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Cozy Southern Style Chicken and Dumplings Recipe Easy Homemade Comfort Food

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A comforting Southern-style chicken and dumplings recipe featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich broth with fluffy homemade dumplings. Perfect for family dinners and cozy nights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup whole milk, room temperature
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • Optional: 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, combine chicken thighs, chicken broth, chopped onion, garlic, carrots, celery, bay leaf, and dried thyme. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat, about 10 minutes.
  2. Lower heat to a gentle simmer and cook uncovered for about 30 minutes, until chicken is tender and meat pulls away from the bone easily.
  3. Remove chicken thighs with a slotted spoon and let cool slightly. Shred meat into bite-sized pieces, discarding bones and skin. Set aside.
  4. Optional: Strain broth to remove veggies and herbs for a smoother broth, or leave veggies in for texture and flavor.
  5. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter, stirring gently until just combined. Batter should be thick but spoonable.
  6. Bring broth back to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Drop spoonfuls (1-2 tablespoons each) of dumpling batter onto simmering broth. Cover pot tightly and cook dumplings for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.
  7. Remove lid and check dumplings for fluffiness and doneness. Stir shredded chicken back into the pot and warm together for 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
  8. Ladle chicken and dumplings into bowls, garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired, and serve immediately.

Notes

Keep the heat low and steady when cooking dumplings to avoid dense texture. Do not lift the lid while dumplings cook to trap steam for fluffiness. Use bone-in thighs for richer flavor. Dumplings can be made gluten-free by substituting flour with gluten-free baking blend. Dairy-free milk and butter substitutes can be used for a dairy-free version. Leftovers reheat gently on stove to avoid gummy dumplings. Freeze broth and chicken separately if freezing is necessary.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken and dumplings, southern comfort food, homemade dumplings, easy chicken recipe, cozy dinner, family meal

Find it online: https://lunafeast.com/cozy-southern-style-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe-easy-homemade-comfort-food/