Creamy Chicken and Dumplings
50 min
|
intermediate
Recipe by Eunice
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time |
|---|---|---|
| 20 min | 30 min | 50 min |
Introduction
This creamy chicken and dumplings recipe is cozy, comforting, and perfect for chilly nights or lazy Sunday dinners.
Tender shredded chicken and sweet veggies simmer in a rich, velvety broth that tastes like a hug in a bowl.
Fluffy, sour-cream-enriched dumplings soak up all that savory flavor, making this an irresistible one-pot family-friendly meal.
Ingredients (6 servings)
Ingredients for the Chicken Stew:
Ingredients for the Dumplings:
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How to Make Creamy Chicken and Dumplings
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Prep the vegetables and chicken
Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into small, even pieces so they cook at the same speed.
Mince the garlic and set it aside so it does not burn while you chop other ingredients.
Shred or chop the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces and keep it chilled until you are ready to add it.
-
Start the creamy stew base
Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat.
Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and cook, stirring often, until they soften and start to smell sweet.
Stir in the garlic and cook for about thirty seconds until fragrant, keeping the heat at medium.
Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and stir until it coats everything and looks slightly pasty.
Cook this floury mixture for one to two minutes to remove any raw flour taste.
-
Add broth and simmer the stew
Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to avoid lumps, scraping the bottom of the pot as you go.
Add the chicken bouillon, dried thyme, salt, and pepper, and stir until everything is dissolved and combined.
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for about ten minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened.
Stir in the milk and frozen peas, return to a gentle simmer, then add the shredded chicken.
Let the stew bubble very gently while you prepare the dumpling batter, adjusting the heat to keep it from boiling.
-
Mix the dry dumpling ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Make sure the baking powder is evenly distributed so the dumplings puff evenly as they cook.
-
Add the wet ingredients for dumplings
Stir the melted butter, heavy cream, and cold sour cream into the dry mixture until a thick batter forms.
Do not overmix; stop when no dry spots remain and the batter looks soft and sticky.
If the batter seems too stiff to scoop, add a tablespoon of cream or milk and stir briefly.
-
Drop and steam the dumplings
Keep the stew at a steady gentle simmer, not a rolling boil, so the dumplings cook through without breaking apart.
Use a spoon to drop rounded mounds of dumpling batter on top of the hot stew in a single layer.
Cover the pot with a tight lid and cook for 15 minutes without lifting the lid at all.
After 15 minutes, uncover and check a dumpling; it should look puffed, set, and dry in the center when cut.
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Finish and serve the chicken and dumplings
Gently stir the stew around the dumplings to mix in any thickened broth from the edges of the pot.
Let the pot rest off the heat for five minutes so the stew can settle and thicken slightly.
Taste the broth and add a pinch more salt or pepper if needed, then ladle into warm bowls.
Serve hot, making sure each bowl gets plenty of vegetables, chicken, and at least one fluffy dumpling.
Substitutions
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream
- Half-and-half makes the dumplings slightly lighter while keeping them tender and rich, so the texture stays soft and comforting. You may need a tablespoon less to keep the batter thick enough to hold its shape.
- Swap rotisserie chicken for leftover turkey
- Leftover turkey works beautifully in this stew and adds a slightly deeper, more savory flavor than mild chicken. The texture stays tender in the creamy broth, and it is a great way to use holiday leftovers.
- Replace sour cream with plain Greek yogurt
- Plain Greek yogurt keeps the dumplings rich and tangy while cutting a little fat, with very little change in texture. Use full-fat yogurt so the batter does not become too thin or grainy as it cooks.
Tips
- Use a heavy pot
- A heavy pot, like an enameled Dutch oven, holds heat evenly and helps the dumplings cook through without scorching. Thin pots create hot spots that can burn the bottom while the dumplings are still raw on top.
- Keep the simmer gentle
- A hard boil can break dumplings apart and make the stew feel greasy instead of silky. Adjust the burner so you see small, steady bubbles only around the edges of the pot.
- Avoid lifting the lid early
- Steam trapped under the lid is what cooks the dumplings all the way through and gives them a fluffy texture. Each time you peek, you lose steam and can end up with dense, gummy centers.
- Season in layers
- Lightly salting the vegetables, broth, and finished stew in stages gives rounder flavor than adding salt only at the end. Taste often and add tiny pinches so the stew never tips into being too salty.
- Portion dumplings evenly
- Try to keep the dumpling scoops roughly the same size so they cook at the same rate. Smaller scoops cook more quickly and are easier to serve if you are feeding kids.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 402 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 23 | g |
| Total Fat | 23 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 30 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- Why did my dumplings turn out dense instead of fluffy?
- Dense dumplings usually mean the batter was overmixed or the lid was lifted while they cooked. Next time, mix just until combined, avoid peeking, and check that the simmer stays gentle, not boiling hard.
- How can I thicken the stew if it seems too thin after cooking?
- If the stew still feels thin after the dumplings cook, remove the lid and simmer a few more minutes. You can also mash a couple of dumplings into the broth to thicken it without changing the flavor.
- Can I make the stew ahead of time?
- You can cook the stew base a day ahead, then cool and refrigerate it without the dumplings. Reheat until hot and gently simmering, then mix and cook the dumplings right before serving.
- Can I freeze leftovers of chicken and dumplings?
- You can freeze leftovers, but the dumplings may soften and break a little once thawed and reheated. For the best texture, freeze just the stew base and cook fresh dumplings when you are ready to eat.
- What can I add for extra flavor without making it spicy?
- Try stirring in fresh herbs like parsley or thyme at the end for bright flavor without heat. A splash of lemon juice also perks up the creamy broth and makes the chicken taste fresher.
Serving Suggestions
This creamy chicken and dumplings makes a cozy main dish alongside a crisp green salad or simple roasted vegetables.
For a weekend twist, stir in fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon at the end for extra brightness.
Leftovers reheat well on the stove with an extra splash of broth or milk to bring back the silky texture.
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