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A steaming bowl of homemade chicken and dumplings brings comfort with every spoonful - tender shreds of chicken and pillowy dumplings swimming in rich, velvety broth. This beloved Southern classic transforms simple ingredients into a soul-warming meal that tastes like it came straight from Cracker Barrel's kitchen.
I learned this recipe from my mother-in-law, who insisted that buttermilk was the secret to perfect dumplings. After years of making it, I've found she was absolutely right - they turn out light and tender every single time.
Essential Ingredients
- Chicken: Fresh chicken pieces give the richest broth, but a rotisserie chicken works beautifully for busy nights.
- Buttermilk: Real buttermilk creates tender, fluffy dumplings. The tanginess adds depth to the flavor.
- Flour: All-purpose flour makes dumplings with just the right texture. Measure by spooning into the cup and leveling.
- Fresh vegetables: The trinity of carrots, celery, and onions creates a foundation of flavor.
- Chicken stock: Homemade is wonderful, but good quality store-bought works well too.
- Butter: A generous amount enriches the broth and adds silky texture.
Creating Comfort in a Pot
- Step 1:
- Begin by sweating your vegetables slowly - you want them tender but not browned.
- Step 2:
- Add your chicken and cold stock to the pot. Starting with cold liquid helps extract more flavor.
- Step 3:
- Bring to a gentle simmer - vigorous boiling will make the meat tough.
- Step 4:
- While the chicken cooks, prepare your dumpling dough. Handle it gently to keep them tender.
- Step 5:
- The dough should feel soft but not sticky. Add flour or buttermilk as needed.
- Step 6:
- Roll the dough on a well-floured surface to prevent sticking.
- Step 7:
- Cut your dumplings uniformly so they cook evenly.
- Step 8:
- Remove the chicken when it's just cooked through - it will continue cooking when returned to the pot.
- Step 9:
- Let the broth settle before adding dumplings.
- Step 10:
- Drop dumplings one at a time into simmering broth.
- Step 11:
- Resist the urge to stir too often - gentle movement keeps them intact.
- Step 12:
- Watch the broth thicken naturally as the dumplings cook.
- Step 13:
- Add shredded chicken back at the end.
Every Sunday, the aroma of this dish brings my family to the kitchen without being called. There's something magical about watching those dumplings puff up in the golden broth.
Perfect Pairing Suggestions
- A crusty loaf of bread for soaking up every drop of broth.
- A simple green salad with vinaigrette.
- Sweet tea, served ice cold.
This recipe reminds me that good cooking doesn't always mean complicated techniques - sometimes it's about patience and letting simple ingredients shine.
Nothing beats a bowl of chicken and dumplings on a cold day. It's the kind of meal that makes you slow down and savor every spoonful, creating memories around the dinner table.