Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings are always good, and they make fantastic comfort food. So, if you want to rustle up the tastiest ever chicken and dumplings dish you ever tasted, the following recipe is just perfect.

The chicken comes out juicy and delicious, the buttermilk dumplings are soft and pillowy, and the dish also includes garlic and thyme for that classic flavor. 

Every mouthful of this chicken and dumplings recipe is delicious and you’ll want to pair it with crusty bread to make sure you can mop up every last bit of the delicious juices from your bowl.

This is a nice recipe if you have a cold or the flu, or if you’re just feeling a bit under the weather, and it’s a good alternative to chicken noodle soup if you want to lift your spirits by tucking into something comforting and tasty but you don’t necessarily want soup or noodles.

Why You’ll Love the Recipe:

Classic comfort food always hits the spot, and this chicken and dumplings recipe is sure to bring back all your favorite childhood memories. Whether it’s grandma or your mom who used to make this simple yet flavor-packed dish, you’re definitely going to enjoy the taste.

How to Serve It:

Serve chicken and dumplings hot from the pot, perhaps accompanied by some crusty bread for dipping and mopping up the juices.

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

• chicken thighs or breasts
• olive oil
• all-purpose flour 

For the Sauce:

• carrots
• celery stalks
• butter
• dried thyme
• bay leaves
• onion
• chicken broth
• minced garlic cloves
• thawed peas
• heavy cream

For the Dumplings:

• eggs 
• all-purpose flour
• salt
• baking powder
• buttermilk
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

How to make Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings:

Step 1. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper and toss with ½ cup of all-purpose flour.

Step 2. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a Dutch oven or large pan over a moderate to high heat.

Step 3. Add the chicken and sear for 4 minutes or until golden all over.

Step 4. Transfer to a plate and set to one side.

Step 5. Turn down the heat and add the butter and rest of the oil.

Step 6. Add the vegetables and cook for 5 minutes or until soft.

Step 7. Stir in the broth, chicken and herbs, and bring the mixture to a simmer.

Step 8. Add the peas and cream and adjust the seasoning if needed.

Step 9. While that is cooking, you can prepare the dumplings.

Step 10. Mix the flour with the baking powder and salt.

Step 11. Add the eggs and buttermilk and mix well.

Step 12. Drop spoonfuls of this dumpling mixture into the simmering soup, allowing space for them to get puffy.

Step 13. Cover the pot, turn the heat down and simmer 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the dumplings are puffed up.

Chicken and dumplings go perfectly together, and this makes a satisfying, comforting meal for lunch or dinner, or whenever you want comfort food. The ingredients are simple, but the results are spectacular, with the juicy chicken, subtle herbs and pillowy dumplings giving so much appeal to the dish.

Can You Make It Ahead?

This is a dish you can make in advance if you wish. It reheats well on the stove or in the microwave.

Storage Instructions:

Leftovers should be kept in a sealed container and eaten within 4 days. You can also freeze chicken and dumplings in individual portions for up to 3 months, thawing overnight in the fridge.

Variations and Substitutions:

You can use different vegetables in your chicken and dumplings recipe if you want, such as zucchini, mushrooms or sweet potatoes.