Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings with Canned Biscuits
192 CommentsSep 15, 2026
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This easy slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe comes together with canned biscuits and cream soups but delivers rich, homemade flavor. A true comfort food classic, it’s perfect for any season.
Table of Contents
- Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- Key Ingredients
- How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
- Variations & Substitutions
- What can I use as a substitute for canned biscuits?
- Why are my dumplings still doughy?
- Can I add Frozen Chicken Breasts to the Slow Cooker?
- More Cozy Slow Cooker Soups
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings with Canned Biscuits Recipe
Featured Comment
"Followed it by the book and it was delicious!"
- Denise
Why This Recipe is a Keeper
- My slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe is a true one-pot meal, with fluffy dumplings made from cut-up canned biscuits.
- This is my family's all-time favorite meal. Before life got busy, I made chicken and dumplings from scratch, but now I appreciate easy, comforting recipes like this one.
- Minimal prep with only about 15 minutes of prep time.
Key Ingredients
A few vegetables, chicken, and pantry items are needed to make these easy chicken and dumplings in the slow cooker. See the recipe card for full ingredient amounts.
- Chicken breasts – Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut these into large cubes.
- Condensed soups – Cream of chicken and cream of celery soup
- Chicken broth and water – These add just enough liquid to make a creamy broth without making the chicken and dumplings too soupy.
- Vegetables – Fresh carrots, celery, and onion. Add the frozen peas at the end of the cooking time.
- Seasonings – Freshly ground pepper and thyme. No extra salt is needed for this recipe.
- Biscuits – I use Pillsbury Grands® Biscuits. I find that this brand always cooks through, unlike the organic brand, which seems to stay doughy in this recipe. You can use buttermilk or original style.
How to Make Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
- Add the chicken, vegetables, soups, broth, water and seasonings to the slow cooker.
- Cover and cook until the chicken and vegetables are tender.
- Cut the biscuits into four pieces each.
- Add the peas and biscuit pieces, then cook on HIGH until the dumplings are cooked through.
Variations & Substitutions
- Rotisserie Chicken: Use 3 cups of diced rotisserie chicken. White meat, dark meat, or a combination of both will work. Add it at the beginning since the vegetables still need the full cooking time.
- Turkey: You can use raw or cooked turkey in this recipe if desired with great results. It will be called turkey and dumplings instead!
- Other additions: You can add potatoes, mushrooms, or bacon for more heartiness.
- Shred Instead: The chicken breasts can be left whole, then shredded before adding the dumplings (biscuits).
What can I use as a substitute for canned biscuits?
I understand some don't want to use canned biscuits. Here are ways to make this recipe without them:
- Bisquick - Follow this recipe for Bisquick dumplings from Betty Crocker. Cook the dumplings for the same amount of time I have listed for the canned biscuits (with the lid on).
- From Scratch - Use this recipe for homemade dumplings from Spruce Eats. Cooking time remains the same as my recipe.
- Crescent rolls - you can use the Pillsbury crescent dough the same way this recipe does for biscuits. Cut into small pieces and add to the hot soup.
- Flour tortillas - These can be used if you have none of the above. Cut into small squares and add to the finished soup. Cook for 20 minutes on high.
Why are my dumplings still doughy?
Make sure the slow cooker is nice and hot before adding the biscuits and has not switched to WARM for any length of time. Keep the lid on while they cook so you don't let any of the heat escape. If your slow cooker runs a little cool, the dumplings may need extra time to cook through.
Can I add Frozen Chicken Breasts to the Slow Cooker?
I do not recommend adding any frozen meats to the slow cooker. The chicken may stay in the danger zone too long before cooking and may not be safe to eat. Plan ahead and thaw your chicken in the fridge; this usually takes about 24 hours.
More Cozy Slow Cooker Soups
Slow Cooker Chicken Pot Pie and Ham Hocks and Dumplings bring classic comfort straight from the crockpot.
Turkey and Dumplings and Slow Cooker Chicken Gnocchi Soup offer hearty bowls for chilly evenings.
If you tried this Chicken and Dumplings recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Happy Slow Cooking!
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breasts, cubed
- 10.5 oz. can cream of chicken soup
- 10.5 oz. can cream of celery soup
- 1 cup water
- 14.5 oz. can chicken broth
- 2 carrots, sliced (about 2 cups after being sliced)
- 2-3 ribs celery, sliced (about 2 cups after being sliced)
- 1 yellow onion , diced
- 1/2 tsp. thyme
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 cup frozen peas, optional
- 16.3 oz. Pillsbury Grand Biscuits, 8 biscuit sized can note- I only use 7 of these biscuits
- more thyme and pepper for the top of biscuits
Instructions
- Add chicken, carrots, celery, onions, thyme, and black pepper to your slow cooker.
- Add the cream of chicken soup, cream of celery soup, chicken broth and water. Stir.
- Cook on HIGH For 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
- Add peas at this point if you would like. Stir.
- I only use 7 biscuits for this recipe. Cut the biscuits into quarters. Arrange the biscuit quarters evenly over the soup.
- Sprinkle dumplings with a touch of thyme and pepper. Replace the lid.
- Turn your slow cooker to HIGH.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 45 minutes (DO NOT OPEN THE LID DURING THIS TIME). You will know the dumplings are done when they are no longer shiny.NOTE- If your slow cooker has switched over to warm after cooking for a length of time you will need to cook the dumplings for 1.5 hours so the slow cooker gets back up to temperature.
Sarah's Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
I just made some shredded chicken in my crockpot that I use in other recipes throughout the week. To use it in this, should I add the cooked chicken with the vegetables cooked another 4 hours on high, or cook the vegetables and other then add the chicken in with the peas and biscuits? Thanks!
You can do it either way! The chicken will still flavor the soup if you add it at the beginning.
Can you use frozen chicken?
If your slow cooker manual says it’s safe, I think the recipe will do fine.
Hi Sarah,
I’m just curious about your comment regarding the 16.3 oz. Pillsbury Grand Biscuits 8 biscuit sized can note –
“I only use 7 of these biscuits”.
So what happens to the 8th biscuit?
Thank you for your terrific recipes! My boyfriend loves them!!
You can bake it off and eat it. The last biscuit would crowd the dumplings and make them compact.
I see. I didn’t realize. Thank you!!
I get it now! I didn’t realize that. Thank you so much for all you do!
You can stir in the first biscuit then layer in top. I used 12 since we fight for the dumplings
Those canned biscuits-nothing like that available here. Are they portions of dough, floured and pressed into a can?
The biscuits are found in the refrigerated food area along with butter and cheese. They are not floured. They stay fresh being refrigerated.
How much celery should I buy? The same amount as the carrots?
Yes, thank you. I will fix it. This was an older recipe I redid, need to add that.
Lid on or off in cooking biscuits
Keep the lid on 🙂
I’m looking at cooking this for 9 people and a toddler. Could I add more biscuits to make is cuts to order farther?
Yes, will work fine!
I was wondering a few things. Do ya have to use Cream of Celery Soup, Carrots, Onions, ‘n’ Thyme? I do not eat carrots, onions (unless on Italian hoagies), ‘n’ dont care for thyme. The Celery Soup is kinda iffy so ta say not sure if I would like it or not. Just 2 more questions. Why couldnt ya just chop up the chicken befor hand instead of waiting? Wouldnt it get done faster or at least be a lil less work? I noticed ya said you used to make it on the stove can ya still do that with this recipe? I do not have a slow cooker that is why I am asking. If so, how long would it take ta do on the stove top?
Thank You for your time ‘n’ patience
Mary
Hi Mary! Yes use whatever cream soups in place of the cream of celery. You can leave out the carrots, onion and thyme. You definitely can make this on the stove-top, since you aren’t using any vegetables that take a while to cook.
Is there a way to cook the dumplings longer if you have to work?
The dumplings only take a little bit of time, I add them when I get off work.
Made this for dinner tonight. My family LOVED it! It will now make the weekly rotation. Thanks. Can’t wait to try more of these yummy recipes.
I don’t understand parts of this recipe. Like 1 10 3/4 can cream of chicken soup
1 10 3/4 can cream of celery soup
1 10 3/4 can filled with water
1 14.5 ounce can chicken broth
What does 1 10 3/4 mean?
Thanks
Betty- it’s one 10 3/4 ounce can. I’ll fix that. Thanks 🙂