My Mostly From Scratch Homemade Chicken & Dumplings recipe has a lot going for it including the fact that there are only 7 easy ingredients and it’s super easy to make.
This is one of my Cook Once Eat Twice recipes. I usually boil one hen and make this Chicken & Dumpling recipe one day and my Homemade Chicken Pot Pie the next. My food seems to taste better when I know it’s good for the budget.
See our Meal Plans for more budget friendly weeknight meal ideas.
After boiling, draining and cooling the chicken. Pull the meat off the bones and shred by hand into bite size pieces. I divide the meat between two containers, one of which will go into the refrigerator for the next day’s meal.
Be sure to scoop out the extra broth. I use repurposed sandwich meat containers for freezing chicken broth. Allow the broth to cool before placing the lid on and freezing. Don’t forget to write the date on top.
How to make fat free chicken broth
Place the broth in the refrigerator for a few hours. The fat will rise to the top so that you can skim it off. You can also do this after thawing frozen broth.
Bring the broth in the pot back to a low boil. Add salt, pepper and sage. I’m a little heavy handed with pepper in my Chicken & Dumplings.
Add one can cream of celery soup and stir well. The soup will add a touch of flavor and also thicken the broth just a little bit.
Add the cooked, shredded chicken into the seasoned broth.
This is my shortcut! You can find Mary Hill Dumplings in your grocer’s freezer. They absolutely taste homemade! Follow the package directions which suggest you microwave for a few seconds to make pulling them apart easier.
Have you ever cooked frozen dumplings?
My Mom was famous for her homemade dumplings but in her later years, she used Mary Hill’s. She said they were almost as good as hers.
Boil the dumplings until your desired tenderness and according to package directions. Go ahead and get your serving dishes out, you are almost ready to eat! We tend to serve our Chicken and Dumplings in a big wide bowl but a plate will work too.
We enjoy our Chicken & Dumplings alone, no side dishes and no bread.
Don’t tell anyone that this stick-to-your ribs, one pot meal is so easy to make! Let them think you’ve been working to prepare this meal for hours and hours!
- 1 hen
- About 7 cups water
- 1 can cream of celery soup
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp. Sage
- 1 pkg. Mary Hill frozen dumplings
- Boil the chicken until done in a Dutch oven.
- Drain and cool.
- Remove the skin and discard along with the bones while picking the meat off.
- Separate an equal portion of shredded chicken between two containers. Save one portion for the next day's meal. A medium size hen should yield about 8 cups of meat.
- Scoop out about 4 cups of broth to freeze.
- To the remaining broth, add the seasoning and cream of celery soup and return to a low boil. Stir well.
- Add the shredded chicken and stir well.
- Add the dumplings and cook on a low boil until tender.
- Serve and enjoy.
Shirley Wood
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Sara Syrett says
April 30, 2016 at 1:59 amYum this looks so good! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!
Jess says
April 27, 2016 at 5:17 pmYum! This sound so delicious!
I would LOVE for you to share this with my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Carlee says
April 26, 2016 at 9:59 amChicken and dumplings is one of my all-time favorites. I have never seen the frozen dumplings, I will have to look for them. That would make the process a lot easier!
Candace says
April 25, 2016 at 9:20 pmWe go to an annual Christmas party every year. The hostess always serves chicken and dumplings. I look forward to eating it all year. I have never tried to make it myself. I think I’m going to have to try. Thanks for the recipe!
Marilyn says
April 25, 2016 at 4:03 pmI love chicken and dumplings. Comfort food! Thank you so much for linking at #overthemoon! I look forward to seeing what you share every week. Please come back for #WonderfulWednesday or #ThursdayFavoriteThings. Don’t forget to comment your link #’s so I can be sure to visit and get a chance to be featured! Pinned and shared.
Jeanne Grunert says
April 25, 2016 at 12:31 pmThis looks delicious! Thank you for sharing your recipe on the #HomeMattersParty
Julie says
April 25, 2016 at 8:28 amWow Shirley, this recipe reminds me of when I was little and my Mom would make this for our family. I like how easy it is to make the dumplings. I am pinning this. Enjoy your day and week.
Julie
Nikki says
April 22, 2016 at 9:18 amMakes me want to make some chicken and dumplings tonight!
Zan says
April 22, 2016 at 8:35 amYou are definitely making my mouth water over here! I love how you prepare delicious easy and frugal meals. I will have to check out this dumplings in the freezer isle. And yes, the more pepper the better!
Alli says
April 22, 2016 at 6:19 amI LOVE Mary Hill Dumplings. They are made in Hazlehurst – not too far from where I grew up in Rochelle. I love that they have a Bible scripture on each box. Sadly, I can’t find them near me. 🙁 Trust me, I’ve looked. They are available at some SC Walmart stores, but not mine. I will keep looking.
This post made me think of my mom today. She’s known for her chicken and dumplings and she’s always rolled them out and made them homemade. Lately, however, she uses Mary Hill Dumplings because of arthritis in her hands. They do taste almost just like mom’s.
I always make homemade dumplings using my mom’s recipe and you’ve really got me longing for my favorite comfort food. I’m coming to visit you. Your chicken and dumplings look amazing. Didn’t mean to write a novel!