Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings (from scratch)

Ingredients

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 2 Tbsp. flour
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ onion, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1 rib celery, sliced
• Dumplings
• ¾ cup flour
• 1½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1/3 cup milk or half and half

Instructions

1. Arrange chicken breasts in one or two layers on the bottom of a slow cooker. Season them lightly with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. In a 2-quart saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and ¼ tsp. pepper and stir until it forms a smooth paste. Add chicken broth. Stir until warmed and slightly thickened. Pour over chicken breasts. Add onion, carrot and celery. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
2. To prepare dumplings: mix together flour, salt and baking powder. Add milk and stir. The dough will be soft, but should hold its shape. Roll dough into 18 1-inch balls.
3. About 30 minutes before serving, add dumplings to slow cooker