Southern Chicken and Dumplings 🍗🥟

Experience a warm, comforting bowl of Southern Chicken and Dumplings that's sure to delight your taste buds! This hearty dish combines tender chicken, a savory broth, and pillowy dumplings, making it perfect for a cozy family dinner or a rainy day meal.

Pair it with a simple green salad or some cornbread for a true Southern feast! 🌿🍞

Ingredients

For the chicken and broth

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 large bone-in chicken breast halves with skin
• 1 (32-ounce) can chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

For the dumplings

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/3 cup vegetable shortening, plus 2 tablespoons
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

Instructions

1. Sauté the Aromatics: Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Cook the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts skin-side down into the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and enough water to just cover the breasts. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 1 hour or until the chicken starts to fall off the bone.

3. Shred the Chicken: Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the pot and set aside. Discard the skin and bones, allowing the meat to cool before tearing it into bite-sized chunks.

4. Prepare the Dumpling Dough: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. Work in the vegetable shortening until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Create a well in the center and pour in the milk. Stir until a stiff dough forms. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth. Divide into 12 pieces and set aside.

5. Make the Broth & Add Chicken: Stir the cream of chicken soup, 2 cups of water, salt, pepper, and shredded chicken back into the pot. Bring it back to a simmer over medium-high heat.

6. Cook the Dumplings: Drop the dumplings into the simmering broth one at a time to prevent sticking. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 to 20 minutes until the dumplings have puffed up and are no longer doughy in the center.

💡 Cooking Tips: For a more intense flavor, add garlic or herbs like thyme and rosemary when sautéing the onion. Fresh herbs can elevate this dish beautifully!

Variations

• Herb Dumplings: Add chopped fresh herbs, such as parsley or chives, to the dumpling dough for an aromatic twist. 🌿
• Vegetarian: Use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth and replace the chicken with hearty veggies like carrots and celery, sautéing them with the onion.
• Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or some diced jalapeños to your broth for a bit of heat! 🌶️

Enjoy this quintessentially Southern comfort food that's rich in flavor and even better when shared with loved ones! 🥰