Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings is the ultimate comfort food—warm, hearty, and packed with rich, homemade flavor. Whether you're craving a cozy family dinner or looking for a classic recipe to make from scratch, this dish is sure to satisfy.
Ingredients
- 3 pounds bone in chicken thighs or leg quarters skin on
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ½ teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 4 cups water
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 ounces butter
- ½ cup celery small diced
- ½ cup onion small diced
- 1 cup carrots sliced ¼" to ½" thick
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¾ cup flour
For the Dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pinch pepper
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 6 ounces milk kept cold until needed
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and season with 1 teaspoon of salt, the pepper and garlic powder. In a large pot over medium heat add in the olive oil. Once hot sear the chicken for 6 minutes on eat side. Do not cook the chicken fully, just enough to brown it.
- To the same pot add the water and chicken stock. Put in the thyme and bay leaf. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook for 1 ½ hours.
- Once the chicken is done, strain and reserve the broth. When cool enough to handle, shred the chicken and set aside.
- Put the pot back over medium heat and melt the butter. Then sauté the celery, onions and carrots for about 8 minutes or until soft. Add in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Sprinkle in the flour, mixing to fully incorporate. Slowly pour in the reserved chicken broth, whisking to prevent any clumps from forming. Season with the remaining 1 ½ teaspoons of salt. Cover and bring to a simmer.
- To make the dumplings begin by adding the dry ingredients to a small bowl. Mix well.
- Drizzle the melted butter into the cold milk and mix together. It will resemble curdled milk. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
- Add the chicken to the broth and bring to a gentle boil.
- Drop in the dumplings. Try to not drop the dumplings on top of one another, they will stick together if you do. Once all the dumplings are in the pot, season the tops of the dumplings with additional salt and pepper (optional).
- Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook the dumplings for 10 minutes. Remove the lid, garnish with fresh thyme and serve. Enjoy!