My Easy Healthy Chicken and Dumplings is a lightened up makeover of a classic stick-to-your ribs comfort food that's easy to make and doesn't skimp on flavor! I cook light, fluffy dumplings in a pot of homemade chicken soup that tastes like it's been simmering on the stove for hours. It's the perfect simple and hearty meal to warm you up on a cold day!
When it's cold outside, there's nothing more comforting than curling up with a piping hot bowl of soup. I love having a big pot of soup simmering away on the stove on lazy weekends. I make all kinds of soup from Butternut Squash Soup to Lentil Soup to hearty Italian Pasta Fagioli.
But when it comes down to it, it's hard to beat a bowl of good old homemade chicken soup! And when you add tender, fluffy dumplings to that tasty soup, well that just takes it over the top!
Jump to:
What is chicken and dumplings?
Chicken and dumplings is the ultimate comfort food and a classic Southern dish. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s basically a hearty, homemade chicken soup.
The soup is made by simmering a whole chicken in a pot with water, vegetables and seasonings, creating a flavorful chicken stock. Then the chicken is shredded and added back to the stock.
The dumplings are made with a biscuit-like dough that's dropped into the hot chicken soup and cooked in the simmering liquid. As they cook, they expand and puff up into tender, fluffy, cloud-like biscuits.
The result is a delicious, comforting, and hearty meal that’s perfect to warm you up on a cold day.
Is chicken and dumplings healthy?
Chicken and dumplings is a classic Southern comfort food dish, but it isn't necessarily the healthiest dish. Traditional chicken and dumplings from scratch uses a lot of rich ingredients like chicken fat, butter, and heavy cream.
I was actually inspired to make this dish after seeing chef Michael Symon's chicken and dumplings recipe in one of his cookbooks. Although his dish looks absolutely delicious, it has a lot of heavy ingredients.
Plus, it takes quite a while to make (he recommends making it over the course of two days!).
So I set out to make a quick and easy, healthy homemade chicken and dumplings soup recipe that could be made in a short amount of time but wouldn't skimp on flavor.
Why this recipe is healthy
This is a heart-healthy chicken and dumplings recipe for the following reasons:
- I sauté my vegetables in heart-healthy olive oil instead of butter. Olive oil is composed of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids, which have many important health benefits and help lower your risk of heart disease. To learn more, read my post about the health benefits of olive oil.
- I keep the sodium in check by using low sodium chicken stock. Limiting your sodium intake can help keep your blood pressure in check. Read my post about the DASH diet and how it can reduce your blood pressure.
- I don't use any heavy cream in the chicken soup, thereby reducing the amount of saturated fat in the dish. Instead, I use flour to thicken the broth.
- Instead of using butter or chicken fat in the dumplings, I use buttermilk. It gives the dumplings a tender texture as well as a boost of protein and calcium.
- To incorporate some whole grains, I use a mixture of white whole wheat flour and all purpose flour in my dumplings. Whole grains have high amounts of fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help reduce your risk of diseases like heart disease, diabetes and obesity. To learn more, read my post all about whole grains.
Why this recipe is quick and easy
- I skip the process of simmering a whole chicken in water with herbs, which takes several hours. Instead, I use prepared chicken stock (or homemade chicken stock if I have any on hand).
- I use shredded chicken from a rotisserie chicken or other leftovers.
- I make simple drop biscuits rather than biscuits that you roll out. You still get tender, fluffy biscuits but with a lot less work!
How to make the broth
The broth in traditional chicken and dumplings can range from a thin soup to a thick, casserole-like dish that's eaten with a fork instead of a spoon. My recipe is rich and hearty, lying somewhere in the middle.
To make this easy chicken and dumplings recipe, first sauté onions, carrots, celery and garlic in olive oil. I like to use a heavy pot like my enameled cast iron Dutch oven or braiser.
Next, make a roux by stirring in some flour. The mixture of the oil and flour will help thicken the broth as it cooks.
Then, simply add in herbs like thyme and bay leaf and some prepared chicken stock. If you have time, you can make your own homemade chicken stock or even use leftover homemade turkey stock from Thanksgiving.
Finally, let everything simmer away on the stove while you make the dumplings.
The best part- the fluffy dumplings
For me, the dumplings are what make this soup really special. They're basically light, fluffy, homemade biscuits that cook in the simmering soup and puff up into clouds of pillowy goodness. They add a hearty, stick-to-your-ribs quality to what would otherwise be a basic chicken soup.
There are a few different variations of dumplings used in classic Southern chicken and dumplings. In some recipes the dumplings are formed into balls, and in others, they're rolled out and cut into shapes. Sometimes they're rolled out flat so that they resemble noodles. In other recipes, like this one, the dumplings are dropped into the soup.
It's easy to make homemade dumplings using the drop method. Simply mix flour, baking powder, salt, buttermilk, and an egg together in a bowl.
When the buttermilk reacts with the baking powder, it makes for a tender and light dumpling without having to use any additional fat or butter (see FAQs section below to learn how to make homemade buttermilk).
Then, scoop up balls of the dough with a spoon and drop them into the simmering soup. Cover the lid and don't peek! As the dumplings cook, they will puff up into light, fluffy balls of deliciousness.
What to serve with this dish
I would suggest serving this easy chicken and dumplings with a simple salad or vegetable side dish to round out your meal. My Tuscan Kale and Apple Salad or Roasted Asparagus and Grape Tomatoes are both excellent options. You can finish of your meal with my Grilled Peaches with Greek Yogurt or Slow Cooker Apple Crisp.
Storage and reheating
Store chicken and dumplings in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can reheat it in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish or on the stove in a pot over medium low heat.
FAQs
Yes! You can definitely shred up rotisserie chicken and use it in this recipe- it's a huge timesaver! You can also use leftover turkey and make Turkey Dumpling Soup. It's a great way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers!
Yes, you can make this recipe gluten free. Simply substitute a gluten-free flour blend like this one for regular flour in the biscuit dough and also when you're making the roux for the chicken broth.
When you make the chicken broth, one of the first steps is to add flour to the vegetables sautéing in oil. This mixture of flour and fat is called a roux and this is what thickens the broth when you add liquid to it and bring it to a boil. If your chicken broth is still not as thick as you'd like, you can still fix it by adding a beurre manié at the end. This is a classic French technique that I learned in culinary school. Just mix 2 teaspoons flour with 2 teaspoons soft butter and whisk the paste into the simmering soup to thicken it.
The dumpling dough in this recipe is really easy to make but yes, you can use a readymade product. Read the nutrition labels and choose a healthier option like Bisquick Heart Smart Pancake & Baking Mix. You can also use canned buttermilk biscuits and cut them into pieces before adding them to the soup.
If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make it by stirring 1 ½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice into ½ cup milk (any type). Let the mixture sit for a 5-10 minutes until it thickens slightly and small curds form. Then use as directed in the recipe.
If your dumplings turn out heavy, dense or tough, you may be over-mixing the dumpling dough. Whisk the dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, then gently fold them together until just combined. To avoid dry dumplings, be sure to cover the pot with a lid as they cook. This will help the dumplings steam and retain their moisture.
This Chicken and Dumplings recipe is part of my Best Fall Soup Recipes collection.
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Recipe
Easy Healthy Chicken and Dumplings
Equipment
Ingredients
Soup:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped (about 1 ¼ cups)
- 4 stalks celery, sliced
- 2 cups diced carrots
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons flour
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or 1½ teaspoons fresh)
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 cups low sodium chicken or turkey stock
- 3 cups diced or shredded chicken or turkey (can use rotisserie chicken)
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Dumplings:
- ½ cup white whole wheat flour
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ cup buttermilk*
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large stockpot over medium heat and add the onion, celery, carrots, and garlic. Sautè the vegetables until they start to soften, 4-5 minutes. Sprinkle the flour on top and stir to combine. Cook 1-2 minutes, then add the thyme, bay leaf and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, then cover and simmer until the vegetables are cooked, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chicken, parsley, lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.
- To make the dumplings, whisk the flours, baking powder, and salt together in a medium bowl. Stir the buttermilk, egg and parsley together in a second bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold until just combined.
- Using two spoons, drop balls of the dumpling dough into the simmering soup (you should have about 18 dumplings). Each dumpling should be about two teaspoons big- they will expand a lot in the soup. Cover the pot and cook until the dumplings are fluffy and cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Garnish with chopped parsley and plenty of black pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
About the author
Dr. Sonali Ruder
Meet Dr. Sonali Ruder aka The Foodie Physician- ER doctor, chef, culinary creator & mom.
Martin DeBourge says
For those going the whole foods/clean ingredients route... I followed this recipe substituting with Cassava Flour & Cauliflower Blend from Trader Joes & organic Free Range Chicken. Also, I couldn't find Calabasas Squash in my area of Southern California, so that got sub'd with Buttercut (not Butternut!) Squash. It turned out amazing. It was even a hit with the family members are not following my dietary regiment.
sonaliruder says
Thanks for your comment! I’m so happy that you and your family enjoyed the recipe! That’s a great idea to use the Cassava Cauliflower Blend- I’m a big fan of Trader Joe’s 🙂
Rock says
Excellent and healthy, no lard or shortening in the dumplings. Wife says better than her mom's. Keeper recipe.
sonaliruder says
That's great- I’m so happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment!
Farrah says
Ah, chicken & dumplings--this looks so good! 😀 I've never tried making any other type of dumplings other than Chinese dumplings, but this is a dish I've always wanted to attempt! :] Soup is such a great comfort food! 😀
Ally @OmNomAlly says
This chicken dumpling soup looks so flavourful and comforting! It's 40C weather here but all I want to do is fire up the stove and get this cooking 🙂 Looks delicous!
Sarah Grace Spann says
This brings me back to childhood! Love this! And love that you made it healthier because it's a favorite of mine 🙂
xo,
Sarah Grace
Jessie says
I'm sad to say I've never had chicken and dumplings! This dish looks like the perfect comfort food, and I like how your version is fast because I'm all about fast meals these days!
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Allie Key says
Pinning. My husband loves chicken and dumplings and I am loving this lighter version
Elizabeth Shaw says
What a great recipe! I love this. My family has this every Christmas, no joke! My dad makes his infamous chicken and dumplings but between you and me, I can't eat it! He's a big fan of more butter, more flavor. The amount he adds to his makes me turned off! I wonder if I can sneak in this one year and win him over :). Pinning to try!
Jessica Levinson says
I've never had chicken and dumpling soup, but I know my husband would love it! And it really looks like the perfect comfort food for the winter. btw, I LOVE your blue Le Creuset!
Min Kwon says
I'm with you! I adore Michael Symon and his hearty laugh ;). Gosh I can't remember the last time I had chicken and dumplings but it sure looks comforting! I like your version much better since I don't have 2 days to prepare a dish these days! You make everything look so so good!
Elizabeth Falcigno says
Woah. I NEED a bowl of this!! I can't wait to try this recipe. It looks amazing 🙂
Jessica DeGore says
My mom used to make awesome chicken and dumpling soup growing up- it was one of my favorite meals so I will need to keep this healthier twist in mind to share for next time!
Rebecca Pytell says
Used to be one of my favorite childhood dishes!
Diane Boyd says
Another spectacular recipe by Sonali!!! Pinning!
Cindy McLaughlin says
This is absolutely gorgeous Sonali, and looks so delicious and healthy! I do have an ingredient sub question though- my boyfriend is lactose intolerant and I was wondering if you knew of something I could substitute for the buttermilk that would react similarly to the baking powder to create those gorgeous biscuits (love that you didn't use butter or heavy cream!). Thanks!
sonaliruder says
Thanks for your question Cindy! You can make the buttermilk substitute as mentioned at the end of the recipe using a dairy-free milk like soy milk or coconut milk. Stir 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice into 1/2 cup of milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then use as directed in the recipe. Let me know how it turns out!
Liz - Meal Makeover Mom says
I'm a fan of Chef Symon as well, and I love your lighter version of the soup. I've never made a dumpling soup before and just may have to try it now. My boys would love this (and so would I). BTW, I want your Le Creuset!
Dixya says
this is my boyfriends fav food and i think i will make it for him very soon. it looks so comforting!!!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
OHMEGAWSH - Sonali - I cannot wait to try this lightened up version of chicken and dumplings! Merry Christmas!