Description
Southern comfort classic chicken and dumplings deliver hearty warmth with tender meat and pillowy dumpling clouds. Home cooks can savor this traditional meal that connects generations through simple, satisfying ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
- 6 cups (1.4 l) chicken broth
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (sliced)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter
- 1 cup (240 ml) all-purpose flour (for thickening)
- 1 cup (240 ml) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream or whole milk (for extra creaminess, optional)
- ½ cup (120 ml) milk
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried parsley
- 2 tsps baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder (optional, for flavor)
- ½ tsp dried parsley or thyme (optional, for herby flavor)
Instructions
- Flavor Base: Melt butter in a large pot, creating a golden foundation for the chicken and dumplings.
- Vegetable Sauté: Add onions, carrots, and celery, cooking until softened and translucent, then introduce minced garlic for an aromatic boost.
- Thickening Stage: Sprinkle flour over the vegetables, stirring to coat and eliminate raw flour taste, then gradually whisk in chicken broth until smooth.
- Soup Development: Blend in shredded chicken, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently, optionally enriching with a touch of heavy cream for added richness.
- Dumpling Preparation: In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and dried herbs. Incorporate milk and melted butter, creating a soft, slightly sticky dough.
- Dumpling Cooking: Delicately drop spoonfuls of dumpling mixture into the simmering soup, covering with a lid and allowing them to steam and puff for 12-15 minutes.
- Serving: Ladle the hearty chicken and dumplings into bowls, garnishing with fresh parsley, ready to deliver ultimate comfort and warmth.
Notes
- Prevent Tough Dumplings: Mix dumpling ingredients gently and minimally to avoid developing gluten, which creates dense, chewy dumplings.
- Control Liquid Consistency: Add broth gradually and whisk consistently to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, silky soup base.
- Optimize Dumpling Placement: Drop dough spoonfuls without overcrowding, ensuring each dumpling has space to expand and cook evenly.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute dairy milk with almond or oat milk for lactose-free version; use gluten-free flour blend for celiac-friendly dumplings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg