As the days grow cooler, there’s nothing quite like a comforting, home-cooked meal to bring everyone to the table!
This week on The Outer Banks Life, we’re serving up a Southern classic that’s been warming hearts and filling bellies for generations: old-fashioned chicken and dumplings. With tender chicken, a rich, savory broth, and soft, pillowy dumplings, this timeless favorite is just the thing for a cozy evening and the quintessential fall addition to our Recipe of The Week lineup.
Ingredients
For the chicken and broth
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional)
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (optional, for thickening)
For the dumplings
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons cold butter
- ¾ cup milk, plus a little more if needed
Instructions
- Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
- Add the chicken broth, chicken, salt, pepper, thyme, and poultry seasoning. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches 165°F internally and is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pot, shred it with two forks, and return it to the broth. If you’d like a thicker, creamier broth, whisk the optional flour with a little cold water until smooth, stir it in, and simmer for a few minutes. Add the cream if desired.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk just until a soft dough forms. Avoid overmixing.
- Bring the broth to a gentle simmer. Drop spoonfuls of dough over the surface of the chicken mixture, leaving a little room between them to expand.
- Cover the pot and simmer gently for 15–18 minutes, until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through. Keep the lid on as much as possible, and avoid stirring vigorously while they cook.
