Old-Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings
This classic recipe is the definition of cozy comfort food. Juicy, tender chicken and wholesome vegetables simmer in a rich, flavorful broth, all topped with light, fluffy dumplings made from scratch. It’s the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out and brings back memories of home-cooked meals.
🐔 Ingredients
For the Chicken:
Ingredient Quantity
Chicken breasts and/or thighs, boneless, skinless, trimmed, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces 2 lbs
All-purpose flour 1/2 cup
Olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons
For the Sauce:
Ingredient Quantity
Butter 2 tablespoons
Carrots, peeled and diced 2 large
Celery stalks, diced 2
Onion, diced 1 large
Bay leaves 2
Dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon
Garlic, minced 2 cloves
Chicken broth 5–6 cups
Heavy cream 1/2 cup
Frozen peas, thawed 1 1/2 cups
For the Dumplings:
Ingredient Quantity
All-purpose flour 1 1/2 cups
Baking powder 2 teaspoons
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Buttermilk 3/4 cup
Eggs 2
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper To taste (for seasoning chicken and broth)
👩🍳 Instructions
Season & Coat Chicken:
In a medium bowl, season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Toss them in the flour until evenly coated.
Sear the Chicken:
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high. Add the floured chicken and sear until browned on the outside, about 3–5 minutes. (It doesn’t need to be fully cooked.) Remove and set aside.
Cook the Veggies:
Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and butter to the pot. Sauté the carrots, celery, and onion for about 5 minutes, or until they soften slightly.
Build the Broth:
Stir in the chicken broth, thyme, and bay leaves. Return the browned chicken to the pot. Bring to a gentle simmer.
Add Cream & Peas:
Once simmering, stir in the heavy cream and peas. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Mix the Dumpling Dough:
While the broth simmers, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir in the buttermilk and eggs just until a soft, cohesive dough forms—don’t overmix.
Drop the Dumplings:
Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of the dough into the simmering broth. Leave space between them—these little clouds will puff up.
Simmer Until Perfect:
Cover the pot, lower the heat, and let everything simmer gently for 15 minutes. The dumplings should be light and cooked through, and the chicken fully tender.
🥣 Serve & Enjoy
Ladle hot servings into bowls and enjoy the heartwarming richness of this old-fashioned classic. It’s like a warm hug in every bite.
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