Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

A Simple Dish that Works as a Side or a Meal

Nov 6, 2008 Kelly Whitt

Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food, and this homemade recipe is easy and flavorful.

Sometimes served as a starter soup and sometimes as a main dish, chicken and dumplings never fails to please. It requires little effort and can be made with a variety of chicken options. For a cheaper meal, choose less expensive cuts such as drumsticks, or use the standard skinless boneless chicken breasts. You can even use a precooked roasted deli chicken stripped of its meat. If using precooked chicken, cut out the time needed to cook the chicken and begin at the step when the chicken and veggies are added to the pot.

Ingredients for Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken: You pick your cut based on price and white or dark meat preference. Example: two chicken breasts OR four chicken thighs
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 1/3 cup of flour, pre-sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of carrots, coined
2 stalks of celery, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Cooking Chicken and Dumplings

First, take your choice of chicken and place it your largest pot, filled with water. Add a little salt and pepper to the water. Bring the water to a boil.
If using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, boil for about 20 minutes. If using bone-in chicken pieces, cook for 30 to 40 minutes.
Scoop chicken from boiling water and place on a cutting board. Chop up and shred the chicken meat, discarding any bones or skin. Return the chicken to the boiling water.
Add the cut carrots and celery at this time also.
In a large bowl, crack one egg and add a half cup of milk. Whisk these two ingredients. Next, add the flour to the bowl. Most flour is sold pre-sifted these days, eliminating a step that our grandmother's had to perform when making dumplings.
Then add the baking powder and salt to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients well.
Turn the heat down to medium low. You want the broth to be gently bubbling but not so rapidly that it blows apart the dumplings.
Drop the dumpling batter in tablespoon-size amounts into the pot. You should be able to get about 20 dumplings out of the mixture.
Cook the chicken and dumplings for five minutes uncovered, then cover the pot and cook the dumplings for five minutes more.

Serving Chicken and Dumplings

This chicken and dumpling recipe can be served as a starter soup by scooping with a ladle. If it's a meal you prefer, scoop out the ingredients with a slotted spoon. Serve chicken and dumplings with a loaf of fresh-baked homemade bread or a fruit salad. This recipe will serve four.

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