Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food that combines tender, shredded chicken in a creamy broth with soft, fluffy dumplings. It’s the perfect meal for a cozy night in or when you need something filling and delicious. This recipe is easy to prepare and can be made in one pot, making cleanup a breeze!

Expect tender pieces of chicken swimming in a creamy, flavorful broth, with light, fluffy dumplings that soak up all the goodness. The combination of hearty chicken, vegetables, and delicate dumplings creates the ultimate comfort food dish that everyone will love.

Tools to Use

Large soup pot or Dutch oven
Cutting board and knife
Spoon or ladle
Whisk
Mixing bowl (for dumplings)

Ingredients

For the Soup:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1 medium onion, diced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

For the Dumplings:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
2/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Cook the Chicken:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts or thighs and cook until browned on both sides, about 6-7 minutes per side. Once browned, remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.

2. Sauté the Vegetables:
In the same pot, add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.

3. Make the Broth:
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer.

4. Shred the Chicken:
While the soup is simmering, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.

5. Add the Cream:
Stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half and continue simmering for about 5 minutes, allowing the soup to thicken slightly.

6. Make the Dumplings:
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk and fresh parsley, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.

7. Drop the Dumplings:
Scoop spoonfuls of the dumpling batter and carefully drop them onto the simmering soup. Try to evenly space them out. Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings steam for 15-20 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up and are cooked through.

8. Serve and Garnish:
Once the dumplings are cooked, ladle the soup and dumplings into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

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Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food that combines tender, shredded chicken in a creamy broth with soft, fluffy dumplings. It’s the perfect meal for a cozy night in or when you need something filling and delicious. This recipe is easy to prepare and can be made in one pot, making cleanup a breeze!

Equipment

Large soup pot or Dutch oven
Cutting board and knife
Spoon or ladle
Whisk
Mixing bowl (for dumplings)

Ingredients

For the Soup:
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
1 medium onion diced
2 carrots peeled and diced
2 celery stalks diced
4 cloves garlic minced
6 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)
For the Dumplings:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup unsalted butter cold and cubed
2/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

Instructions

Cook the Chicken:
In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts or thighs and cook until browned on both sides, about 6-7 minutes per side. Once browned, remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
Sauté the Vegetables:
In the same pot, add the diced onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Make the Broth:
Pour in the chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in the thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Shred the Chicken:
While the soup is simmering, shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.
Add the Cream:
Stir in the heavy cream or half-and-half and continue simmering for about 5 minutes, allowing the soup to thicken slightly.
Make the Dumplings:
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk and fresh parsley, stirring until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
Drop the Dumplings:
Scoop spoonfuls of the dumpling batter and carefully drop them onto the simmering soup. Try to evenly space them out. Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings steam for 15-20 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up and are cooked through.
Serve and Garnish:
Once the dumplings are cooked, ladle the soup and dumplings into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Tips for Cooking

For a Thicker Broth: If you prefer a thicker broth, you can whisk in a slurry of 1 tablespoon of flour mixed with 2 tablespoons of water, then add it to the soup.
Dumpling Texture: Be careful not to overwork the dumpling dough to keep them light and fluffy.
Customize the Soup: Add extra vegetables like peas or corn for more texture and flavor.

Why You Should Try This Recipe

This chicken and dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food—creamy, hearty, and satisfying. The combination of tender chicken, flavorful broth, and light dumplings is sure to warm you up from the inside out. It’s an easy one-pot dish that the whole family will love and makes for great leftovers!

There’s nothing quite like a bowl of chicken and dumplings to make you feel cozy and content. This recipe is simple, delicious, and perfect for any time you want a comforting meal. Give it a try and enjoy a hearty, fulfilling dish that’s bound to become a family favorite!