Description
A comforting classic Southern-style Chicken and Dumplings recipe featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in flavorful broth with soft, fluffy dumplings made from scratch. Perfect for a cozy family meal.
Ingredients
Chicken & Broth
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 medium carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- Olive oil, for browning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Instructions
- Brown the chicken: In a large pot over medium heat, add a splash of olive oil and season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken on each side for about five minutes until golden. Remove the chicken from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté the vegetables: In the same pot, add the chopped carrots and celery. Sauté for about three minutes until slightly softened, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom for extra flavor.
- Simmer with broth: Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and add the browned chicken back into the pot. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Prepare the dumpling batter: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in the whole milk and melted butter until a smooth batter forms with no dry spots.
- Add dumplings to broth: Using a spoon, drop spoonfuls of the dumpling batter from the bowl directly into the simmering broth. Make sure the spoonfuls are evenly spaced and of similar size for consistent cooking.
- Cook dumplings: Cover the pot tightly with a lid and let the dumplings cook undisturbed for 15 minutes. Avoid lifting the lid during this time to ensure the dumplings steam properly and become fluffy.
- Check and serve: After 15 minutes, test a dumpling with a toothpick — it should come out clean when fully cooked. Serve the chicken and dumplings hot, ladled with extra broth for a warm, hearty meal.
Notes
- Be careful not to lift the lid while dumplings cook to avoid dense dumplings.
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for tender and flavorful meat.
- Adjust seasoning in broth with salt and pepper to taste before adding dumplings.
- If you want thicker broth, simmer uncovered for a few minutes before adding dumplings.
- Dumplings can be flavored with herbs like parsley or thyme if desired.
