Description

This Slow Cooker Chicken Dumplings recipe offers a comforting, hearty meal perfect for cozy days. Tender chicken simmers in a flavorful broth with aromatic vegetables and herbs, enriched with cream and butter. Fluffy homemade dumplings cooked directly in the stew add satisfying texture and warmth, creating a classic, one-pot dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Stew Base

2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 medium yellow onion, diced
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Dumplings

1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¾ cup whole milk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

Combine Base Ingredients: Place the diced chicken, yellow onion, carrots, celery, minced garlic, dried thyme, dried parsley, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper into the slow cooker. Pour in the chicken broth and stir to evenly distribute all ingredients.
Initial Simmer: Secure the slow cooker lid and set to ‘low’ for 5 hours to allow the chicken and vegetables to cook until the chicken is very tender and easy to shred.
Shred and Return Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken from the slow cooker. Using two forks, shred the chicken into bite-size pieces. Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and discard the bay leaf.
Enrich the Broth: Stir in the heavy cream and 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter into the stew until fully combined, creating a rich, creamy broth.
Prepare Dumplings: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the melted butter and whole milk, stirring gently until a cohesive dough forms. Fold in fresh parsley if using, being careful not to overmix to keep dumplings tender.
Add Dumplings to Stew: Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the simmering stew inside the slow cooker. Space the dumplings apart to allow them room to expand as they cook.
Cook Dumplings: Place the lid back on and switch the slow cooker to ‘high’ heat. Cook for an additional 1 hour until the dumplings are fully cooked, puffed, and tender.
Final Seasoning and Serving: Taste the stew and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Serve hot for a comforting meal.

Notes

Use chicken thighs for moister, more flavorful results, or breasts for a leaner dish.
Don’t overmix the dumpling dough to ensure light, fluffy dumplings.
Fresh parsley in the dumplings adds a nice herbal brightness but can be omitted if unavailable.
The slow cooker settings and times may vary depending on your model; check tenderness accordingly.
Leftovers reheated gently will maintain the dumpling texture best.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: slow cooker chicken dumplings, slow cooker recipes, chicken stew, comfort food, one pot meal, homemade dumplings