Description
Southern-style crockpot chicken and dumplings deliver comfort in each spoonful of this hearty classic. Creamy chicken stew with fluffy dumpling pillows promises warmth and satisfaction when craving home-cooked goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 cups (473 ml) mixed vegetables, frozen (peas, carrots, corn)
- 4 cups (946 ml) chicken broth
- 1 cup (237 ml) milk or heavy cream
- 1 can (10.5 oz/298 g) cream of chicken soup
- 1 can (16 oz/454 g) biscuit dough, refrigerated
- 1 onion, small, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp poultry seasoning
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Flavor Foundation: Combine chicken, seasonings, and broth in the crockpot, layering onions and garlic to create a robust aromatic base that infuses depth into the entire dish.
- Tenderization Process: Allow chicken to slow cook until incredibly soft, enabling proteins to absorb the herbal and savory essence of the surrounding liquid.
- Chicken Transformation: Gently shred the cooked chicken using two forks, preserving its moisture and creating delicate, tender pieces that will integrate seamlessly into the mixture.
- Liquid Integration: Return shredded chicken to the cooking liquid, creating a harmonious and rich base that will serve as the core of the comfort meal.
- Vegetable Incorporation: Fold frozen vegetables into the creamy mixture, ensuring even distribution and adding nutritional complexity to the dish.
- Dumpling Preparation: Cut biscuit dough into bite-sized pieces, lightly coating with flour to prevent sticking and create a light, airy texture.
- Dumpling Placement: Strategically position dumpling pieces on top of the chicken mixture, allowing them to rest without fully submerging, which ensures optimal cooking and texture.
- Final Cooking Stage: Continue cooking on high temperature, transforming dumplings into fluffy, pillowy clusters that absorb the surrounding flavors and blend perfectly with the chicken mixture.
- Harmonization: Gently fold all components together, creating a cohesive and comforting one-pot meal that melds all flavors and textures.
Notes
- Chicken Quality Check: Select bone-in chicken thighs or breasts for richer flavor and more tender meat, ensuring the protein remains juicy during slow cooking.
- Prevent Soggy Dumplings: Avoid lifting the crockpot lid frequently, as steam escape can disrupt cooking temperature and lead to dense, undercooked dumplings.
- Thickness Control: Adjust broth consistency by mixing cornstarch or flour with cold water before adding to create a perfectly creamy, not watery texture.
- Dietary Adaptation: Substitute regular biscuit dough with gluten-free alternatives or use cauliflower dumplings for low-carb versions, maintaining the dish’s comforting essence.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 7-8 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg