Description
Southern comfort shines in this classic Chicken and Dumplings dish, blending hearty flavors with creamy textures. Homemade goodness wraps you in warmth, promising a delightful journey through traditional Southern cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed (rotisserie works great)
- 6 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Herbs, Spices, and Dairy:
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional for creaminess)
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
- Initiate the flavor foundation by sautéing diced onions, carrots, and celery in a spacious pot with heated olive oil until the vegetables become translucent and tender, releasing their aromatic essence.
- Introduce chicken broth and shredded chicken into the vegetable mixture, complementing the base with fragrant thyme, rosemary, salt, and black pepper. Allow the liquid to reach a gentle simmer, melding the ingredients’ flavors for approximately 15 minutes.
- Prepare the dumpling mixture by combining flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Gently incorporate milk and melted butter, stirring until the ingredients form a cohesive, slightly lumpy dough without excessive mixing.
- Create delicate dumpling pillows by carefully spooning the prepared dough onto the simmering soup’s surface, ensuring adequate spacing to accommodate their anticipated expansion during cooking.
- Seal the pot with a snug lid, allowing the dumplings to steam and transform into fluffy clouds, requiring roughly 12-15 minutes of undisturbed cooking time to achieve perfect texture and doneness.
- Enhance the soup’s richness by stirring in heavy cream, which will create a luxurious, velvety consistency. Taste and calibrate seasonings to personal preference, ensuring a harmonious flavor profile.
- Present the comforting dish by ladling the hearty soup into serving bowls, distributing dumplings generously. Optional fresh parsley garnish adds a vibrant touch to this classic, soul-warming meal.
Notes
- Enhance vegetable flavor by lightly caramelizing them before adding broth, which deepens the overall taste profile of the dish.
- Choose bone-in chicken breasts or thighs for more robust, rich flavor compared to pre-shredded chicken, allowing natural juices to infuse the soup.
- Use cold milk and butter when mixing dumpling dough to create lighter, fluffier texture that prevents dense, heavy dumplings.
- Create gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with alternative like almond or gluten-free blend, maintaining similar consistency and taste.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg