Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Dumplings (Printable Version)

Tender chicken and vegetables in a creamy ranch-seasoned stew, topped with fluffy dumplings for ultimate comfort.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken & Stew

01 - 2 lbs 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 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
07 - 1 packet (1 oz) ranch seasoning mix
08 - 1 tsp garlic powder
09 - 1 tsp dried parsley
10 - ½ tsp black pepper
11 - 1 cup frozen peas
12 - ½ cup heavy cream or half-and-half
13 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed

→ Dumplings

14 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
15 - 1 tbsp baking powder
16 - 1 tsp sugar
17 - ½ tsp salt
18 - 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
19 - 1 cup whole milk

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

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 until well mixed.
02 - Cover and cook on low setting for 5 hours, or until chicken is tender and easily shredded with forks.
03 - Remove cooked chicken from slow cooker using tongs, shred using two forks, and return shredded meat to the stew.
04 - Stir in frozen peas, heavy cream, and cubed butter until fully incorporated.
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 stew surface, spacing them evenly apart.
07 - Cover slow cooker and cook on high setting for 30-45 minutes until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
08 - Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The slow cooker does almost everything while you live your day, and somehow the chicken comes out impossibly tender.
  • Those fluffy dumplings soak up all the creamy ranch broth in a way that makes you close your eyes on the first bite.
  • It's the kind of meal that satisfies both the person cooking and the people eating it, which honestly feels like winning.
02 -
  • Don't peek constantly—every time you lift that lid, you're letting heat escape and adding time to the cook, so trust the process and walk away.
  • Add the cream and peas at the very end, not at the beginning, because cream can curdle during a long cook and peas turn to mush.
  • If you're worried about dumplings, the canned biscuit route is honestly foolproof and no one will think less of you for it.
03 -
  • Pat your chicken dry before adding it to the slow cooker—any extra moisture gets released during cooking, and you want the broth to stay concentrated and flavorful.
  • Brown the chicken in a hot skillet for two minutes per side before adding it to the slow cooker if you have an extra ten minutes; it creates a flavor depth that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is.
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