Description
This Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings recipe features tender chicken breasts simmered in a flavorful chicken broth with flat strips of homemade dumpling dough. It's a comforting, hearty dish perfect for family dinners, combining soft dumplings with savory chicken in a rich broth.
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Broth
- 2-3 chicken breasts (about 3 cups of cooked chicken)
- 2 Tablespoons oil (avocado or olive oil)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 2 quarts chicken broth
For the Dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 Tablespoons cold salted butter, cubed
- 1 cup milk
- All-purpose flour (for your counter and for rolling out the dumplings)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken on both sides until golden, then remove from the pot and set aside.
- Simmer the Broth: Pour the chicken broth into the pot and bring it to a simmer. Return the browned chicken breasts to the pot, cover, and let simmer on low heat until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, about 30-40 minutes.
- Shred the Chicken: Remove the cooked chicken breasts from the broth and shred them into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Set aside.
- Make the Dumpling Dough: In a mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour and ½ teaspoon of baking powder. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add 1 cup of milk, stirring until a soft dough forms.
- Roll Out and Cut Dumplings: Lightly flour your countertop and rolling pin. Roll the dough out into a thin sheet about 1/8 inch thick. Using a knife or pastry wheel, cut the dough into flat strips roughly 1 inch wide and 3-4 inches long.
- Add Dumplings to Simmering Broth: Bring the broth back to a gentle simmer. Add the shredded chicken back into the broth. Carefully lay the flat dumpling strips over the simmering broth, ensuring they don’t stick together.
- Simmer Until Dumplings are Cooked: Cover the pot with a lid and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through and tender.
- Serve: Stir gently to mix the dumplings and chicken in the broth. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Ladle the chicken and dumplings into bowls and serve hot for a comforting meal.
Notes
- Be sure to simmer the dumplings gently; boiling can cause them to break apart.
- Use cold butter in the dough to ensure flaky, tender dumplings.
- You can substitute buttermilk for milk in the dumpling dough for extra flavor and tenderness.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently to avoid breaking dumplings.
