Description
Hearty Southern Chicken and Dumplings blend classic comfort with rich, creamy goodness in one soul-warming dish. Grandma’s secret recipe delivers pure culinary nostalgia, inviting you to savor each comforting spoonful of pure home-style happiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great!)
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (peeled and sliced)
- 2 celery stalks (sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
Liquid and Thickening Ingredients:
- 6 cups chicken broth
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (for thickening)
- ½ cup heavy cream or whole milk (for extra creaminess, optional)
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional, for flavor)
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley or thyme (optional, for herby flavor)
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)
Cooking Fats:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Craft the aromatic foundation by melting butter in a spacious pot, creating a golden base for the culinary journey.
- Introduce diced onions, carrots, and celery, gently sautéing until they transform into tender, translucent companions, releasing their subtle fragrance.
- Infuse the mixture with minced garlic, allowing its pungent essence to bloom briefly and enhance the vegetable medley.
- Dust the vegetable landscape with a delicate veil of flour, stirring meticulously to eliminate any raw undertones and create a smooth, thickening embrace.
- Gradually cascade chicken broth into the pot, whisking continuously to forge a silky, harmonious liquid canvas.
- Incorporate succulent shredded chicken, along with a thoughtful blend of salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley, then coax the mixture into a gentle, rhythmic simmer.
- Optional: Enrich the soup with a luxurious splash of heavy cream or milk, elevating its velvety texture.
- Prepare the dumpling companions by combining flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and dried herbs in a welcoming mixing bowl.
- Introduce milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients, folding them together with a light touch; seek a soft, slightly clingy consistency without overworking the dough.
- Tenderly drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough into the simmering soup, allowing them to nestle comfortably across the surface.
- Seal the pot with a lid, creating a steamy sanctuary for the dumplings to transform over 12-15 minutes, emerging puffy and thoroughly cooked.
- Serve the comforting creation in inviting bowls, adorned with a sprinkle of fresh parsley, ready to warm both body and soul.
Notes
- Customize the soup base by swapping chicken with turkey or plant-based protein for dietary variations.
- Keep dumpling dough slightly lumpy for a more rustic, tender texture that prevents overworking the gluten.
- Add a splash of white wine or sherry to enhance the soup’s depth and complexity of flavor.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium chicken broth and adjusting salt incrementally during cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg