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Cozy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe with Fluffy Dumplings Made Easy

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A comforting slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe featuring tender chicken thighs and fluffy, airy dumplings that soak up a rich, savory broth. Perfect for cozy dinners with minimal hands-on time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup cold milk (whole or 2%)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • Optional: 1/4 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken thighs, sliced carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into the slow cooker. Sprinkle thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper over the top. Pour in the chicken broth and stir gently to combine.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours, until the chicken is tender and vegetables are soft.
  3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the chicken to a bowl and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker.
  4. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup flour and 1/3 cup cold water until smooth. Stir slurry into the slow cooker to thicken the broth. Cook uncovered on high for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  5. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Add cold milk and melted butter, stirring gently until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are okay.
  6. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling batter directly onto the surface of the hot broth, spacing them out to allow expansion. Cover and cook on high for 30-40 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
  7. Optional: Stir in a splash of heavy cream for extra richness. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, spooning generous portions of chicken, vegetables, and dumplings into bowls.

Notes

Keep ingredients cold for fluffy dumplings. Do not overmix dumpling batter to avoid toughness. Space dumplings apart in the slow cooker to allow them to puff properly. Avoid lifting the lid during dumpling cooking to retain steam. Shred chicken separately before thickening broth to keep meat tender. Adjust seasoning after adding dumplings as thickening can mute flavors. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend; for dairy-free, use coconut or almond milk and dairy-free butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chicken and dumplings, fluffy dumplings, comfort food, easy slow cooker recipe, chicken thighs, cozy dinner

Find it online: https://avabowls.com/cozy-slow-cooker-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe-with-fluffy-dumplings-made-easy/