This crockpot chicken and dumplings is one of my favorite effortless meals. It requires minimal prep, is mostly hands-off, and utilizes refrigerated biscuits to make things super easy. I made this comforting stew with juicy chicken thighs, dried herbs, and cream of chicken soup to make it extra rich and creamy. There’s nothing quite like it!
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Chicken and dumplings is such a hearty and comforting meal, and I made it even easier by cooking it in my slow cooker! This delicious stew is full of rich flavors and so creamy. Topped with store-bought biscuit dough, it always makes dinnertime a breeze!
What’s in This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe?
- Chicken: Use chicken thighs rather than breasts for this recipe. They stay perfectly tender and are less likely to dry out.
- Bay Leaf: Adds an herbal flavor that lightens up this heavy stew.
- Dried Herbs: Parsley, rosemary, and thyme deepen the flavor of the stew.
- Garlic Powder: Adds an earthy flavor and a pungent aroma.
- Chicken Broth: Forms the base of the stew, creating a salty, umami base.
- Carrot: Adds a hint of sweetness and a pop of color.
- Onion: Enhances the earthiness and sweetness of the soup.
- Cream of Chicken Soup: Makes this dish extra creamy and thick!
- Frozen Peas: Add a pop of color and sweetness.
- Refrigerated Biscuit Dough: Makes this recipe super easy! But you could use homemade biscuit dough if you prefer.
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Tips for Success
- If your soup isn’t thickening, you may have added too much chicken broth. You can thicken it back up by cooking down the mixture on high for a bit.
- I used cream of chicken soup to thicken this stew, but you can also add a roux made from 2 tablespoons of butter and 2 tablespoons of flour cooked until foaming, or stir in a slurry made from 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 tablespoon of cold water.
- It’s important to neither under nor overcook the dumplings. Undercooked dumplings will be raw in the middle and dense, while overcooked dumplings will begin to disintegrate. Make sure to keep the lid on tight to seal in the steam so that the dumplings have a chance to cook fully through.
- Your dumplings are done when they are light, fluffy, and slightly firm. You can insert a toothpick into the center of one, and it should come out clean. The dumplings should be soft, but they should not taste doughy.
How to Store and Reheat
Store leftover crockpot chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer (minus the dumplings!) for up to 6 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before placing in the slow cooker, adding the dumplings, and cooking through.
Serving Suggestions
This slow cooker chicken and dumplings is perfect to serve by itself for a hearty winter dinner. It’s also great with some crusty bread or my favorite veggie sides like asparagus or green beans.
5-Star Review
“This is soooooo good!!! I’ve tried so many crock pot recipes lately and they’ve all been underwhelming. This is the best one I’ve found! I’m a little worried when I reheat the leftovers the dumplings won’t be as good but it’s so flavorful and I’m going to make this over and over again. I can’t wait to try the other recipes on this page!” -Julianna
How to Make Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Step by Step
Season the Chicken: Shake ½ teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of black pepper over both sides of 1½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs and arrange in the bottom of the crockpot.
Fill the Crockpot: Add in 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of dried parsley, ½ teaspoon of dried rosemary, ½ teaspoon of dried thyme, and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder. Pour in 1¾ cups of chicken broth, 1 peeled and sliced carrot, 1 chopped onion, and 10.5 ounces (1 can) of cream of chicken soup. Gently stir the top to incorporate the ingredients without disturbing the chicken. It doesn’t have to be completely mixed together.
Cook the Chicken: Cover crockpot with the lid and cook in the crockpot on high for 3-4 hours or until the chicken is easy to shred and reaches the internal temperature of 165°F.
Add the Peas and Dumplings: Add ½ cup of frozen peas. You can shred the chicken if you desire. Stir well to combine. Open a 16.3-ounce can of biscuit dough and cut each biscuit into fourths. Roll each biscuit into a round ball. Arrange the biscuit pieces on top of everything else in the crockpot.
Cook the Dumplings: Replace the lid, turn the crockpot to high, and cook the biscuits until done, about 1 to 2 hours depending on your crockpot. Don’t lift the lid to check on them, if possible. If you have a glass lid, you can peek through the glass. The biscuits should take on a matte look when they are finished. Cut into one biscuit to make sure it’s cooked through. When the biscuits are done, adjust seasonings to taste and serve.
I’m using chicken breasts because it’s what I have on hand. Thinking I will cook on low then turn to high when it’s time to add dumplings. Hoping this will work!
This is soooooo good!!! I’ve tried so many crock pot recipes lately and they’ve all been underwhelming. This is the best one I’ve found! I’m a little worried when I reheat the leftovers the dumplings won’t be as good but it’s so flavorful and I’m going to make this over and over again. I can’t wait to try the other recipes on this page!
So good and flavorful! Easy to make and husband approved!
I made this and my family really enjoyed it. The only thing was that it was a bit sweet for us. Does the biscuit add sweetness? I’m thinking like another commenter that pizza dough might be the way to go.
Hi Brian, depending on the brand you use, the biscuits could be the culprit. The carrots and peas also add a bit of sweetness to the filling, though!
This is so good!! The seasoning is perfect! I used a homemade cream of chicken soup, but kept everything else the same. Will definitely be making this again.
I’m going to make this recipe tomorrow, does the chicken need to be frozen or thawed?
We always recommend thawing the chicken!
This was very good and I will make again however I will only use 30% of the biscuits. The ratio was overwhelming with biscuits and I threw out a lot of biscuits before serving.
Hello! I loved this recipe in the crockpot, it was a hit! I’m wondering how would one adapt this to stove top in a pot? I have a Christmas dinner coming up and I’d love the share this recipe but may not have the time for crockpot cooking.
Hi Alicia, here is our stovetop chicken and dumplings recipe (click here)!
Thank you so muhc!!
Hello, just a few questions. I am using pizza dough instead of biscuits. Tried it that way, biscuit came out doughy (not wanting that again). On this premise do I put the dumplings in the pot or do I lay them on top and then put them in the pot when they are done. I don’t have thighs ( don’t like them) instead I want to use breast, you mentioned about breast becoming dry. How do I get around this. Going to try this tonight can’t wait to see how it comes out. Thank you for the advice.
Hi Anthony, for chicken breasts, we recommend cooking on high for slightly less time, closer to 3 hours rather than 4. We do not have experience making this recipe with pizza dough, so we cannot advise. With biscuits, we add them to the pot raw and cook for 1-2 hours.
You could always cook the bisquits separately, place them in a bowl and put the chicken ‘soup’ on top. My grandmother did it that way. Tasty!
How many does this recipe serve?
Hi Melanie, this recipe serves 6!