Description
Southern comfort shines in this hearty Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings, blending creamy textures with tender chicken. Home cooks can savor a classic dish that warms hearts with minimal effort and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Vegetables:
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 large onion, chopped
Liquid and Seasoning Base:
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 2 cans cream of chicken soup
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk (240 milliliters)
Instructions
- Nestle whole chicken breasts into the bottom of the slow cooker, creating an even base layer.
- Scatter freshly chopped carrots, crisp celery, and diced onions over the chicken, distributing aromatic vegetables evenly.
- Season generously with salt, ground black pepper, fragrant thyme, and tuck in a single bay leaf for deep flavor infusion.
- Gently pour chicken broth around the ingredients, then dollop cream of chicken soup across the surface without disturbing the arrangement.
- Secure the lid and allow the mixture to simmer on high temperature for approximately 5 hours, developing rich, comforting flavors.
- Carefully extract the chicken breasts and use two forks to shred the meat into tender, bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker, mixing it into the savory liquid.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt to create the dumpling base.
- Gradually incorporate milk into the dry ingredients, stirring until a soft, pillowy dough forms.
- Drop generous spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture directly into the bubbling chicken mixture.
- Continue cooking on high heat for an additional hour, allowing dumplings to gently expand and cook through completely.
Notes
- Customize chicken by using boneless, skinless thighs for richer flavor and more tender meat.
- Enhance nutrition by adding extra vegetables like peas or diced potatoes for texture and vitamins.
- Gluten-free option available by substituting all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend or almond flour.
- Reduce sodium by using low-sodium chicken broth and monitoring salt content during seasoning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg