Chicken and Dumplings

  • Level: Intermediate
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Total: 3 hr (includes cooling time)
  • Active: 1 hr 10 min
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

Stew:

3 1/2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 large onion, chopped 

2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick 

1 small bulb fennel, trimmed, quartered and sliced crosswise 1/4 inch thick 

1 parsnip, peeled and sliced 1/4 inch thick 

2 cloves garlic, minced 

10 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup dry sherry 

4 1/2 cups chicken broth 

4 to 5 sprigs fresh thyme 

3 to 4 sprigs fresh Italian parsley 

2 bay leaves 

Dumplings:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder 

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

3/4 cup buttermilk 

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, melted 

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley 

1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh dill 

Directions

  1. For the stew: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add half of the chicken and cook until golden on both sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken. Set aside.
  2. Add the butter to the same pot and melt over medium-high heat. Add the onion and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, fennel and parsnip and cook until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and when it releases its fragrance, stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sherry and stir, scraping up any bits stuck to the pot. Add the broth and stir to combine.
  3. Tie the thyme, parsley and bay leaves together with kitchen twine, drop the bundle into the broth and add the chicken, taking care to fully immerse it in the liquid. Bring the stew to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the chicken is fully cooked, about 1 hour.
  4. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Remove the bundle of herbs and discard. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and bones and discard. Tear the meat into bite-size pieces. Using a skimmer or wide spoon, skim the fat from the surface of the sauce in the pot. Return the chicken and any drippings to the pot and bring the stew to a simmer.
  5. For the dumplings: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and pepper. Add the buttermilk, butter, thyme, parsley and dill and stir to form a thick, very sticky dough.
  6. Using your hands, roll the dough into balls about the size of a golf ball. Drop the dough balls into the stew spaced about 1/4 inch apart. Cover and simmer over low heat until the dumplings are firm and cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Jacquelyn H.

Very tasty, but with the addition of vegetables, this is a stew. Southern chicken and dumplings is seasoned stock, chicken pieces, with rolled and cut dumplings dropped in the stock to simmer until done. Simple, just like the title.

See All Reviews

Fudge Factor

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …