Easy Chicken and Dumplings With Biscuits
When you think of Southern comfort food, I bet chicken and dumplings rank up there with the best. This recipe is simple, scrumptious, and packed full of flavor.
A Southern favorite, easy chicken and dumplings is basically a thick and creamy chicken stew paired with pillow-like dumplings. The dish, like most Southern comfort food, evolved out of necessity and practicality. Back in the day, chicken was a treat and not something offered or even available on a regular basis. Whenever it was, the chicken was more often than not on the scrawny side.
Thankfully, today chicken is a staple in many people’s diets. So for your next chicken dinner, why not try this homemade chicken dumpling recipe with biscuits? A family favorite, this recipe may be simple, but it’s also scrumptious and the perfect creamy dish for a cozy winter dinner (or as cozy as it gets around here).
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.
Recipe Ingredients
- 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.
How to Make Chicken and Dumplings
Now, I usually stew a whole chicken but today I had boneless skinless chicken breast and no chicken so this is what we got. Feel free to drop a few chicken bouillon cubes into your water in place of the broth.
Sometimes I make crockpot chicken ahead of time in water, sometimes I cook it in the broth, sometimes I use , and sometimes I buy a rotisserie chicken already cooked. Go with your mood on this, just get your chicken cooked, then set it aside.
Pour your broth into a pot.
Add cream of chicken soup.
Stir and let it come to a very gentle boil while you prepare the dumplings.
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.
Take all of your biscuits out of the can and set them on a plate.
Now, we’re going to take each canned biscuit and tear it into three layers like this.
Dip each layer into your flour mixture…
Make sure you coat both sides until they look like this.
Now, make sure you don’t skip this step. If you do, your dumplings will completely dissolve in the broth. That is exactly what I did the very first time I ever made a chicken and dumplings recipe. I ended up with a delicious dumpling-flavored soup!
Now, take each layer and tear it into three pieces.
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.
Instead of stirring, what we are going to do is just gently push the dumplings down into the chicken stock as they cook.
This is going to take ten minutes or so. Your dumplings will take shape and stop looking doughy as they firm up a bit.
Continue simmering your dumplings while you shred the cooked chicken. If you want to know an easy way to shred meat you can find that here.
Drop your shredded chicken into the dumplings and very gently stir that up. I really just push it down a bit as I did with the dumplings. Just be gentle.
And there you go y’all! You just make an old-fashioned chicken and dumpling recipe your family will LOVE!
Storage
- 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.
Recipe Notes
- If you want to add some vegetables to this 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.
- If you prefer to make homemade dumplings with homemade biscuit dough, check out my recipes here and here.
- If you’d like to add some seasoning, cook the in , , or .
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.
You might also enjoy these other chicken recipes:
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
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.
Video
Nutrition
I made a double batch, because it always goes so fast around our house. I also substituted Grands Buttermilk bisquits. Flaten and cut into fours, then dip in flour and into the mixture! WOWEEEEE !!!! Even my little ones come back for seconds! (Which normally is impossible to get them to eat anything) So, Thanks !
I made your chicken and dumplins tonight and what a hit!! My family loved them. My father in law said he hadn’t tasted chicken and dumplins that good since his mama was living! I plan on having the Hamburger Steaks for dinner Tomorrow. They are a favorite also.
Oh my goodness, please give that sweet Father-In-Law of yours a BIG hug from me!!! Y’all just made my YEAR and that is the highest form of praise I believe I have ever received!
I really appreciate the instructions about how to use the biscuits as dumplings. They aren’t quite as good as Cracker Barrel’s but closer than I’ve been able to get myself and most importantly SO EASY!
I prefer to have vegetables in my meals, so I finely chopped celery and onions into the chicken broth to begin. Tonight I used a whole roasted chicken I got on sale yesterday. I just dumped the whole chicken into the pot of low sodium broth and veggies, and added a little water to get the liquid over at least half the chicken. I turned it several times as it simmered. When I pulled it out it was barely holding together. While it was simmering I separated the biscuit layers and floured them. While the chicken cooled I whisked in a larger can of cream of chicken soup. (It’s 35% more and I get it from the dollar store, but still Campbell’s, just a better value for the $.) I nuked some crinkle cut frozen carrots covered in the microwave with a little water (takes about 5 minutes, but will be done much faster that way than if added to the broth.) I turned the broth back on and followed your instructions for flouring and adding the dumplings. Near the end I added the hot carrots (completely drained of liquid) and a couple handfuls of frozen peas, followed by the shredded meat. I just feel better about including veggies in every delicious entree I make.
Thanks for the post and pictures. You are an excellent teacher. 🙂
I really hate it when someone thinks their recipe is better and completely changes the posted recipe. This is Christys site. Get your own wed site ,lol
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Haha. You are so right!
Imagine! Taking the recipe and making it his own….the nerve!
I have always loved to cook and have never made chicken and dumplings before. I came across your recipe and decided that I would give it a try. The only thing I did different was boil the chicken in chicken broth instead of just water, and I also added some pepper and garlic powder to the broth to give it an extra kick. My girlfriend loves chicken and dumplings so I was nervous to make this for her. Would you believe she told me this was the best she’s ever eaten? Thank you so much for posting this recipe!!! It was DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my goodness, I am so glad it was a hit Greg!!! I bet you get the Boyfriend of the Year award!! I am so thrilled to hear that she thought these were the best she has ever had and am so grateful to you for making them!!!
My son was asking for chicken and dumplings for lunch yesterday. I’m not a good dumpling maker (I use the dropped bisquik type) and they always stayed doughy. I’m looking forward to trying your recipe tonight and I appreciate the pictures and step-by-step instructions. I have one question though…I only have “grands” biscuits on hand. Can I use them instead? If so, how many pieces should I tear each one into? Thanks!
You sure can! I’d still tear into three layers, then tear each layer into four pieces.
hint: it’s easier to tear them if they’re good and cold.
Hope he likes ’em!
After seeing your reviews on-line I decided to visit. I am a Southern cook. A real one. My true test for judging a southern cook is to look at their chicken and dumpling recipe. Yours my dear is a insult. Canned biscuits!!! Really. Nothing southern about it. Try again
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”
Wishing you all the best, Ann. Life is wonderful and if you let it, it gets even better 🙂
Just made the Southern Chicken and Dumpings recipe!!! It turned out perfect & delicious! 🙂 Thanks!
I am so glad to hear that you liked it Deanna!!