Chicken and Dumplings Slow Cooker Recipe: A Comfort Food Classic Made Easy

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken and Broth

1. Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Place the chicken breasts or thighs at the bottom of your slow cooker. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery on top of the chicken.
2. Season the Chicken: Sprinkle the thyme, parsley, poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper evenly over the chicken and vegetables.
3. Pour in the Chicken Broth: Slowly pour the chicken broth over the seasoned chicken and vegetables. Make sure there’s enough liquid to just cover the ingredients.
4. Cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on low for 6–7 hours or on high for 3–4 hours, until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.

Step 2: Shred the Chicken

1. Shred the Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. The meat should be tender and pull apart easily. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
2. Add Peas and Cream (Optional): At this point, you can stir in the frozen peas and heavy cream for extra richness, but this is optional. The peas add a nice pop of color and a bit of sweetness to the dish.

Step 3: Make the Dumplings

1. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the milk and melted butter until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
2. Form the Dumplings: Using a spoon or your hands, form small balls of dough (about the size of a tablespoon) and place them gently on top of the chicken mixture in the slow cooker. The dumplings will cook and expand as they absorb the flavorful broth.

Step 4: Cook the Dumplings

1. Cook on High: After adding the dumplings, cover the slow cooker and switch the heat to high. Let the dumplings cook for an additional 30–45 minutes until they are firm and fully cooked through. They should rise and float on top of the stew.
2. Test for Doneness: To check if the dumplings are done, insert a toothpick into one of them—if it comes out clean, the dumplings are ready to serve.

Tips for Perfect Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

1. Use Chicken Thighs for Extra Flavor: While chicken breasts are leaner, chicken thighs add more flavor and richness to the dish. Feel free to use whichever you prefer.
2. Add Heavy Cream for Richness: If you prefer a creamier broth, stir in heavy cream or half-and-half toward the end of cooking for a luxurious, creamy texture.
3. Don’t Overcrowd the Dumplings: Make sure to space the dumplings evenly in the slow cooker so they have room to rise and cook through properly.
4. Make It Gluten-Free: You can easily adapt this recipe for a gluten-free version by using a gluten-free flour blend for the dumplings.