Here’s a detailed, unique article on the “Best Ever Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings” with a step-by-step guide:

Best Ever Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings: Comfort in Every Spoonful

There’s something undeniably soothing about a warm bowl of chicken and dumplings. The tender chicken, creamy broth, and fluffy dumplings make it a quintessential comfort food. Making this dish in a Crock Pot elevates it to a new level of convenience, allowing you to enjoy deep flavors with minimal hands-on time. Here’s how to make the best ever Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings step by step.

Ingredients

For the Chicken and Broth:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs for extra flavor)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, sliced
3 celery stalks, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth (low sodium recommended)
1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
2 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp paprika
2 tbsp butter

For the Dumplings:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Step-by-Step Method

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Base

Layer the vegetables: In the Crock Pot, place chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic at the bottom. These create a flavorful base for the broth.
Add the chicken: Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and paprika over the chicken.
Pour the broth: Add the chicken broth and butter. The broth should cover the chicken almost completely.

Step 2: Slow Cook the Chicken

Cover the Crock Pot and set it to low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
Check at the end of cooking: the chicken should be tender enough to shred with two forks easily.

Step 3: Shred the Chicken

Remove the chicken from the Crock Pot and shred it using two forks.
Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Stir to combine with the vegetables and broth.