Old Fashioned Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

by Texas Homesteader ~ 

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

Leftover chicken makes it it quick to make chicken & dumplings from scratch. It's a versatile recipe that costs pennies per serving! #TexasHomesteader

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.

Homemade broth for my old fashioned Chicken & Dumplings recipe. #TexasHomesteader

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, the night before 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

Dumpling Dough:

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Baking Powder

¼ teaspoon Dried Thyme

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Coarsely-Cracked Black Pepper

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

½ Cup Milk (Can Use Buttermilk If Desired)

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.

It’s quick using only a bit of flour, some baking powder, milk, shortening (or bacon grease) and seasonings. My typical seasoning is simply salt, coarsely-cracked pepper and thyme. 

Leftover chicken makes it it quick to make chicken & dumplings from scratch. It's a versatile recipe that costs pennies per serving! #TexasHomesteader

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

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 & steam 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 my 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.

Homemade chicken & dumplings are simple to make and the ultimate comfort food! #TexasHomesteader

What Can I Add To Chicken & Dumplings?

This base chicken & dumplings 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 toward the end of cooking: (so the broth doesn’t bubble it up onto the sides of your soup pot while simmering.)

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!

Homemade chicken & dumplings are a favorite bone-warming meal on our Homestead. #TexasHomesteader
5 from 2 votes
Print

Simple Old Fashioned Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

Leftover chicken makes a homemade chicken & dumplings dish quick and easy! Lots of chicken & pillowy dumplings in a thick sauce. Yum! And really, does it get any better than homemade chicken & dumplings? #TexasHomesteader

Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword bone broth, chicken, comfort food, dumplings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 people
Author www.TexasHomesteader.com

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 5 Cups Chicken Broth (add 1 teaspoon salt if using unsalted broth)
  • 2 Cups Chopped Cooked Chicken
  • ½ Cup Finely-Chopped Onions
  • 1 Rib Chopped Celery
  • Dumplings (recipe below)

DUMPLINGS:

  • 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon Dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon Salt (or salted chicken seasoning)
  • 1 teaspoon Coarsely-Cracked Black Pepper
  • 1/4 Cup Shortening (Can use butter or bacon grease instead)
  • 1/2 Cup Milk (can use buttermilk instead if desired)

Instructions

Dumpling Directions

  1. Combine flour, baking powder, thyme, salt & pepper. Cut in shortening, add milk and knead until all ingredients are combined to make a stiff dough. Set aside.

Chicken & Dumplings Directions:

  1. In a medium-large stock pot bring broth to a boil and add prepared onion, carrot and celery.

  2. When broth is simmering start dropping in dumplings by pinching off 1-teaspoon dumpling dough, rolling into a small ball and pressing the dough ball between palms to flatten slightly. Drop dumplings into simmering broth.

  3. When all dumplings are in the broth stir gently, cover pot and simmer for 12-15 minutes, depending upon the size and thickness of your dumplings.

  4. If broth is not thick enough after the dumplings are fully cooked, mix up about 1/4 cup of flour with enough water or broth to make a thin paste & stir slurry until no flour lumps remain. Then pour into simmering broth and stir very gently just to incorporate thickening and keep dumplings from sticking to the pan.

  5. When broth is as thick as you want, add the diced cooked chicken and heat a few minutes more until heated through.

Recipe Notes

Optional Add-In's:

Thicken Broth: To thicken broth after the dumplings are cooked, mix 1/4 cup of flour with enough water or broth to make a thin paste & stir slurry until no lumps remain. Then pour into simmering broth and stir very gently just to incorporate thickening and keep dumplings from sticking to the pan.

Add a drained can of peas & carrots. I like the colors & textures when they're included.

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

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

½ teaspoon parsley

½ teaspoon basil and/or

¼ teaspoon sage (add toward the end so the broth doesn't bubble seasonings onto the sides of your soup pot while simmering.)

 

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13 thoughts on “Old Fashioned Homemade Chicken & Dumplings Recipe

  1. Thelma Briggs

    5 stars
    These chicken and dumplings are delicious, a real family pleaser. There are lots of dumplings in this recipe and it takes some time to form them all but it’s totally worth it. You can never have too many dumplings.

    Reply
  2. Lindsey Scott

    5 stars
    Thank you for the instructions to thicken the broth. I’ve never cooked with shortening before but this tasted delicious and we’ll add it to our regular line up. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      I’m so glad you love it as much as we do Lindsey. There are two things I always use shortening for – my pie crust and my chicken & dumplings. Enjoy – it’s a great cold-weather meal during the winter months! ~TxH~

      Reply
  3. Ginger Wroot

    It seems like forever since I’ve made homemade dumplings. Your yum-looking recipe, along with the change of the seasons, has inspired me to make some chicken and dumplings verrryyy soon. Thanks! –Ginger

    Reply
  4. Jennifer A

    Pinned this one too! I LOVE chicken and dumplings.

    Reply
  5. JES

    This looks amazing! I have never had or made chicken and dumplings (crazy, huh!). However, we have a freezer full of chicken we processed last winter that I am going to try this with! Thank you for sharing on the Art of Home-Making Mondays! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Carole West @ Garden Up Green

    This looks yummy! I should really surprise my husband with this meal with the temperatures cool. Mornings have been wonderful but need another 10 degree drop before I’m ready for soup. Thanks for the recipe looks pretty easy and I happen to have a rooster that’s ready to go.

    Reply
  7. Snap

    I love chicken and dumplings. Definitely comfort food and I remember many a dumpling that my Mother and Granny made. Good times!

    Reply
  8. bobbi dougherty

    I can’t remember the last time I had this. I will have to put it on the menu. Still hot here (FL) though so it will be a while, lol. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      We have Chicken & Dumplings relatively often Bobbi. It’s oodles better in the cold weather just for the coziness of it, but it’s still pretty hot in Texas right now too and it was still a delicious supper for us recently. ~TxH~

      Reply
  9. ColleenB.

    Sure does look delicious and Good for the soul
    Now I have had chicken noodle soup and used the veggie broth but I must admit; I have Never had or made dumplings before. Guess I was always intimidated in making them so never have; but never to old to learn new things; no matter what the person’s age is :}
    Will be giving them a try……using your recipe of course.
    Thank You

    Reply
    1. Texas Homesteader Post author

      OMGoodness Colleen, chicken-n-dumplings evokes fond childhood memories for me – I grew up on the stuff! I love that it’s a quick delicious and very low-cost meal for us. ~TxH~

      Reply

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