Description
Comfort meets Southern charm in this classic Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe, offering hearty spoonfuls of creamy nostalgia. Warm, tender chicken nestled among fluffy dumplings promises a satisfying meal that brings family closer around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb/453 g each)
Vegetables:
- 2 celery ribs, halved
- 1 medium onion, halved
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) chicken broth
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Gently poach chicken breasts in a seasoned broth until they’re tender and fully cooked, ensuring the meat remains juicy and flavorful.
- Remove chicken from the liquid and allow it to cool slightly before shredding into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- Strain the poaching broth and return it to the pot, maintaining a gentle simmer that will help develop rich flavors.
- Prepare the dumpling dough by combining flour, baking powder, and salt, then gradually mix in milk until a soft, slightly sticky consistency forms.
- Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture directly into the simmering broth, creating rustic, pillowy dumplings that will absorb the savory liquid.
- Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for several minutes until they become puffy and fully cooked through, avoiding lifting the lid too frequently.
- Gently fold the shredded chicken back into the pot, allowing it to warm through and meld with the dumplings and broth.
- Season the final dish with additional salt and pepper to taste, ensuring a well-balanced and comforting flavor profile.
- Serve the chicken and dumplings hot, garnishing with fresh parsley or chives for a touch of brightness and visual appeal.
Notes
- Opt for homemade stock to enhance the depth of flavor and richness of the chicken and dumplings.
- Choose bone-in chicken breasts or thighs for more tender and juicy meat that falls apart easily during cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a blend of rice flour and cornstarch in the dumpling mixture.
- Achieve creamy consistency by slowly whisking the broth and allowing it to simmer gently, preventing any lumps from forming.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg