🍗🥣 Classic Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings is a beloved comfort food featuring tender shredded chicken, vegetables, and fluffy dumplings simmered in a rich, creamy broth. It’s the perfect cozy meal for chilly evenings or whenever you’re craving homemade comfort.

⏱️ Time

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Servings: 6

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🛒 Ingredients

🍗 Chicken Stew

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup whole milk or half-and-half
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup frozen peas (optional)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

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🥟 Fluffy Dumplings

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 cup whole milk

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👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Cook the Chicken

1. In a large Dutch oven or soup pot, heat the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
2. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5–6 minutes until softened.
3. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add the chicken, broth, thyme, parsley, bay leaf, salt, and pepper.
5. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
6. Remove the chicken, shred it with two forks, and return it to the pot.

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2. Make the Creamy Broth

1. Whisk the flour into the milk until smooth.
2. Slowly stir the mixture into the simmering broth.
3. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
4. Stir in the peas, if using.

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3. Prepare the Dumplings

1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Stir in the melted butter and milk until just combined. Do not overmix.

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4. Cook the Dumplings

1. Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the gently simmering stew.
2. Cover tightly with a lid.
3. Cook for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
4. The dumplings should be light, fluffy, and fully cooked through.

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5. Serve

Remove the bay leaf, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve hot.

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🍽️ Serving Suggestions

Enjoy with:

• 🥖 Crusty bread or dinner rolls
• 🥗 Simple green salad
• 🌽 Buttered corn
• 🥦 Steamed green beans
• 🥕 Roasted carrots

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💡 Tips & Variations

• Rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut—add it after the vegetables have softened.
• Chicken thighs provide extra richness and stay especially tender.
• Add mushrooms or corn for more flavor and texture.
• Keep the pot at a gentle simmer while the dumplings cook; boiling can make them dense.
• Resist lifting the lid while the dumplings steam—they need the trapped steam to become fluffy.

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🧊 Storage

• Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze the stew without the dumplings for up to 3 months. Freshly made dumplings have the best texture.
• Reheating: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or milk if needed.

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🍴 Approximate Nutrition (Per Serving)

• Calories: 470
• Protein: 33 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fat: 22 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 780 mg

Classic Chicken and Dumplings is the ultimate comfort food—tender chicken, hearty vegetables, a creamy, flavorful broth, and soft, pillowy dumplings in every satisfying spoonful. 🍗🥟✨