Discover the ultimate comfort food with our Chicken and Dumplings recipe. This homestyle classic features tender chicken, flavorful broth, and fluffy dumplings that melt in your mouth. Learn how to make this soul-warming dish that’s perfect for cozy family meals.
Ingredients:
For the Chicken and Broth:
- 1 whole chicken (about 3-4 pounds), cut into parts (or 4-6 chicken thighs or breasts)
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 bay leaves
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions:
1. Brown the Chicken:
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken pieces and brown them on all sides. Remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside.
2. Sauté the Aromatics:
- In the same pot, add the chopped onion, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables start to soften.
3. Simmer with Broth:
- Return the browned chicken to the pot.
- Pour in the chicken broth and add the bay leaves.
- Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough:
- While the chicken is simmering, prepare the dumpling dough. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir in the melted unsalted butter and milk. Mix until a soft dough forms.
5. Add Dumplings:
- After the chicken is fully cooked and tender, remove it from the pot and shred it into bite-sized pieces.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot.
- Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the simmering broth. Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until they are cooked through and no longer doughy in the center.
6. Serve Hot:
- Remove the bay leaves from the pot.
- Ladle the Chicken and Dumplings into serving bowls.
- Serve hot and enjoy the heartwarming comfort of this classic dish.
Chicken and Dumplings, a classic homestyle favorite that soothes the soul, will warm your heart. This dish is the definition of comfort food, with tender chicken, flavorful broth, and fluffy dumplings. Follow our simple steps to make a hearty meal that will bring warmth and joy to your family table.