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Easy Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings with Fluffy Drop Dumplings

Close-up of a white bowl filled with rich gravy, tender chicken pieces, and fluffy dumplings in a classic chicken and dumpling dish.
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Make this classic American comfort food with tender chicken and soft, fluffy drop dumplings in a rich, savory broth. This recipe delivers the hearty, nostalgic taste of old-fashioned Southern cooking.

Ingredients

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  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie works well)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or whole milk
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk

Instructions

  1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  2. Stir in the dried thyme and sage. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes to allow the vegetables to tenderize slightly.
  4. Stir in the shredded chicken and heavy cream. Taste the broth and add salt and pepper as needed. Keep the broth at a gentle simmer; do not let it boil rapidly.
  5. Prepare the drop dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
  6. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  7. Pour in the buttermilk and stir just until the dough comes together. Do not overmix; the dough will be shaggy.
  8. Drop the dumpling dough by rounded tablespoons directly onto the simmering broth, leaving a little space between each one.
  9. Cover the pot tightly and cook the dumplings without lifting the lid for 15 minutes. The steam cooks the dumplings, making them fluffy.
  10. Remove from heat. Gently stir the chicken and dumplings to combine. Serve immediately for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Notes

  • For a richer broth, use a mix of chicken broth and the reserved liquid from cooking a whole chicken.
  • If you prefer flatter, more traditional Southern-style dumplings, roll the dough out thinly and cut it into strips before dropping them into the pot.
  • This recipe works well as a one pot chicken dinner, minimizing cleanup.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookincorner.com/easy-southern-chicken-and-dumpling-recipe/