There is nothing quite like a warm bowl of Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch to soothe the soul. This recipe is the real deal—a rich, savory chicken soup loaded with tender vegetables and topped with the most incredibly light and fluffy homemade dumplings. Forget the canned stuff; making this classic comfort food from the ground up is easier than you think and infinitely more rewarding. We’re breaking down every step to ensure you get perfect results every single time.
This is more than just a recipe; it’s a guide to creating a cherished memory. Whether it’s a chilly evening or you’re simply craving a taste of home, this dish delivers. We will walk through creating a flavorful broth, perfectly cooked chicken, and dumplings that are never tough or gummy.
Why You’ll Love This Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch Recipe
If you’re looking for the definitive homemade chicken and dumplings, you’ve found it. This recipe is designed to be both deeply flavorful and completely foolproof.
- Unbeatable Flavor: Building the soup from scratch with a whole chicken creates a rich, collagen-infused broth that you just can’t get from a box.
- Perfectly Fluffy Dumplings: We’re using a simple, no-fail drop dumpling recipe that results in light, airy dumplings that soak up the delicious broth.
- Simple, Wholesome Ingredients: This dish is made with pantry staples like flour, butter, chicken, and common vegetables. It’s pure, unadulterated comfort food.
- A True One-Pot Meal: Everything comes together in a single Dutch oven or large pot, making cleanup a breeze. It’s a complete, satisfying meal on its own.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, accessible ingredients to create its signature comforting flavor. We’ll break it down into two parts: the soup base and the dumplings.
For the Chicken Soup
- Whole Chicken: A 3-4 pound chicken is perfect. Using a whole chicken with bones and skin is the secret to a deeply flavorful broth.
- Vegetables: A classic mirepoix of yellow onion, carrots, and celery forms the aromatic base of our soup.
- Herbs & Spices: Whole peppercorns, bay leaves, fresh parsley, and thyme add layers of savory, aromatic flavor. Salt is crucial for seasoning.
- Chicken Broth: Using low-sodium chicken broth allows us to control the saltiness while intensifying the chicken flavor.
- Heavy Cream: This is the key to a rich, creamy broth that beautifully coats every dumpling.
For the Homemade Dumplings
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural foundation of our dumplings.
- Baking Powder: This is the leavening agent that makes the dumplings incredibly light and fluffy.
- Salt & Black Pepper: For essential seasoning.
- Cold Butter: Using cold, cubed butter creates little pockets of steam, resulting in a tender, biscuit-like texture.
- Buttermilk: The acidity in buttermilk reacts with the baking powder for an extra lift and adds a subtle, pleasant tang.
- Fresh Chives: Finely chopped chives add a delicate, fresh onion flavor that complements the chicken soup perfectly.
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How to Make Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch (Step-by-Step)
Making this beloved dish is a three-part process: creating the soup, mixing the dumpling dough, and then bringing it all together. Follow these steps for a perfect result.
Step 1: Make the Flavorful Chicken Soup
First, place the whole chicken, quartered onion, roughly chopped carrots and celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns in a large Dutch oven or stockpot. Pour in the chicken broth and enough water to cover the chicken completely. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 60-90 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender. Carefully remove the chicken and set it aside to cool. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, discarding the solids. Once the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred the meat, discarding the skin and bones.
Step 2: Prepare the Dumpling Dough
While the chicken cools, you can prepare the dumpling dough. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut in the cold, cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the buttermilk and fresh chives until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are perfectly fine and are the key to tender dumplings.
Step 3: Finish the Soup and Cook the Dumplings
Melt butter in the now-empty Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Whisk in flour and cook for one minute. Slowly pour in 6 cups of the reserved strained broth while whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook until it begins to thicken. Stir in the heavy cream and the shredded chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough over the surface of the simmering soup. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the dumplings steam for 15-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid while they are steaming!
Tips for Perfect, Fluffy Dumplings Every Time
Achieving light, fluffy dumplings is the most important part of this Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch recipe. Here are some essential tips:
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Mix the dumpling dough until the ingredients are just combined. Overmixing develops gluten, which leads to tough, chewy dumplings.
- Keep Ingredients Cold: Use cold butter and cold buttermilk. This helps create a tender, biscuit-like texture inside the dumplings.
- Don’t Peek!: Once you’ve dropped the dumplings into the soup and covered the pot, resist the urge to lift the lid. This traps the steam inside, which is essential for cooking them properly and making them swell up nice and fluffy.
- Simmer, Don’t Boil: The soup should be at a gentle simmer when you add the dumplings. A rolling boil can cause them to break apart.
Variations and Substitutions
While this classic recipe is fantastic as is, you can easily adapt it to your liking. For a heartier meal, consider adding frozen peas or corn during the last few minutes of cooking. If you’re short on time, you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken and a good quality boxed chicken broth. For a different flavor profile, try adding a pinch of poultry seasoning or some fresh rosemary to the soup base. For more delicious and comforting meal ideas, check out this amazing chicken gnocchi soup recipe.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Chicken and dumplings are almost better the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The dumplings will absorb more of the broth as they sit, making the stew even thicker. Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water to thin it out if necessary. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the dumplings rubbery. Looking for another great one-pot meal? This French onion pot roast is a must-try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but be aware the texture of the dumplings may change slightly upon reheating. For best results, let the dish cool completely, then store it in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before reheating gently on the stovetop.
Absolutely. To save time, you can use shredded meat from a rotisserie chicken. Simply skip the first step of making the broth with a whole chicken and start by sautéing the vegetables in a good-quality store-bought chicken broth.
After steaming for 15-20 minutes with the lid on, you can check for doneness. Insert a toothpick into the center of a dumpling; if it comes out clean, they are ready. They should look plump and feel firm to the touch.
This recipe uses drop dumplings, which have a softer, more biscuit-like texture and are simply dropped by the spoonful into the simmering soup. Rolled dumplings are made from a firmer dough that is rolled out and cut into strips, resulting in a denser, more noodle-like texture.
The keys to fluffy dumplings are not overmixing the dough, using cold butter and buttermilk, and most importantly, not lifting the lid while they steam. Trapping the steam is essential for them to cook properly and puff up.
More Comfort Food Recipes to Try
If you loved this recipe, you’re sure to enjoy our easy homemade dinner rolls to sop up any extra broth. They are the perfect side dish for this hearty meal.
Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch Recipe
Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch (The Ultimate Comfort Food)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Make the Broth: In a large Dutch oven, combine the whole chicken, quartered onion, chopped carrots and celery, parsley, thyme, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Add chicken broth and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 60-90 minutes until the chicken is tender.
- Shred the Chicken: Carefully remove the chicken to a cutting board. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding the solids. Once cool enough to handle, shred the chicken meat, discarding skin and bones.
- Mix the Dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the cold buttermilk and chives until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Build the Soup: Melt 2 tbsp butter in the Dutch oven over medium heat. Add finely diced onion, carrots, and celery (new vegetables, not the ones from the broth) and cook until soft. Whisk in 1/4 cup flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 6 cups of the reserved broth. Simmer until thickened.
- Combine and Cook: Stir the heavy cream and shredded chicken into the soup. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough onto the surface of the soup.
- Steam the Dumplings: Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15-20 minutes without lifting the lid. The dumplings are done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Use cold butter and buttermilk for the most tender dumplings.
The soup will thicken considerably as it cools.
Share Your Creations!
We hope you love this recipe for Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch as much as we do. It’s a true labor of love that is worth every minute. If you make it, please leave a comment below and let us know how it turned out! We’d love to see your creations on Pinterest!
