Southern Chicken & Dumplings: A Bowl Full of Comfort

There are some recipes that do more than fill your belly, they bring you back home. Southern Chicken & Dumplings is one of those dishes. It’s the kind of meal that reminds you of family gatherings, Sunday dinners, and a kitchen filled with the smell of something special simmering on the stove.

This recipe starts with the Southern holy trinity: onions, celery, and green bell peppers. These simple ingredients create a flavorful foundation for tender chicken, savory broth, and soft homemade dumplings that soak up every delicious bite.

Whether it’s a chilly evening, a family gathering, or simply a craving for a comforting homemade meal, this classic dish brings warmth and memories to the table.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Classic Southern comfort food made with simple ingredients

• Tender chicken simmered in a flavorful homemade-style broth

• Homemade biscuit dumplings that are soft, fluffy, and satisfying

• A family-friendly meal that feels like it came straight from grandma’s kitchen

Ingredients

• 1 cup diced celery, divided

• 1 cup diced yellow onions, divided

• 1 cup diced green bell peppers, divided

• 2 large chicken breasts

• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

• 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup

• 1 (32 oz) box chicken broth

• Southern Dumpling Biscuit Dough (See recipe)

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken

In a large pot, add the chicken breasts, 3/4 cup each of the diced celery, onions, and green bell peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Fill pot with water until chicken is covered.

Bring to a boil and cook until the chicken is completely cooked and tender.

Remove the chicken from the pot, shred it, and set aside.

Create the Flavorful Broth

Add the box of chicken broth to the pot. Add the cream of chicken soup and stir until fully combined. (I like to use a large whisk.) Add the shredded chicken back into the pot.

Bring the mixture to a slow boil.

Add the Dumplings

Roll out the Southern Dumpling Biscuit Dough onto a lightly floured surface until about 1/8 inch. Cut the dough into small squares.

Add the dumplings to the pot one handful at a time, while stirring continuously. Adding them slowly helps prevent the dough from sticking together and creates perfectly tender dumplings.

Finish the Dish

Add the remaining celery, green bell pepper, and onion.

Reduce the heat and allow the chicken and dumplings to simmer for at least 20 minutes, or until the dumplings are cooked through.

Add the fresh parsley about 5 minutes before serving, or sprinkle it in at the very end for a fresh pop of flavor.

Tips from my Kitchen

• A pizza cutter is your best friend here when cutting the dough.

• I like to use a large whisk to fully incorporate the cream of chicken soup.

• Here's the fun part! Hold a handful of dumpling squares in your palm with your hand facing up, then pretend you're playing the piano upside down. As you wiggle your fingers, the dumplings will gently fall into the broth a few at a time while you stir with your other hand. It's a simple little trick that keeps the dumplings from clumping together.

Make It a Family Affair

• Teach the “piano trick.” Kids will especially love helping with the dumplings. After rolling out the dough, hand them a pizza cutter and let them cut the squares. They can also help with the “upside-down piano” trick as the dumplings make their way into the pot. The shapes may not all be the same, but that’s the beauty of homemade cooking.

• Create a dumpling station. Have one person roll the dough, one person cut the dumplings, and another person help transfer them to the pot. Everyone gets a role, and dinner becomes a team effort.

  
  
  
  
  
  

Serving Size: This recipe makes approximately 10 servings (1 cup each).

Nutrition Information (Estimated per Serving)

Serving Size: 1 cup

Calories: ~350

Total Fat: ~14g

Saturated Fat: ~7g

Cholesterol: ~65mg

Sodium: ~900mg

Total Carbohydrates: ~35g

Dietary Fiber: ~2g

Total Sugars: ~3g

Protein: ~25g

Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the brands used, the amount of biscuit dough added, and specific ingredients.

From My Kitchen to Yours

Food has a way of bringing people together. A simple bowl of chicken and dumplings can become a memory, a tradition, or a reminder that sometimes the best moments happen around the table.

So grab a spoon, gather your people, and enjoy a little taste of Southern comfort.