Name: Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 1 medium onion, diced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 3 medium carrots, sliced; 2 celery stalks, sliced; 6 cups chicken broth; 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded; 1 teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon black pepper; ½ teaspoon dried thyme; 1 cup frozen peas; 1 cup heavy cream; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup whole milk; 4 tablespoons butter, melted

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Get ready for pure comfort in a bowl: the Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is everything you crave on a chilly evening, or any time you want a hug from your kitchen. Tender, juicy chicken swims in a creamy broth with sweet carrots, peas, and pillowy homemade dumplings that soak up every drop of flavor. Whether you’re feeding a family or looking for the ultimate one-pot meal, this Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is a crowd-pleaser you’ll return to again and again.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

Every ingredient in this Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe plays a starring role, bringing out the richness, heartiness, and unbeatable coziness of this classic dish. These pantry staples and refrigerator favorites come together to create layers of flavor, pops of color, and that irresistible homemade touch.

Butter: Adds richness and helps sauté the veggies for a deeper, more savory base.
Onion: Gives the broth a mellow sweetness and aromatic foundation.
Garlic: Brightens and deepens the dish’s flavor with every bite.
Carrots: Lend vibrant color and a gentle sweetness to balance the savory notes.
Celery: Brings classic savory flavor and subtle crunch to the broth.
Chicken broth: The backbone of the soup, creating a savory, soul-soothing base.
Cooked chicken: Shredded rotisserie or leftover chicken keeps things extra easy and adds hearty protein.
Salt: Essential for bringing all the flavors together—taste as you go!
Black pepper: Adds a gentle, warming heat.
Dried thyme: Infuses the soup with herbal fragrance and classic comfort-food flair.
Frozen peas: Add sweetness, color, and a pleasant pop in every spoonful.
Heavy cream: Transforms the broth into a creamy, dreamy wonderland.
All-purpose flour: Provides the base for tender, melt-in-your-mouth dumplings.
Baking powder: Gives the dumplings their irresistible fluffiness.
Whole milk: Makes the dumpling dough moist and tender.
Melted butter (for dumplings): Brings richness and even more buttery goodness to the dumplings.

How to Make Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

Start by melting the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium heat. Once it’s bubbling, toss in your diced onion, minced garlic, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté these for about 5 to 6 minutes, stirring now and then, until everything becomes tender and smells absolutely wonderful. This step lays the flavorful foundation for your Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.

Step 2: Build the Broth

Pour in the chicken broth and add your shredded cooked chicken, along with salt, pepper, and dried thyme. Give everything a good stir to combine. Bring this mixture to a gentle simmer, letting all those savory flavors meld for 10 minutes. This part is where the magic happens—the broth soaks up all the goodness from the chicken and veggies.

Step 3: Add Peas and Cream

Next, stir in the frozen peas and heavy cream. The peas bring bursts of color and gentle sweetness, while the cream transforms the broth into pure, silky comfort. Let it come back to a simmer while you get started on the dumplings.

Step 4: Make the Dumpling Dough

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt for your dumplings. Stir in the whole milk and melted butter—just until everything is combined; don’t overmix, or your dumplings might turn out dense. The dough should be sticky and soft.

Step 5: Add Dumplings and Simmer

With your soup at a simmer, drop tablespoon-sized mounds of dumpling dough onto the surface of the soup, keeping a little space between each. Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings steam for about 15 minutes—no peeking! They’ll puff up into fluffy, tender pillows. When finished, your Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is ready for its grand serving.

How to Serve Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Garnishes

Sprinkle over a shower of fresh chopped parsley or a bit of extra black pepper just before serving for a lovely pop of color and brightness. If you’re feeling fancy, a drizzle of extra cream or a dusting of paprika can make this dish feel extra-special.

Side Dishes

This Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is hearty enough to stand alone, but it pairs beautifully with a crisp green salad or some simple, roasted green beans. If you’re craving a little crust, warm dinner rolls or a slice of rustic bread are always welcome to soak up every last bit of the creamy broth.

Creative Ways to Present

For cozy family dinners, serve generous ladles straight from the pot at the table for that homey, inviting vibe. Hosting friends? Spoon the stew into wide, shallow bowls and top each with an extra sprinkle of fresh herbs, or go mini with individual ramekins for a personal touch. The Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe shines no matter how you serve it!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once cooled, spoon any leftovers into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to three days. The flavors deepen overnight, making every reheated bowl just a little more comforting.

Freezing

This Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is a make-ahead hero! Let the stew cool completely, then transfer it to freezer-safe containers. Freeze for up to two months. If possible, freeze the dumplings separately from the broth to help them keep their best texture.

Reheating

To reheat, warm the stew over medium heat in a pot, gently stirring so the dumplings heat through but don’t break apart. If frozen, let it thaw overnight in the fridge first. Add a splash of broth or cream if the stew thickened too much in storage.

FAQs

Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?

Absolutely! Rotisserie chicken is not only convenient, but it adds a lot of flavor and saves you time—just shred and add to the broth in step two for an even quicker Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.

What can I use instead of heavy cream?

If you’re looking to lighten things up, you can substitute half-and-half or even whole milk for the heavy cream. The broth will be a bit less rich, but still plenty comforting.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Yes, you can! Use your favorite all-purpose gluten-free flour blend in place of regular flour for the dumplings. Just be sure your baking powder is gluten-free as well for an Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe everyone can enjoy.

Why shouldn’t I lift the lid while the dumplings cook?

Keeping the lid tightly closed traps steam, which is essential for the dumplings to puff up and cook through evenly. Lifting the lid releases the steam too soon and could leave you with doughy middles.

Can I add other vegetables?

Definitely! Chopped potatoes, corn, or green beans work beautifully. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed so everything is perfectly tender in your Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.

Final Thoughts

If you’re craving the nostalgia and heartwarming flavors of a true classic, this Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is calling your name. It’s a dish that brings everyone to the table—whether you’re making it for a busy weeknight or sharing a leisurely Sunday supper. Trust me, once you try it, you’ll want to keep this recipe in your comfort food hall of fame!

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 6 reviews

Author: admin
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Diet: Non-Vegetarian

Print Recipe

Description

A comforting and easy-to-make chicken and dumplings recipe that is perfect for a cozy family dinner. This classic dish features tender shredded chicken, hearty vegetables, fluffy dumplings, all simmered in a creamy broth.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Soup:

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, sliced
6 cups chicken broth
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup frozen peas
1 cup heavy cream

For the Dumplings:

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

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Soup: In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, carrots, and celery, cook until softened. Add chicken broth, chicken, salt, pepper, thyme. Simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in peas and cream.
Dumplings: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt. Stir in milk and butter. Drop dough into soup. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Serve hot.