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Weeknight • Soups

Hearty Chicken and Dumpling Soup

This comforting soup features tender chicken, vegetables, and fluffy homemade dumplings, perfect for a cozy evening.

Prep
20 min
Cook
40 min
Servings
6
Level
Weeknight
Hearty Chicken and Dumpling Soup

There's nothing quite like a warm bowl of chicken and dumplings to soothe the soul. This recipe brings you all that classic comfort with a surprisingly simple approach. It's packed with flavor, hearty vegetables, and those irresistible, fluffy dumplings that make every spoonful a hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

Yield: 6 servings

For the Soup

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 8 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

For the Dumplings

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.

  2. Step 2

    Add onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in garlic, thyme, and rosemary; cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.

  3. Step 3

    Pour in chicken broth. Bring to a simmer, then return the cooked chicken to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer gently while you prepare the dumplings.

  4. Step 4

    To make dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter, mixing with a fork until just combined (do not overmix, a few lumps are fine).

  5. Step 5

    Drop spoonfuls (about 1 tablespoon each) of dumpling dough directly into the simmering soup. Cover the pot tightly and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until dumplings are puffed and cooked through. Do not lift the lid during cooking.

  6. Step 6

    Stir in frozen peas and fresh parsley. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until peas are heated through. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Serve hot.

Tips

  • Ensure your soup is at a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil, when adding the dumplings to prevent them from breaking apart.
  • Do not peek! Keeping the lid on traps the steam, which helps the dumplings cook evenly and become fluffy.
  • For a richer flavor, you can use bone-in chicken thighs and shred the meat after cooking, discarding the bones.

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