If you’re craving cozy comfort food, you’re going to love this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe. This slow cooker adaptation of a classic dish turns tender chicken, hearty veggies, and fluffy dumplings into a warm, stick-to-your-ribs meal that feels like a big, comforting hug on a chilly day. Plus, it’s easy enough to prep in the morning and then just let your slow cooker do the magic!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Effortless Comfort: Just toss everything in your slow cooker and relax while it simmers to perfection.
Fluffy Homemade Dumplings: The dumplings are light and pillowy, unlike anything you get from store-bought mixes.
Hearty and Nourishing: Packed with fresh veggies and tender chicken for a well-rounded meal.
Family Favorite: My family goes crazy for this on cold nights – perfect for leftovers too!

A close-up top view of a white slow cooker filled with thick, creamy chicken and vegetable stew. The stew has visible chunks of white chicken, soft carrots in bright orange, green peas, and tender mushrooms all mixed in a light beige sauce, which looks rich and smooth. There are several small, light dumplings scattered throughout, with finely chopped green herbs sprinkled on top for texture. A silver spoon is partially inserted into the stew, resting near the edge of the slow cooker, with some of the stew on it. The slow cooker sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings, slow cooker chicken and dumplings, hearty chicken stew, easy comfort food, homemade chicken and dumplings

Ingredients You’ll Need

All the ingredients here come together beautifully to make a thick, flavor-packed stew with fluffy dumplings on top. A note on some key players: use fresh herbs if you’ve got them on hand for extra brightness, and aim for tender veggies so everything blends perfectly.

Flat lay of peeled and chopped large carrots, finely chopped celery ribs, peeled and diced medium potatoes, minced garlic cloves, fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts, frozen green peas, dried parsley and thyme herbs, and a small pile of all-purpose flour, arranged beautifully with bright natural light highlighting their colors and textures, placed on a white marble surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings, slow cooker chicken and dumplings, hearty chicken stew, easy comfort food, homemade chicken and dumplings

Carrots: Peel and chop so they cook down softly, adding subtle sweetness.
Celery: Finely chopped for that classic savory crunch and depth of flavor.
Potatoes: Peeled and cut into ½-inch pieces; they thicken the stew and soak up flavors.
Onion: Finely chopped to meld into the base and build savory layers.
Frozen peas: Added at the end for a pop of color and sweetness.
Garlic: Minced finely to infuse all that cozy aroma.
Salt, parsley, thyme, pepper: The seasoning backbone — make sure to measure well for balance.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Keeps things lean and tender in the crockpot.
Low-sodium chicken broth: The flavorful liquid base — low sodium lets you control salt better.
Half-and-half: Adds that creamy richness that’ll make you swoon.
Cornstarch: Helps the broth thicken perfectly into a luscious gravy.
All-purpose flour: Main ingredient for dumplings to get fluffy, soft texture.
Baking powder: Gives the dumplings light rise without any fuss.
Italian seasoning: A pinch amps up the flavor complexity in your dough.
Milk: Moistens the dumpling batter for tenderness.
Oil: Keeps the dumplings supple and rich.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I like to tweak this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe every now and then depending on what I have around or the season. Make it your own — there’s so much room for creativity here!

Use chicken thighs instead of breasts: I discovered this trick when I wanted more juicy, flavorful meat – it’s a game changer for richness.
Make it dairy-free: Swap half-and-half and milk for coconut milk or cashew cream for creamy goodness without the dairy.
Vegetable boost: Feel free to add mushrooms or green beans for extra texture and flavor.
Herb swap: Fresh sage or rosemary in place of thyme gives a different but wonderful aroma.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Step 1: Prep and Layer Your Ingredients

Start by peeling and chopping your carrots, potatoes, and celery so they’re uniform – this helps everything cook evenly. I like to finely chop the onion and mince the garlic while I’m at it. Place the chopped veggies in the bottom of your crockpot, then lay the chicken breasts on top. This layering means the chicken stays moist while the veggies get tender beneath.

Step 2: Add Broth and Seasonings

Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth, sprinkle the salt, parsley, thyme, and pepper evenly over everything. Give it a gentle stir to mix the seasonings – you want the flavors to infuse during the long cooking. Pop the lid on and set your slow cooker to low for about 6 hours. You’ll come back to a perfectly cooked hearty base.

Step 3: Make Dumpling Batter

While your crockpot does its thing, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and Italian seasoning in a bowl. Add the milk and oil, stirring until just combined – no overmixing! The batter should be thick but not dry. This batter comes together easily and will become the fluffy dumplings you love.

Step 4: Add Dumplings and Finish Cooking

Once your chicken and veggies are tender, shred the chicken pieces with two forks right in the crockpot. Then, mix the half-and-half with cornstarch, and stir into the crockpot to thicken the broth into a creamy stew. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling batter onto the surface – don’t worry about spacing; they’ll puff up and create a fluffy top layer. Cover and cook on high for about 1 hour or until dumplings are cooked through.

Step 5: Stir in Peas and Serve

Right before serving, stir the frozen peas gently into the stew for a bright pop of color and sweetness. Let them warm through for a few minutes. Then, ladle into bowls and enjoy that homemade comfort you worked for! It’s so worth the wait.

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Pro Tips for Making Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Don’t Overmix Dumplings: Mix your dumpling batter until just combined — overmixing makes them dense instead of light and fluffy.
Shred Chicken in the Crockpot: Keep the juices and flavor in the stew by shredding the chicken right in the pot rather than removing it.
Add Peas Last Minute: To maintain their bright color and texture, stir frozen peas into the hot stew right before serving.
Use Low-Sodium Broth: This lets you control saltiness throughout cooking while still delivering rich flavor.

How to Serve Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

A white bowl filled with creamy chicken and vegetable stew, showing thick, white biscuit dumplings on top, surrounded by soft orange carrot slices, bright green peas, light tan potato chunks, and pieces of white chicken in a smooth, pale cream sauce with herbs sprinkled on top. A silver spoon with a decorated handle rests inside the bowl on the right side, partially scooping some dumplings and veggies. The bowl sits on a folded grey and white striped cloth, all placed on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings, slow cooker chicken and dumplings, hearty chicken stew, easy comfort food, homemade chicken and dumplings

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a handful of fresh chopped parsley or thyme on top right before serving — it gives a fresh pop of color and herbal brightness that cuts through the richness perfectly. Sometimes a little cracked black pepper on top makes it feel just right too.

Side Dishes

Since this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is so hearty, I often keep sides simple: a crisp green salad with tangy vinaigrette or some roasted Brussels sprouts work beautifully to balance the meal.

Creative Ways to Present

For a cozy dinner party, try serving the stew in pretty soup crocks with a rustic slice of crusty bread on the side. You can even ladle it into mini cast iron skillets and garnish with fresh herbs to really impress your guests!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I keep leftover Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. The dumplings soak up the stew overnight, making the flavors even more intense. Just warm gently before serving.

Freezing

Freezing this recipe works pretty well — I like to freeze it without the dumplings added, then thaw and add fresh dumpling dough before reheating. It keeps the dumplings fluffy and avoids them turning gummy after freezing.

Reheating

Reheat leftovers slowly on the stovetop or in the microwave with a splash of broth or water to loosen the stew if it’s thickened too much. Stir gently so dumplings stay intact and creamy without getting tough.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts, but I recommend adding extra cooking time — at least an hour longer on low — to ensure the chicken and vegetables cook through fully. Make sure your crockpot heats safely to avoid food safety issues.
What can I substitute for half-and-half in this recipe?

If you don’t have half-and-half, whole milk with a little butter melted in works in a pinch, or go for heavy cream for an even richer result. Non-dairy milks like cashew or oat milk combined with a bit of coconut oil can also be used for dairy-free versions.
How do I know when the dumplings are done in the crockpot?

Dumplings will be cooked through when they have puffed up and feel firm to the touch but still soft inside — usually about 1 hour on high in the crockpot. If you’re unsure, test by inserting a toothpick; if it comes out clean, they’re ready.
Can I add other vegetables to this recipe?

Absolutely! Feel free to add mushrooms, green beans, or corn to suit your taste, but add delicate veggies like peas or spinach near the end of cooking to avoid overcooking.

Final Thoughts

This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe has become one of my go-to comfort meals because it’s both simple and deeply satisfying. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or just want to cozy up on a slow Sunday, this dish delivers warmth and flavor with minimal fuss. Give it a try — I promise you’ll keep coming back to it, just like my family does!