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Bowl of Southern Chicken And Dumplings garnished with parsley and served hot.

Southern Chicken And Dumplings

A cozy and comforting dish combining tender chicken with fluffy dumplings in a creamy broth, perfect for chilly evenings.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Southern
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

Chicken & Broth
  • 1.5 pounds skinless, boneless chicken (either breasts or thighs)
  • 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken stock
  • Freshly ground pepper and salt (as desired)
Dumpling Dough
  • 2 cups plain flour (spooned and leveled)
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.25 cup melted unsalted butter
  • 0.75 cup whole milk
  • 0.5 teaspoon fine salt
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme or poultry seasoning (optional)
  • 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch blended with 2 tablespoons cold water (for thickening, optional)

Method
 

Cooking the Chicken
  1. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, combine the chicken pieces with the chicken stock. Set the heat to high and bring it to a boil.
  2. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low simmer, cover, and let the chicken cook for 20 to 25 minutes until tender and fully cooked.
  3. Transfer the chicken to a separate plate and shred it using two forks. Leave the cooking liquid in the pot for later.
Making the Dumplings
  1. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the melted butter and milk, stirring just until the dough forms—overworking it leads to dense dumplings!
  2. Roll the dough on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness and slice it into 1-inch squares. Let these rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
Cooking the Dumplings
  1. Bring the reserved broth back to a gentle boil. Drop each dumpling piece into the broth, stirring occasionally.
  2. Lower the heat and let the dumplings simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring now and then to avoid sticking.
  3. Add the shredded chicken back to the pot and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. If you want a thicker broth, mix in the cornstarch slurry and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Serve piping hot in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, consider toasting your spices in the broth. Swap chicken for a hearty vegetable mix for a plant-based version. Add a dash of hot sauce for a spicy kick!