Crockpot chicken and dumplings are comforting, super easy to make, and always a crowd favorite! This recipe is dairy-free, and made using whole wheat flour in the quick dumplings! Start your crockpot in the morning, and enjoy this cozy meal by the evening. Enjoy!
Crockpot chicken and dumplings
Did you grow up enjoying chicken and dumplings? I sure did! It always felt like such a special meal whenever my mom would make it.
Whenever we have this crockpot chicken and dumplings, I am taken back. That’s the beauty of cooking, it brings you back to special memories.
My slow cooker recipe is super easy to make, and something you can enjoy any day of the week!
Can this be made on the stovetop?
Yes, it most definitely can! Here’s how:
In a large pot, sauté the vegetables first. Add the chicken and thickened broth in, and simmer until the chicken is cooked. Shred the chicken, and mix up the dumpling mixture. Add the dumplings on top of the chicken/broth mixture, cover with a lid, and cook for 15 minutes.
What you need for crockpot chicken and dumplings
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- garlic
- chicken breast
- sea salt
- pepper
- unsalted butter
- whole wheat flour
- chicken bone broth
- coconut milk
- baking powder
- coconut sugar
How to make crockpot chicken and dumplings
- In the bottom of your crockpot, layer the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Season the chicken with sea salt and pepper and lay them on top of the vegetables.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once sizzling, whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes until it is golden in color to create a roux. Add in 2 cups of chicken broth and mix well using a whisk, bringing to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring, then remove from heat and pour over the chicken and vegetables. Add the remaining chicken broth, place the lid on and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, turn the crockpot heat onto high. Using forks or kitchen tongs, lightly shred the chicken breasts. (This should be easy since they have cooked so long.) Stir the milk into the crockpot, then recover while you make the dumplings.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, sea salt and pepper. Crumble in the butter with your fingers and rub into the flour until a coarse crumbs forms. Add in the milk, stirring just until a sticky dough forms. Use a tablespoon measured add small scoops of the dough into the crockpot, starting by placing them around the outside first, then the inside.
- Cover and cook for another 1-1.5 hours, until dumplings are cooked but soft and not longer raw in the middle. Enjoy!
Substitutions or more tips
Need some substitutions? Here are some common ones:
Chicken breast – use chicken thighs instead
Chicken bone broth – regular broth or stock works as well. You can also use a vegetable broth
Whole wheat flour – substitute in all-purpose flour, or an all-purpose gluten-free flour mixture
Coconut milk – use whole milk or heavy cream as a substitute
Butter – use ghee to keep it dairy-free
More recipes you’ll love
Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
- 1 onion diced
- 1 cup carrots diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2.5 lb chicken breast boneless, skinless
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp whole wheat flour
- 5 cups chicken bone broth
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
Dumpling Ingredients
- 1.125 cups whole wheat flour
- 1.5 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp coconut sugar
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp unsalted buter cold, and cut into small pieces
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
Instructions
- In the bottom of your crockpot, layer the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Season the chicken with sea salt and pepper and lay them on top of the vegetables.
- Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once sizzling, whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes until it is golden in color to create a roux. Add in 2 cups of chicken broth and mix well using a whisk, bringing to a boil. Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring, then remove from heat and pour over the chicken and vegetables. Add the remaining chicken broth, place the lid on and cook on low for 6 hours.
- After 6 hours, turn the crockpot heat onto high. Using forks or kitchen tongs, lightly shred the chicken breasts. (This should be easy since they have cooked so long.) Stir the milk into the crockpot, then recover while you make the dumplings.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, sea salt and pepper. Crumble in the butter with your fingers and rub into the flour until a coarse crumbs forms. Add in the milk, stirring just until a sticky dough forms. Use a tablespoon measured add small scoops of the dough into the crockpot, starting by placing them around the outside first, then the inside.
- Cover and cook for another 1-1.5 hours, until dumplings are cooked but soft and not longer raw in the middle. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
If you try this recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!
XO
Heather
Originally published October 2012. Updated December 2021.
12 comments
Looks fantastic. I have been looking for more crockpot chicken recipes!
I saw a chicken & dumplings recipe somewhere about a month ago and have been wanting to make it ever since but just keep forgetting about it. I’ve never made it myself before but this recipe seems easy enough! I think it’ll be on our meal plan for next week! 🙂
oh my gosh drool! What a fabulous dinner
I love dumplings. We call them “dough balls” though. I don’t think I’ve ever had them with chicken – always with beef stew. This does sound very good so I plan on trying it this winter.
Today is rainy, cold and windy. And makes me not want to do anything other than lay on the couch under a blanket, but there is no time for that!
Love dumplings! It looks so good.
Oh my goodness this sounds so delicious, I love a good comfort food come the winter months! ha Can’t wait to try this one out!
I made this over the weekend, and it was an instant hit with my family. My 4 year old ate an entire bowl full, and she rarely eats all of her dinner. Thank you for sharing.
That’s such a win! So glad you guys enjoyed the meal!
Hi there! I made this a week ago and it was easy and a big hit with the fam jam. Thank you for sharing!
Fantastic!
This was so easy and delicious!
Glad you enjoyed it Erin!