Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Make Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe for a creamy, hands-off comfort dinner that feeds the family.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 5-6 thighs)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1¾ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 carrot (peeled and sliced)
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 10.5 ounces cream of chicken soup (1 can)
- ½ cup frozen peas
- 16.3 ounces refrigerated biscuit dough (8 large biscuits)
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Step 1: Season the chicken
Shake kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper evenly over both sides of the boneless, skinless chicken thighs and arrange them in the bottom of the slow cooker insert. Scatter a bay leaf and the dried herb mix—parsley, rosemary, thyme—plus a dusting of garlic powder over the chicken so the aromatics sit on and around the meat. This step is simple but crucial: get the salt and herb contact across the thigh surfaces so the slow braise extracts deep savory flavor as it cooks.
Step 2: Add the aromatics, broth, and cream
Pour the low-sodium chicken broth into a measuring jug and add it to the crock around the chicken, then tuck in the peeled, sliced carrot and chopped onion. Spoon the cream of chicken soup into the top and gently stir only the surface so the soup and broth begin to thicken the cooking liquid without disturbing the chicken placement—this creates a creamy bath that will coat the shredded meat later.
Step 3: Cover and slow-cook until shreddable
Put the lid on and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or until the chicken is fork-tender and easily pulls apart (the original target internal temperature is 165°F). The interior should be opaque and the juices should run clear; the cooking liquid will concentrate into a glossy, herb-speckled golden cream around the thighs as collagen and flavor are released.
Step 4: Add peas and shred the chicken
Open the lid, stir in the frozen peas to heat through, then use two forks or tongs to shred the thighs right in the cooking vessel if you like a rustic texture. Stir gently so the shredded chicken is suspended in the creamy broth with peas, softened carrots, and softened onion pieces—this is the hearty stew base that the dumplings will sit on.
Step 5: Arrange the biscuits on top
Open the refrigerated biscuit dough, cut each biscuit into fourths and roll each piece into a small round ball. Place the biscuit pieces evenly over the top of the chicken-and-broth mixture so they sit slightly touching; replace the lid, set the slow cooker to high, and let the biscuits steam-and-bake into pillowy dumplings for about 1 to 2 hours, checking visually through a glass lid if you have one. The tops should develop a matte, soft crust when finished.
Step 6: Finish, adjust seasoning, and serve
When the biscuits are fully cooked and the dumplings look pillowy and matte, remove the lid, taste and adjust salt and pepper to your liking, and scatter chopped fresh parsley over the surface for a bright finish. Serve straight from the glossy slow cooker or ladle into bowls—the final dish is a creamy, herb-flecked stew studded with tender shredded chicken, bright peas and carrot, and soft dumplings.
Notes
- Use thighs for juicier, forgiving meat and swap breasts if you prefer.
- Add a splash of broth when reheating to refresh texture.
- Leave small gaps between biscuit pieces so dumplings steam evenly.