25 Ultimate Chicken And Dumplings Recipes: From Classic Southern to 30-Minute Dinners

When cold weather hits or you simply need a warm, heart-soothing meal, nothing satisfies quite like a homemade Chicken And Dumplings Recipe. Whether you prefer light drop biscuits, traditional flat-rolled dumplings, or quick slow-cooker shortcuts, this comfort food classic has endless delicious variations.

In this ultimate recipe round-up, we are sharing 25 step-by-step chicken and dumplings recipes tailored for every cooking style, timeline, and dietary preference.

Table of Contents

1. Classic & Southern Staples
2. Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinners
3. Specialty & Dietary Variations

1. Classic & Southern Staples

1. Easy Homemade Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1 lb boneless chicken breasts, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 cup milk, 1 cup carrots (sliced), 1 cup celery (diced), 1 onion (diced), 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, ¼ cup cold butter (cubed), 1 tsp poultry seasoning.
• Step-by-step:
  1. In a large stockpot, combine chicken broth, sliced carrots, celery, onion, and chicken breasts. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
  2. Remove chicken, shred with two forks, and return to the simmering broth along with the milk and poultry seasoning.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in cold butter using a pastry cutter until crumbly. Stir in enough water (approx. ¾ cup) to form a soft dough.
  4. Drop tablespoon-sized balls of dough into the simmering soup.
  5. Cover tightly with a lid and simmer uninterrupted for 15 minutes. Serve warm.

2. Cozy Southern Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 45 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (cut into pieces), 6 cups chicken stock, 1 bay leaf, ½ tsp dried thyme, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 3 tbsp shortening, ¾ cup buttermilk, ½ cup heavy cream.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Place whole chicken pieces into a deep pot with chicken stock, bay leaf, and thyme. Simmer for 30 minutes until chicken is tender.
  2. Remove chicken from bone, discard skin, and return shredded meat to stock.
  3. Prepare dough: Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs form. Stir in buttermilk to make a firm dough.
  4. Roll dough flat on a floured surface to ¼-inch thickness and cut into 1×2-inch strips.
  5. Bring chicken broth back to a gentle boil. Stir in heavy cream. Drop cut dough strips into the broth one by one.
  6. Reduce heat, cover, and cook gently for 15–20 minutes until dumplings are tender and broth has thickened into a rich gravy.

3. Old Fashioned Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 50 mins | Servings: 8
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 onion (chopped), 2 cloves garlic (minced), 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, ½ tsp salt, 2 tbsp melted butter, 1 cup buttermilk, ½ tsp black pepper.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Sauté onion and garlic in a large pot until translucent. Add chicken thighs and broth; simmer for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove thighs, shred meat, and place back into broth with black pepper.
  3. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in melted butter and buttermilk until a smooth dough forms.
  4. Roll out dough thinly on a board. Cut into small squares using a pizza cutter.
  5. Drop squares into simmering liquid. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, then cover for 10 additional minutes until thickened.

4. Best Ever Rolled Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 25 mins | Cook time: 40 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 2 cups cooked shredded chicken, 5 cups chicken stock, ¼ cup cornstarch, 2 cups flour, ½ tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 3 tbsp lard or shortening, 1 cup ice water.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in lard until coarse. Slowly add ice water until dough comes together.
  2. Roll dough out extremely thin (about ⅛-inch) on a well-floured board. Cut into wide noodle-like strips. Let air dry for 10 minutes.
  3. Heat chicken stock in a large pot to a rolling boil. Stir in cornstarch slurry (mixed with 2 tbsp cold water) to lightly thicken.
  4. Drop rolled dumplings into boiling stock one piece at a time.
  5. Lower heat, cover, and cook for 20 minutes without lifting the lid. Stir in shredded chicken during the last 5 minutes.

5. Fluffy Drop Biscuit Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 25 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 3 cups cooked chicken, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 cup peas and carrots, 2 cups biscuit baking mix, ⅔ cup whole milk, ½ tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp parsley.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Bring chicken broth, cooked chicken, and peas and carrots to a boil in a Dutch oven.
  2. In a bowl, mix biscuit mix, milk, garlic powder, and parsley until a soft dough forms.
  3. Drop dough by spoonfuls directly onto the boiling chicken mixture.
  4. Cook uncovered over medium heat for 10 minutes.
  5. Turn heat to low, cover pot with a tight-fitting lid, and steam for another 10 minutes until biscuits are cooked through.

6. Scratch-Made Southern Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 30 mins | Cook time: 60 mins | Servings: 8
• Ingredients: 1 whole stewing hen (partitioned), 8 cups water, 2 celery stalks, 1 yellow onion, 2 ½ cups flour, 1 tsp salt, ⅓ cup ice-cold butter, 1 cup whole milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Boil stewing hen with celery, onion, and water for 45 minutes to create a rich, natural stock.
  2. Strain broth; pull chicken meat from bones once cooled.
  3. Mix flour and salt; grate cold butter into flour. Stir in milk to form dough.
  4. Roll dough thinly and cut into 2-inch rectangles.
  5. Bring stock to a boil, drop dumplings in single layers, and cook covered on low for 18 minutes. Fold in chicken meat before serving.

7. Heavy Cream Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken breasts, 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth, 1 cup heavy cream, 4 tbsp butter, 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup milk, ½ cup chopped parsley.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Melt butter in a pot; cook chicken breasts until lightly browned. Add chicken broth and simmer for 15 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken and stir heavy cream into the pot.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and chopped parsley to create drop dough.
  4. Spoon dough into the rich cream broth.
  5. Simmer covered for 15 minutes on medium-low until dumplings expand and absorb flavors.

8. Thick & Rich Stew Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 35 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken thighs, 3 tbsp flour (for dredging), 2 tbsp olive oil, 4 cups chicken stock, 1 cup sliced mushrooms, 2 cups canned biscuit dough (cut into quarters).
• Step-by-step:
  1. Dredge chicken thighs in flour and sear in olive oil inside a thick-bottomed pot until golden brown.
  2. Add mushrooms and chicken stock. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Take canned biscuit pieces and drop them into the simmering stew.
  4. Stir gently to coat dough in gravy.
  5. Cover pot tightly and let simmer for 15 minutes until biscuits turn soft, pillowy, and fully cooked inside.

9. Herb-Infused Creamy Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken breast, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp rosemary, 1 tsp thyme, 2 cloves garlic, 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 cup milk, 2 tbsp fresh chives.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Simmer chicken breasts in chicken broth seasoned with minced garlic, rosemary, and thyme for 15 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken into bite-sized pieces and return to seasoned stock.
  3. Whisk flour, baking powder, milk, and fresh chives in a bowl to form herbal dumpling batter.
  4. Drop batter using a spoon into the herb-infused pot.
  5. Cover and simmer gently for 12–15 minutes.

10. Sunday Supper Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 25 mins | Cook time: 50 mins | Servings: 8
• Ingredients: 2 lbs bone-in chicken thighs, 6 cups chicken stock, 1 cup leeks (sliced), 1 cup carrots, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, ¾ cup heavy cream, ½ cup water.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Brown chicken thighs with sliced leeks and carrots in a Dutch oven.
  2. Pour stock over mixture and simmer for 25 minutes. Remove bones and skin; shred meat back into stew.
  3. Combine flour, salt, heavy cream, and water to make a pliable dumpling dough.
  4. Roll dough flat and slice into squares.
  5. Drop squares into bubbling broth, cover tightly, and simmer on low for 20 minutes.

2. Quick & Easy Weeknight Dinners

11. 30-Minute Easy Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins | Servings: 4
• Ingredients: 2 cups cooked rotisserie chicken, 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup, 3 cups chicken broth, 1 can (16 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough.
• Step-by-step:
  1. In a saucepan, whisk together cream of chicken soup and chicken broth. Bring to a low boil.
  2. Add cooked rotisserie chicken to the mixture.
  3. Cut canned biscuit dough into small quarter pieces.
  4. Drop biscuit dough quarters into boiling liquid.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 12–15 minutes until biscuits are cooked through.

12. Creamy Crockpot Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 6 hours | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken breasts, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup diced carrots, 1 cup diced celery, 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Place chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, carrots, and celery into the slow cooker basin.
  2. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours (or HIGH for 3 hours).
  3. Shred chicken directly inside the slow cooker using two forks.
  4. Cut biscuit dough into bite-sized pieces and layer them on top of the stew.
  5. Cover and cook on HIGH for an additional 45 minutes until biscuit dumplings are fully cooked.

13. Quick Bisquick Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins | Servings: 4
• Ingredients: 2 cups cooked chicken, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, 2 cups Bisquick mix, ⅔ cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Heat chicken broth, cooked chicken, and frozen vegetables in a large pot until boiling.
  2. Mix Bisquick and milk in a medium bowl until dough forms.
  3. Drop dough by spoonfuls into boiling soup.
  4. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
  5. Cover pot, reduce heat to low, and cook for another 10 minutes.

14. Dutch Oven Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken thighs (cubed), 2 tbsp butter, 4 cups chicken stock, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 2 cups self-rising flour, 1 cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Melt butter in a heavy Dutch oven. Sauté onion, carrots, and cubed chicken until brown.
  2. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a simmer for 15 minutes.
  3. Stir self-rising flour and milk together until combined.
  4. Drop dumpling batter over simmering chicken stew.
  5. Place heavy Dutch oven lid on top and simmer on low for 15 minutes uninterrupted.

15. Creamy Shredded Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 25 mins | Servings: 5
• Ingredients: 3 cups shredded chicken breasts, 4 cups chicken broth, ½ cup cream cheese (softened), 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Heat chicken broth and whisk in cream cheese until fully melted and creamy.
  2. Add shredded chicken breasts to the soup base.
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and milk into a drop dough.
  4. Spoon dough onto simmering broth.
  5. Cover tightly and cook for 15 minutes.

16. Hearty One-Pot Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 25 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1 lb chicken breast, 1 cup diced potatoes, 1 cup sliced carrots, 4 cups chicken stock, 1.5 cups flour, 1.5 tsp baking powder, ¾ cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Cook diced chicken breasts, potatoes, and carrots in chicken stock in a large deep skillet for 12 minutes.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, and milk in a small bowl.
  3. Drop dumplings directly into the bubbling skillet.
  4. Cover with a pan lid and simmer on medium-low for 12–15 minutes until potatoes and dumplings are tender.

17. Instant Pot Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 10 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken breast (cubed), 3 cups chicken broth, 1 cup frozen peas/carrots, 1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken, 1 can refrigerated biscuit dough.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Add cubed chicken, broth, frozen veggies, and cream of chicken soup to the Instant Pot inner pot.
  2. Cut canned biscuits into pieces and layer on top without stirring.
  3. Lock lid, set valve to Sealing, and pressure cook on HIGH for 10 minutes.
  4. Allow a 5-minute natural release, then quick release remaining pressure. Stir gently and serve.

18. Rotisserie Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Servings: 4
• Ingredients: 3 cups rotisserie chicken (shredded), 4 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1.5 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, ⅔ cup milk, 2 tbsp butter.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Bring chicken broth, rotisserie chicken, garlic powder, and butter to a boil.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, and milk to create dumpling dough.
  3. Drop spoonfuls into boiling pot.
  4. Simmer covered for 10–12 minutes until dumplings double in size.

19. Secret Ingredient Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 30 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken, 4 cups stock, 1 packet dry onion soup mix (secret ingredient!), 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 1 cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Whisk dry onion soup mix into chicken stock and bring to a boil with chicken pieces. Simmer 15 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken inside broth.
  3. Mix flour, baking powder, and milk to make drop dumpling dough.
  4. Spoon dough into rich onion-infused broth.
  5. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.

20. Budget-Friendly Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 25 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1 lb chicken thighs, 5 cups water, 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 1 cup diced yellow onions, 2 cups flour, 1 tsp salt, 3 tbsp oil, ¾ cup water.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Boil water with chicken thighs, onions, and bouillon cubes for 15 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken meat into broth.
  3. Mix flour, salt, oil, and water to form a simple flat dough.
  4. Roll dough out and cut into square noodles.
  5. Drop squares into boiling pot; simmer covered for 12 minutes.

3. Specialty & Dietary Variations

21. Creamy Casserole Style Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 40 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 3 cups cooked chicken, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 cup milk, 1 cup meltable cheddar, 1.5 cups self-rising flour, 1.5 cups milk (for batter), 4 tbsp melted butter.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Pour melted butter into bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Whisk self-rising flour and 1.5 cups milk together; pour batter over butter (do not stir).
  3. Layer cooked chicken on top.
  4. Mix chicken broth, cream of chicken, and 1 cup milk; pour gently over chicken layer. Top with cheddar.
  5. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes until top is golden and bubbly.

22. Ultimate Comfort Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 35 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken thighs, 4 cups chicken broth, ½ cup heavy cream, 1 cup sweet corn, 1 cup peas, 2 cups biscuit dough, 2 tbsp butter.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Sear chicken thighs in butter, add chicken broth, corn, and peas; simmer for 15 minutes.
  2. Shred chicken and stir in heavy cream.
  3. Drop biscuit dough spoonfuls into stew.
  4. Cover tightly and cook on medium-low for 15 minutes until dumplings are fully steamed.

23. Warm & Cozy Autumn Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 20 mins | Cook time: 40 mins | Servings: 6
• Ingredients: 1.5 lbs chicken, 4 cups stock, 1 cup cubed butternut squash, 1 cup celery, 2 cups flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1 cup milk.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Simmer chicken, squash cubes, and celery in stock for 20 minutes until squash is tender.
  2. Shred chicken meat back into pot.
  3. Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and milk to make autumn-flavored dumplings.
  4. Drop batter over stew; simmer covered for 15 minutes.

24. Low Carb Keto Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 15 mins | Cook time: 25 mins | Servings: 4
• Ingredients: 2 cups cooked shredded chicken, 3 cups chicken bone broth, ½ cup heavy cream, 1.5 cups almond flour, ⅓ cup xanthan gum (1 tsp), 2 eggs, 1 tsp garlic powder.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Heat bone broth, heavy cream, and shredded chicken in a pot.
  2. Mix almond flour, xanthan gum, eggs, and garlic powder in a bowl to form a thick low-carb dough.
  3. Form dough into small balls using wet hands.
  4. Drop almond flour dumplings into simmering soup.
  5. Cover and simmer gently for 12 minutes until dumplings firm up.

25. Kid-Approved Creamy Chicken And Dumplings

• Prep time: 10 mins | Cook time: 20 mins | Servings: 5
• Ingredients: 2 cups shredded chicken, 4 cups mild chicken broth, ½ cup milk, 1 cup canned sweet corn, 1 can (16 oz) mild biscuit dough.
• Step-by-step:
  1. Heat chicken broth, milk, sweet corn, and shredded chicken over medium heat.
  2. Cut canned biscuit dough into fun small shapes or small squares.
  3. Drop shapes into mild broth mixture.
  4. Cover with a lid and cook on low for 12–15 minutes until biscuits are fully cooked and fluffy.

Pro Tips for Perfect Dumplings Every Time

• Don’t Peek: Keep the lid closed while dumplings steam! Lifting the lid allows steam to escape, which can lead to dense, gummy dumplings.
• Simmer, Don’t Boil: Keep broth at a gentle simmer. Heavy boiling can break delicate dumplings apart.
• Check Thickness: If your soup base is too thin, stir in a slurry of 1 tbsp cornstarch and 2 tbsp cold water before adding your dough.