Real Recipes From Real Home Cooks ®

old fashioned chicken & dumplings

(2 ratings)
Recipe by
Amy H.
Detroit, MI

This recipe is easy and inexpensive to make. I have no idea where this recipe came from. My mom made it, her mom made it, and so on and no idea how far back that goes. We've modernized the recipe a bit by adding chicken soup base for flavor and using boneless skinless chicken breasts and/or thighs, although you can use a whole chicken, just follow the recipe using a whole chicken and boil the chicken for about an hour and then skin, bone and cut up the meat, although boneless, skinless chicken is much faster and easier!

(2 ratings)
yield 8 serving(s)
prep time 20 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For old fashioned chicken & dumplings

  • DUMPLINGS
  • 4 c
    all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp
    salt
  • 2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1 c
    vegetable shortening
  • 2 c
    milk
  • BROTH
  • 2 Tbsp
    butter or canola oil (butter adds wonderful flavor!)
  • 4-6
    boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 6-7 c
    water
  • 2 Tbsp
    chicken soup base
  • salt & pepper to taste

How To Make old fashioned chicken & dumplings

  • 1
    Melt butter in the bottom of a dutch oven, add chicken and saute until just done. Set aside.
  • 2
    Meanwhile, sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Cut in shorting, mix by hand until mixture resembles a coarse meal, should be somewhat lumpy. Pour in milk and blend until soft (biscuit) dough forms. Shape into 2" balls.
  • 3
    Add 6-7cups of water to the chicken. Add chicken soup base, salt & pepper. Bring to a boil, and drop dough balls, gently into pot so they float across the top. Do not stir.
  • 4
    Cover tightly; reduce heat and simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. If mixture is not thick enough, add more flour paste and stir very gently until broth reaches desired thickness.
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