Homemade Chicken & Dumplings: The Ultimate Comfort Food! 🍗🥣
There’s nothing quite as comforting as a bowl of Southern-style Chicken & Dumplings—tender chicken, rich broth, and fluffy dumplings that melt in your mouth. This one-pot wonder is easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for chilly nights or when you need a hug in a bowl!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Classic Southern Comfort – Just like Grandma used to make!
✔ Easy One-Pot Meal – Less cleanup, more flavor.
✔ Fluffy, Tender Dumplings – Made from scratch in minutes.
✔ Great for Leftovers – Tastes even better the next day.
Ingredients
Serves 6
For the Soup:
- 2 tbsp butter 🧈
- 1 small onion, diced 🧅
- 2 carrots, sliced 🥕
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
- 6 cups chicken broth 🍗
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
For the Dumplings:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp cold butter, cubed 🧈
- ½ cup milk
Step-by-Step Instructions
1️⃣ Sauté the Veggies
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add onions, carrots, and celery. Sauté until softened (5-6 minutes).
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute (don’t let it burn!).
2️⃣ Simmer the Soup
- Pour in chicken broth, shredded chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme.
- Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Stir in heavy cream (if using) for extra richness.
3️⃣ Make the Dumplings
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in cold butter with a fork or your fingers until crumbly.
- Stir in milk just until a soft dough forms (don’t overmix!).
4️⃣ Cook the Dumplings
- Drop tablespoon-sized dollops of dough into the simmering soup.
- Cover and simmer for 15 minutes (do NOT stir—this keeps them fluffy!).
- Peek once to check if dumplings are cooked through.
5️⃣ Serve & Enjoy!
- Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley if desired.
- Serve hot with crusty bread or biscuits!
Pro Tips for Perfect Dumplings
✔ Keep the Dough Light – Overmixing makes tough dumplings.
✔ Don’t Stir! – Let them steam for fluffy perfection.
✔ Use Cold Butter – Creates flakier dumplings.
✔ Thicken the Broth? – Mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and stir in at the end.
Variations
🍗 Turkey & Dumplings – Swap chicken for leftover turkey.
🌱 Vegetarian Version – Use veggie broth and mushrooms instead of chicken.
🌶 Spicy Kick – Add a pinch of cayenne or hot sauce.
Storage & Reheating
- Fridge: Keeps for 3 days (broth thickens—just add a splash of water when reheating).
- Freezer: Freeze soup (without dumplings) for up to 3 months. Make fresh dumplings when ready to serve.
Final Thoughts
This Homemade Chicken & Dumplings recipe is the definition of comfort food—warm, hearty, and full of love. Perfect for family dinners or when you need a little extra coziness!
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: ~350 per serving
Tag your creations with #SouthernChickenDumplings! 🥄💛
