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From My Kitchen To Yours
slow cooker

Best Ever Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

 

 

Introduction

This is a traditional meal that will warm your heart and tantalize your taste buds. It is made of soft chicken, dumplings that float and a thick soup to leave you feeling full. This makes it ideal for family dinners or as a filling meal when the weather gets chilly. Additionally, one can use the crock pot to make it more conveniently without any stress.

 

Ingredients:

4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 medium onion, minced

2 cups of chicken broth

1 cup water

2 cans (10-12 oz each) any flavor condensed cream soup – I used reduced fat homemade cream of chicken.

1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables comprises peas, carrots, corn and green beans.

2 cups biscuit baking mix (like Bisquick)

2/3 cup milk

 

Instructions:

Getting the Chicken Ready:

Put the chicken breasts at the bottom of a crock pot.

Add chopped onions, chicken stock, water, cream of chicken soup, thyme, parsley and black pepper.

Cover and cook on low for about 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours until cooked through and tender.

Separate the Chicken:

Take out the chicken breasts from the crock pot and pull apart with two forks.

Return shredded chicken to the crock pot.

Adding Vegetables:

Stir in frozen mixed vegetables.

Cover and cook on high for another half an hour

Making Dumplings:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine biscuit mix with milk to form a soft dough.

Mound spoonfuls of dough on top of the chicken mixture in crockpot

Cooking Dumplings:

Cover and cook on high heat for thirty to fourty-five minutes or until dumplings are cooked through as well as fluffy.

 

Serving and Storage Tricks:

Serving:

Serve while still hot, decorated with fresh parsley if so desired.

For a full meal, combine it with some simple greens or a crusty bread.

Storage:

Refrigerate: Leftovers should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about three days.

Freeze: For extended storage, freeze them in an air-tight container for around 3 months. Prior to reheating thaw them in the fridge.

Reheating:

Warm through by using microwave or stovetop on low heat.

 

Tips for Success:

Uniformity of Cooked Portions: Chicken breasts must have the same size for even cooking.

Dumplings: Do not open the lid when dumplings are being cooked so as to make them swell properly

Thick Broth: To thicken your broth (optionally), mix two tablespoons of cornstarch and cold water (2 tablespoons) stirring it into your crock-pot before you add dumplings.

 

Health Benefits:

Low-fat Protein: Chicken is a good source of low fat protein needed for growth and repair of muscles.

Veggies: The mixed veggies boost fiber content, provide vitamins and minerals too.

Decent Calorie Count: This dish has few calories per portion, limiting its comfort food status

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories – 350

Protein – 25g

Carbohydrates – 40g

Fat – 10g

Fiber – 4g

Sodium -850mg

 

Variations and Substitutions:

Vegetables: Use fresh vegetables instead of frozen, adjusting the cooking time as necessary.

Spices: Sprinkle garlic powder or paprika for added taste.

Gluten-Free: Make use of gluten-free biscuit mix to cater for dietary restrictions.

Low-Sodium: Opt for low-sodium broth and soup to reduce the sodium content in your diet.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q: Is it okay if I use chicken thighs instead of breasts? A: Yes, Chicken thighs are also viable and tastier option. If necessary adjust the cooking time.

Q: Can I make this dish ahead? A: Yes, you can prepare the chicken and broth mixture in advance and store it in the refrigerator. And then add dumplings before cooking and serving.

Q: How do I know when the dumplings are ready? A: The dumplings should be light and cooked all through without any doughy part inside.

Q: Can I include other herbs or spices? A: Of course! There is nothing wrong with adding some different types of herbs and spices to taste.

 

Conclusion:

It is quick to prepare Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings; ideal for those crazy weeknights. The dish will become everyone’s favorite with its tender chicken, delightful gravy and puffy dumplings.

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