Chicken and Dumplings is a classic comfort food—tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and soft dumplings in a creamy broth 🍲🐔. Here’s a simple recipe:
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
For the stew:
- 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs (boneless or bone-in)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2–3 carrots, sliced
- 2–3 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk or cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon thyme (optional)
- 1 bay leaf (optional)
For the dumplings:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into small pieces
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
1. Cook the chicken and vegetables
- In a large pot, add chicken, onion, carrots, celery, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20–25 minutes, until chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender.
- Remove chicken, shred it with forks, and return it to the pot. Discard bay leaf if used.
2. Make the creamy base
- In a small pan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in flour and cook 1–2 minutes until golden.
- Gradually whisk in milk or cream until smooth.
- Add to the chicken pot, stirring until the stew thickens.
3. Prepare the dumplings
- In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Stir in milk until a soft dough forms.
4. Cook the dumplings
- Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the simmering stew (about 1-inch pieces).
- Cover the pot and simmer 10–15 minutes, do not lift the lid, until dumplings are cooked through.
5. Serve
- Ladle chicken, vegetables, and dumplings into bowls.
- Optional: garnish with fresh parsley.
Tips & Variations
- Quick version: Use refrigerated biscuit dough instead of making dumplings from scratch.
- Vegetables: Add peas, corn, or potatoes for extra heartiness.
- Slow cooker version: Cook chicken and veggies in the slow cooker, then stir in the dumplings near the end.
- Herbs: Thyme, parsley, or rosemary enhance flavor.
If you want, I can give a slow cooker chicken and dumplings recipe that’s super easy and hands-off 🍲.
Do you want me to do that?
