Description
Homemade Chicken and Dumpling Soup is a comforting, hearty American classic featuring tender shredded chicken and fluffy dumplings simmered in a rich, savory broth. Perfect for cold days or family dinners, this one-pot stovetop recipe blends aromatic vegetables, herbs, and cream for a cozy, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Soup Base
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup milk or heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
Dumplings
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and sliced celery. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Create Roux: Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetable mixture and stir well to combine. Cook for 1 minute to eliminate the raw flour taste.
- Add Broth: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring continuously to prevent lumps from forming and to create a smooth base.
- Add Chicken and Seasonings: Stir in shredded cooked chicken, milk or cream, salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and dried parsley. Bring the soup to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
- Prepare Dumplings: In a separate bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt for the dumplings. Stir in milk and melted butter just until combined to form a sticky dough.
- Drop Dumplings: Using a spoon, drop dollops of the dumpling dough into the simmering soup, spacing them evenly across the surface.
- Cook Dumplings: Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings steam for 15 minutes on a gentle simmer; do not lift the lid during this time to ensure proper steaming.
- Finish Cooking: After 15 minutes, uncover the pot and cook for an additional 5 minutes to ensure the dumplings are fully cooked through.
- Adjust Seasoning and Serve: Taste the soup and adjust salt or pepper if needed. Serve the soup hot, enjoying the tender chicken and fluffy dumplings.
Notes
- Maintain a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil to avoid tough dumplings.
- Avoid lifting the lid while dumplings are cooking to ensure they steam properly and become fluffy.
- Using rotisserie chicken can save time and adds extra flavor to the soup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
