Easy Chicken and Dumplings With Biscuits

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When considering traditional Southern cuisine, chicken and dumplings are surely among the top choices. This straightforward recipe is delightful, delectable, and bursting with an abundance of taste.

Easy chicken and dumplings, a beloved dish in the South, consists of a rich and velvety chicken stew accompanied by soft and fluffy dumplings. Similar to many comfort foods from the South, this dish originated from a need for practicality. In the past, chicken was considered a luxury and not readily accessible. When it was available, it was usually of meager proportions.

Fortunately, nowadays chicken is a fundamental element in the culinary habits of numerous individuals. Therefore, for your upcoming poultry feast, why not experiment with this homemade formula for chicken dumplings accompanied by biscuits? A beloved choice among families, this recipe may be uncomplicated, yet it is also delectable and serves as an excellent creamy dish for a warm and comforting winter meal (or as comforting as it can be in this vicinity).

If you’re in a dumpling mood, make sure you check out these other delectable dumplings from scratch recipes too: sweet potato dumplings and apple dumplings.

What You Need To Make Chicken and Dumplings

ingredients for chicken and dumplings

  • Chicken
  • One can of Pillsbury flaky layers biscuits
  • Flour (self-rising or plain, doesn’t matter)
  • Chicken broth
  • Cream of chicken soup –  here is a homemade recipe for cream of chicken soup if you prefer.
  • salt and pepper

 Helpful Kitchen Tools

 How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

chicken for chicken and dumplings

Normally, I cook a whole chicken, but today I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts since that’s what I had. You can add some chicken bouillon cubes to your water instead of broth if you want.

I like to prepare chicken in different ways. Sometimes I use a slow cooker, other times I cook it in broth, and occasionally I use chicken thighs. There are even times when I just buy a cooked rotisserie chicken. It’s up to you and what you feel like doing! The important thing is to make sure your chicken is cooked, and then set it aside.

pour chicken broth into a pot

Pour your broth into a pot.

add cream of chicken soup to chicken broth

Add cream of chicken soup.

stir in cream of chicken soup and let it come to a boil

Stir and let it come to a very gentle boil while you prepare the dumplings.

put flour and salt and pepper into a bowl

To prepare the dumplings, put a little bit of flour (about a cup) in a large bowl. Add some salt and pepper – about 1/2 a teaspoon each or whatever you prefer.  Stir that up a bit.

put biscuits onto a plate

Take all of your biscuits out of the can and set them on a plate.

tear each biscuit into 3 layers
 

Now, we’re going to take each canned biscuit and tear it into three layers like this.

3 layers of the biscuits

This is what they should look like when they are all separated into 3 layers.

dip each biscuit layer in flour mixture

Dip each layer into your flour mixture, and make sure you coat both sides until they look like this.

Pay close attention to this step. If you skip it, your dumplings might disappear in the broth. That’s exactly what happened to me the first time I tried making chicken and dumplings. I wound up with a tasty soup that had a dumpling flavor!

coat both sides until the biscuits look like this

Now, take each layer and tear it into three pieces.

drop biscuit pieces into the broth

Reduce heat so that your chicken stock is just barely barely barely boiling and drop dumpling pieces in one at a time.

It is important that you DO NOT STIR. We are not going to stir these as we don’t want our dumplings cooking up. If you do stir, you will basically cause your dumplings to dissolve.

gently press dumplings down into broth

Instead of stirring, we’re going to gently press the dumplings down into the chicken stock as they cook. This will take about ten minutes. You’ll notice the dumplings starting to take shape and they’ll stop looking doughy as they firm up a bit.

add chicken into dumpling broth mixture

Put your shredded chicken into the dumplings and give it a very gentle mix. I mostly just press it down a bit like I did with the dumplings. Just remember to be gentle.

finished chicken and dumplings

And there you go y’all!  You just make an old-fashioned chicken and dumpling recipe your family will LOVE!

How Do You Store Chicken and Dumplings?

  • Store your chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. They’re even better the next day as the dumplings continue to soak up the broth. You can reheat the dish either on the stove or in the microwave.
  • You can also freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to five months.

Can I Add Vegetables To Chicken and Dumplings?

If you want to add some vegetables to this Southern chicken dumplings recipe, you can add a can of carrot and peas to the broth when you add the chicken. Another option is to add some sauteed onion.

Can I Make Homemade Dough?

If you prefer to make homemade dumplings with homemade biscuit dough, check out my recipes here and here.

Can I Add More Seasoning?

If you’d like to add some seasoning, cook the chicken in fresh thyme, fresh parsley, or poultry seasoning.

Recipe FAQs

What do you serve with chicken and dumplings?

Pair this Southern main dish with other great Southern side dishes, like cornbread, fresh green beans, and fried okra. You could also just serve it with a simple side salad or some roasted brussels sprouts.

What type of chicken can you use for this recipe?

You can use either a whole chicken, boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or even a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.

Why is it important not to skip the step of pressing the dumplings into the broth?

Pressing the dumplings ensures that they cook properly and hold their shape. If you skip this step, the dumplings might dissolve in the broth.

How long does it take for the dumplings to cook?

It takes about ten minutes for the dumplings to cook. During this time, they will firm up and take on a proper dumpling texture.

What happens if you don’t handle the chicken and dumplings mixture gently when combining them?

If you’re too rough, the dumplings and chicken can break apart. It’s important to be gentle to keep the dish in good shape.

Can you use chicken bouillon cubes instead of broth?

Yes, you can use chicken bouillon cubes in place of broth if you prefer.

What can happen if you use doughy dumplings?

Doughy dumplings may not cook through properly and can result in an unpleasant texture in the final dish.

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the chicken and dumplings ahead of time. Just be sure to reheat it gently when you’re ready to serve.

You might also enjoy these other chicken recipes:

Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings

Cheesy Chicken and Rice

Fuss Free Fried Chicken

Sticky Chicken

chicken and dumplings

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

This easy chicken and dumplings recipe, like most Southern comfort food, may have evolved out of necessity but they stuck around because they are delicious!
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken
Servings: 4
Calories: 464kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 or 4 chicken breasts
  • 32 oz chicken broth feel free to use water with bouillon cubes added
  • 1 can cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can Pilsbury layers biscuits 10 individual
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • flour

Instructions

  • Cook chicken breasts in approx. 4 c. of water until fork-tender, about 45 minutes.
    3 or 4 chicken breasts
  • Place broth in a medium to large-sized pot. Stir cream of chicken soup into gently boiling broth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
    32 oz chicken broth, 1 can cream of chicken soup, salt and pepper to taste
  • Pull biscuits apart into three layers. Dip each layer into the flour and then tear each layer into three pieces and drop into gently boiling broth mixture.
    1 can Pilsbury layers biscuits, flour
  • Do not stir biscuits a lot or they will cook up. Only gently push dumplings down into broth as they float to the top. Cook for about ten minutes after the last dumplings are added.
  • Tear up the chicken and add it to the broth mixture. Turn to low until ready to serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @southernplate or tag #southernplate!

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510 Comments

  1. Oh.my.goodness…the tip about coating the biscuit pieces in four is awesome! I tried canned biscuits once and had the ‘dumpling flavored soup’. People had told me they did it, I had eaten them so I knew it was possible, but mine was certainly not dumplings. I’d never tried it again but no-one told me that I needed the flour. Thanks SO much for the tutorial!

    1. I used the cheapest biscuit the store has…those little ones that way back when you could buy 4 cans for a dollar! Yes, aging myself…also use these for doughnuts! But, anyway, I tear each biscuit into 3 pieces, I don’t coat in flour. As long as you do like Christy says and DONT stir, just push under the broth mine always turn out wonderful. If you like a fluffier dumpling, cover the pot and the biscuit pieces will fluff up nicely. You will still probably have to push down biscuit pieces in the middle. At least I do as we like more dumplings than anything else. If you have leftovers, put in casserole, add some veggies and cover top with biscuits and bake til biscuits are done. Chicken and Dumpling Pot Pie!

  2. Hey Christy! Just had to let you know how much my hubby and I enjoy this recipe! (My daughters wouldn’t know a good meal if it slapped them upside the head, but that’s a tale for another day – they’re so picky!) So, as I said, my hubby and I really enjoy this, and so does the extended family and beyond. I made it to take to my sister-in-law’s house for SuperBowl Sunday, and it got rave reviews. She kept the leftovers and took them to school the next day for lunch and one of her co-workers got a little too curious and almost ended up eating her lunch for her, lol! When I asked my husband what he wanted me to make him for a special Valentine’s day dinner, (fully expecting him to tell me Sticky Chicken!), I was pleasantly surprised to have him ask for your Chicken and Dumplings and he wasn’t disappointed. The good thing is, thanks to those picky kids previously mentioned above, there will be enough leftovers for me and hubby for tomorrow’s lunch. Those kids don’t know what they’re missin’!

    1. I have one of those kids myself Sharon. But she does love Chicken and Dumplings…thank goodness!! I am so glad y’all are enjoying the recipe and hopefully one of these days our kids will realize what good eatin is all about!

      1. I think that the pilsbury are easier to separate though. I got it going on the stove with store brand biscuits. Thanks. Have a good supper with your family!

  3. Christy, thank you for sharing this shortcut chicken & dumplings recipe. I make the messy old-fashioned kind but have been searching for something much simpler for my son to make. He has been on his own for quite awhile and does basic cooking. He told me he wanted to learn to make chicken & dumplings, but we’re sure he wouldn’t go to much effort. He doesn’t even care if they contain the chicken meat as long as there are dumplings. After other shortcut failures, I used your recipe yesterday while my son was visiting for the day. He was pleased and asked me to email the recipe to him. Thanks and God bless!

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