Homemade Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
No one does chicken and dumplings recipes like Cracker Barrel!
For the ultimate bite of down-home country cooking, try this recipe for Homemade Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. This chicken and dumplings recipe makes for the perfect Sunday supper. Everything's better when it's homemade -- especially comfort food! And this copycat recipe is a perfect example of that. Cracker Barrel's Old Country Store dumplings are simply divine, and the only way to make them better is to make them yourself! (Don't worry. It's easier than you think.)
Even though this recipe calls for homemade chicken stock, you could always use the store bought version, if you're in a pinch. And this recipe is also a great way to use up some of that leftover chicken. The stock and light seasonings in this Cracker Barrel recipe are so flavorful, your friends and family won't even know it's leftover!
The chicken can be cut into large chunks or shredded, depending on how you prefer the dish, but what truly makes this old-fashioned chicken and dumplings recipe a classic is those dumplings that are perfectly pillowy and practically melt in your mouth. This is one dinner recipe Grandma would definitely approve of!
Ingredients
- For the Chicken Stock:
- 1 chicken, whole or cut up
- 3 carrots, peeled and cut in half
- 4 stalks of celery, cut in half
- 1 onion, peeled and cut in half
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons dried sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
- For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons crisco
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 carrots, chopped (optional)
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped (optional)
- 1 small onion
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
To Make the Chicken Stock:
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Place all ingredients for the chicken stock in a large stock pot. Fill with water until all the ingredients are covered.
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Bring the ingredients to a light simmer and let simmer over low heat for about 2 hours. Then remove the pieces of chicken and set aside. Strain the rest of the stock, discarding all the vegetables.
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After the chicken cools, cut it into pieces or shred it, depending on how you like your chicken and dumplings.
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Side Note: This chicken stock would make a great base for chicken and noodle soup, too!
To Make the Dumplings:
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Mix together all of the dumpling ingredients in a mixing bowl until they come together and form a ball. Add more flour if dough is too sticky and more milk if dough is too dry.
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Place the ball of dough on a floured surface. Knead a few times until smooth. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin until it is about 1/8 inch thick.
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Cut the rolled out dough into slices, then smaller bite-sized pieces. These will be your dumplings.
To Assemble:
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Heat the remaining ingredients in a large pot with 6 cups of the strained stock. Add the reserved chicken. Add more water if the ingredients are not covered. Bring to a boil.
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Put the heat on low and add the cut-up dumplings.
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Simmer on low for 30 minutes or until dumplings are cooked through and the broth has thickened.
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If the broth is not thick enough, create a slurry by mixing together 1 teaspoon of flour and a 1/4 cup water in a small bowl. Then whisk into the broth and let simmer an additional 5 minutes.
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WVDragonlady 64203 96
Jun 24, 2018
This is whats called " Slippery Potpie" where I come from. Chicken and Dumplings is something completely different. The chicken part is a stew and the dumplings are dropped on top of the simmering stew and the pot is covered for at least 20 mins( depending on the size of the dumpling) so the dumpling steam through.
weezerbelle 976987 7
May 13, 2021
Dumpling are drop from a spoon into the broth, never roll them out, it makes them tough.
JustaGirlinVA
Jan 18, 2016
Well, I was gonna comment that this was not Cracker Barrel Chicken Dumplings, but it looks like several others already did that, HA HA
katbodat 6944889
Jan 11, 2016
Nope...Chicken n Dumplins are just that...add a bunch of other stuff and it's something else. Have ya ever eaten at Cracker Barrel? Would LOVE their recipe!
meledstick 7750973
Mar 07, 2015
This recipe is in NO WAY comparable to Cracker Barrel's, except for the fact that they both have chicken in them. This is just soup! Cracker Barrel serves a true Southern-style Chicken Dumplins!
Zimm102090
Dec 15, 2014
The dumplings in this dish are fantastic! They're perfectly soft and chewy. I also loved the flavor of the chicken stock. Next time I think I'll add more vegetables!
JennyBee1
Dec 12, 2014
Mmmmm, this soup was so good! It's the perfect dish to prepare during the winter. I've been a little under the weather lately, so this soup was definitely some good soup for the soul.
shelfconsciouskati e
Dec 12, 2014
I loved the flavor of this chicken and dumplings! Starting with homemade stock really helps to make this simple dish taste special. Next time, I would saute the vegetables in some butter and add some flour to make a roux before adding the stock to the pot to help thicken it up a bit.
Julia L
Dec 12, 2014
I loved the dumplings - so soft and tasty! I only wish the broth was a little thicker. It reminded me of a loaded chicken soup.
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