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A pristine white bowl of creamy chicken and dumplings with black pepper, on a wooden surface with blurred background elements.

Old-Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings

Savor a classic comfort food with this hearty recipe for Old-Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings, featuring tender shredded chicken and fluffy, homemade dumplings simmered in a rich, savory broth.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken & Broth:
  • 1 (3-4 pound) whole chicken, or 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 8 cups water or chicken broth
  • 1 large onion roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots roughly chopped
  • 2 celery stalks roughly chopped
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper plus more to taste
For the Dumplings:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup cold butter cut into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup milk (whole or 2%)

Method
 

  1. Combine chicken, water/broth, onion, carrots, celery, bay leaf, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45-60 minutes until chicken is tender.
  2. Remove chicken from pot and let cool. Strain broth into a clean bowl, discarding solids. Skim fat if desired, then return broth to the pot and bring to a gentle simmer.
  3. Once cool enough, remove skin and bones from chicken, then shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
  4. For dumplings: Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in a medium bowl. Cut in cold butter until crumbly.
  5. Gradually add milk to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork until a soft, sticky dough forms. Do not overmix.
  6. Drop dumpling dough by rounded tablespoons into the simmering broth. Cover tightly and cook for 15-20 minutes without lifting the lid, until puffed and cooked through.
  7. Gently stir the shredded chicken back into the pot with the cooked dumplings. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider browning the chicken thighs before adding water/broth. You can also add fresh herbs like parsley or thyme to the broth for a brighter taste.