Description
Hearty chicken stew and dumplings bring comfort straight from grandma’s Southern kitchen, melding tender chicken with pillowy herbed dumplings. Savory flavors meld perfectly, promising a soul-warming meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds chicken, chopped
Vegetables:
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup frozen peas
Stew Base and Seasonings:
- 4 cups stock
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup cream
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1/4 cup parsley
Dumpling Ingredients:
- 1.5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Sear chicken pieces in a hot skillet until golden brown, creating a rich caramelized exterior, then transfer to a separate plate.
- In the same skillet, melt butter and gently sauté chopped vegetables until they become translucent and slightly softened, releasing their aromatic flavors.
- Sprinkle flour over the vegetables, stirring continuously to create a roux that will thicken the stew and provide a silky texture.
- Gradually pour in broth and cream, whisking to prevent lumps, then add herbs and return the browned chicken to the skillet.
- Reduce heat and let the mixture simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the chicken to become tender.
- While the stew simmers, prepare dumpling dough by mixing ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Using a spoon, carefully drop dollops of dumpling dough onto the surface of the simmering stew, ensuring even distribution.
- Cover the skillet and steam the dumplings for 15 minutes, maintaining a consistent low heat to ensure they cook through.
- Fold in fresh peas during the last few minutes of cooking to preserve their bright color and crisp texture.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve the stew piping hot, directly from the skillet for a rustic, comforting meal.
Notes
- Enhance chicken flavor by seasoning with salt and pepper before browning for deeper, more robust taste.
- Create lighter dumplings by using buttermilk instead of regular milk, which adds tanginess and tender texture.
- Make this dish gluten-free by substituting regular flour with almond or rice flour in both stew and dumplings.
- Prep vegetables in advance and store in refrigerator to streamline cooking process and reduce overall preparation time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 386 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg