Now that it’s gotten chilly here in Tennessee, I’ve been craving all my favorite cozy, comforting soups. And you know I couldn’t get through winter without making my famous chicken and dumpling soup! This hearty, soul-warming soup is total comfort food in a bowl.
Chicken and dumplings just screams family food to me. It takes me back to my childhood, sitting around the dinner table with my siblings, parents, and grandparents, all happily slurping up this delicious homemade soup. Now I love making it for my own family on blustery winter days. The tender chicken, pillowy dumplings, and savory broth are so satisfying.
In this post, I’ll share my tips for making the best chicken and dumpling soup, answer some frequently asked questions, and give ideas for fun ways to serve it. Grab your soup spoon and let’s get cooking!
Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 2 cups Diced carrots
- 1 cup Diced onions approxinmatly 1 onion
- 2 cups Corn
- 2 cups Peas
- 3 lbs Chicken breasts cubed
- 2 cans Cream of chicken soup
- 4 cups Chicken broth
- 1 cloves Minced garlic
Instructions
- First you’ll want to dice up the carrots, and cube up the boneless chicken breasts. If you’re going to be adding in celery, then dice that up as well.
- Toss everything but the dumplings into the slow cooker, cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.
- After the 4 hours, add in the dumplings let cook on high for additional 45 minutes.
Homemade dumplings
- If you don’t want to buy the pre-made biscuit rolls then to make your own dumplings is super easy. Just add about 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1 teaspoon salt together, and enough water to make a dough consistency. Then roll out the dough, and cut into pieces.
Pre-made biscuits
- If you’re going to use store bought pre-made biscuit dough, then all you’ll need to do is pop open the can and cut each biscuit into either halves or quarters. Whichever size you’d prefer your dumplings to be.
Video
Notes
Tips for Perfect Chicken and Dumpling Soup
It takes a little time and love, but the payoff is so worth it. Here are my secrets:
- Use a whole chicken. For the most flavorful broth, I cook a whole cut-up chicken, then shred the meat.
- Simmer the broth for hours. Letting the broth simmer with aromatics like onions, carrots, and celery really builds a rich, concentrated base.
- Use buttermilk in the dumplings. The buttermilk gives the dumplings a super tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Don’t overcrowd the pot. Be sure to leave room for the dumplings to expand and float while cooking.
- Add frozen peas at the end. Frozen peas add color, texture, and a little sweetness. Just stir them in right before serving.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile, feel-good soup can be served so many ways! Here are some of my favorites:
- With crusty bread: Tear off a piece of warm, crusty bread to dip in the savory broth. Yum!
- With a salad: For a lighter meal, pair your soup with a fresh green salad or slaw.
- With cornbread: A wedge of moist cornbread complements the soup perfectly.
- As a pot pie: Top each bowl with a biscuit or pie crust “lid” for an extra special presentation.
- In bread bowls: Ladle the soup into hollowed-out bread boules for the ultimate comfort food vessel.
I hope y’all will enjoy this chicken and dumpling soup as much as my family does. It’s the kind of feel-good food that warms you from the inside out. Let me know if you have any other serving suggestions in the comments!
FAQs
Can I use canned or boxed broth?
For the best flavor, I really recommend starting with homemade chicken broth. But you can use store-bought broth in a pinch.
What’s the best dumpling recipe?
I love using a simple, buttery biscuit dough works well for dumplings. Drop biscuits or rolled and cut dumplings are also good options.
Should the dumplings sink or float?
Don’t worry if your dumplings sink at first. They’ll puff up and float after simmering in the broth for 10-15 minutes.
How do I get the dumplings just right?
Use measured ingredients and don’t over-mix the dough. Let the dumplings simmer gently for 10-15 minutes without lifting the lid. They’ll float when done. Overcooked dumplings may fall apart.
Can I freeze the leftovers of Chicken and Dumpling Soup?
Yes, leftover chicken and dumpling soup freezes well for later.
Does it matter if I use bone-in or boneless chicken?
You can use either, browning the chicken first adds more flavor.
What vegetables work best?
Onions, carrots, celery, and garlic are classic aromatics for this soup. Herbs like thyme also complement it well.
I hope these common questions and answers help summarize some key points about making chicken and dumpling soup based on the information provided. Let me know if you need any clarification or have additional questions!