Easy Stovetop Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

This stovetop chicken and dumplings is creamy, cozy, and filling! Everything is done in one pot, so it’s perfect for busy weekdays and holiday gatherings.

The cold season calls for a comforting bowl of creamy soup like this stovetop chicken and dumplings. 

You only need basic ingredients and a pot to make this hearty dish.

It starts with seared chicken, which will also leave you the “secret” for the most flavorful stew. (Clue: You’ll be fond of this tasty addition to our soup. 😉)

We’ll also make the fluffiest dumplings from scratch.

And don’t worry about them vanishing in the stew. Read on to learn tips for making the perfect dumplings for your creamy chicken and dumplings.

What Is Chicken and Dumplings?

Chicken and dumplings is a savory dish featuring a stew or soup loaded with chunks of chicken, vegetables, and dumplings. And by dumplings, I don’t mean the bite-sized food filled with meat and vegetables.

The dumplings in chicken and dumplings are not stuffed with anything. Instead, they’re pieces of biscuit dough steamed over the thick and creamy broth. 

This stovetop chicken and dumplings recipe is a satisfying one-pot meal that’s truly a winner, especially this winter.

You’ll love the hearty pieces of chicken and veggies, and slurping the chicken soup (made tastier by fond and half and half) will comfort you like a tight hug. 😋

Why You’ll Love This Stovetop Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

• Homestyle Goodness: Warm, cozy, and satisfyingly chunky, this creamy chicken and dumplings will instantly heal your soul. Everyone will be asking for seconds of this warm hug-in-a-bowl. 
• One-Pot Wonder: Feeling lazy because of the cold weather? Need a crowd-pleasing dish to serve at your gathering? This chicken and dumplings stovetop recipe got you! You won’t need special ingredients or fancy kitchen equipment for this nourishing meal. 
• Deliciously Adaptable: This homemade chicken and dumplings recipe can be made with cooked chicken and canned biscuits! You can also include your favorite veggies in the stew or serve the hearty soup with everything from salads to dinner rolls.

What Does Chicken and Dumplings Taste Like?

This stovetop chicken and dumplings will hit the spot if you’re craving something creamy, savory, and hearty. 

The secret behind the deep flavor of this recipe’s soup? The fond or the browned bits left in the pot when you seared the chicken. 

The chunks of chicken in the stew are not dry, and the dumplings are super fluffy, perfectly soaking the rich broth. 

You’ll also appreciate how the veggies, spices, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce harmonize and balance each other to create the best-tasting stew. 

So next time you can’t decide between making a hearty stew and chicken noodle soup, just make this quick chicken and dumplings recipe. 

Ingredients For Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and soup:

• Chicken breast – You can use boneless or bone-in skinless chicken breasts. The latter is actually a good idea because the bones will infuse more flavor. 
• Salt – To season the chicken before browning them.
• Pepper – We’ll also season the chicken breasts with ground pepper.
• Olive oil – For searing the chicken. 
• Butter – We’ll scrape off the tasty fond with butter and impart a luxuriously rich flavor to the soup. 🤤
• Onion – This homemade chicken and dumplings is a dish that perfectly captures the technique of building flavors. Proving my point, the broth is infused with aromatics like yellow onion.
• Carrots – Sweet, tender carrots just belong to any creamy, warm soup. 
• Celery sticks – Another delicious vegetable to add to the comforting warm dish. I usually don’t care about celery in dishes, but from one celery skeptic to another, trust me; this green veggie tastes amazing in the stew!
• Garlic – The flavorful punch of garlic makes every sip scrumptious. 
• Worcestershire sauce – For a boost of umami.
• Hot sauce – Skip it, and I swear the creamy chicken and dumplings will taste incomplete. It also pairs well with the richness of half and half in the soup. 
• Flour – To achieve the irresistible thick consistency of the chicken and dumplings.
• Chicken broth – You can also use less-sodium broth since this recipe does not fall short on seasonings. 
• Half and half – To make the dish rich and creamy, complementing the savory flavors of the stock.
• Frozen peas – You don’t need to thaw the frozen peas. Just add them directly to the pot. 
• Onion powder – This stovetop chicken and dumplings recipe is not shy with seasonings and spices. Feel free to adjust the amounts in the dish according to your liking! 
• Ground mustard – Adds complexity to the stew because of its sharp flavor.
• Dried basil leaves – Always a wonderful addition to any soup for depth of flavor. 
• Rosemary – You can also top your soup with more herbs before serving! 
• Dried thyme – Packs an earthy punch that pairs beautifully with the dish’s richness.
• Ground sage – Sage’s warm flavor will always hit the spot with any chicken dish. 
• Pepper – Don’t forget to season the stew with more black pepper!
• Parsley – To garnish the chicken and dumplings before serving. It also adds a yummy, bright flavor to the savory meal. 

Dumplings:

• All-purpose flour – The base of our dumplings. 
• Baking powder – This helps make the dumplings deliciously light. 
• Baking soda – Another important ingredient for perfectly fluffy dumplings. 
• Salt – Enhances the flavor of the dumplings. 
• Sugar – For a hint of sweetness. 
• Garlic powder – Our pillowy dumplings are also seasoned with garlic powder. 
• Unsalted butter – To bind the dumpling dough together.
• Milk – Adds moisture to the dough. 
• Sour cream – Gives a tasty tang to the dumplings. 

Tools Needed To Prepare Quick Chicken and Dumplings

• Pot for cooking the chicken and dumplings
• Silicone spatula for scraping and stirring the stew
• Cookie scoop for portioning the dough

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For Chicken and Dumplings Stovetop Recipe

Rotisserie chicken

You can shortcut your way to a bowl of cozy stovetop chicken and dumplings using rotisserie chicken. Just add the cooked chicken to the soup before the dumplings. 

This is also something to keep in mind if you have leftover chicken!

Canned biscuits

Not in the mood to mix a biscuit dough for the dumplings? No problem! This homemade recipe works with canned biscuits. 

Roll it out, cut the dough into strips, then drop the dumplings into the broth!

More veggies

Chicken and dumplings is one of those dishes that are incredibly nourishing to eat. So, to make the dish more substantial, feel free to stir your favorite veggies into the stew. 

You can use broccoli or leeks, for example. 

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

For the chicken and soup:

• 2 lbs chicken breast
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 5 tbsp butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1/3 cup flour
• 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups half and half
• 3/4 cup frozen peas
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp ground mustard
• 1/2 tsp dried basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp ground sage
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp parsley, chopped

For the dumplings:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 4 tbsp butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk, cold
• 3/4 cup sour cream, cold

Tools you need:

• Pot
• Silicone spatula
• Cookie scoop

Instructions:

Gather the ingredients for your stovetop chicken and dumplings.

Chicken:

STEP 1: Place a pot over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.

STEP 2: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Cook them until brown, about 3 minutes per side. You don’t need to cook the chicken completely.

STEP 3: Let the breasts rest before dicing them for the soup.

Soup:

STEP 1: Melt the butter in the same pot over medium heat. Scrape off the fond at the bottom from searing the chicken.

STEP 2: Add the onions, carrots, and chopped celery and cook for 5 minutes.

STEP 3: Combine the seasonings, then add them to the pot together with the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce.

STEP 4: After a minute, add the flour and cook for about 2 minutes, stirring continuously.

STEP 5: Slowly add the broth, stirring continuously. Scrape the bottom of the pot as you stir.

STEP 6: Add the half and half in small splashes. Then, add the peas to the soup and let it come to a gentle boil.

STEP 7: Simmer the soup uncovered.

Dumplings:

STEP 1: Combine the dry ingredients for the dumplings.

STEP 2: Add the butter, milk, and sour cream. Fold to form the dough, but do not overmix.

Finishing the stew:

STEP 1: Add the diced chicken back to the soup. Give it a quick stir, then reduce the heat to low.

STEP 2: Portion the dough with a cookie scoop. Place the dumplings over the stew, spooning the soup over each piece.

STEP 3: Cover the pot and increase the heat. Let it come to a gentle simmer.

STEP 4: After 15 minutes, open the lid and insert a toothpick into a dumpling. If the toothpick comes out clean, the dumplings are done.

STEP 5: Pour your chicken and dumplings into a bowl and top with parsley. Enjoy!

What to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food because it’s super satisfying to eat.

And while you’ll likely be happy with just a bowl of this cozy soup dish, you can serve stovetop chicken and dumplings with roasted veggies, cornbread muffins, fresh salad, or baked sweet potatoes. 🤤

The rich and chunky soup with fluffy dumplings will also pair well with something crunchy. Think kale crisps or twisted bacon!

And since this is an easy one-pot dish, I figure it’s only fitting to suggest other fuss-free recipes. 

For example, set up an irresistible dinner table with pumpkin-shaped bread. The latter are like dinner rolls, perfect with our creamy stovetop chicken and dumplings. 

And for dessert, check out this Paula Deen sweet potato casserole!

It’s sweet, creamy, and crunchy; the best way to end a savory meal. 

Tips About Making Creamy Chicken and Dumplings

• Do not cook the chicken all the way through when you sear them in the first step. They’ll finish cooking when you add them back to the soup. This way, your chicken won’t become tough and dry. 
• When steaming the dumplings, the stew should be at a gentle simmer so they’ll be perfectly fluffy. Additionally, don’t be tempted to peek. You can lift the pot’s lid after the 15-minute cooking time. 
• You can make this chicken and dumplings stovetop recipe quicker using cooked/leftover chicken. And if you don’t want to make a dough, just use canned biscuit dough for the dumplings. 

How To Store Stovetop Chicken and Dumplings

To store leftover homemade chicken and dumplings, remove the dumplings from the chicken soup first.

Then, store the dumplings and soup in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can you freeze chicken and dumplings?

Definitely! Just like when you refrigerate them, store the dumplings and chicken stew separately. 

You can keep them in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months!

How to reheat chicken and dumplings?

If frozen, thaw the chicken and dumplings in the fridge before reheating. 

Then, heat up the dish on the stovetop over medium heat. Some also suggest reheating the soup first, then adding the dumplings.

But if you ask me, I’d rather make a new batch of dumplings for my leftover soup. 😅

Why Are My Chicken and Dumplings Not Fluffy?

The best dumplings for chicken and dumplings are light and fluffy. So, to ensure you’ll get the perfect “pillows” for your rich and creamy stew, do not overmix the dough, or they’ll turn out dense. 

You also don’t need to roll the scooped-out dough into balls. 

Just ensure they have enough room to expand (the pot should be big enough), and don’t overcook them. A gentle simmer is enough when steaming dumplings. 😉

Why Do My Dumplings Dissolve in Chicken and Dumplings?

Have you ever made chicken and dumplings before, but the dumplings dissolved?

You’re not alone!

Here are two things to remember:

• Make sure you’re only cooking the dumplings in a gentle simmer. Fast simmer and rolling boil are definite no-nos!
• Do not stir them when you drop the dumplings over the surface of the soup. Instead, you can spoon the stew over each piece.

FAQ About Chicken and Dumplings

Conclusion

This stovetop chicken and dumplings recipe is the best way to keep warm on a cool day. It’s creamy, savory, and enjoyably chunky.

You’ll love the generous servings of perfectly cooked chicken pieces, veggies, and fluffy homemade dumplings in the flavorful chicken soup. 

This ultimate comfort food is also ready to be customized! In fact, I think I’ll make this super easy chicken and dumplings recipe with skinless chicken thighs next time. 😋

Did you know there are many comforting recipes you can easily make at home? Here are some of our favorites that you can bring to a friend in need:

• Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Onion Soup Mix
• Healthy Crockpot White Chicken Chili
• Quick and Easy Hash Brown Potato Soup
• The Best Damn Chili Recipe
• Cracker Barrel Mac and Cheese Copycat Recipe