Mama’s Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Mama’s Homemade Chicken and Dumplings is a favorite among my entire family. Hands down, I’ve never had a better dumpling in my entire life than the ones my mother makes! Y’all just HAVE to try this recipe. It’s super quick & easy to prepare too. Definitely a keeper!

Chicken and dumplings are like the epitome of all comfort foods. I mean, it’s basically chicken in a flavorful stock with biscuits boiled in it. What’s not to love?

You did get the point where I said biscuits were boiled in the stock, right?

This is how my Mama makes her dumplings, and if you’ve ever tried her buttermilk biscuit recipe or her cream biscuit recipe, then you know this is going to be fabulous. After all, the dumplings? Well, that’s her recipe for biscuits made into the best dumplings you ever have had in your entire life.

In some recipes for chicken & dumplings… they use flat dumplings that look way more like a noodle than they do a dumpling.

Well.

I just don’t like flat dumplings.

I like big dumplings and I can not lie.

You other cooks can’t deny

That’s it… that’s all I got as far as a dumpling rap goes. I was always a country music fan anyway.

But I like my dumplings round & big… not flat and square. Go away flat dumplings, I don’t want you here. Shoo, be gone.

Some folks make theirs flat because they cook faster that way. When I make dumplings, I like the chew. I like the biscuit like quality going on and you just don’t get that in a flat one. Just don’t make your dumplings too big so that you don’t have doughy centers and you will be all good.

This recipe is seriously the best I’ve ever had… I mean, it’s my Mama’s so obviously it’s the best. You will never find a bowl of dumplings as good as the ones in this dish. They are unbeatable.

And a little tip, roll your dumplings in a little flour before putting them in the broth. It will help thicken it up! If you want it even thicker (some folks do!), mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in with 1/4 cup of water & stir it into the broth 5 minutes before serving.

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5 from 3 votes

Mama's Homemade Chicken & Dumplings

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken insides removed
• 1 onion quartered
• 2-3 large carrots cut into thirds
• 2-3 stalks celery cut into thirds
• 8 cups chicken broth + additional water to cover
• salt & pepper to taste

Dumplings:

• 1 cup self rising flour plus extra for dusting
• 2 heaping tablespoons shortening
• a heaping 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup buttermilk or milk

Instructions

• Combine the chicken, onion, carrots, & celery in a large pot. Season to taste.
• Add the chicken broth plus water (if needed) to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer covered for 45-60 minutes or until the chicken is tender. While the broth is simmering, prepare the dumplings (recipe below).
• Remove chicken & vegetables from broth. Discard the skin & bones & chop the remaining chicken; set aside.
• Ever so gently, add the dumplings to the broth. Simmer about 20 minutes, or until tender.
• Stir the chicken into the broth. You can add the vegetables from earlier back into the broth at this time too, if desired. I usually opt to not add the vegetables back into mine - personal preference. Cook for an additional 10 minutes on low. Serve.

For the dumplings:

• Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, cut the shortening into the flour. Stir in the milk/buttermilk. Grabbing about a heaping tablespoon full at one time, roll into a ball. Roll the dough ball gently in a little flour.
• Cook in broth, as directed.