Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Dumplings (Printable)

Creamy ranch-seasoned chicken stew with tender vegetables and fluffy dumplings, all cooked low and slow for an effortless comforting dinner.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken & Stew

01 - 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
03 - 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
06 - 1 can (10.5 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup
07 - 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
10 - 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
11 - 1 cup frozen peas
12 - 0.5 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
13 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

→ Dumplings

14 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
15 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
16 - 1 teaspoon sugar
17 - 0.5 teaspoon salt
18 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
19 - 1 cup whole milk
20 - 1 can (16 ounces) refrigerated biscuit dough, quartered (alternative)

# How-To Steps:

01 - In the slow cooker, combine chicken, onion, carrots, celery, chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, parsley, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
02 - Cover and cook on low setting for 5 hours, or until chicken is tender and easily shredded.
03 - Remove chicken from the slow cooker and shred using two forks, then return shredded chicken to the stew.
04 - Stir in frozen peas, heavy cream, and cubed butter until well combined.
05 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Stir in melted butter and milk until just combined without overmixing.
06 - Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the surface of the stew, spacing them apart, or place quartered biscuit dough pieces on top.
07 - Cover and cook on high setting for 30 to 45 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
08 - Ladle into bowls and serve hot, garnished with additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Zero fuss, maximum comfort: You basically dump everything in and walk away, which means you can actually enjoy your day instead of being chained to the stove.
  • It's a complete meal in one pot: No need to plan side dishes when the dumplings and vegetables are already built in.
  • Ranch flavor without the powder packet actually works beautifully here, making it taste homemade even though you're using shortcuts.
02 -
  • Don't rush the dumpling cooking time: This is where most people go wrong, pulling the lid off too early and wondering why their dumplings look raw in the middle.
  • Overmixing dumpling dough is your enemy: Mix just until the streaks of flour disappear, then stop, or you'll end up with something dense and heavy instead of light and fluffy.
03 -
  • Keep your slow cooker on low unless you're in a real hurry: Low heat means more even cooking and less risk of the cream curdling at the edges.
  • Pat your chicken dry before adding it: This helps everything cook more evenly and prevents excess liquid from making the final stew watery.
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