This Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings with Biscuits is the stripped-down version to make when you want classic comfort food without a long ingredient list. Chicken, onion, cream of chicken soup, butter, refrigerated biscuits, and a little flour do most of the work.
The chicken cooks until tender in a creamy broth, then torn biscuit pieces go in near the end and turn into soft shortcut dumplings. It is simple, filling, and especially useful on days when you want dinner cooking while you handle everything else.
If you want a more loaded version with mixed vegetables and two kinds of condensed soup, try our Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings. For a completely different stovetop version made with rolled homemade dough, see Homemade Chicken and Dumplings.
Why This Version Is Different
This recipe is intentionally simple. There are no mixed vegetables, no separate broth measurement, and no long seasoning list. The condensed soup makes the creamy base, while the chicken and onion provide the savory flavor.
The other useful shortcut is the dumplings. Instead of mixing and rolling dough, you tear refrigerated biscuits into pieces, lightly coat them in flour, and let them cook right in the slow cooker.
That flour coating matters because it helps keep the biscuit pieces from immediately sticking together. It also adds a little body to the creamy cooking liquid as the dumplings finish.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, or 6 skinless chicken thighs
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 2 cans cream of chicken soup
- 2 small packages Grands Jr. biscuits, about 10 biscuits total
- All-purpose flour, as needed for coating the biscuit pieces
- Water, enough to cover the chicken mixture in the slow cooker
Ingredient Notes
Chicken
The original recipe works with either chicken breasts or thighs. Breasts give you leaner pieces of chicken, while thighs tend to stay a little more forgiving during a long slow-cooker cook.
Cream of Chicken Soup
Two cans create the creamy base for this shortcut recipe. Because condensed soup can already be salty, wait until the dish is finished before deciding whether it needs extra salt.
Refrigerated Biscuits
Small refrigerated biscuits are convenient here because they cook fairly quickly once added to the hot chicken mixture. Tear them into smaller pieces instead of dropping whole biscuits into the slow cooker. Smaller pieces cook more evenly through the center.
How to Make Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
- Lightly grease the inside of your slow cooker.
- Add the chicken, butter, diced onion, and cream of chicken soup.
- Pour in enough water to cover the chicken mixture.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 to 6 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.
- About 30 minutes before serving, tear the refrigerated biscuits into dumpling-size pieces.
- Lightly roll or toss each biscuit piece in flour so the pieces are coated and less likely to stick together.
- Drop the floured biscuit pieces into the hot slow-cooker mixture, distributing them as evenly as possible.
- Replace the lid and continue cooking for about 30 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through.
- Check one of the thickest dumplings before serving. The center should no longer look wet or raw.
- Shred or break up the tender chicken as desired, stir gently, and serve hot.
Tips for Better Biscuit Dumplings
Keep the biscuit pieces fairly small. Large pieces can look cooked on the outside while staying doughy in the middle.
Once the dumplings go in, keep the slow cooker covered as much as possible. The trapped heat helps the dough cook through.
If your slow cooker runs cool and the dumplings are still raw after 30 minutes, give them additional time rather than serving them undercooked.
If the finished dish becomes thicker than you want, loosen it with a small amount of hot water or chicken broth. Add just a little at a time so the sauce stays creamy.
Storage and Reheating
Cool leftovers and refrigerate them in a covered container for up to 3 to 4 days. The dumplings continue absorbing some of the creamy liquid as they sit, so the mixture will usually be thicker the next day.
Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. A splash of broth or water can loosen the consistency if needed.
More Cozy Chicken Dinners
For more warm, comforting meals, try our Chicken Pot Pie Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup. You can also browse more easy soup recipes for cold-weather dinner ideas.
