cheesy chicken and dumplings;

March 6, 2024Katie
cheesy chicken 'n dumplings;
A decadent and easy slow cooker recipe, shredded chicken slathered in chicken sauce and topped with soft dumpling biscuits and a sprinkle of cheese.
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top down view of cheesy chicken and dumplins

Originally posted on April 10, 2017. Updated on March 6, 2021 for content and clarity.

Need a crowd pleaser dinner and don’t have time to prep and cook? This cheesy chicken and dumplings recipe is a perfect solution. As a slow cooker recipe, it makes preparation easy, and it comes out delicious every damn time. Plus it doesn’t even take that many ingredients. I honestly usually keep all of them around the house, which makes this an easy go-to, even for last minute guests. (Assuming you have 4-6 hours to let it cook.) Or a last minute meal if you didn’t get a chance to hit the grocery.

cheesy chicken and dumplings in the crockpot

Note that I like the dumplings in cheesy chicken and dumplings pretty soft. To get firmer dumplings, allow them to simmer for 15-20 minutes longer or until they reach your desired texture. You can also speed up the process by tossing them in a warmed skillet for 1-2 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. That helps them get a little shell to help them firm up.

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grillmates garlic, herb, and wine seasoning packet

I’ve included the full from-scratch recipe for cheesy chicken and dumplings below, which lays out my favorite blend of spices to marinate the chicken in. But to be honest, I rarely even bother to mix my own herbs and spices at this point. I’ll just use a pre-made seasoning packet from the store. My favorite go to is this garlic, wine, and, herb blend from grillmates. But there’s some other great flavor options too, like Brazilian steakhouse or smoky applewood.

Of course whatever flavors you choose are gonna end up in the dish. So don’t use chipotle pepper if spice and smokiness aren’t for you. I find the garlic, wine, and, herb blend is a delicious. I’ve also used the smoky applewood and it still came out deliciously. Plus, switching up the spice makes this recipe even more versatile.

Cheesy chicken and dumplings is comfort food at its max, so I highly recommend some lighter sides. Vegetables pair nicely like roasted broccoli, or roasted asparagus. But if you’re all in on the comfort, serve over rice or egg noodles to help sop up that delicious sauce. And the cheese! I find that just that little sprinkle of cheese pushes comfort food over into decadence. I always look forward to eating this, even as leftovers. And we usually have leftovers unless we’re feeding a crowd.

mound of cheesy chicken and dumplings with two dumplins on top

Prepare for your house to smell delicious too! You don’t want to overcook the chicken so make sure you’re waiting the right amount of time at each step. Make sure you don’t let the chicken dry out in this recipe for cheesy chicken and dumplings. Luckily the moisture in the ingredients and serving it in its own saucy juices makes this recipe pretty forgiving.

Secrets to success;

  • Keep a couple of seasoning packets in your pantry to make this staple dinner even easier. It’s a perfect tool in the Arsenal for feeding a crowd or a dinner meal when you’ve forgotten to go to the store. Assuming of course you have 4-6 hours to cook it. My favorite seasoning packet is the garlic, wine, and herb grillmates, but don’t be afraid to try others. Chipotle pepper, smoked applewood, and Brazilian steakhouse are a few of the delicious options out there.
  • Allow for some extra cooking time if you like your dumplin’s on the firm side. I like mine soft so add 15-20 minutes more cooking time for firmer dumplin’s.
  • Don’t overcook your chicken! It’s easy to set and forget with slow cooker recipes. You don’t want the chicken to dry out. This recipe can be pretty forgiving considering the sauce and dumplings but no one likes dry chicken.

Check out these other slow cooker meals:

top down view of cheesy chicken and dumplins

cheesy chicken ‘n dumplings;

A decadent and easy slow cooker recipe, shredded chicken slathered in chicken sauce and topped with soft dumpling biscuits and a sprinkle of cheese.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Wait Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8
4.34 from 3 votes
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Ingredients

Marinade (or replace with a packet mix)

  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ½ a lemon
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried crushed red pepper
  • 1 tsp dried rosemary
  • 1 Tbsp garlic pepper

Chicken n Dumplins

  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 2 cans water
  • ½ tsp garlic salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 lb marinated chicken
  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 tube biscuits (use your preferred type, flaky layers, homestyle, etc.)
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Instructions

Marinade

  • Combine all ingredients with 2 lb chicken in a plastic bag. Smoosh around and let sit for at least an hour (or overnight).

Chicken 'n Dumplings

  • Add 2 cans of cream of chicken to the slow cooker. Fill each can with water and add that to the pot.
  • Add ½ tsp garlic salt and ½ tsp pepper and stir until combined. Add in the chicken and cook on high 5-6 hours, low 8-9 hours.
  • 1½ hours before serving, remove the chicken from the pot and cut or tear the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces. Once shredded, return to the cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, combine parmesan cheese and 1 Tbsp garlic powder. Cut each biscuit into 6-9 pieces (depending on your preferred size of dumplin) and toss in the cheese mixture. Add to slow cooker on top. You can mix slightly, but I usually just toss them on top.
  • Cook high for 1 hour, then sprinkle on cheddar cheese and let melt.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @bestwithchocolate or tag #bestwithchocolate!
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