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Cozy Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch: Easy One-Pot Recipe

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This cozy chicken and dumplings from scratch recipe features a velvety broth, tender shredded chicken, and pillowy dumplings, all made in one pot for a comforting meal that warms you from the inside out.

Ingredients

  • Whole chicken, 3-4 pounds
  • Carrots, 4 medium, peeled and chopped into thick rounds
  • Celery stalks, 3 ribs, chopped
  • Yellow onion, 1 large, diced
  • Garlic cloves, 4, minced
  • Chicken broth, 6 cups (low-sodium recommended)
  • Water, 2 cups
  • Bay leaves, 2
  • Fresh thyme, 4 sprigs (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons
  • All-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons
  • Heavy cream, 1/2 cup (optional)
  • Frozen peas, 1 cup
  • Fresh parsley, 1/4 cup, chopped (for garnish)
  • All-purpose flour, 2 cups (for dumplings)
  • Baking powder, 1 tablespoon
  • Salt, 1 teaspoon
  • Cold unsalted butter, 4 tablespoons, cut into small cubes
  • Whole milk, 3/4 cup (cold)
  • Fresh parsley or chives, 2 tablespoons, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the vegetables. Peel and chop the carrots into thick rounds — about 1/2 inch thick. Chop the celery into similar-sized pieces. Dice the onion. Mince the garlic. Set them all aside near the stove.
  2. Sauté the aromatics. Melt the 2 tablespoons of butter in your Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent and the vegetables start to soften. Add the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Make the roux. Sprinkle the 3 tablespoons of flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for about 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
  4. Add the liquid and chicken. Slowly pour in the chicken broth and water, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Place the whole chicken in the pot. Add the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.
  5. Simmer the chicken. Bring the liquid to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  6. Remove and shred the chicken. Carefully lift the chicken out of the pot using tongs and set it on a cutting board. Let it cool for about 10 minutes. Remove the skin and bones, then shred the meat into bite-sized pieces using two forks. Discard the skin and bones.
  7. Strain and return the broth (optional). For a cleaner broth, strain it through a fine-mesh sieve into another pot, then return it to the Dutch oven. Stir in the heavy cream if using.
  8. Make the dumpling dough. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the 2 cups of flour, baking powder, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and cut them in using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs with some pea-sized butter pieces remaining. Pour in the cold milk and stir just until combined. Do not overmix.
  9. Add the chicken back and drop the dumplings. Return the shredded chicken to the pot. Bring the broth back to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough on top of the simmering liquid — about 2 tablespoons each, spaced slightly apart.
  10. Cook the dumplings. Cover the pot tightly with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Let the dumplings cook for 15 minutes without lifting the lid. After 15 minutes, check one by cutting it in half; it should be fluffy and cooked through. If needed, cover and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
  11. Finish and serve. Gently stir in the frozen peas and let them warm through for about 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Taste the broth and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Ladle into bowls and garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Don’t rush the simmer; the whole chicken adds deep flavor. Keep dumpling ingredients cold for fluffy dumplings. Resist lifting the lid while dumplings cook. For a thicker broth, mash some cooked carrots against the pot. Season in layers for best flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken and dumplings, one-pot meal, comfort food, chicken soup, homemade dumplings, cozy dinner

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/cozy-chicken-and-dumplings-from-scratch-easy-one-pot-recipe/