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Cozy Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch

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A warm and comforting homemade chicken and dumplings recipe featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a flavorful broth with light, fluffy dumplings made from scratch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or ½ teaspoon dried)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • ¾ cup whole milk or buttermilk
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. Rinse the chicken thighs and pat dry. Dice the carrots, celery, and onion to roughly ½-inch pieces. Mince the garlic and set aside.
  2. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, and celery, stirring occasionally until softened and fragrant, about 6-8 minutes. Add garlic and thyme, cooking for another minute until aromatic.
  3. Nestle the chicken thighs into the pot, pour in 6 cups chicken broth, and add the bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 30-35 minutes until chicken is tender and cooked through.
  4. While the chicken simmers, prepare the dumpling dough: In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add cold cubed butter and work it into the flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly stir in milk until just combined; dough should be soft but not sticky.
  5. Remove chicken from the pot and shred with two forks. Discard the bay leaf. Return shredded chicken to the pot.
  6. Drop dumpling dough by tablespoonfuls onto the simmering stew. Cover pot tightly and cook undisturbed for 15-18 minutes until dumplings puff up and become tender.
  7. Gently stir the stew to float the dumplings. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired and serve immediately.

Notes

Use cold butter for dumplings to achieve a light, flaky texture. Avoid boiling the chicken; maintain a gentle simmer to keep chicken tender. Do not stir dumplings while cooking to allow them to steam and puff properly. Season gradually and taste often. For gluten-free or dairy-free options, substitute ingredients as suggested.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken and dumplings, comfort food, homemade dumplings, easy chicken stew, cozy meal, from scratch recipe

Find it online: https://magnetmeal.com/cozy-chicken-and-dumplings-from-scratch-easy-homemade-recipe-for-perfect-comfort-food/