Some classic recipes are worth taking a little extra time for and making sure you get them just right! My recipe for homemade chicken and dumplings is rich and luxurious and full of layered flavors all topped with fluffy dumplings. This old-fashioned chicken dinner is sure to please the whole family!
Hello!
Here at BitofBacon HQ we’ve been hard at work organizing, deciding if various of the miscellaneous stuff in the house holds joy for us (spoiler alert…most of it doesn’t), and warding off the winter chill! Warm drinks, warm dinners, warm blankets and warm fires are all fine choices for this. 🙂
Of course, here on the blog I’m all about the warm drinks and warm dinners. For a warm drink, check out my recent post for Hot Bourbon Milk Punch, and, for a warm dinner, you can’t go wrong with today’s recipe!
Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
Has there ever been a dinner more comforting than old-fashioned chicken and dumplings? I don’t think so! We have creamy broth, fluffy biscuits, tender veggies, and tasty chicken all brought together for the perfect cozy dinner to ward off the winter blues.
And it’s a GREAT way to use up leftover chicken! Cook up an extra chicken breast or a couple extra thighs when you making dinner one night and later that week you can make chicken and dumplings with the meat. Bonus!
This particular version of chicken and dumplings owes its inspiration to Thomas Keller’s cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home.* His is way more complicated and fussy (no shock since he is known for running The French Laundry), but I loved the idea of his recipe, so I decided to streamline it and pair it with my favorite dumpling recipe.
I’ve been making these dumplings for a LONG TIME and I don’t think there is a better dumpling recipe out there.
*Note: The cookbook is currently out of print (as I write this). You may be able to find it used or you may be able to find a copy at your local library.
How do you make homemade chicken and dumplings?
To make homemade chicken and dumplings make a rich sauce from sauteed aromatics, flour, and chicken stock. Then add the vegetables, chicken, and cream. Drop the biscuits over the top and simmer covered until they are cooked through and fluffy.
Make the chicken soup
You start by making a thick and rich chicken soup.
Saute your aromatics (leeks and onions in this case) until they are soft and tender. Then add the flour to make roux. And pour the chicken stock over, mixing it all together.
As the soup simmers, the flour will thicken the soup and make it just the right consistency to support those dumplings.
Once the base is all happy, add the vegetables, chicken, and cream. The chicken is already cooked and the vegetables only need a little time to cook through so they’ll all be ready when the dumplings are done.
Make the dumplings
While the stock is simmering and thickening, make the dumplings. This is a very quick measure measure, stir stir sort of process. Nothing fussy here!
I do have a little advice though.
Tips on making the dumplings for chicken and dumplings
- Make sure the butter has cooled to warm before you mix it with the buttermilk. (So it doesn’t curdle the buttermilk.)
- Be ready to pour in the buttermilk/butter mixture right after you stir. (So the butter doesn’t solidify while you are waiting.)
- And mix the batter just until it’s combined. (So you don’t get tough dumplings.)
- Use a #40 cookie scoop to drop the dumplings in the soup. (So you can work quickly and have evenly sized dumplings.)
Once you’ve added the dumplings, cover, and let it all cook for about 10 minutes. Then it’s time to EAT. The best part!!
How do you tell if the dumplings are done?
When the dumplings are cooked through they will be firm to the touch and a skewer will come out clean without dough sticking to it.
What do you serve with chicken and dumplings?
While old fashioned chicken and dumplings are a complete meal, you can’t go wrong with simple salad to round things out. I would choose a salad that has fresh and bright flavors to contrast with the creamy chicken soup and tender dumplings.
For more salads check out my Salad Category.
Can you freeze chicken and dumplings?
Yes, you can.
Freeze in a well sealed container and then thaw in the refrigerator until completely thawed (This will help keep the texture of the soup and dumplings from breaking down). Then heat gently on the stove or in the microwave until steaming.
In a well sealed container, the chicken and dumplings will keep up to 3 months in the freezer.
If you try my recipe for Homemade Chicken and Dumplings, I would love to hear from you in the comments with your experience and rating! And I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.
You can connect with me by subscribing to my emails (see the form in the sidebar or below the recipe card), liking my FACEBOOK page, or by following me on PINTEREST.
– Happy Cooking, Annemarie
Old Fashioned Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
Chicken Soup
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 medium leek, white and light green, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp all purpose flour
- 2 quarts (8 cups) low or no sodium chicken stock
- 4 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
- 4 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups cooked chicken, diced
Dumplings
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 5 oz buttermilk
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives, plus more for serving
Instructions
Chicken Soup
- Melt the butter on low in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onion and leek along with a pinch of salt and saute until very soft, about 15 minutes. Stir in garlic and saute for about 30 seconds.
- Add the flour, increase the heat to medium, and stir with a whisk for 2 minutes.
- Pour in the stock and whisk as it comes to a simmer and starts bubbling. Simmer the stock for 30 minutes, whisking as needed. (Mix the dumpling batter now.)
- Add the carrots, celery, salt, pepper, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring back to a simmer.
- Add the cream and diced chicken.
- Once the soup has come back to a simmer, drop in the biscuits in generous tablespoon sized amounts into the soup.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Serve with extra chopped chives over the top.
Dumplings
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, pepper, baking powder, and baking soda.
- In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and melted butter.
- Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour. Sprinkle the chives over the top. Using a large silicone spatula, mix the dumpling batter together in a few swift strokes. Do not overmix.
- Set the batter aside until it is time to add the dumplings to the soup.
Notes
- Tips for the dumplings:
- Don't mix the dumplings too far in advance. The leaveners start to work as soon as they are mixed with the liquid and your dumplings will be less fluffy.
- Work quickly once you combine the buttermilk and butter. The butter will start to solidify if you let it sit.
- To make evenly sized dumplings quickly, a tablespoon sized scoop is very useful.
- By careful about the heat. The soup needs to be simmering while the dumplings cook. If the heat is too low, they'll dissolve.
- Recipe inspiration: For the chicken soup I was inspired by Thomas Keller's recipe for chicken and dumplings in Ad Hoc at Home. (I used my own recipe for dumplings.)
Sonya says
This was my first time making chicken and dumplings, so I followed the recipe exactly, it came out GREAT. Both me and my boyfriend absolutely loved it. I was a little scared of putting the dumpling mix right into the simmering soup but it worked perfectly and then came out so nice and fluffy. The only thing we did different was shred our chicken before putting it into the soup and then we skipped the bay leaf. This recipe took us about 2 hours to make since we had to boil then shred our chicken first, but it was worth every minute. Thank you for this recipe, we will definitely be making it again. 🙂
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m so glad you tried it, Sonya! It can be scary the first time you make something new and I’m happy your dumplings ended up properly fluffy and yummy. And thanks for the info on your start to finish timing.
Rachel Embery says
Made it last night…..I altered a bit. I first cooked up 8 thighs all day in my slow cooker with seasonings and chicken broth, then removed all the meat once cooled. Then I cooked up 3 pieces of bacon(diced) in a pan. Removed bacon and Drained the liquid fat but left the bottom of the pan without wiping it clean. Then cooked carrots and celery in that pan for about 5 minutes. Set them aside. Then I started on your recipe. When it came time to add chicken in I added the cooked bacon, then dumplings on top. It was divine. I also stopped the whole process after the 30 minute cooking of the soup because we went to look at Xmas lights. Came back and finished up. Worked perfectly. I loved the addition of a bit of bacon!
justalittlebitofbacon says
My husband approves of your addition of a little bit of bacon. 🙂 And thanks for the feedback on how you made the recipe!
Candice says
When does the garlic get added in?
justalittlebitofbacon says
The garlic is added after the leek is softened and just before you add the flour.
Candice says
That’s what I thought!! I made it tonight and it is so delicious!!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad you enjoyed it and figured out the garlic! 🙂
Kim says
I followed the recipe for the dumplings to the T and the disintegrated in the broth. Unfortunately, I was also making this for a family get together and it bombed.
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m so sorry it didn’t work! I wonder if your heat was too low since the soup needs to be simmering for the dumplings to come together. (If it’s not they can dissolve.)
Dar says
Made this exactly as written and it came out perfect! The dumplings were delicious. I will definitely make it again. Thank you for sharing!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe and thanks for commenting! 🙂
Mary says
I used shredded chicken from the crockpot and it was wonderful! The dumplings were perfect and we just wished we had more of them. Thanks for the recipe!
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m a big fan of the dumplings too. 🙂 And thank you for the feedback.
Angela says
Best chicken and dumplings ever. Turned out amazing.
justalittlebitofbacon says
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.