Super Easy Chicken and Dumplings: A Complete Culinary Guide
Introduction
Chicken and Dumplings is the quintessential comfort food, a hearty, steaming bowl of nostalgia that warms you from the inside out. This recipe pares down the classic to its essentials, creating a “super easy” version that delivers all the savory, creamy goodness and tender dumplings of the original without a full day in the kitchen. It’s a forgiving, one-pot wonder perfect for weeknights, chilly evenings, or anytime you need a culinary hug.
A Brief History
The dish has deep roots in Southern and Midwestern American cooking, evolving from European stews and dumplings brought by immigrants. During the Great Depression, it became a staple for stretching a small chicken into a filling meal for a large family. Every region and family has its own version—some with flat, noodle-like dumplings, others with fluffy dropped biscuits. This recipe follows the “dropped” dumpling tradition, known for its pillowy soft texture.
Why Lovers of This Dish Adore It
· Comfort in a Bowl: It’s the edible equivalent of a warm blanket.
· Nostalgic Connection: Often tied to memories of family and home.
· Customizable: Easily adapted with different herbs, vegetables, or even a splash of cream.
· Satisfying & Balanced: It delivers protein, vegetables, and carbs in one cohesive, delicious dish.
Formation & Key Concepts
The dish is built in two main components within a single pot:
1. The Stew: A creamy, flavorful chicken and vegetable broth.
2. The Dumplings: Simple dough dollops that steam directly on top of the simmering stew, cooking through to a fluffy perfection.
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Ingredients
For the Stew:
· 2 tbsp olive oil or butter
· 1 medium onion, diced
· 3 carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds
· 2 celery stalks, diced
· 3 cloves garlic, minced
· 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
· 6 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
· 1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh)
· 2 bay leaves
· 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
· 1/2 tsp black pepper
· 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken for super easy!)
· 1 cup frozen peas
For the Dumplings:
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 1 tbsp baking powder
· 1 tsp salt
· 1 cup milk (whole or buttermilk for extra richness)
· 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) unsalted butter, melted, OR 1/4 cup vegetable oil
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Instructions & Methods
Method 1: Stovetop (Traditional)
1. Build the Base: In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Make the Roux: Sprinkle the 1/3 cup flour over the vegetables. Stir constantly for 2 minutes to cook off the raw flour taste.
3. Create the Stew: Slowly pour in the chicken broth while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Add thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
4. Add Chicken & Peas: Stir in the shredded chicken and frozen peas. Return to a gentle simmer.
5. Make Dumpling Batter: While the stew simmers, whisk together the 2 cups flour, baking powder, and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine melted butter and milk. Pour the wet into the dry and stir just until combined. Do not overmix; lumps are okay.
6. Cook the Dumplings: Drop large spoonfuls (about 2 tbsp each) of the dumpling batter directly onto the simmering stew. Cover the pot tightly with a lid. CRUCIAL: Do not peek for 15 minutes. The dumplings need to steam.
7. Serve: After 15 minutes, the dumplings should be puffed and cooked through. Remove bay leaves. Ladle stew and dumplings into deep bowls.
Method 2: Slow Cooker (Hands-Off)
1. Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, broth, thyme, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and shredded chicken to the slow cooker. Cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
2. One hour before serving, mix the melted butter and milk, then combine with the dumpling dry ingredients. Drop spoonfuls onto the hot stew.
3. Cover and cook on HIGH for 45-60 minutes, without opening the lid, until dumplings are cooked through. Stir in frozen peas in the last 5 minutes.
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Nutritional Information (Per Serving, approx. 1.5 cups stew + 2 dumplings)
· Calories: ~450-500
· Protein: ~28g (Excellent source from chicken)
· Carbohydrates: ~45g
· Fat: ~18g
· Fiber: ~4g (From vegetables)
· Key Vitamins/Minerals: High in Vitamin A (from carrots), B vitamins, and selenium.
· Note: This is a hearty meal. For a lighter version, use less dumpling batter, add more vegetables, or use a lower-fat milk.
Health & Comfort Benefits
· Hydrating & Nourishing: The broth-based stew is easy to digest and hydrating, ideal when feeling under the weather.
· Protein-Packed: The chicken provides high-quality protein for muscle repair and satiety.
· Vegetable-Packed: Carrots, celery, onions, and peas offer vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
· Psychological Comfort: The act of eating warm, familiar food can reduce stress and promote feelings of well-being.
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Conclusion
Super Easy Chicken and Dumplings proves that profound comfort doesn’t require complex cooking. It’s a timeless dish that turns simple, affordable ingredients into a meal that feels like home. Whether you use the stovetop for a quicker fix or the slow cooker for ultimate ease, the result is a deeply satisfying, communal dish meant to be shared.
For the True Lovers & Final Tips:
· Lovers’ Customizations: Add a cup of heavy cream or a Parmesan rind to the stew for extra richness. Fresh parsley or dill sprinkled on top adds brightness.
· Dumpling Secret: For extra fluffy dumplings, ensure your baking powder is fresh and never lift the lid while they steam.
· The Leftovers: It thickens as it sits. Simply add a splash of broth when reheating.
· Ultimate Comfort: Serve it with a simple side salad to cut the richness, but know that for true lovers, a big bowl all on its own is more than enough.
