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Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings: Easy Family Dinner

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This slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe features tender chicken, a creamy broth, and fluffy dumplings. It’s a comforting, hands-off meal perfect for cozy nights in.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups water
  • 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 3 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half-and-half (optional)
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Prep the vegetables: peel and slice carrots into 1/4-inch rounds, slice celery, dice onion, mince garlic.
  2. Layer the slow cooker: place chicken in the bottom, scatter vegetables over top.
  3. Add seasonings and liquid: sprinkle thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper over vegetables; add bay leaf; pour chicken broth and water around the chicken.
  4. Cook low and slow: cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until chicken is fork-tender.
  5. Shred the chicken: about 30 minutes before serving, remove chicken, shred with two forks, discard bay leaf, return chicken to slow cooker.
  6. Add cream and peas: stir in heavy cream (if using) and frozen peas; let heat through.
  7. Make dumpling dough: in a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder; cut in cold butter until coarse meal forms; stir in cold milk just until a soft dough forms; do not overmix.
  8. Drop dumplings: using a small cookie scoop or spoons, drop spoonfuls of dough onto the simmering stew (about 10-12 dumplings); do not press into liquid.
  9. Steam dumplings: cover immediately and cook on HIGH for 25-30 minutes; do not lift lid; check with toothpick for doneness.
  10. Serve immediately: ladle into bowls, garnish with parsley and black pepper.

Notes

Don’t lift the lid while dumplings steam. Use cold ingredients for dumplings. Do not overmix dumpling dough. Season broth before adding dumplings. For thicker stew, use cornstarch slurry. Freeze stew base without dumplings for best results.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken and dumplings, easy chicken dumplings, comfort food, family dinner, cozy meal

Find it online: https://sparklespoon.com/cozy-slow-cooker-chicken-and-dumplings-easy-family-dinner/