by Texas Homesteader ~ 

There’s not a much better comfort food than homemade Chicken & Dumplings. This is a favored old-fashioned recipe in my Homestead kitchen and the ultimate comfort food. Check it out! 

Flexible Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

I always have homemade broth on hand. So when I have leftover chicken it’s  quick & easy southern comfort to whip up chicken & dumplings from scratch.

I’ll share the basic recipe I use, although I’ll admit I throw in whatever sounds good at the time or whatever I have waiting to be used.

I’ve used beef broth instead of chicken broth, carrots, no carrots, celery, no celery, etc. 

All came out deliciously.

I typically make my own Homemade Chicken Broth using my Instant Pot. I can my broth in winter so I can store it in the pantry. 

But when I make broth during the heat & humidity of a typical Texas summer I freeze it instead.

So if I’m using frozen broth I simply take a container of chicken broth from the freezer and place it in the fridge to thaw overnight.

Simple Ingredients For Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

The ingredients for my homemade chicken & dumplings are pretty simple:

Broth Base:

5 Cups Broth (plus 1 teaspoon salt for my unsalted broth)

2 Cups Chopped Leftover Cooked Chicken

½ Cup chopped Onion

1 Rib Chopped Celery

Making Chicken & Dumplings Broth-Based Sauce

I pour the broth into a deep soup pot & put it on the stove to simmer. Then I add the chopped onion & celery to begin their cooking. Sometimes I add chopped carrot, sweet peas & minced garlic as well. #FlyingByTheSeatOfMyPants, y’all. (see section below about optional additions)

I also chop about 2 cups of leftover cooked chicken and set it aside. I want to have it ready to drop into the simmering broth at the end.

You can use more or less chicken based on how much leftover chicken you have available or how meaty you want your chicken-n-dumplings to be.

See what I mean? Flexible!

How To Make Chicken & Dumplings Dough

While the broth is simmering and the veggies are cooking I whip up my homemade dumplings.

Dumpling Dough:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Baking Powder

¼ teaspoon Dried Thyme

1 teaspoon each Salt & Coarsely-Cracked Black Pepper

¼ Cup Shortening (Can Use Butter Or Bacon Grease Instead)

½ Cup Milk (Can Use Buttermilk If Desired) 

This makes a pretty stiff dough. You can knead it by hand but I often use my KitchenAid mixer with the dough hook attachment to make things easy.

Cooking The Dumplings

Now that my broth is simmering I pinch off about a teaspoon of my dumpling dough. I quickly roll it into a small ball & press it gently between my palms to flatten it somewhat before dropping it into my broth.

This procedure is continued until all my dumplings are simmering in the broth. I give one very gentle stir and put the lid on the pot to allow the dumplings to simmer gently for 12-15 minutes. (depending upon the size & thickness of your dumplings). 

It’s important not to stir the dumplings too much when they are in dough form as they will dissolve into your broth. 

(Ask me how I know. Eh hemmm….)

How To Thicken Chicken & Dumplings Broth

RancherMan loves a thick sauce in chicken & dumplings. Yet oftentimes after simmering, my chicken & dumplings broth is still not quite as thick as I like it.

If that’s the case I’ll stir about 1/4 cup of flour with enough cool water or broth to make a thin paste in a jar until the flour is completely incorporated and no lumps remain.

Then I pour this thickening into my simmering broth, stirring very slowly & gently. (don’t break up those dumplings!) My broth always thickens up beautifully in a minute or so. 

Finally it’s time to drop in my chopped chicken and maybe sprinkle in some fresh chopped parsley or chives. One more stir and I heat just enough for the chicken to get heated through.

What Can I Add To Chicken & Dumplings?

This recipe is absolutely delicious but there are ways you can bump the flavor even more if you like:

Add a drained can of peas & carrots. I like the colors & textures of these being included.

Add a clove of pressed garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder either in your broth or in your dumplings.

Bump the seasoning by adding dry or fresh herbs to the broth:

½ teaspoon parsley

½ teaspoon basil and/or

¼ teaspoon sage 

Any way you make it, this old fashioned homemade chicken & dumplings recipe is sure to please your family!

Did you make these Chicken & Dumplings? Please rate the recipe in your comment below!

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