Cody Casey
Crockpot meals are a great way to cook a hearty meal with minimal prep and ingredients. Chicken and dumplings, beef stew, and soups are all popular crockpot meals that can be made more filling with the addition of dumplings. Making dumplings in a crockpot is an easy way to turn a soup into a one-pot meal, and they can be made with biscuit dough or flour and suet.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of food | Comfort food, soup, stew, casserole |
| Ingredients | Chicken, beef, vegetables, flour, suet, biscuit dough, water, wine, stock, salt, pepper, herbs, cheese |
| Time | 30 minutes to half an hour, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours |
| Recipe steps | Combine ingredients, cook, shred chicken, prepare dumplings, add dumplings, cook further |
| Equipment | Slow cooker, crock pot, bowl, forks |
| Calories | 79kcal |
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What You'll Learn
Making the dough
To make the dough from scratch, start by putting the flour in a large bowl and stirring in the suet. You can also add some herbs, Parmesan, salt, garlic granules, and lots of seasoning at this stage for extra flavour. Create a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in some cold water. Stir the mixture until it comes together to form a soft dough. If the dough is too dry, gradually add more water, a teaspoon at a time, until the desired consistency is reached.
Once the dough is formed, it can be shaped into dumplings. Pinch off small pieces of dough, roughly the size of a walnut, and gently roll them into balls. These dumplings can then be placed on top of the stew or soup in the crock pot and cooked for about an hour.
For an even easier option, canned biscuit dough can be used to make dumplings. Simply open the can of biscuits, press each biscuit flat, and cut them into narrow strips. These biscuit strips can then be added directly to the crock pot and cooked until they are light and fluffy.
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Preparing the crock pot
After combining all the ingredients, stir in the beef and add any herbs or seasonings you desire. You can also add a tablespoon of onion marmalade to the crock pot to mimic the sweetness of caramelized onions. Finally, seal the crockpot with tinfoil and the lid, and let it steam.
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Cooking the dumplings
For a lighter option, you can use biscuit dough to make fluffy dumplings. Simply open a can of biscuits, press each biscuit flat, cut them into strips, and add them to the slow cooker. You can also use canned biscuit dough to make drop dumplings with zero prep work.
Once the dough is ready, pinch off walnut-sized pieces, gently roll them into balls, and place them on top of the stew, spacing them apart. Cover and cook for an additional hour. Check the seasoning before serving.
If you are using pre-made dumplings, thaw them in warm water before adding them to the stew. Bring the stew to a boil, add the dumplings, and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
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Adding flavour
When it comes to adding flavour to your dumplings, there are several ingredients you can use to enhance the taste. Here are some ideas to make your crockpot dumplings even more delicious:
Herbs and Spices
Including herbs and spices in your dumpling mixture can add a burst of flavour. You can use fresh or dried herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, or tarragon. If you want to give your dumplings a slight kick, try adding spices like cumin, poultry seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, or cracked black pepper. These spices can also be used to season the meat or vegetables in your crockpot dish, creating a cohesive and flavourful meal.
Cheese
Adding cheese to your dumpling mixture can take them to the next level. Try mixing in shredded cheese, such as Gruyère or Cheddar, into the flour before adding any liquid. This will create cheesy, savoury dumplings that pair well with the other ingredients in your crockpot.
Mustard or Horseradish
For a tangy and savoury flavour, consider mixing in some mustard or horseradish to your dumpling dough. Start with a small amount, such as 1/2 teaspoon, and adjust to your taste preferences. This addition can give your dumplings a unique and pungent flavour that complements the other ingredients in your crockpot dish.
Broth or Wine
Instead of using water, you can add more flavour to your dumplings by using chicken or vegetable broth as the liquid in your dumpling mixture. Alternatively, if you're making a stew or casserole with wine as an ingredient, you can replace some of the water in your dumpling mixture with the same wine for a more robust flavour.
Meat
If you're making a meat-based crockpot dish, you can add small pieces of cooked meat to your dumpling mixture. This will enhance the flavour and make your dumplings heartier. Just remember to ensure the meat is cooked thoroughly before adding it to the dumplings.
With these flavour-enhancing tips, you can create delicious and tasty dumplings that will elevate your crockpot meal.
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Serving suggestions
Crockpot chicken and dumplings is a slow-cooked version of a classic comfort food. It is a complete meal with protein, veggies, and carbs. The recipe is quite flexible, allowing for the addition or exclusion of vegetables and seasonings to suit individual preferences.
- Rice and Roasted Vegetables: This option provides a balanced meal with carbohydrates from the rice and essential nutrients from the vegetables. You can roast Brussels sprouts or other vegetables of your choice to accompany the dish.
- Simple Green Salad: Adding a fresh and healthy side dish like a green salad can enhance the meal. It provides a crunchy texture and additional nutrients to balance out the richness of the crockpot chicken and dumplings.
- Dinner Rolls: These can be served alongside the crockpot chicken and dumplings to soak up the delicious gravy or broth. They offer a starchy component to the meal.
- Roasted Potatoes and Carrots: For a heartier option, roasted potatoes and carrots can be served as a side dish. They complement the flavours of the chicken and dumplings while adding a satisfyingly soft texture.
- Mashed Potatoes: Crockpot chicken and dumplings can be served over a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. This combination creates a comforting and hearty meal, perfect for cold winter days.
- Stew: Crockpot dumplings can be added to a stew, providing a starchy component to the meal. They absorb the flavours of the stew and offer a soft and doughy texture.
- Soup: Crockpot dumplings can turn a simple soup into a hearty one-pot meal. They cook right on top of the soup, making it a convenient and satisfying option.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 30 minutes to cook dumplings in a crock pot.
Suet dumplings are the traditional choice and are very easy to make. However, you can also make dumplings with biscuit dough for a lighter, fluffier dumpling.
One good recipe for dumplings cooked in a crock pot is to make a beef stew with root vegetables and dumplings. First, toss beef cubes with seasoned flour, then add hot beef stock, red wine, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, tomato paste, garlic, and seasoning. Add onions, leeks, parsnips, and carrots, and stir to combine. After 5 hours of cooking, make the dumplings by combining flour, suet, parsley, and seasoning. Add cold water and stir to make a dough. Form the dough into balls and place on top of the stew. Cook for another hour and serve.
