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Chicken and Dumplings
Print Recipe

Classic Chicken and Dumplings

Prep Time15 mins
Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time2 hrs 45 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken, chicken and dumplings, classic, Feed the Band, Southern Fellow

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 8 cups chicken stock
  • 2 whole carrots peeled and cleaned then cut in half
  • 2 celery stalks cut in half
  • 1 onion peeled and cut in half
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 1/2 tsp whole peppercorn
  • 6 tyme sprigs
  • 1 whole 5-6 lbs chicken cut into 8 pieces

Dumblings

  • 1 3/4 cups flour extra for dusting
  • 1/3 cups shortening
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp corn starch
  • 3 tbsp cold water

Instructions

Chicken

  • In a large pot add all the ingredients for the chicken. 
  • Bring to a low boil and cook for 2 hours or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees. 
  • Remove the chicken. Using a fine strainer or cheesecloth strain and reserve the liquid. Discard everything else.
  • Remove the the skin from the chicken and  pull into bite size pieces and discard the skin and bones.

Dumplings

  • In a bowl combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Using a fork or whisk blend together.
  • Add the shortening to the flour. Using your hands cut it into the flour until it is completely combined and mealy.
  • Add the milk and fold it into the flour with a spatula starting from the outside of the bowl and pulling inward. 
  • Flour a large surface. Pull the dough out of the bowl onto the floured surface. If he dough is still a little sticky add some extra flour and knead the dough a few times. 
  • Using a rolling pin roll the dough out to about 1/4" thickness. Cut the dough into 1" by 2" strips

Finish

  • In your large pot return the liquid. Bring to a boil.
  • Add the dumplings one at a time.  Cook for 15 minutes or until the dumpling are tender. 
  • Reduce to a love simmer and add the chicken. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • If it needs to be thickened, combined  the water and cornstarch into a bowl and combine. Add the mixture to the pot and stir. Let simmer until thickened.