Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Soup
on Nov 30, 2021, Updated Sep 26, 2023
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Old fashioned chicken and dumplings soup is a simple and cozy soup recipe that is fun and easy to make, tastes so delicious, and is great for a group.
Truly anyone can make this soup, and it’s a perfect simple recipe with hearty and wholesome ingredients, lovely flavor, and a good balance of protein, veggies, and yummy, puffy dumplings.
Homemade Chicken Dumpling Soup
THIS SOUP. It’s a winner, that’s for sure. And everyone in my house agrees (yep, even the littles). Because even for “non-soup” people (which can I just say? Those people are not my kind of people… who doesn’t love soup?!), this cozy one-pot wonder has something for everyone. The flavor is hearty and delicious thanks to onion, carrot, celery, chicken broth, and garlic, plus a few herbs, and the chicken thighs are moist and melt-in-your-mouth good.
But the real star of the show here is the DUMPLINGS. And they are darling, delicious little dumplings. Plus, if you’ve never made a dumpling soup, you may be surprised to find out the dumplings cook right inside the pot of soup! Yup, just drop small globs of dough right into the simmering concoction, cover with a lid, and in just about 15 minutes, they’ll be cooked through and you’re ready to boogie with a big bowl of soup. It’s a stunning, warming, and crowd-pleasing one-pot meal that I could have again and again. I hope you feel the same way.
What goes with chicken and dumplings soup?
This soup is real hearty, but if you don’t get your fill from it on its own, it goes really well with all kinds of sides. Traditionally, chicken and dumplings soup is a Southern staple, so any Southern-ish sides go well with it: sweet corn, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, or broccoli salad are all good contenders.
How do you thicken chicken and dumplings soup?
To thicken chicken and dumplings soup (or any soup for that matter), add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of flour to a mixing bowl. Stir in enough cold water to form a thin paste with no lumps when whisked together. Stir in the mixture to the soup to thicken it up slightly.
How do you tell if dumplings are done?
When the dumplings are done, they should rise to the top of the soup. Cut one in half with a spoon to check out the inside. It should have air bubbles and have the consistency of a soft biscuit. If it’s gummy in the middle, continue cooking them for 2 to 3 more minutes.
How do you make dumplings?
Making the dumplings is the fun part! Make your dumplings by combining the flour, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the milk and melted butter. Stir until the mixture comes together, being careful to not over-stir.
Make sure the chicken mixture is simmering, add the dumpling dough, about 1 large tablespoon at a time, to the simmering chicken soup. I like to use two spoons to do this. Use one spoon to scoop up some of the dumpling dough and the other to push the dough into the simmering pot.
Add dumplings all over the pot (not all in one spot) until you have used all of your dough. Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and reduce the heat slightly. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove the lid and scoop out a dumpling to check for doneness. They should have risen to the top at this point. You can cut it in half with a spoon. It should be filled with little air bubbles and cooked through like a soft biscuit, without being gummy in the middle. If they aren’t cooked through, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
Here’s the steps for making dumplings, it’s much easier than you might think!
More Soup Recipes:
- Simple Cream of Tomato Soup
- Chunky Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Cheesy Broccoli Soup in the Crock-Pot
- Classic Ham and Bean Soup (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker recipe)
- Quick, Easy, and Healthy White Chicken Enchilada Soup
- Hearty “15 Bean Soup” in the Instant Pot
- Homemade Butternut Squash Soup
- Healthy 30 Minute Alphabet Soup
If you’ve tried this Chicken and Dumplings Soup recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories AND add your photo to your comment so that other can see your creation.
Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings Soup
Ingredients
For the chicken soup:
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup chopped yellow onion
- 1 cup matchstick carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 pound chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 6 cups chicken stock
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- Additional salt and pepper, to taste
For the dumplings:
- 2 cups sifted flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- In a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat, melt the butter and then add the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring often until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes.
- Add the chopped chicken thighs, salt, thyme, and ground black pepper, and stir until the chicken is about cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add the garlic and stir to combine. Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add the flour and stir until the chicken is coated well.
- Stir in the chicken stock.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- While the mixture is simmering, make your dumplings by combining the flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the milk and melted butter. Stir until the mixture comes together, being careful to not over-stir.
- Make sure the chicken mixture is simmering, add the dumpling dough, about 1 large tablespoon at a time, to the simmering chicken soup. I like to use two spoons to do this. Use one spoon to scoop up some of the dumpling dough and the other to push the dough into the simmering pot.
- Add dumplings all over the pot (not all in one spot) until you have used all of your dough.
- Cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and reduce the heat slightly.
- Cook for 12 to 15 minutes.
- Remove the lid and scoop out a dumpling to check for doneness. They should have risen to the top at this point. You can cut it in half with a spoon. It should be filled with little air bubbles and cooked through like a soft biscuit, without being gummy in the middle. If they aren’t cooked through, cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and sprinkle the top with the fresh parsley. Serve the dumplings with a scoop of soup beneath them.
Nutrition
Chicken and dumplings soup is the perfect easy soup recipe that’s equally flavor-filled, hearty, and fun for everyone to enjoy!
I am 53 almost 54 years old in May. I have tried over and over to make chicken dumpling soup over the years, always failing. Not this time !!! Thank-you so much for sharing your recipe. It was not only easy but absolutely delicious!!
This recipe was amazing! I used heavy whipping cream instead of milk in the dumplings and added a cup of it to the stock as well and it was a great! I am absolutely saving this recipe to make again, delicious!
Ok, I’m back with a rating!
So absolutely fantastic! Whole family loved this. Absolutely no leftovers whatsoever. I’m a Melissa fan, a true Bless This Mess believer!
Have you thought about using buttermilk to replace milk in dumplings?
Yep, it’ll work great if you have it on hand!
Haven’t tried yet…will be done in 25 minutes-ish. Don’t have a Dutch oven so I’m using a large pot…hopefully that doesn’t make a big difference. We are all excited to give it a go!
Hi Melissa – Thank you for the chicken and dumplings recipe. What a “feel like home” soup! So good! Do I store the dumplings separate from the soup in the refrigerator? Debbie
No, just store it all together and when you are reheating it, just do it gently so you don’t break them up. I love the phrase “feel like home” soup! That’s so perfect, thank you for sharing.
Phenomenal! I almost wish I hadn’t made it cause I am on a diet and normally not a big soup person, but I went back for a second helping. It was creamy and flavorful.
I used a rotisserie chicken and boiled the bones to get a good bone broth and I had to use a separate recipe for the dumplings so I could make them gluten free.
Such a great recipe!
I made this last night for dinner, and am about to finish up the leftovers for lunch today!
this was so good! I added cream to the broth and a few extra spices (bay, Oregano, basil) it turned out amazing! Will definitely be making again this fall! Thanks for the great recipe!
Ohhh your additions sounds wonderful, thank you for sharing!
Your additions sound amazing, thank you for sharing!
Can you make this soup in a crockpot?
Does your slow cooker simmer a bit when it’s cooked on high after 4 or so hours? If so, yes I think it will work! I’d just plan on the dumplings taking a little longer to cook since they aren’t in fully simmering soup.
Impressed my family with this easy and tasty soup!
This turned out great, thanks!
Yay! Thank you for coming back to leave a review, it’s so appreciated!
Delicious!! Thank you, followed the recipe exactly as written minus the parsley because I didnt have it
It looks SO good! Thank you for sharing the picture!
I realized I accidentally used baking soda instead of baking powder ?. I guess I didn’t follow it exactly but I’m excited to try it with the right ingredient! Although I guess if you want a fluffy version you can switch it up. Leftovers were even better. I love your recipe’s!