Easy Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch
A comforting dish featuring tender chicken and fluffy dumplings simmered in a rich, flavorful broth, perfect for family dinners or cozy weeknight meals.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
- 2 carrots (diced small)
- 2 stalks celery plus their leaves (diced)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 4 cups low sodium chicken stock or broth
- 2 cups cooked diced or shredded chicken
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (divided)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried, plus more for garnish)
- 1 cup whole milk (divided)
Instructions
- Sauté the vegetables: In a large pot, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the diced carrots, celery, and onion. Sauté until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes.
- Add flour: Sprinkle 1/4 cup of flour over the sautéed vegetables and stir to coat them evenly.
- Add chicken broth: Pour in the 4 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Simmer and add chicken: Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer. Add 1/2 cup of milk and the diced or shredded chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Make the dumpling mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon fresh thyme. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of melted butter until the mixture resembles crumbs. Then, add the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and stir until just combined.
- Cook the dumplings: Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon to drop spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture into the simmering pot. Cover the pot and let everything cook on low for 15 minutes.
- Serve and garnish: Once the dumplings are cooked through, remove from heat, and serve hot, garnished with extra fresh thyme and freshly ground pepper if desired.
Notes
You can substitute the cooked chicken with rotisserie chicken for an even quicker meal. Adjust seasoning to taste and ensure to monitor dumpling cooking to prevent overcooking.