Easy Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings is the perfect comfort food, made with very little effort. What more can a busy mom ask for? It's also a great recipe to turn to when you are craving some warm soup, but don't have any noodles in the cupboard!

Dumpling recipes can be found in a cookbooks, as far back as the 1830s. In 1879, Marion Cabell Tyree, author of "Housekeeping in Old Virginia", a cookbook sharing the recipes of two hundred fifty housewives, mentioned adding chicken to her rolled dumpling recipe. Since then, chicken and dumplings have found their way across the country with various versions of dumplings and seasonings.

What is a dumpling?

Dumplings are small balls of leavened dough, usually made of flour or meal and eggs. They can be boiled or steamed and, most commonly, found in soups and stews.

Chicken and Dumplings is a great comfort food. Not only does it taste good, but it's easy to make and is perfect for those with busy schedules. You can pre-chop all of the vegetables and meat, storing them in separate containers, to make a quick meal the next day. This is my family's favorite Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

YIELD: 5

Ingredients

Chicken & Veggies

• 1 large chicken breast, cubed or rotissorie chicken, chopped (approximately 3 cups)

• 1/2 C celery, diced

• 1 C carrots, diced

• 1 C onion, diced

• 2 C chicken broth

• 2 Tbsp dried parsley

• 2 tsp chicken bouillon granules

• 1 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp pepper

• 3 C water

Dumplings

• 2 C flour

• 4 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 3/4 C milk

• 4 Tbsp vegetable or canola oil

Directions

Chicken & Veggies

1. Combine the chicken, celery, carrots, onion, parsley, chicken bouillon granules, salt and pepper in a large pan.

2. Add enough water to cover ingredients. Add the chicken broth.

3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until chicken is done.

Dumplings

1. In a bowl, combine the dumpling ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, milk and oil. Mix well until everything is combined and the still dough is formed.

2. Drop the dough by tablespoonfuls into the soup.

3. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, until the dumplings are cooked.