Description
Enjoy a comforting homemade version of Cracker Barrel-style Chicken and Dumplings, featuring tender chicken simmered in a flavorful broth with homemade fluffy dumplings. This hearty classic offers a cozy meal perfect for any day.
Ingredients
Scale
Soup Base
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 celery ribs
- ½ medium onion
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
Dumplings
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp milk
Garnish
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the chicken: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the chicken broth, celery ribs, half onion, and chicken breasts. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for about 15 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
- Prepare the dumpling dough: While the chicken cooks, in a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the milk and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Shape the dumplings: On a floured surface, roll out the dough to about ¼-inch thickness. Cut the dough into strips or squares of your preferred size for dumplings.
- Remove chicken and prepare broth: Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove it from the pot and set aside. Discard the celery and onion from the broth to leave a clear cooking liquid.
- Cook dumplings in broth: Drop the cut dumpling pieces gently into the simmering chicken broth. Stir carefully to prevent sticking and cook the dumplings for 20 to 30 minutes until they are fully cooked and tender.
- Shred chicken and combine: Shred the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and return it to the pot with the dumplings. Stir to combine and cook for a few more minutes to heat through.
- Season and serve: Season the chicken and dumplings with salt and pepper as needed. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm for a comforting meal.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary to the broth while simmering.
- Make sure not to overwork the dumpling dough to keep it light and fluffy.
- If you prefer thicker dumplings, roll the dough slightly thicker than ¼ inch.
- Leftover chicken and dumplings can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Feel free to add vegetables like carrots or peas for added nutrition and color.
