Name: Recipe "Chicken and Dumplings"
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 150 min
Ingredients: 4 lb bone-in-skin-on chicken parts; kosher salt; freshly ground black pepper; 4 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 bay leaf; 2 sprigs thyme sprigs (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme); 1 sprig rosemary sprig (or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary); 3 tbsp butter; 1 large onion (cut into 1/2-inch dice); 2 large carrots (cut into 1/2-inch dice); 2 celery stalks (cut into 1/2-inch dice); 0.25 cup all-purpose flour; 1 large potato (peeled and diced); 0.25 cup heavy cream (optional); 1 large egg; 2 tbsp milk; 2 tbsp butter (melted); 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 tsp baking powder; 0.25 tsp kosher salt; Italian parsley (chopped, for garnish (optional))

Keep exploring with Lasagna Soup, Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup, and Honey Sesame Chicken.

Chrissy Teigen’s Chicken and Dumplings: A Cozy One-Pot Meal

This chicken and dumplings recipe comes from Chrissy Teigen’s second cookbook, Cravings: Hungry For More. If you loved her first book, you’ll love this one too. The dumplings are tender and soak up the rich broth, and every bowl is packed with chunks of chicken. It’s the kind of cozy meal you crave on a cold day, and it’s surprisingly simple to make from scratch. My family loves this recipe, and I think you will too.

3 Reasons You’ll Love This Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

The dumplings turn out light and fluffy every time, thanks to a simple drop batter that puffs up beautifully.
The broth gets its deep flavor from browning the chicken first, which adds layers of savoriness.
It’s a complete meal in one pot, so cleanup is easy and dinner is ready without extra dishes.

Key Ingredients for Authentic Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken (bone-in, skin-on), Browning the skin adds deep flavor to the broth. If using skinless thighs, add a tablespoon of butter to the pot when sautéing the vegetables.
Heavy cream, A small amount enriches the broth without making it overly thick. You can substitute half-and-half for a lighter option.
All-purpose flour, Used both to thicken the soup and for the dumplings. For a gluten-free version, use a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend, but note the dumpling texture may differ.

Kitchen Tools for Chicken and Dumplings

Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot (for even heat and browning)
Instant-read thermometer (to check chicken doneness)
Whisk (for combining dumpling batter)

Tips for Making the Best Chicken and Dumplings

Pat the chicken dry and season generously before browning to get a deep golden crust. Work in batches so you don’t crowd the pan. For the dumplings, stir the batter just until the flour disappears, lumps are okay. Overmixing makes them tough. If the broth seems thin after cooking, let it simmer uncovered for a few minutes to reduce. Stir in the heavy cream at the end for a silky finish.

Expert Tips for Perfect Chicken and Dumplings

The chicken is cooked through when it reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone. For the dumplings, they should float and be puffed; a toothpick inserted into the center of one should come out clean. If you’re using skinless chicken, the cooking time may be slightly shorter, and you’ll lose some flavor from the rendered fat, so consider adding a tablespoon of butter to compensate.

Chicken and Dumplings Variations to Try

Swap the chicken for leftover turkey after Thanksgiving. For a vegetarian version, use mushrooms and vegetable broth, and skip the chicken, though the dumplings remain the star. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes if you like heat. For a creamier broth, stir in an extra splash of heavy cream or a dollop of sour cream before serving.

What to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings

Serve the chicken and dumplings in wide bowls with a sprinkle of fresh parsley. A side of crusty bread is perfect for sopping up the savory broth. For a lighter option, pair it with a simple green salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette.

How to Store Leftover Chicken and Dumplings

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The dumplings will continue to absorb broth, so the texture may soften slightly.

Can You Freeze Chicken and Dumplings?

You can freeze the soup base without the dumplings for up to 3 months. Cool completely, then transfer to freezer-safe containers. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight, reheat, and prepare a fresh batch of dumplings. Freezing the full dish with dumplings isn’t recommended because the dumplings become mushy.

Best Ways to Reheat Chicken and Dumplings

Reheat gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of chicken broth or water if the soup has thickened too much. You can also microwave individual servings in a covered bowl for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Chicken and Dumplings FAQs

Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead of bone-in parts?

Yes, but reduce the cooking time and use a little extra oil or butter since there’s no skin to render fat. The flavor will be milder, so consider adding an extra bay leaf or thyme sprig.

Why are my dumplings dense?

Dense dumplings are usually the result of overmixing the batter. Stir just until the flour is incorporated, a few lumps are fine. Also, make sure your baking powder is fresh.

How do I thicken the broth if it’s too thin?

Simmer the soup uncovered for 5-10 minutes to let some liquid evaporate. Alternatively, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cold water and stir it in, then simmer until thickened.

Can I add extra vegetables?

Absolutely. Sliced mushrooms, parsnips, or green beans work well. Add them after the chicken has browned and before you add the flour, so they soften during cooking.

Recipe

Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings are the ultimate comfort food and you will love this easy homemade recipe. The dumplings are tender and absorb the savory broth and every bowl is filled with chunks of chicken. This hearty meal is a family favorite!

medium

30 min

Prep Time

2 hr

Cook Time

2 hr 30 min

Total Time

Servings

Dinner

Course

American

Cuisine

833 kcal

Calories

Ingredients

Servings

soup

4 lb bone-in-skin-on chicken parts
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 tbsp vegetable oil
1 bay leaf
2 sprigs thyme sprigs, or ½ teaspoon dried thyme
1 sprig rosemary sprig, or ½ teaspoon dried rosemary

3 tbsp butter
1 large onion, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch dice
2 celery stalks, cut into 1/2-inch dice
0.25 cup all-purpose flour
1 large potato, peeled and diced
0.25 cup heavy cream, optional

dumplings

1 large egg
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp butter, melted

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
0.25 tsp kosher salt

garnish

Italian parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1
Make the Soup - Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper. In a large Dutch oven, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over medium-high heat. Working in two batches

Nutrition (per serving)

833kcal

Calorie breakdown

Protein28%235 kcal

Fat53%443 kcal

Carbohydrates19%162 kcal

How this was calculated — 17 of 21 ingredients matched

bone-in-skin-on chicken partsChicken, ground, raw2595 kcal

kosher saltSalt, table0 kcal

freshly ground black pepperPepper, banana, raw0 kcal

vegetable oilOil, vegetable, soybean, refined530 kcal

bay leafSpices, bay leaf3 kcal

thyme sprigsThyme, fresh2 kcal

rosemary sprigRosemary, fresh1 kcal

butterButter, salted323 kcal

celery stalksCelery, raw0 kcal

all-purpose flourFlour, wheat, all-purpose, enriched, bleached220 kcal

heavy creamCream, fluid, heavy whipping204 kcal

milkMilk, buttermilk, fluid, whole19 kcal

butterButter, salted215 kcal

all-purpose flourFlour, wheat, all-purpose, enriched, bleached878 kcal

baking powderLeavening agents, baking powder, low-sodium10 kcal

kosher saltSalt, table0 kcal

Italian parsleyParsley, fresh0 kcal

Serving size ≈ 393 g · 6 servings

Nutrition information is automatically calculated from USDA FoodData Central, so should only be used as an approximation. Actual values may vary depending on the ingredients, brands, and preparation methods used.

Open in analyzer

Keyword: american, Chicken, comfort-food, dumplings, kid-friendly, soup

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.