Creamy Chicken and Dumplings (Best Easy Soup Recipe) + Video (2024)

ByDonna Elick

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MyChicken & Dumpling Recipe, made with tender chicken, colorful vegetables, and a creamy chicken broth base, is full of flavor and makes a delicious meal. This savory stew recipe is not only comforting, but also so simple!Watch the helpful video in this postto see how easily this one pot meal comes together.

Creamy Chicken and Dumplings (Best Easy Soup Recipe) + Video (1)

Chicken & Dumpling Recipe

Chicken and dumplings is the ultimate comfort food, made with easy dumplings from scratch!

Every bite of this hearty stew oozes with thick, creamy goodness, and the added veggies take it to the next level.

If this is your first time making this dumpling soup recipe, get ready for the whole family to be hooked. It’s a southern staple in my house!

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This stove top chicken & dumpling recipe is the perfect one pot meal for family dinner on a busy weeknight.

It’s literally the perfect comfort food that is easy peasy. You’ll love the creamy texture.

You’ll be amazed by how easy it is to prepare – ready in just 30 minutes! Perfect for a comforting meal on a chilly day.

For more delicious quick chicken meals, try my copycatOlive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi Soupor my easyAir Fryer Chicken Tenders.

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Chicken and Dumplings Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast– If you prefer dark meat, boneless skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative.

    This recipe also works well with turkey cutlets, or with rotisserie chicken if you’re in a hurry. Leftover shredded rotisserie chicken works great.

  • Chicken Broth– Chicken stock will work just fine too for this chicken & dumpling recipe.
  • Milk– This will give your dish its creamy consistency. I recommend whole milk, but you can also use low-fat milk.
  • Seasoning– Simple dried seasonings will bring the flavor out in this dish. This recipe uses salt, pepper, garlic, onion, basil, and parsley.

    But you can certainly use fresh herbs, or add dried rosemary and sage if you have those on hand!

  • Vegetables– Feel free to add your favorite vegetables. I use frozen peas and carrots here, but spinach and celery would also make excellent additions.
  • Dumpling Dough– Make easy homemade dumplings from scratch with just 5 ingredients — flour, softened butter, milk, baking powder, and salt.

    If you don’t have time to make homemade dumplings for this easy recipe, you can use storebought biscuit dough as well.

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Tips and Tricks for 30 Minute Chicken and Dumplings

  • Create a Slurry.Combine flour and milk in a sealable container like aMason Jar, and shake it up.

    You’ll get a smooth flour mixture called a slurry, which will help to thicken your sauce.

    This turns this recipe into more a a creamy chicken dumpling soup, loaded with flavor.

  • Don’t Overwork or Overcook Dumplings.Be careful not to overmix your dumpling dough or to cook it for too long in the pot, otherwise you might end up with dumplings that are too hard.

    Perfectly cooked dumplings turn out light, fluffy, and tender.

  • Test with a Toothpick.When your stew is close to ready, poke a dumpling with a toothpick. Your dumplings will be ready once the toothpick comes out clean.

    If there’s some residue on the toothpick, give them a few more minutes to finish cooking.

  • Try the Instant Pot.If you love this quick chicken and dumplings recipe, try myinstant pot versionnext.

    It’s just as tasty as the stove top version, but uses buttermilk biscuits for the dumplings instead! Either way, it will be a family favorite!

  • Add fresh seasonings.If you want to add a bit of fresh thyme to this dumplings recipe, it’s a great way to add more flavor.

    Minced garlic is also a great choice, and even a few bay leaves can help bump up the taste.

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Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This quick chicken and dumplings recipe is freezer-friendly and easy to store if you have leftovers!

Allow leftovers to cool before transferring to an airtight container. They will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

If you want to keep them longer, place a layer of plastic wrap over the dish, under the lid, before popping the container into the freezer.

This will help prevent freezer burn. You can store your leftovers for about 3-4 months in the freezer.

When you’re ready to enjoy this meal, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator and then reheat on the stovetop on low heat.

You may need to add milk or cream to help loosen it up.

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

  • Dutch Oven– I love this set and use it all the time. It is perfect for roasts, and I especially love it for my one-pot meals.
  • 1 Tablespoon Scoop– Use this to drop dumplings right into the pot!

Chicken & Dumpling Recipe FAQ

How can I thicken stove top chicken and dumplings?

You can thicken this dish by adding more flour, or even cornstarch. Create a slurry with either of these ingredients and milk or water, then stir into your broth base until you get your desired consistency.

Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or chicken stock?

Yes, you can use vegetable broth if you have that on hand. You’ll still get a ton of delicious flavor from the chicken itself, plus the variety of seasonings — including poultry seasoning!

What sides go with chicken and dumplings?

Although this 30 minute chicken and dumplings recipe makes a hearty meal, you can easily pair this dish with a variety of other recipes to make your meal more complete!

Bake up someOlive Garden Breadsticksor mySweet Southern Buttermilk Cornbreadwhile everything simmers.

You’ll also love how this dish tastes with a side ofItalian Green Beansor these tasty air friedBrussel Sprouts with Bacon.

What do dumplings taste like?

This recipe makes the fluffiest dumplings, and I’m obsessed with the texture. You’ll notice right away that delicious dumplings are light, with a little bit of chew. When you make biscuit dumplings, they add a soft texture to the soup, which means there is no need for any added side of bread. (although, if you wanted to add bread to this recipe, I’m not going to stop you!)

These perfectly fluffy dumplings take on the flavor of the creamy soup really well, which helps round out the texture of this great recipe.

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Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Other Amazing Soup Recipes

Creamy Chicken and Dumplings (Best Easy Soup Recipe) + Video (12)

Creamy Chicken and Dumplings (Best Easy Soup Recipe) + Video

Donna Elick

This Chicken & Dumpling Recipe makes a one pot hearty stew with veggies and homemade dumplings in 30 minutes. You’re going to love it!

5 stars from 7 reviews

Tried this recipe?Please comment and review!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Soup

Cuisine American

Method Stovetop

Servings 8 1 cup servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups milk
  • 2 cups frozen peas and carrots

Dumplings

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 1 cup milk

Instructions

  • In a heavy bottomed Dutch oven or large wide pot, over medium heat, add chicken broth, water, butter and all seasonings (poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, parsley, basil, and pepper). Cover and bring to a boil.

  • Meanwhile, cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Add to the pot. Stir to combine and cover.

  • In a sealable container (such as a large mason jar) combine flour and milk. Seal tightly and shake vigorously to combine well. You will create a smooth flour mixture for thickening your sauce called a slurry. Slowly pour the slurry into the pot, stirring constantly. Add frozen vegetables and cover.

  • Meanwhile combine dumpling ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well with a fork. Remove cover from the soup pot and stir well.

  • Drop dumplings into the soup one tablespoon at a time, use a 1 tablespoon scoop to make it even easier. Reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook until soup is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 358cal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 65mg | Sodium: 1158mg | Sugar: 7g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 265mg | Iron: 3mg

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe’s nutritional value will vary depending on the ingredients used, measuring methods, and portion sizes.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Originally published November 2012, updated December 2023

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

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Creamy Chicken and Dumplings (Best Easy Soup Recipe) + Video (2024)

FAQs

Why are my chicken and dumplings not fluffy? ›

Don't Overwork the Dumpling Dough

Stir everything together until the wet and dry ingredients are combined and you don't see any more dry flour. The dough might look a little lumpy, but that's okay! Overworking the dough is one of the easiest ways to end up with tough dumplings.

How do you thicken up chicken and dumplings? ›

Use Cornstarch to Thicken Chicken and Dumplings

To give that a little thicker texture we're going to add 1 cup of cool water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir it up well. Make sure the soup is brought back to a good boil and go ahead and stir in the cornstarch mixture.

How to thicken up chicken and dumplings without cornstarch? ›

To thicken chicken and dumplings soup (or any soup for that matter), add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour to a mixing bowl. Stir in enough cold water to form a thin paste with no lumps when whisked together. Stir in the mixture to the soup to thicken it up slightly.

How do you keep dumplings from falling apart in soup? ›

The steam that builds up by covering the pot is what cooks the dumplings. Don't boil or stir the dumplings. Vigorous boiling and stirring will cause the dumplings to fall apart.

How to make dumplings taste better? ›

A pinch of salt seasons the dumplings and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients. Cold butter or margarine is cut into the flour mixture to bind the dry ingredients together. It also keeps the dumplings light and tender. Whole milk helps create a smooth, moist dough.

Should I cook dumplings covered or uncovered? ›

It's best to have your lid ready: Immediately add about 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, just enough to cover the base of the dumplings, then cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Lift the lid and allow the dumpling to cook for another 30 seconds, to allow the bottoms to get extra crispy.

Can I use water instead of chicken broth for chicken and dumplings? ›

Chicken Broth Substitute: Salted Butter + Water

If you don't have broth on hand and want a little more flavor than just plain water, try subbing in 1 cup of water plus 1 tablespoon of butter for every cup of chicken broth in your recipe. The butter will help create a richer flavor than just water alone.

How do you keep dumplings from falling apart in chicken and dumplings? ›

So that they cook perfectly, the dumplings need to steam, so cover the pot with its lid. Keep the pot at a gentle simmer when cooking the dumplings. An aggressive simmer or boiling will break them apart. Keep the heat low and cover the pot so that they steam.

Why do you put cornstarch in dumplings? ›

The cornstarch will absorb excess water, which will then convert to steam, allowing the bottoms to form that crisp crust.

Will heavy whipping cream thicken soup? ›

Heavy cream

Use heavy cream as a keto-friendly thickening option for your soups and broths. Heavy cream has more fat than regular whole milk, so you can add it to your soup recipes without worrying about it curdling.

What is the difference between flat dumplings and fluffy dumplings? ›

Flat dumplings are dense and chewy, while drop dumplings are light and airy. Preparation: Flat dumplings require rolling out dough and cutting it into shape before cooking, while drop dumplings are made by dropping spoonfuls of dough directly into simmering liquid.

How to tell when dumplings are done? ›

Cover and bring to a vigorous boil. Add roughly one cup of cold water and return to boil while covered. Repeat this step again. The dumplings will be completely cooked and ready when they float on the surface of the boiling water.

Should dumplings float or sink? ›

If they are still sticky and cling to the toothpick, they are not done. The outside will look moist, but the inside will be cooked through. 3. The dumplings will float to the top of the broth, even though at first they may plop under the broth.

How do you thicken chicken and dumplings broth? ›

Chicken & Dumpling Recipe FAQ

You can thicken this dish by adding more flour, or even cornstarch. Create a slurry with either of these ingredients and milk or water, then stir into your broth base until you get your desired consistency. Can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth or chicken stock?

Why don't my dumplings fluff up? ›

Double-check that you added the correct amount of baking powder and that it's not expired. Additionally, if the dumplings don't have room to grow in the pot, they may not rise properly. Make sure to drop them spaced apart and on top of the meat and vegetables so that they don't sink into the stew.

Why are my chicken and dumplings not thick? ›

How can I thicken stove top chicken and dumplings? You can thicken this dish by adding more flour, or even cornstarch. Create a slurry with either of these ingredients and milk or water, then stir into your broth base until you get your desired consistency.

Why are my drop dumplings not fluffy? ›

The trickiest part of the dumplings remaining fluffy lies with the cooking time. If the dumplings are cooked for too long, then they will become hard. If they are cooked and allowed to remain in the heated environment – in the hot liquid or covered in the hot pot, then the dumpling will contract and get hard.

Do dumplings puff up? ›

Carefully drop dumplings by heaping teaspoonfuls into the soup. Here's what it looks like once you've put the dumplings into the saucepan. Cook covered for 10 minutes and then uncovered 10 minutes. You'll notice that the dumplings puff up as they cook.

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