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Homemade Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Crock-pot Chicken and Dumplings

This is quite a simple homemade chicken and dumplings recipe.

Years ago - 1994 - after the birth of our first child, a friend of ours brought us some homemade chicken and dumplings. At that time, I discovered that my husband loved that soup and even though it was my first time having it...I loved it too. It was thick and seemed so creamy. It took me years to create a recipe similar to that one long ago. You will notice that I use dried spices. I do so for various reasons: mainly, we live far from town and dried spices are always on hand, and buying bulk dried spices is much cheaper in the long run. You are welcomed to substitute fresh as you please. My recipes are only a framework, they are not etched in stone.

What about you? What memories does this awesome comfort food - chicken and dumplings - bring to mind? Maybe you had a grand-mother who made this every winter for you. Maybe it was your mom and you remember smelling the wonderful aroma of the chicken and spices as soon as you stepped into the kitchen when you got home from school...Or maybe you never had it, but you now get to make memories all your own.

Whatever the reason you like this dish. I think you will be very pleased with the results.

This crock pot chicken and dumpling recipe is not a southern style chicken and dumplings. What's the difference? In a southern style chicken and dumpling recipe the dumplings are more like egg noodles. In this recipe, the dumplings are more like fluffy biscuits...yum!

Try it and then come back and leave your review....or a comment, tip or even recipe of your own.

Read others' comments and reviews about this homemade chicken and dumplings recipe.

Note: This recipe will serve 6 to 10 people. If you family is small to average size, you can freeze part of this soup BEFORE you add the dumplings. Half the dumpling recipe. Then, when you are ready to serve this soup again: thaw it and make a fresh batch of dumplings - halved recipe.

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings Recipe: Ingredients

1 small broiler-fryer chicken

3 to 4 celery ribs, cut into little pieces

4 to 5 medium to large carrots, peeled and sliced

1 medium yellow or white onion, diced

12 cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried thyme - optional

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1 bay leaf

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons olive oil

For the dumplings:

4 cups all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup shortening - or butter

2 cup milk - if you are avoiding dairy, you may use chicken broth instead

Homemade Chicken and Dumplings Recipe: Method

The night before you want to make your chicken and dumplings: in a crock-pot, place the whole chicken, the bay leaf, the thyme, the chicken broth and about 4 to 6 cups of water. Turn on your crock-pot and let it do the work.

The next day, when your chicken has cooled and you are able to handle it, debone it and shred the meat. Reserve the broth. Discard the bay leaf.

In a Dutch oven or a large pot, heat up your olive oil and butter. Saute the onion until tender and translucent. Add the carrots and celery. Saute another couple of minutes.

Add the chicken meat, the garlic powder and 12 cups of broth. The liquid should cover your chicken and vegetables. Salt and pepper to taste and bring to a gentle boil.

In the meantime, make your dumpling batter. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. With a pastry blender, cut in the shortening.

Make a well at the center of your flour mixture and pour the milk. Mix with a fork until all the ingredients are well combined.

Dump the batter by spoonfuls on top of your chicken soup once it is boiling. Reduce the heat, cover and cook another 15 minutes. Remember to mix occasionally so that the dumplings do not stick to the bottom of your pan.

Serve while still warm.