Name: Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 8 chicken thighs (, skinless and boneless); 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp ground pepper; 1 tsp mixed herbs ((I used Italian herbs)); 1 tsp dried parsley; 1 tsp garlic powder; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion (, finely diced); 2 leeks (, white parts only, diced); 10 baby carrots (, halved or 2 carrots, peeled and sliced); 2 garlic cloves (, minced); 2 tsp Dijon mustard; 2 tsp tomato paste ((purée)); 1 ½ cups (360ml) chicken stock (made with 2 stock cubes); Salt and pepper to season; Fresh parsley (, rosemary, thyme or sage to garnish); 1 cup + 2 tbsp (130g) self-rising flour ((or see notes)); 1 tsp salt; 1 tsp mixed herbs ((I used Italian herbs)); 1 tsp dried parsley; 3 tbsp grated cheddar cheese; 4½ tbsp (65g) cold butter (grated); 5-6 tbsp cold water (, or as needed)

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Craving a cozy, hands-off dinner? Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings delivers! Tender chicken simmered with leeks, carrots and herbs topped with fluffy, from-scratch dumplings — a warm, hearty one-pot meal that the whole family will love

Serves 6

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 3 hours

Total 3 hours

Jump to the recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings is the ultimate comfort food! Tender chicken, sweet veggies and fluffy homemade dumplings gently simmered in a rich flavorful broth. Your slow cooker does all the work while your kitchen smells amazing – a great set-and-forget comfort meal.

It is suddenly really cold out and I am craving all things cozy and comforting. I can’t get enough of casseroles and one pot dishes and this slow cooker chicken stew with fluffy dumplings may just be the ULTIMATE comfort food.

Boneless chicken thighs cooked with carrots, onions and leeks until the chicken is and vegetables are deliciously tender. This hearty crockpot chicken recipe is the kind of family-friendly comfort food everyone loves.

Why you will LOVE this recipe:

STRESS FREE: Just a few minutes of chopping vegetables and seasoning the chicken then everything cooks in your slow cooker while you get on with things.
EASY GOING: You can use your favorite vegetables to bulk up this delicious chicken casserole or just keep it very simple as I have done.
KID APPROVED: Even my kids, fussy eaters both, love this casserole. It’s even suitable for toddlers and babies (but keep an eye on the salt content).

A pot of Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings with golden-brown dumplings simmering on top, garnished with herbs. A wooden spoon stirs the thick, flavorful broth surrounding the dumplings.

How to Make Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Season the chicken thighs with salt, pepper and the dried herbs. Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to cut into bite sized pieces.
Heat the oil in your slow cooker (if it allows for searing like this Morphy Richards model) and add the onion, leeks and carrots. Cook over low heat for about five minutes or until the vegetables have softened.
Add the chicken, minced garlic, stock, mustard and tomato paste. Stir well to combine, cover and cook on HIGH setting for 2 hours (or on the LOW setting for 3-4 hours).

Ingredients for chicken stew in a slow cooker

Make the Dumplings

I originally made these with British shredded suet, but most readers preferred the cold grated butter version, so that’s what I recommend now. You can also use store-bought biscuit dough (reduce the final cooking time slightly if needed).

Combine all the ingredients for the dumplings in a bowl, adding just enough water for them to come together. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Divide the dough into eight pieces and roll into golf-sized balls.

Cook the Dumplings

Give the stew a good stir. Check the seasoning and add more salt, if needed. Make sure to turn to the HIGH setting if you have been cooking on the LOW setting. Place the dumplings over the stew, spaced out to allow for them to rise.
Cover and cook for a further 90 minutes or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through. The bottom of the dumplings will remain soft as it is in contact with the stew. Avoid opening the slow cooker as it will lose heat and your cooking time will be longer.

Recipe Notes and Tips

Serving Suggestions: Serve sprinkled with fresh parsley, thyme, rosemary or sage. This stew is very hearty on its own (especially if served with the dumplings) but you can also spoon it over mashed potatoes or rice if you like.
Storing and Freezing: Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months (without the dumplings). Reheat in a saucepan until piping hot before serving.
Substitutions: I now make the dumplings with cold grated butter – most readers preferred it to the original shredded suet, and it’s much easier to find. Cold shortening works too, giving you the same tender, fluffy dumplings.

Bowl of crockpot chicken stew with dumplings

👉 If you loved my slow cooker chicken and dumplings, make sure to check out these popular crockpot recipes: Slow Cooker Roast Beef, Chunky Chili, Easy Beef Curry, Slow Cooked Leg of Lamb, Slow Cooker Lamb Casserole.

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