Description

Experience the warmth and nostalgia of Southern comfort food with this Cracker Barrel-style Chicken and Dumplings recipe. A perfect blend of tender chicken, fluffy dumplings, and savory broth—it’s comfort in every bite!

Ingredients

Scale

For the Broth:

1 whole chicken or 4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
6 cups chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
1 large onion, chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

For the Dumplings:

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

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Instructions

1️⃣ Prepare the Broth:

In a large pot, add chicken, chicken broth, onion, celery, carrots, and garlic.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove chicken, shred it, and return it to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.

2️⃣ Make the Dumplings:

In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
Stir in softened butter and milk to form a dough.
Drop spoonfuls of dough into the simmering broth.

3️⃣ Cook the Dumplings:

Cover and let dumplings cook for 15-20 minutes until fluffy and fully cooked.

4️⃣ Stir gently, adjust seasoning, and serve warm.

Notes

1️⃣ Simmer, Don’t Boil: Keep the broth at a gentle simmer when cooking the dumplings. Boiling can cause them to fall apart instead of staying fluffy.

2️⃣ Don’t Overmix the Dumpling Dough: Stir just until combined. Overmixing can make the dumplings dense and chewy instead of light and tender.

3️⃣ Season in Layers: Taste and season the broth at different stages—after cooking the chicken, before adding dumplings, and before serving—to ensure a well-balanced flavor.

Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min