The Best Chicken and Dumplings

I couldn’t think of anything better to eat on a chilly fall evening or a cold winter’s night than a piping hot bowl of chicken and dumplings. It’s a one-pot made from a scratch bowl of goodness with juicy chunks of chicken and light and tender dumplings all cooked in a rich and creamy broth.

It’s the ultimate comfort food that warms the heart and warms the soul.

When the weather starts turning real cold, I begin craving a bowl of chicken and dumplings. Tonight is one of those nights. I’m going to curl up on the couch with a warm and fuzzy blanket and a hot bowl of dumplings. Life just doesn’t get much better than that!

My great grandmother, my grandmother, and my mama all made dumplings except that they called them “chicken n’ dumplin’s.  To them, there would have been no such thing as chicken and dumplings. It’s just one of those “Southern Things.” To be true to my deep Southern roots,  I felt obliged to share that with you. I know my grandmother would be turning over in her grave if I didn’t straighten that out. Chicken and dumplings are a very sacred thing in the South. 

So whether you call them chicken n’ dumplins or chicken and dumplings it’s totally fine.

This recipe makes some delicious old fashioned hearty dumplings!

Tips and How to make the perfect pot of chicken and dumplings (The complete (printable) recipe is at the bottom of the post)

• Use skin-on chicken. The chicken skins make a deliciously rich broth. If you prefer all-white meat, use chicken breast only, or use a combination of dark meat with chicken and thighs or even a whole chicken.
• Boil your chicken in a pot of water and chicken broth from a carton rather than baking to create that rich, rich delicious broth!!!
• Use chicken bouillon granules. It’s actually more like a seasoning paste. This really adds richness to the chicken broth. The granules or paste are different from the bouillon cubes. It does come in a jar and sometimes you’ll find it in the refrigerated section of the grocery store or you may also find it next to the regular cube bouillon. After you open the jar, you’ll need to keep it stored in the refrigerator. Using this chicken seasoning paste makes all the difference in the world in seasoning the broth. Here a photo of the brand that I use. I love it! It’s called better than bouillon!

• Add some whole milk to the broth. When I started adding milk to the broth, it just took the chicken and dumplings to a whole new level. You do need to use whole milk rather than lesser fat content milk. Adding milk keeps the broth from tasting too watery. Half and half would also be great to use too.

• Cook some vegetables in your broth. I throw in some carrots, onions, and celery in the pot while the chicken is cooking. Later I strain the broth and remove the vegetables. The vegetables add a lot of delicious flavors!
• This recipe makes a light and tender rolled out dough dumpling. We’ll use a combination of self-rising and all-purpose (plain flour) and a combination of vegetable storage and butter.

• Once the shortening and butter are worked in the flour, (it should resemble small peas) add just enough ice water to form a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and pop in the freezer for about 10 minutes to chill.

• Roll the dough out to about ¼ inch thickness. And cut the dough into 1-inch strips and then cut into squares or into rectangular strips. (Be careful not to roll your dough out too thin or thick. If it’s too thick, your dumplings will taste doughy.)

• Bring your broth to a boil before dropping your dumplings in. 
• This next tip is probably the most important one. I learned this from my mother. When dropping the dumplings into the chicken broth pot, work very, very quickly and once all the dough strips are in the pot, IMMEDIATELY cover the pot with a lid for about 20 minutes. This process creates steam and makes the dumplings puff up. Otherwise you will have a tough and chewy dumpling. I also drop extra flour in the pot as I’m dropping the dumpling in the pot. The flour helps to thicken the stock. Note: Gently stir the dumplings while you are dropping them in the pot to prevent them from clumping together. 
• Add the shredded chicken after the dumplings have cooked with lid on for 20 minutes. 
• I always add a little bitty drop of yellow food coloring. The tiny bit of extra color makes it look beautiful and more appetizing because authentic chicken and dumplings don’t have vegetables except maybe a little sprinkle of fresh parsley for garnish.
• Be sure to season well with salt and pepper. I love lots of freshly ground black pepper in my dumplings!!! If your dumplings get a little too thick, just a chicken broth to thin it out a little.
• Lastly, a bowl of creamy coleslaw is delicious with Chicken and Dumplings. My mother wouldn’t have it any other way! Enjoy!!

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