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Weeknight • Soups

Simple Chicken & Dumpling Soup

A heartwarming, cozy chicken and vegetable soup topped with fluffy, tender homemade dumplings for the ultimate comfort meal.

Prep
20 min
Cook
40 min
Servings
6
Level
Weeknight
Simple Chicken & Dumpling Soup

There's nothing quite like a big bowl of homemade Chicken & Dumpling Soup to chase away the chill. This recipe brings you all that comforting goodness with simple ingredients and easy steps. Tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and soft, fluffy dumplings make this a meal the whole family will adore.

Ingredients

Yield: 6 servings

Soup

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra creaminess)
  • 1/2 tsp dried thyme
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Dumplings

  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1 tbsp butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup milk

Preparation

  1. Step 1

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

  2. Step 2

    Add chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté for 5-7 minutes until vegetables begin to soften. Stir in dried thyme, salt, and pepper.

  3. Step 3

    Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Return the cooked chicken to the pot. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

  4. Step 4

    While soup simmers, prepare the dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and chopped parsley. Add melted butter and milk, mixing until just combined (do not overmix; a few lumps are fine).

  5. Step 5

    Once the soup has simmered, if using, stir in the heavy cream. Drop the dumpling dough by rounded spoonfuls directly into the simmering soup. Ensure dumplings are submerged but not touching too much.

  6. Step 6

    Cover the pot tightly and continue to simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid, until the dumplings are cooked through and fluffy.

  7. Step 7

    Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot.

Tips

  • For the best dumplings, ensure your soup is at a gentle simmer when you drop them in, and resist the urge to peek under the lid while they cook!
  • Don't overmix the dumpling dough; overworking gluten can lead to tough dumplings.
  • If you prefer a thicker soup, you can remove about 1/2 cup of broth, whisk in 1 tbsp cornstarch, and return it to the pot before adding cream and dumplings.

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