Using a crock pot to slow simmer the chicken and dumplings helps make this a rich, flavorful home-cooked meal.
The best part is that it requires minimal hands-on time, making it the perfect option for busy individuals who want to enjoy a delicious, home-cooked meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
What Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken: For this recipe, I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Ensure that they are thawed if purchased frozen before placing them into the crockpot.
- Onion: You can use a white or yellow onion
- Creamed soups: To make this a super easy recipe with rich broth use a can of cream of chicken and cream of celery.
- Spices: Down-home spices such as parsley, dried thyme, poultry seasoning, and garlic powder create a rich, flavorful broth for your dumplings to simmer in.
- Frozen vegetables: another way to make this a super easy recipe is to use Frozen peas and carrots that have already been diced.
- Broth: Choose a good broth, rich chicken broth or chicken bone broth.
What type of biscuits should I use?
For this recipe, you can use any type of canned biscuits, such as buttermilk, flaky, or buttery biscuits
Can you use something other than canned biscuits?
Yes, you can use homemade biscuit dough instead of canned biscuits for this recipe. Just roll the dough into thin strips and place them on top of the chicken and vegetable mixture in the slow cooker. You could also make Bisquick dumplings using the powder box mix.
How to Make Chicken and Dumplings in a Slow Cooker
- First, place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into your large 6-quart slow cooker. (Be sure they are thawed, not frozen)
- Top them with the diced onions – we’re building flavor right from the start!
- Now, in a medium bowl, let’s mix together the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, broth, and seasonings. Whisk until creamy and smooth.
- Spread that creamy soup mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Now, let’s add the bag of frozen peas and carrots on top.
- Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on high for 4 hours. But here’s the trick – no stirring! We want to keep that heat inside.
- After 4 hours, remove the chicken breast. Try to do this quickly, replacing the lid to keep the broth bubbling on high.
- On a cutting board or large plate shred the chicken pulling it with two forks.
- Stir in the shredded chicken quickly and place the lid back on. Continue cooking on high.
Making The Dumplings
- Next, we are going to prep the biscuits. Place a piece of canned biscuit dough on a cutting board. Using a sharp, long-blade knife, cut the biscuit into thin strips. Rotate the cutting board and cut the strips in the other direction to create small squares.
- Quickly open the slow cooker lid and drop the uncooked biscuit strips right on top.
- Quickly put the lid back on, and let it cook for an additional 1 hour. At the thirty minutes to go mark, slightly lift the lid just enough to gently stir the dumplings with a long handled spoon. This helps them break apart instead of being one big massive dumpling. Cover and continue cooking.
- Now, the grand finale! When the cooking time is up, stir everything well.
When should I put my dumplings in a slow cooker?
During the last hour of cooking, you will shred the chicken and place it back into the crockpot. After you do this you should put the dumplings in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for one more hour.
How do you know when dumplings are done in a slow cooker?
To check if the dumplings are cooked in a slow cooker, you can use a toothpick or fork. Insert it into the dumpling and if it comes out clean with no doughy residue, then the dumpling is done. Remember, dumplings should have a soft and chewy consistency, which adds to their deliciousness. When cooked, they should be soft, tender, and slightly doughy.
Why did my dumplings turn to mush?
Dumplings can turn mushy due to overcooking or overcrowding in the slow cooker. It’s important to follow the cooking times and avoid stirring too much. Also, make sure there’s enough space in the slow cooker for the dumplings to cook evenly.
Mix-Ins to Make This Recipe Your Own
- Soup: If you prefer, you can swap out the cream of celery soup for another can of cream of chicken. You could also use cream of mushroom or cream of onion if you prefer.
- Veggies: you can add extra vegetables like corn or green beans, or even some diced potatoes for more variety. Be sure they are all cut the same size so they cook evenly.
- Meat: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or turkey meat would also be delicious.
Serving Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings To A Crowd
This recipe typically makes around 8 servings, if you are serving it with a side salad or other vegetables. For a dinner party or large family get toether I suggest using two crockpots and double this recipe to serve 16.
Make the chicken and dumplings ahead of time and then turn them to low when it’s time for your guests to arrive. You can keep it warm in the slow cooker and set up a self-serve station with bowls, spoons, and extra toppings like fresh herbs or grated cheese.
Good sides to serve with chicken and dumplings include a simple Green Jacket Salad, Crockpot Asparagus, crusty beer bread, and mashed potatoes.
How to Store Leftovers
- Frige: To store leftover crockpot chicken and dumplings, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezer: If you need to store them for longer, you can freeze the chicken and dumplings in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: When reheating, you may need to add a bit of extra broth or water to maintain the consistency. Since chicken and dumplings are fairly thick, it would be best to reheat it in the microwave or in a covered dish in your oven. The stovetop might scorch.
This recipe is perfect for church potlucks, family dinners, or easy entertaining when friends come over for dinner. For more easy crock pot one-pot dinners try my Cheesy Tortilla Chicken Soup, Sirloin Tip Roast & Veggies, and 4 Ingredient Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing.
Do you have a question?
Do you have a question about this recipe❓ I will answer in the comment form below👇🏼 the recipe card. Did you make this recipe? If so, could you be a gem and leave a comment and rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below? This helps others find yummy 😋 recipes to make for their family and friends.
Old Fashioned Crock Pot Chicken And Dumplings
Note: Be sure to read through the recipe’s post for tips and details about this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken breast, boneless, skinless, and thawed
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup
- 10.5 ounces cream of celery soup
- 32 ounces chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 16 ounces peas and carrots, frozen bag
- 2 cans refrigerated biscuits, 7.5 ounces each, 10 count each
Instructions
- First, place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into your large 6-quart slow cooker. (Be sure they are thawed, not frozen)2 pounds chicken breast
- Top them with the diced onions – we’re building flavor right from the start!1/2 cup onion
- Now, in a medium bowl, let’s mix together the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, broth, and seasonings. Whisk until creamy and smooth.10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup, 10.5 ounces cream of celery soup, 32 ounces chicken broth, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Spread that creamy soup mixture over the chicken in the slow cooker.
- Now, let’s add the bag of frozen peas and carrots on top.16 ounces peas and carrots
- Cover the crockpot with its lid and cook on high for 4 hours. But here’s the trick – no stirring! We want to keep that heat inside.
- After 4 hours, remove the chicken breast. Try to do this quickly, replacing the lid to keep the broth bubbling on high.
- On a cutting board or large plate shred the chicken pulling it with two forks.
- Stir in the shredded chicken quickly and place the lid back on. Continue cooking on high.
- Next, we are going to prep the biscuits. Place a piece of canned biscuit dough on a cutting board. Using a sharp, long-blade knife, cut the biscuit into thin strips. Rotate the cutting board and cut the strips in the other direction to create small squares.2 cans refrigerated biscuits
- Quickly open the slow cooker lid and drop the uncooked biscuit strips right on top.
- Quickly put the lid back on, and let it cook for an additional 1 hour. At the thirty minutes to go mark, slightly lift the lid just enough to gently stir the dumplings with a long handled spoon. This helps them break apart instead of being one big massive dumplings. Cover and continue cooking.
- Now, the grand finale! When the cooking time is up, stir everything well.
Notes
- Soup: If you prefer, you can swap out the celery for another can of cream of chicken. You could also use cream of mushroom or cream of onion if you prefer.
- Veggies: you can add extra vegetables like corn or green beans, or even some diced potatoes for more variety. Be sure they are all cut the same size so they cook evenly.
- Meat: Boneless, skinless chicken thighs or turkey meat would also be delicious.
It sounds so good! But I don’t have a slow cooker. Can I do this in an oven?
Mildred, this recipe would work great in an oven also. A slow cooker on low = 200 degrees and on high it is about 300 degrees.
To make this recipe in the oven I suggest you use a dutch oven that is enamel lined with a lid or a good sturdy casserole dish with a lid. Set your oven to 300° for preheating. Make the recipe following the instructions. With the lid on bake it 300 degrees for approximately 3 hours. Then remove from the oven and set the glit aside shred your chicken and add it back in. Then add in your dumplings. Do not cover with the lid.Cook for an additional 30 to 45 minutes. Check your dumplings at the 30-minute mark to see if they’re done. If not you can cook them just a little longer. Remember these are pretty big dumplings and they are a bit soft and chewy which is my favorite part about using biscuit dough. If you try this would you please email me and let me know how it turns out?
my grandaughter is dairy free, what can i use in place of Cream of….soups
I have spent some time thinking about this question. There are some non dairy brands of creamed soups out there but I have not tried any. It might be a good option. Also my friends at the Plant Powered Couple has a recipe for homemeadee non-dairy cream of mushroom soup that might be an option. There are a few non-dairy cream of soups on Amazon. I have not tried any though. Also, many canned biscuits have dairy and whey. Here is a site that will tell you which pillsbury canned biscuits are dairy free. I’m sure the results of the recipe will be different but still very tasty. Please let me know in these comments how it goes trying to make this dairy free.
Could canned chicken be used?
Yes, you can use canned chicken. I recommend adding it after the sauce, vegetables, and seasonings have cooked for about four hours. Since canned chicken is already very tender, cooking it for too long might make it too soft. Are you using store bought canned chicken or do you can your own?
How long would it take to cook if I made Homemade Dumplings instead of using
refrigerated biscuits???
Sandra, I am not sure. I depends on how thick you roll out and cut your dumplings. I would think they would take 30 minutes or so more. I grew up having rivels instead of dumplings. Rivels are a traditional food with roots from my grandma’s Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Rivels originates from the German-speaking immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries. The term “rivel” comes from the German word “reiben,” which means to rub or grate, reflecting the method of creating these small doughy pieces by rubbing the flour and egg mixture between your fingers. You could use your dumpling dough to make rivels too which would not require extra cooking time compared to the biscuit dough. The good thing is, the chicken and sauce are not going to be over cooked if you add an hour or so. One thought I have, you might need to add a touch more broth when cooking if you have big thick dumplings.
Hi there, I found you from a recipe blogger post and just had to write and say how much I am enjoying your site. I hope you are faring okay during the aftermath of the storm. Praying for many blessings sent your way, DV
Deborah, Thank you so much for your concern and prayers. We have power and internet now but so many people in the Augusta area are still waiting. We are also concerned about the next hurricane hitting land tomorrow. We are only supposed to get 30 mph winds from it however, the amount of leaning trees and power poles in our area is uncountable. This wind could cause more damage we fear. Deborah, here is a newsletter I sent about our experience without power and the storm. https://intentional-hospitality.ck.page/posts/update-my-devastation-from-helena-our-community-is-still-chainsawing-out
did you only use one of the biscuits and how wide are the strips and pieces? need to know for first time use. thanks.
Daisy, Purchase an 16 ounce can of biscuit dough. I cut the dough into quarter size pieces by slicing each biscuit into 4 pieces. They plump up and are bite size after cooking.