Fluffy Southern Comfort: Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

Comfort flows through these hearty dumplings from Cracker Barrel that bring warmth straight to your soul.

Memories of grandmother’s kitchen dance across each soft, pillowy bite.

Southern traditions shine brightly in this classic comfort meal that feels like a culinary hug.

Simple ingredients merge into something magical, creating pure deliciousness on your plate.

Tender chicken pieces nestle between fluffy dough clouds, promising satisfaction with every spoonful.

Home cooking doesn’t get more authentic than this delightful recipe that connects generations through shared flavors.

You’ll want to savor each comforting spoonful and make this dish a permanent weekend favorite.

Why Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Feels Like Home

• Melt-in-Your-Mouth Comfort: This chicken and dumplings recipe delivers ultimate Southern-style comfort food with incredibly tender shredded chicken and rich, flavorful broth that warms you from the inside out.
• Slow-Simmered Goodness: The lengthy cooking process allows deep flavor development, transforming simple ingredients into a complex, hearty dish that tastes like it's been lovingly prepared for hours.
• Easy One-Pot Wonder: Minimal kitchen cleanup awaits with this straightforward recipe that uses just one pot, making it perfect for busy home cooks who want delicious meals without extensive preparation or washing multiple dishes.
• Family-Friendly Classic: This traditional dish appeals to all ages, offering a nostalgic taste of home-cooked meals that brings everyone together around the dinner table with its familiar, satisfying flavors.

Ingredients For Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

• Chicken: Tender meat providing the main protein source, best with bone-in pieces for richer flavor.
• Celery, Onion: Aromatic vegetables that enhance the broth's depth and provide subtle background flavor.

• Water: Primary liquid for creating the foundational cooking broth.
• Bay Leaves: Herbal seasoning that adds subtle earthy undertones to the chicken stock.
• Salt, Pepper: Classic seasonings for balanced and enhanced overall taste, use kosher salt for better distribution.

• Chicken Skin, Bones: Contribute additional richness and depth to the homemade broth during initial cooking process, later discarded after extracting maximum flavor.

How To Make Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Base

• Whole chicken
• Water
• Bay leaves
• Celery stalks
• Onion
• Salt
• Black pepper

Step 2: Simmer Chicken Gently

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, then reduce heat to a soft simmer. Let the chicken cook slowly, allowing flavors to meld together. Continue cooking for 1 to 1.5 hours until the chicken becomes incredibly tender and falls apart easily.

Step 3: Shred Chicken Meat

Carefully remove the chicken from the hot broth. Allow it to cool slightly so you can handle it comfortably. Pull the meat apart, discarding skin and bones. Separate the succulent chicken into bite-sized pieces.

Step 4: Strain and Prepare Broth

Pour the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any solid pieces. Return the clear, flavorful broth to the pot, ensuring a smooth base for your dumplings.

Step 5: Create Dumpling Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Milk
• Butter

Mix ingredients until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms. The texture should be light and pillowy.

Step 6: Shape Dumplings

Using a spoon or your hands, drop small rounds of dough directly into the simmering broth. The dumplings will expand and become fluffy as they cook.

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Cover the pot and let dumplings cook for about 15 minutes. The broth will thicken, and dumplings will become puffy and tender. Stir in the shredded chicken and serve hot in deep bowls.

Pro Tips For Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

• Optimize Broth Flavor: Roast the vegetables before adding them to the pot to deepen the chicken broth's richness and create a more complex taste profile.
• Master Chicken Tenderness: Cover the pot while simmering to keep moisture locked in, ensuring the meat stays juicy and falls apart easily when shredded.
• Enhance Nutritional Value: Use bone-in chicken for extra collagen and minerals, which boost the broth's nutritional content and provide a more robust flavor.
• Customize Dietary Needs: Swap regular flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or rice flour to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
• Prep Ahead Technique: Prepare the chicken and broth a day in advance, allowing flavors to meld and making the final cooking process faster and more convenient.

How To Store Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Right

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep chicken and dumplings in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Transfer cooled dish to freezer-safe containers. Seal tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Label with date for easy tracking.
• Reheat Stovetop: Gently warm in a pot over medium-low heat. Add a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying. Stir occasionally until heated through, about 5-7 minutes.
• Microwave Option: Place portion in microwave-safe dish. Cover with damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until thoroughly warm.

Perfect Sides For Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

• Elevate with Crisp White Wine: Pair this comforting chicken dish with a light, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio to cut through the richness and complement the delicate chicken flavors.
• Serve with Buttery Herb Biscuits: Add warm, flaky biscuits on the side to soak up the delicious broth and provide a complementary texture that enhances the overall dining experience.
• Match with Tangy Apple Slaw: Create a bright, crunchy apple coleslaw as a side dish to add a fresh, acidic contrast to the creamy, tender chicken and dumplings.
• Complement with Roasted Green Beans: Prepare simple roasted green beans with garlic and almonds to add a nutritious and flavorful vegetable component that balances the hearty main course.

Ways To Change Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

• Herb-Infused Chicken Dumplings: Elevate the classic recipe by adding fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage to the broth for an aromatic herbal touch that enhances the chicken's natural flavors.
• Spicy Southwest Chicken Dumplings: Incorporate diced green chiles, cumin, and a dash of cayenne pepper to give the dish a zesty southwestern kick that brings exciting heat to the traditional comfort food.
• Creamy Mushroom Chicken Dumplings: Sauté sliced mushrooms and add them to the broth with a splash of heavy cream, creating a rich and velvety base that transforms the original recipe into a more luxurious meal.
• Mediterranean-Style Chicken Dumplings: Mix in chopped sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and a sprinkle of oregano to transport the classic dish to the sunny Mediterranean coast with bright, tangy flavors.

Questions About Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

• What makes Cracker Barrel Chicken & Dumplings so special?

This classic Southern comfort food is beloved for its rich, creamy broth and tender chicken, slow-cooked to perfection with a homemade touch that brings warmth and nostalgia to every bite.

• Can I use chicken breasts instead of whole chicken?

Absolutely! Chicken breasts work great and can reduce cooking time. Just ensure they’re fully cooked and shredded, maintaining the same delicious flavor profile.

• How do I know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The chicken is done when it’s tender and easily shreds with a fork. The meat should reach an internal temperature of 165°F and have no pink color remaining. Simmering for 1-1.5 hours helps ensure the meat is perfectly cooked and infused with delicious broth flavors.

• Is this recipe difficult for beginner cooks?

Not at all! This recipe is straightforward and forgiving. The slow simmering process helps even novice cooks create a delicious, restaurant-quality dish with minimal cooking skills required.

Cracker Barrel Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

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4.8 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Cracker Barrel chicken & dumplings bring Southern comfort straight to your kitchen, promising hearty nostalgia with each creamy spoonful. Warm, savory comfort embraces friends and family, inviting you to savor classic homestyle flavors that feel like a welcoming hug.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 whole chicken (about 4 lbs or 1.8 kg) or 4-6 chicken thighs

Vegetables and Herbs:

• 2 celery stalks, roughly chopped
• 1 medium onion, quartered
• 2 bay leaves

Liquid and Seasonings:

• 8 cups (2 L) water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Dumpling Dry Ingredients:

• 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt

Dumpling Wet Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons (45 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• ¾ cup (180 ml) milk

Soup Base Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons (60 g) unsalted butter
• ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

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Instructions

1. Place whole chicken in a spacious cooking vessel with aromatic herbs and crisp vegetables, creating a flavor-rich poaching liquid.
2. Gently elevate the temperature until liquid reaches a rolling boil, then immediately lower heat to allow slow, tender cooking of the poultry.
3. Allow chicken to simmer gracefully for approximately 90 minutes, ensuring meat becomes incredibly soft and easily separates from bones.
4. Carefully extract chicken from the fragrant broth, letting it cool sufficiently to handle comfortably.
5. Methodically deconstruct the chicken, pulling meat into delicate, bite-sized shreds while discarding skin and bone structure.
6. Carefully strain the remaining liquid through a fine-mesh sieve, capturing all nuanced flavors while removing vegetable remnants and potential debris.
7. Return the refined, golden broth to the original cooking pot, preparing for the next phase of dumpling creation.

Notes

• Choose bone-in chicken pieces for richer, more flavorful broth that develops deeper taste during long simmering process.
• Shred chicken while still warm to make the meat more tender and easier to pull apart without cooling down completely.
• Consider using low-sodium chicken broth instead of water for enhanced flavor profile if you prefer more intense seasoning.
• For gluten-free version, substitute regular flour with gluten-free all-purpose flour blend when preparing dumplings to accommodate dietary restrictions.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 1.5 hours
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 450
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 700 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg