Easy Chicken And Dumpling Recipe
Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort dish that combines tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and soft dumplings in a savory broth. This easy recipe is perfect for a cozy family meal.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Stew:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ cup heavy cream optional, for added creaminess
For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken Stew:
- In a large pot, combine the chicken, chicken broth, water, diced carrots, diced celery, chopped onion, minced garlic, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
- Remove the chicken from the pot, shred it using two forks, and return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- If a creamier stew is desired, stir in the heavy cream at this stage.
Prepare the Dumpling Dough:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Add the milk and melted unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Stir gently until a soft dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the dumplings dense.
Cook the Dumplings:
- Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the simmering stew, ensuring they are evenly spaced and not overcrowded.
- Cover the pot with a lid to trap steam, which helps the dumplings cook evenly.
- Allow the dumplings to simmer for 15–20 minutes without lifting the lid, as this can cause the dumplings to cook unevenly. The dumplings are done when they are fluffy and no longer doughy in the center.
Serve:
- Ladle the chicken and dumplings into bowls, ensuring each serving has a generous amount of chicken, vegetables, broth, and dumplings.
- Garnish with freshly chopped parsley if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- Dumpling Tips: To prevent dense dumplings, avoid overmixing the dough. Keeping the lid on during cooking ensures they cook through properly.
- Variations: For a shortcut, you can use pre-made biscuit dough instead of making dumplings from scratch. Cut the biscuit dough into small pieces and drop them into the simmering stew, cooking until they are cooked through and fluffy.
- Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If the stew has thickened too much, reheat gently on the stovetop, adding a little extra broth or water.