodium broth if you’re watching your salt intake. If you prefer a bit of zing, try adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a dash of hot sauce. However you choose to customize it, this dish delivers relaxed, wholesome comfort—no fuss, just pure cozy satisfaction. Enjoy!
Nathaniel Lee is an avid cook, drawing on his decades of home cooking and fine dining experience. He is a contributing chef at Mashed, and his recipes and contributions have been featured in Tasting Table, Edible Arrangements, Insanely Good Recipes, and The Daily Meal.
