This is a recreate of Cracker Barrel recipe and a taste of southern comfort food in your home. Tender chicken, pillowy homemade dumplings and a complex, flavorful broth combine for a hearty dish that’s perfect for chilly nights. With some basic staple ingredients and a bit of care, you will be able to replicate the bold, wholesome flavors that make this beloved dish so irresistible.

Why You’re Going to Love This Chicken and Dumplings Recipe:

Comfort in a Bowl: All the tenderness of chicken, dumplings and flavorful broth becomes pure comfort food in every bite.

Quick and Simple: With regular ingredients and uncomplicated instructions, this recipe brings home that Cracker Barrel flavor.

Hearty and Satisfying: With a robust broth, fluffy chicken, and gentle dumplings, this dish is immensely satisfying and ideal for family meals.

Cheap: This recipe is made from a few cheap ingredients: flour, milk, and chicken broth, resulting in a big, filling meal without costing you an arm and a leg.

Key Ingredients:

Chicken Broth: This should be a good quality chicken broth because it’s the base of the flavor of the dish. Homemade or low-sodium broth is best to manage saltiness.

Celery and Onion: The flavor base of the broth — they contribute hearty underpinning while not dominating the flavor profile. You can add additional vegetables if you like, like carrots, to lend a little sweetness.

All-Purpose Flour: The base of the dumplings, combined with baking powder for the right amount of rise and texture.

Self-Rising Flour (optional): This leavening agent gives the dumplings a soft, tender texture without being too heavy.

Milk: The milk in the dumpling dough brings moisture and creaminess, creating tender and delicious dumplings.

Butter (Optional): Adding a little butter at the end helps give you a richer, silkier broth that takes the dish to another level.

Full ingredient amounts and instructions are in the recipe card below

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Instructions:

Prepare the Broth

Simmer the Broth: Place the chicken broth, celery and onion in a large stockpot (or Dutch oven) and simmer over medium heat. This will add more flavor to the broth.

Simmer the Chicken: Add chicken breasts to simmering broth and cook until tender, 15 minutes. Take the chicken out of the pot and let the meat cool, then shred it into bite-size pieces. Reserve the shredded chicken.

Prepare the Dumplings

Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt, stirring well to combine.

Wet Ingredients: Add milk little by little to dry ingredients, mixing until a soft dough forms. If the batter is too liquid, add more flour; if too dense, add milk until you get a soft but not sticky batter.

Cook the Dumplings

Roll Out the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll out to ¼ inch thick. You will need to cut the dough into small squares or rectangles, approximately 1-2 inches.

Simmer the Dumplings: Return the pot of broth to a very gentle simmer. Add the dumplings one by one, stirring to keep them from sticking. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes, until dumplings are soft and tender.

Finish the Dish

Add Approach Chicken: Once dumplings are finished, returned shredded chicken to the pot. Mix to combine and allow to heat through.

Taste and Adjust Seasoning: Taste the broth, adjusting salt and pepper to taste. (You can add 2 tablespoons of butter, if desired, for added richness.)

Garnish and Serve

Serve: Spoon the chicken and dumplings into bowls and garnish with shredded fresh herbs such as parsley or thyme for color and flavor.

Serving Suggestions:

Chicken and Dumplings is a hearty dish in itself, but here are some ways to round out the meal:

Crusty Bread: Pair with warm, crusty bread such as a baguette or dinner rolls to dip.

Side Salad: A fresh side salad dressed with a light vinaigrette cuts through the warmth and heartiness of the chicken and dumplings.

Roasted Vegetables: Pair with roasted carrots, green beans or Brussels sprouts for added color and nutrition.

Fruit Salad: A simple, light fruit salad will be a sweet foil for this savory dish.

Storage and Reheating Tips:

This Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a good ones for leftovers, and the flavors seem to meld even more as it sits.

Storage: Let the dish cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Freezing: This dish is freezable, although the texture of the dumplings may alter slightly. Freeze in an airtight container, up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheat: Reheat on the stovetop, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through. If it soaked up too much liquid during storage, add a splash of broth or water.

Recipe Variations:

Herbed dumplings: Stir fresh or dried herbs such as thyme, parsley or rosemary directly into the dumpling dough for added flavor.

Creamy Option: Add ½ cup of heavy cream or milk to the broth in Step 4 for a creamier broth.

Vegetables Add diced carrots, peas or even mushrooms to the broth for extra texture and nutrients.

Spicy Chicken and Dumplings: For added kick, stir in a pinch of cayenne or red pepper flakes to the broth, if you don’t mind a little heat.

Time-Saving Rotisserie Chicken Shortcut: Use shredded rotisserie chicken instead of cooking chicken breasts for an even speedier option.

Conclusion:

Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings is a comforting, nostalgic meal that combines the best of home cooking with barely any effort at all. It’s always a satisfying combination of rich broth, tender chicken and soft, pillowy dumplings. Using basic ingredients and easy steps, you can make this old-school dish at home yourself.

So here’s this recipe, I hope you give it a try, because the taste of traditional Chicken and Dumplings is cooking, right in your heart and I think it’s going to be one the family favorites!