Crock-Pot Chicken & Dumplings: A Cozy Homemade Family Dinner

Tender chicken, savory broth, and fluffy homemade dumplings make this a comforting meal to gather around. With carrots, celery, and onion tucked into every bowl, these Crock-Pot Chicken & Dumplings are a hearty choice for a chilly evening.

The slow cooker handles most of the work, and the dumplings come together with simple pantry ingredients. There’s no rolling or cutting—just mix the dough, drop small spoonfuls onto the hot broth, and let them cook.

Crock-Pot Chicken & Dumplings

Servings: 4–6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 4–5 hours on LOW, then about 60–80 minutes on HIGH, including heating the broth and cooking the dumplings

Ingredients

For the chicken:

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 carrots, thinly sliced
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, diced
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

For the dumplings:

1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
⅔ cup water

Instructions

Fill the slow cooker. Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, chicken broth, garlic powder, thyme, salt, and pepper to the Crock-Pot.
Cook the chicken and vegetables. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–5 hours, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Shred the chicken. Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks, and return it to the pot.
Heat and thicken the broth. Turn the Crock-Pot to HIGH. Stir in the cornstarch mixed with cold water. Cover and let the broth get hot and gently bubbling, about 15–20 minutes.
Mix the dumpling dough. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the oil and water just until a soft dough forms.
Add the dumplings. Drop small, tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the hot broth, leaving some space between them. Do not stir them in.
Cover and cook. Cook on HIGH for 45–60 minutes, keeping the lid closed for the first 45 minutes.
Check before serving. Split a dumpling open to make sure the center is fluffy and cooked through. If it is still doughy, cover and cook longer.

A Few Simple Tips

Use a 6-quart Crock-Pot. The dumplings need room to expand as they cook.
Slice the vegetables thinly. This helps the carrots and celery become tender during the initial cooking time.
Mix gently. Stir the dumpling ingredients only until the dough comes together.
Keep the dumplings small. Tablespoon-sized portions cook more evenly than large scoops.
Leave the lid closed. Keeping the heat and steam inside helps the dumplings cook through.

What to Serve Alongside

Chicken, vegetables, and dumplings make this a satisfying meal on its own. If you’d like something alongside, a simple green salad adds a fresh touch.

This is the kind of homemade dinner that makes an evening at home feel a little cozier—a warm bowl, familiar flavors, and time to sit down together.