Have you ever craved a bowl of warm, hearty comfort that hugs your soul from the inside out? There's nothing quite like a steaming bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings to satisfy that longing. Making your own dumpling recipe for chicken and dumplings at home allows you to control the ingredients, customize flavors to your family's taste, and create a meal that's exponentially more delicious than anything from a can. Plus, this homemade chicken dumpling recipe is surprisingly simple, requiring just basic pantry staples and about an hour of your time. Whether you're feeding a crowd on a chilly evening or meal-prepping comfort food for the week ahead, this recipe delivers tender, fluffy dumplings swimming in rich, savory chicken broth.

Ingredients List

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tablespoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 3 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
    • ¾ cup whole milk
    • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
    • 4 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
    • 8 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
    • 1 cup carrots, diced
    • 1 cup celery, diced
    • 1 medium onion, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme

For the Roux (Optional Thickener):

    • 3 tablespoons butter
    • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • Optional: 1 bay leaf for extra depth

Timing / Cooking Schedule

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 45 minutes

Total time: 60 minutes

This one-pot wonder comes together faster than you'd expect, making it perfect for weeknight dinners when you need something satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Broth Base In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, sauté the onion, carrots, and celery over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Pour in the chicken broth, add thyme, bay leaf (if using), and bring to a gentle boil.

Step 2: Add the Chicken Stir in your cooked chicken pieces and reduce heat to a steady simmer. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer a thicker broth, create a quick roux by melting butter in a small pan, whisking in flour, and cooking for 2 minutes before adding it to the pot.

Step 3: Make the Dumpling Dough In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Pour in the milk and parsley, stirring just until a sticky dough forms. Don't overmix—this is the secret to tender dumplings in your dumpling recipe for chicken and dumplings.

Step 4: Drop the Dumplings Using two spoons, drop heaping tablespoons of dough directly into the simmering broth. Space them slightly apart as they'll expand. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid—this step is crucial for your homemade chicken dumpling recipe success.

Step 5: Steam Without Peeking Resist the urge to lift the lid! Let the dumplings steam for 15-18 minutes. They should double in size and become fluffy with a cake-like texture. Test by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.

Step 6: Serve Remove from heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Ladle generous portions into bowls, ensuring everyone gets plenty of those pillowy dumplings.

Nutritional Information

Nutritional Information

Per serving (serves 6):

    • Calories: 385
    • Protein: 28g
    • Carbohydrates: 38g
    • Fat: 12g
    • Fiber: 3g
    • Vitamin A: 45% DV
    • Iron: 18% DV

Tips, Variations, or Cooking Advice

Dietary Swaps: - Gluten-Free: Replace all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend and ensure your baking powder is certified gluten-free. - Dairy-Free: Substitute butter with coconut oil and use unsweetened almond or oat milk. - Low-Carb: Try almond flour dumplings (use 2 cups almond flour, 2 eggs, and add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum).

Flavor Variations: Add ½ cup heavy cream for extra richness, toss in frozen peas during the last 5 minutes, or experiment with herbs like rosemary or sage for seasonal twists.

Meal Prep Magic: Double the dumpling dough and freeze uncooked portions on parchment paper. Once frozen, transfer to freezer bags and cook directly from frozen when needed (add 3-5 extra minutes to steaming time).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Lifting the Lid Too Soon Opening the pot releases essential steam needed for fluffy dumplings. Keep it covered for the full cooking time or risk dense, undercooked results.

Mistake #2: Overmixing the Dough Stirring too vigorously develops gluten, creating tough, chewy dumplings instead of tender clouds. Mix just until ingredients are combined.

Mistake #3: Rolling the Dough This recipe uses drop dumplings, not rolled ones. Handling the dough too much makes them heavy. Simply scoop and drop.

Mistake #4: Not Using Enough Liquid Dumplings absorb broth as they cook. Ensure there's plenty of simmering liquid—at least 8 cups—to prevent sticking and burning.

Mistake #5: Boiling Too Vigorously A gentle simmer is key. Rapid boiling can break apart your dumplings and make the chicken tough.

Storage / Leftovers Tips

Store your dumpling recipe for chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Note that dumplings will continue absorbing broth as they sit, so the consistency will thicken. Add a splash of chicken broth or water when reheating.

To reheat, warm gently on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. Microwave reheating works but can make dumplings slightly rubbery—use 50% power and heat in 1-minute intervals.

While you can freeze this dish for up to 3 months, be aware that dumplings may become softer and slightly mushy upon thawing. For best results with your homemade chicken dumpling recipe, freeze the broth and chicken separately, then make fresh dumplings when ready to serve. Thaw frozen portions overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in a covered pot with a bit of extra broth to restore moisture.