This easy Instant Pot chicken and dumplings recipe is so yummy!i Takes just 20 minutes to make in any pressure cooker, Crockpot Express or Ninja Foodi. The ultimate one pot comfort food made in no time at all.
This Instant Pot chicken and dumplings recipe is probably our favorite, especially when it’s chilly outside. One of our favorite Instant Pot recipes that reminds me of my childhood. (originally published 4/17, affiliate links present)
Ninja Foodi Chicken and Dumplings
You can make this as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe or any pressure cooker really if you have a different brand you love. It’s done in about 20 minutes and not only is the chicken super tender but the sauce is creamy and the biscuits are just the right consistency.
We make things easier using refrigerated biscuits but you could use gnocchi or Bisquick if you’d rather. With vegetables, meat and sauce all together in one this will remind you of your childhood for sure.
Let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!
- Then PRINT this —–> Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet that will help you understand how long meat, vegetables and beans take to cook in your pressure cooker.
- This is a great InstaPot cookbook and set of wooden utensils are great to grab too.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot. It is easier to clean and will avoid the burn message too.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have and use for all recipe creations.
Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings with Biscuits
NO need to make Bisquick biscuits “from scratch”, we are all about easy recipes here, and ready made refrigerated style works great! Ever since I got my Instant Pot I make everything in there because everything cooks so quickly!
How do you make chicken and dumplings?
First you’re going to need some meat, duh. You can use chicken thighs or breasts whichever you prefer really. Just choose medium sized that are the same thickness. You don’t want the skin or bones so boneless is best but you could save money by removing all of that yourself too.
This pressure cooker recipe is total comfort food and doesn’t take all the time your Grandmother took to make it on the stovetop either.
She would definitely be jealous if she saw you now. 😉 Here are a few questions you might have before you get started:
Well the way we did it for this was to add small bits of refrigerated biscuit pieces in liquid on saute. Then pressure cooked for just a few minutes and they were perfect.
Set pot to saute again and take some hot liquid out and into a bowl.Whisk this and a few tablespoons of cornstarch together in a small bowl to thicken broth.
When this is smooth, add this into your pot as well as your milk. Allow to bubble. Shred your chicken and add back into your pot. Serve!
I have made a multitude of Instant Pot soup recipes which I feel this one falls into. They are all great especially during the winter months.
Instant Pot chicken and dumplings
- Pressure cooker
- I HIGHLY recommend getting this non stick pot
- Chicken breasts
- Carrots
- Celery
- Some like frozen peas too
- Chicken broth
- Milk
- Refrigerated biscuits
- if you can’t find biscuits, you could try and make biscuit dough with Bisquick.
How do you make dumplings?
- If you were making this on the stovetop you’d have to boil dumplings in a large pot 2/3 of the way with water.
- Once you covered it and brought water to a boil over high heat, you’d add as many dumplings as can fit comfortably in a single layer in the pot.
- Then you’d cook them until they floated + an additional two to three minutes.
- Once you covered it and brought water to a boil over high heat, you’d add as many dumplings as can fit comfortably in a single layer in the pot.
I prefer THIS ready made way featured below though because it’s easier. There is No baking powder or flour required.
Seasonings to use are listed below, poultry seasoning isn’t listed but is another add in option.
I have had some people outside the United States say they cannot find refrigerated biscuits at the store. To that I say you could try and make biscuit dough with Bisquick and add that at the end.
You could also just skip that portion and serve biscuits on the side. I wish I was more help with that but I have always had access to them. Just trying to think outside of the box if that’s the case.
- Yes you can make homemade dumplings and cut up the biscuit pieces. But if I can find a quicker way I’m all about it, so I used refrigerated biscuits.
Of course you want a soft consistency and these do the trick perfectly. If you’re looking for an easy way to make chicken and dumplings in your Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi you’ve got to give this one a whirl.
If you make a pressure cooker turkey this year you could easily use the leftovers instead of chicken. It’s a quick meal done in 30 minutes which we love.
Can you make chicken and dumplings in a crockpot?
- Yes! I did, here’s the recipe for slow cooker chicken and dumplings.
Instant Pot Chicken and Frozen Dumplings
I have seen frozen versions in some stores. If you’re able to get your hands on some those are great choices as well. Only difference is they will emit a bit of liquid while cooking and thin your soup just a bit. Here’s how you make this easy chicken and dumplings recipe
Time needed: 19 minutes.
Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings
- Add ingredients
Add the chicken breasts, vegetables, seasonings and chicken broth in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Make sure breasts are of similar sizes so they cook evenly.
- Cook
Close the lid and set at high pressure for 12 minutes. When done do a quick release and lift lid carefully.
Remove chicken and put in a bowl, cover to keep warm. - Saute
Set IP to saute and add cut up biscuits, put inside of liquid mixture.
Wait until it boils and allow to bubble for 1 full minute so it steams the biscuits. Turn pot off/cancel. - Pressure cook
Put lid back on and set to manual, pressure, low, for 4 minutes. (if you don’t have low function just use high for 1 minute)
Do a quick release when done and carefully lift lid. Set to saute again. - Thicken
Pour milk in with liquid and stir slightly. Add 1 tbsp of cornstarch + a few tbsp of your hot broth into a bowl and whisk together until smooth.
Pour this mixture into your pot and stir gently. Can add another tbsp of cornstarch with same whisking if you want it even thicker.
Shred cooked chicken and add back into your pressure cooker. Allow IP to start to boil/bubble again for about 1 full minute to mix all liquids. Serve!
What is the difference between noodles and dumplings?
Noodles are stringy strips of pasta while a dumpling is a ball of dough that is cooked and may have a filling and/or additional ingredients in the dough. You could make either one though if you wanted.
Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings with Noodles
If you prefer to use pasta instead of dough dollops on top I’d make this pressure cooker chicken noodle casserole instead. Alternatively you could submerge about 1 cup of uncooked elbow macaroni at the very top without stirring before you seal the lid with this same recipe.
What exactly is a dumpling?
There is a pretty broad definition for these little buggers. Typically they consist of pieces of dough made from a variety of starch sources. Kinda’ like what we use in our Instant Pot gnocchi soup.
The dough can be based on bread, flour or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, fruits or sweets.
What sides go well with chicken and dumplings?
- Sauteed bell peppers are yummy
- Steamed veggies with a bit of melted butter, salt and pepper
- Creamed corn casserole has been a favorite if I am feeding a larger crowd
- Any sort of side salad is an easy thing to throw together.
- Instant Pot spinach works well
- Corn on the cob
Looking for more Instant Pot chicken recipes ??
- Instant Pot chicken noodle soup
- 3 ingredient Instant Pot teriyaki chicken
- Super easy Instant Pot whole chicken
- Hoisin chicken in your pressure cooker is a winner
- Creamy pesto chicken is a winner too
Pressure cooker chicken and dumplings
What should I serve with chicken and dumplings?
- For us it is a one pot meal.
- Could add more vegetables on the side though
- For dessert make air fryer dumplings with apple inside
Can you cook dumplings in the oven on their own?
- Of course if you’d rather just make small biscuits in the oven be my guest
- You can break them up into small pieces and put them into this dish before serving
Can I freeze chicken and dumplings?
I haven’t done that with this particular recipe but I imagine you could. Just keep in mind when reheating that the dumplings will not be the same texture and may turn gummy.
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Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Ingredients
- 1-1.5 lbs chicken breasts boneless skinless, medium size
- 3 carrots large dials
- 2 stalks celery sliced thick so they don’t get too muchy
- 1/2 onion large chunks
- 1 c chicken broth (add more if you like a lot of liquid)
- 1/2 c milk (whole is best, add a bit more if you want more liquid)
- 3 refrigerated biscuits Grands is what I used (cut into spoon size pieces)
- 1 tsp salt optional – we usually don’t add any
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1-2 tbsp cornstarch optional to thicken broth
Instructions
- Put medium size chicken breasts, vegetables, seasonings and chicken broth in your Instant Pot or pressure cooker. Make sure breasts are of similar sizes so they cook evenly.
- Put lid on and set at high pressure for 12 minutes.
- When done do a quick release and lift lid carefully.
- Remove chicken and put in a bowl, cover to keep warm.
- Set IP to saute and add cut up biscuits, put inside of liquid mixture.
- Wait until it boils and allow to bubble for 1 full minute so it steams the biscuits. Turn pot off/cancel.
- Put lid back on and set to manual, pressure, low, for 4 minutes. (if you don’t have low function just use high for 1 minute)
- Do a quick release when done and carefully lift lid. Set to saute again.
- Pour milk in with liquid and stir slightly. Add 1 tbsp of cornstarch + a few tbsp of your hot broth into a bowl and whisk together until smooth ( if you desire it to be thicker) pour this mixture into your pot and stir gently. Can add another tbsp of cornstarch with same whisking if you want it even thicker.
- Shred cooked chicken and add back into your pressure cooker.
- Allow IP to start to boil/bubble again for about 1 full minute to mix all liquids. Serve!
Video
Debbie
Sunday 24th of November 2019
I’ve made this several times now and absolutely love it every time! I used rotisserie chicken because I had some already shredded and I let everyone add their own pepper. Thanks so much for this recipe. It Has become a staple meal in our home.
Pam
Thursday 21st of November 2019
First meal in my IP! It was delicious. And my husband REALLY loved it! We like dark meat more than the white so I used 1.75 lb of boneless, skinless thighs. I also added another cup chicken stock at the beginning as well as an additional cup of water with the milk at the end. I didn’t have any cornstarch so I mixed flour with cold water instead. Worked great! Thanks so much for this great recipe!
The Typical Mom
Friday 22nd of November 2019
Yay!!!
Lisa Kemerly
Monday 21st of January 2019
Made this tonight for my family and they all LOVED it! My son said it was way better than Cracker Barrel’s Chicken and Dumplings and those were his favorite. Will definitely be making these again!!!
The Typical Mom
Tuesday 22nd of January 2019
OH my I am so glad!!
Kim
Wednesday 19th of December 2018
Delicious! We loved it. I did add more broth and since I didn't have whole milk on hand I did 1/2 2%milk and 1/2 heavy cream. Which I did up in proportion with the broth. Didn't need the cornstarch to thicken. Making a 2nd batch with the chicken that I didn't cook. I also used homemade dumplings with some garlic powder addded in. I'm going to after. A little bit of garlic since we all love garlic. Great recipe. Thank you
The Typical Mom
Friday 21st of December 2018
Glad you loved it!!
Ryan Nunley
Saturday 15th of December 2018
Great recipe. I didn't use 3 Grands, but Kroger jumbo, so I doubled the milk/cream as well as the chicken stock before last step. But I'll cut back on the pepper next time.
The Typical Mom
Monday 17th of December 2018
Glad you enjoyed it!