Grandma's Southern-Style Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Grandma’s chicken and dumplings has been my comfort food meal of choice recently. It's so warm and hearty, and it brings me right back to my childhood. My grandma would make this chicken with dumplings for family dinners on Sundays, and it was the best. It has tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fluffy dumplings in a creamy, savory broth.

My Grandma's Famous Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Chicken and dumplings used to be one of my favorite meals. I remember my grandma making it during the chilly winters, and it was something I always looked forward to that time of year. Every spoonful of her Southern-style chicken and dumplings was warm, hearty, and full of love.

I recently came across this recipe in my family's cookbook, and I made it for the first time in years. I forgot how incredible it is, so I had to share it on the blog! My goal is for as many people as possible to discover this recipe, and have it bring their families the joy it brought mine.

From the tender chicken and dumplings to the rich, creamy, and savory homemade broth and all of the veggies filled throughout, there's just so much to love about this family recipe!

Ingredients

Now, what I love most about this recipe is its simplicity. It actually uses basic ingredients that I always have in my kitchen, and you might have them too!

Here’s what you need to make the chicken soup:

• 2 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose seasoning
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 4-5 cups chicken broth
• 3 cups precooked chicken, cubed or shredded

And here's what you need for the tender dumplings:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoon parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• ½ cup cold milk

How to Make Southern-Style Chicken and Dumplings

Step 1: Prepare the Base

In a large pot, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they begin to soften.

Next, add the minced garlic and all-purpose seasoning, cooking for another minute. Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes to form a roux.

Step 2: Add Broth and Chicken

Pour in the chicken broth while stirring to dissolve the flour.

Bring the broth to a gentle simmer and add the precooked chicken of your choice. I love using a rotisserie chicken; it's what my grandma would always use.

Anyway, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer for about 5 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 3: Make the Dumpling Dough

While the broth simmers, prepare the dumpling dough. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and chopped parsley.

Stir in the melted butter and cold milk, and continue stirring until everything just combines. You will have a ball of dough that is kind of like pizza dough.

Step 4: Cook the Dumplings

Drop a few spoonfuls of the dumpling dough into the simmering pot, covering the surface. Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings cook for 10 minutes, or until they are fluffy and cooked through.

Garnish the finished chicken dumpling soup with additional chopped parsley and serve hot!

Expert Tips

1. Use precooked chicken: Save prep time by using leftover chicken - my pan seared chicken recipe works great - or a store-bought rotisserie chicken. 
2. Don’t overmix the dumpling dough: When making the dumpling dough, mix until the ingredients just combine. Overmixing will result in tough dumplings instead of the light, fluffy texture that makes them so darn good.
3. Cover the pot while cooking dumplings: A huge mistake people make is adding the dumpling dough to the broth and not covering the pot. Covering it will cook the dumplings evenly and quickly. The steam stays trapped in the pot and allows the dumplings to stay extra tender.

How to Store Chicken and Dumplings

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I don't recommend freezing the leftovers.

To reheat, my go-to way is to put the leftovers back in a pot on the stovetop of over low heat, and warm it up for about 10 minutes. For a quicker method, just microwave a single-serving for 30 seconds to a minute.

Southern-Style Chicken and Dumplings Recipe FAQS

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the chicken soup base ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 2 days. Then prepare the dumplings and cook them in the soup. You'll want to warm the soup up first and then simmer it as the dumplings cook.

Can I freeze chicken and dumplings?

Yes, and no. You can freeze the broth for up to 2 months, but it’s best to make the dumplings fresh when you’re ready to serve for the best texture. Dumplings do not freeze and thaw well.

My Final Thoughts

This recipe for grandma’s chicken and dumplings brings back so many wonderful memories, and I hope it becomes a favorite in your home too. It’s warm, cozy, and so satisfying—perfect for a comforting meal any day of the week. Enjoy, and don’t forget to leave a comment below if you give it a try!

More Comfort Food Recipes

If you’re looking for more comforting meals, check out these popular recipes on the blog:

• Creamy chicken and noodles
• Chicken eggplant parm
• Crustless chicken pot pie
• Chicken risotto