Cozy Chicken and Dumplings Soup
A comforting chicken soup with tender dumplings, perfect for warming up on a cold day.
Recipe Details
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Servings: 6
Full Ingredient List
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 2 stalks celery, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Soup Base
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity | Name | Preparation Notes | Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 tablespoons | olive oil | canola oil, vegetable oil | |
| 1, diced | onion | shallots | |
| 3, cut into 1/2-inch pieces | carrots | parsnips | |
| 2, sliced | celery stalks | fennel | |
| 3 cloves, minced | garlic | garlic powder | |
| 8 cups | chicken stock | vegetable broth | |
| 2 | bay leaves | ||
| 2 teaspoons | fresh thyme leaves | dried thyme | |
| 2 cups | shredded cooked chicken | turkey | |
| To taste | salt | soy sauce, seasoning salt | |
| To taste | freshly ground black pepper |
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté until tender. (Tips: Ensure vegetables are evenly cut for consistent cooking.)
- Step 2: Add garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant. (Tips: Avoid burning the garlic by stirring continuously.)
- Step 3: Stir in chicken stock, bay leaves, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. (Tips: Allow herbs to infuse the broth for extra flavor.)
- Step 4: Add shredded chicken to the pot and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. (Tips: Use leftover rotisserie chicken for easier preparation.)
Dumplings
Tools and Equipment
Ingredients
| Quantity | Name | Preparation Notes | Substitutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1/4 cups | all-purpose flour | whole wheat flour | |
| 2 teaspoons | baking powder | self-raising flour | |
| 1/2 teaspoon | baking soda | ||
| 1 cup | buttermilk | milk with vinegar | |
| To taste | salt | seasoned salt | |
| To taste | freshly ground black pepper |
Instructions
- Step 1: In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. (Tips: Use a sieve to ensure no lumps form in the flour mixture.)
- Step 2: Pour in buttermilk and stir until a dough forms. Season with salt and pepper. (Tips: Do not overmix the dough to keep the dumplings light and fluffy.)
- Step 3: Drop tablespoon-sized scoops of dough into the simmering soup. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, until dumplings are cooked through. (Tips: Check dumplings for doneness with a toothpick.)
Additional Information
Notes: This homemade chicken and dumplings soup is great for using up leftover chicken. You can also freeze the leftovers for easy future meals.
