Easy Chicken and Dumplings With Biscuits
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When considering traditional Southern cuisine, chicken and dumplings are surely among the top choices. This straightforward recipe is delightful, delectable, and bursting with an abundance of taste.
Easy chicken and dumplings, a beloved dish in the South, consists of a rich and velvety chicken stew accompanied by soft and fluffy dumplings. Similar to many comfort foods from the South, this dish originated from a need for practicality. In the past, chicken was considered a luxury and not readily accessible. When it was available, it was usually of meager proportions.
Fortunately, nowadays chicken is a fundamental element in the culinary habits of numerous individuals. Therefore, for your upcoming poultry feast, why not experiment with this homemade formula for chicken dumplings accompanied by biscuits? A beloved choice among families, this recipe may be uncomplicated, yet it is also delectable and serves as an excellent creamy dish for a warm and comforting winter meal (or as comforting as it can be in this vicinity).
If you’re in a dumpling mood, make sure you check out these other delectable dumplings from scratch recipes too: sweet potato dumplings and apple dumplings.
What You Need To Make Chicken and Dumplings
- Chicken
- One can of Pillsbury flaky layers biscuits
- Flour (self-rising or plain, doesn’t matter)
- Chicken broth
- Cream of chicken soup – here is a homemade recipe for cream of chicken soup if you prefer.
- salt and pepper
Helpful Kitchen Tools
How to Make Chicken and Dumplings
Normally, I cook a whole chicken, but today I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts since that’s what I had. You can add some chicken bouillon cubes to your water instead of broth if you want.
I like to prepare chicken in different ways. Sometimes I use a slow cooker, other times I cook it in broth, and occasionally I use chicken thighs. There are even times when I just buy a cooked rotisserie chicken. It’s up to you and what you feel like doing! The important thing is to make sure your chicken is cooked, and then set it aside.
Pour your broth into a pot.
Add cream of chicken soup.
Stir and let it come to a very gentle boil while you prepare the dumplings.
To prepare the dumplings, put a little bit of flour (about a cup) in a large bowl. Add some salt and pepper – about 1/2 a teaspoon each or whatever you prefer. Stir that up a bit.
Take all of your biscuits out of the can and set them on a plate.
Now, we’re going to take each canned biscuit and tear it into three layers like this.
This is what they should look like when they are all separated into 3 layers.
Dip each layer into your flour mixture, and make sure you coat both sides until they look like this.
Pay close attention to this step. If you skip it, your dumplings might disappear in the broth. That’s exactly what happened to me the first time I tried making chicken and dumplings. I wound up with a tasty soup that had a dumpling flavor!
Now, take each layer and tear it into three pieces.
Reduce heat so that your chicken stock is just barely barely barely boiling and drop dumpling pieces in one at a time.
It is important that you DO NOT STIR. We are not going to stir these as we don’t want our dumplings cooking up. If you do stir, you will basically cause your dumplings to dissolve.
Instead of stirring, we’re going to gently press the dumplings down into the chicken stock as they cook. This will take about ten minutes. You’ll notice the dumplings starting to take shape and they’ll stop looking doughy as they firm up a bit.
Put your shredded chicken into the dumplings and give it a very gentle mix. I mostly just press it down a bit like I did with the dumplings. Just remember to be gentle.
And there you go y’all! You just make an old-fashioned chicken and dumpling recipe your family will LOVE!
How Do You Store Chicken and Dumplings?
- Store your chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. They’re even better the next day as the dumplings continue to soak up the broth. You can reheat the dish either on the stove or in the microwave.
- You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to five months.
Can I Add Vegetables To Chicken and Dumplings?
If you want to add some vegetables to this recipe, you can add a can of carrot and peas to the broth when you add the chicken. Another option is to add some sauteed onion.
Can I Make Homemade Dough?
If you prefer to make homemade dumplings with homemade biscuit dough, check out my recipes here and here.
Can I Add More Seasoning?
If you’d like to add some seasoning, cook the in , , or .
Recipe FAQs
What do you serve with chicken and dumplings?
Pair this Southern main dish with other great Southern side dishes, like cornbread, fresh green beans, and fried okra. You could also just serve it with a simple side salad or some roasted brussels sprouts.
What type of chicken can you use for this recipe?
You can use either a whole chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.
Why is it important not to skip the step of pressing the dumplings into the broth?
Pressing the dumplings ensures that they cook properly and hold their shape. If you skip this step, the dumplings might dissolve in the broth.
How long does it take for the dumplings to cook?
It takes about ten minutes for the dumplings to cook. During this time, they will firm up and take on a proper dumpling texture.
What happens if you don’t handle the chicken and dumplings mixture gently when combining them?
If you’re too rough, the dumplings and chicken can break apart. It’s important to be gentle to keep the dish in good shape.
Can you use chicken bouillon cubes instead of broth?
Yes, you can use chicken bouillon cubes in place of broth if you prefer.
What can happen if you use doughy dumplings?
Doughy dumplings may not cook through properly and can result in an unpleasant texture in the final dish.
Can you make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and dumplings ahead of time. Just be sure to reheat it gently when you’re ready to serve.
You might also enjoy these other chicken recipes:
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
- 3 or 4 chicken breasts
- 32 oz chicken broth feel free to use water with bouillon cubes added
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
- 1 can Pilsbury layers biscuits 10 individual
- salt and pepper to taste
- flour
Instructions
- Cook chicken breasts in approx. 4 c. of water until fork-tender, about 45 minutes.3 or 4 chicken breasts
- Place broth in a medium to large-sized pot. Stir cream of chicken soup into gently boiling broth. Add salt and pepper to taste.32 oz chicken broth, 1 can cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper to taste
- Pull biscuits apart into three layers. Dip each layer into the flour and then tear each layer into three pieces and drop into gently boiling broth mixture.1 can Pilsbury layers biscuits, flour
- Do not stir biscuits a lot or they will cook up. Only gently push dumplings down into broth as they float to the top. Cook for about ten minutes after the last dumplings are added.
- Tear up the chicken and add it to the broth mixture. Turn to low until ready to serve.
Nutrition
This is definitely THE WAY to make good Chicken and Dumplings! I’m still smacking my lips! Thanks, Christy! This recipe’s a keeper. The only thing I did differently, was to add a little parsley flakes, onion powder, and poultry seasoning to the chicken broth. Then, added a couple tablespoons of butter to the finished pot…delicious!
I just tried this after bookmarking it months ago although I didn’t make it because I thought it would be more complex and take more time than it did however it was a huge hit with my kids 🙂 Thanks a bunch!
My daughter tried this receipe, and she said these were just wonderful. I already have my Sunday dinner planned today, but will definately try this dumpling receipe next Sunday. My husband always complained about my drop dumplings…”too doughy”. I can’t wait to try this receipe, and surprise him…I will not tell him the secret of the dumplings..I just want him to “Rave” about them. I will serve with a salad. Any other suggestions as to what I can serve with this dish?
I am so glad to hear that she liked the recipe. Any kind of vegetable will do. Green Beans, carrots,etc.
Green beans or any type of green veggie will do. Asparagus, broccoli, but green beans is the classic. maybe a candied carrot dish. Someone said peach cobbler and it made my mouth water. This sounds easy. There was a luscious sounding jello salad or congealed salad on here that would be super, too, with cherry pie filling and shredded pineapple and a diet soda (they used Diet Dr. Pepper and cherry jelo. I might use Diet cherry coke or diet cherry Sprite. That sounds almost as good as peach cobbler and easier to fix. I used to have a wonderful peach cobbler where you put the crust on the bottom and it rose to the top, but I have lost so many recipes in moves and sometimes it didn’t rise to top for me. Cooked in a mixing bown, a metal one. Anyone have that recipe and I’d love it.
i serve Lesuer(silver can)peas (adding little sugar and butter to peas) and Ocean Spray cranberry sauce. or apple sauce. ~and of course iced tea!
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Christy I finally got a chance to make these and they didn’t come out quite the way I’d hoped. I found some of the dumplings didn’t cook all the way through. I’m wondering if I should roll them out with a rolling pin after I’ve floured them to get more of a uniform size and width of a dumpling so they’ll cook evenly. But other than that this is definitely a keeper. I did thicken it up with some flour and water, because I wanted it more thick. It was so good over rice!! OMG! It was like going back to my childhood and eating chicken and dumplings at Grandma Madie’s house in Lakeland, Florida!!! Thanks for the recipe.
How many servings is this recipe?
My family’s favorite. When we have a get together I am always in charge of cooking chicken & dumplings & peach cobbler. I like to use chicken thighs when I make dumplings. Less expensive and a much richer broth than the breast I think. Either way, I have to make them in a stock pot not just my regular large size boilers. Cuz when word gets out I am cooking dumplings everyone is inviting themselves to dinner at “Nani’s house”
I wanted the taste of my grandmothers and aunts chicken and dumplings and got it with this recipe. My kids loved it. A pot of chicken and dumplings with a pan of cornbread is a great and inexpensive dinner. Thanks for the recipe!