This homemade chicken and dumplings recipe is the ultimate comfort food and it’s perfect for those chilly winter days to come! Loaded with fluffy dumplings and ready in less than 30 minutes!
Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
For years, I searched for a good chicken and dumpling recipe, only to be left disappointed by the outcome. Chicken and dumplings is such a comfort food that takes me back to my childhood, so I have always had high expectations for this dish.
Flash forward, after much trial and error – I have created my very own version that I am super excited about and ready to share it with you today.
This chicken and dumplings recipe makes the softest, creamy dumplings and the perfectly flavorful chicken! You are absolutely going to love this recipe.
What are Dumplings?
What exactly are dumplings? This is a question that I think a lot of us ask as we find ourselves enjoying these heavenly creations. What are these things?! If you’ve never made homemade dumplings, you may not exactly know the answer.
Dumplings can be different depending on the recipe. But, in the case of chicken and dumplings, they are simply pieces of dough made primarily from a mixture of flour, baking powder, butter or shortening, and liquid (for example water, milk, buttermilk, or chicken stock). In this recipe, we use milk.
Ingredients for Making the Best Dumplings
The first list is the ingredients you’ll need for your chicken stock or soup side of things. The second list is what you will need for the dumplings. (There is a printable ingredient and recipe card below!)
For the Soup:
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut in slices
- 1 stalk of celery, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- ¼ tablespoon of paprika
- ½ teaspoon of thyme
- 6 cups of chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup of heavy cream
- 2 cups of cooked and shredded or diced chicken (your preference)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parsley for garnish (optional)
For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups of flour
- 4 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of sugar
- ½ teaspoon of poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon of cold butter, cut into pieces
- ¾ cup of milk
How to Make Chicken and Dumplings
Step 1: Make the soup or chicken stock
Step 2: Make the dumplings
Step 3: Drop the dumplings into the soup and let them cook! DONE!
*Optional to garnish with a little chopped parsley before serving!
Tips for Making Chicken and Dumplings
Tip 1: You can use a broiler/fryer chicken, chicken breast, and you can have your chicken be shredded or diced, this is your preference! I have heard that using chicken breast and dicing it up can be the better option when you might be on a time crunch!
Tip 2: If you have fresh seasonings such as thyme, paprika, or parsley I would definitely recommend using them! They will add great fresh flavor. But, if you don’t have fresh seasonings, then dried seasonings will work just fine!
Tip 3: Make sure to give the dumplings a bit of time to rest before you cook them. This will give the baking powder time to create a little gas bubble and it will make sure your dumplings turn out like soft little pillows!
This chicken and dumplings recipe is like a childhood comfort food dream come to life. It will hit the spot on those cold winter days that you just feel like you can’t make it through. It’s full of flavor and these dumplings are seriously to die for! I can’t wait for you to give it a try.
More Comfort Food Recipes
SOUPS: Easy Vegetable Chowder | Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
DINNERS: The Best Baked Mac and Cheese | Ravioli Lasagna Casserole | Easy Taco Bake Casserole
Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
For The Soup:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 carrots peeled and cut sliced
- 1 stalk of celery sliced
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups cooked and shredded or diced chicken your preference
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parsley garnish optional
For The Dumplings:
- 2 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon cold butter cut into pieces
- ¾ cup milk
Instructions
For The Soup:
- Melt the butter in a large stock pan along with the olive oil over medium-high heat.
- Saute the carrots, celery, and onion in the pot until vegetables are tender.
- Add the flour, thyme, and paprika and stir and cook for about 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth and bay leaf and bring to a boil.
- Reduce the heat and add the cream and chicken and keep at a simmer.
- Remove the bay leaf before adding dumplings.
For The Dumplings:
- In a medium-size bowl add the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and poultry seasoning and whisk together.
- Cut in the butter until crumbly with a fork or just use your hands to break up the butter into the flour.
- Add the milk and stir to make a soft dough.
- Dip your spoon into cold water and then into the dough and spoon dough onto the top of gently bubbling chicken mixture. Or you can use your hands and form dumpling round shapes and carefully place them into the chicken broth.
- Cover and cook for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. Don't peek!
- Garnish with a little chopped parsley. Serve immediately.
