Warm Chicken and Dumplings Soup

🍲 Hearty Chicken & Dumpling Soup: A Cozy Classic for Chilly Days

When the skies turn gray and the air gets crisp, few meals satisfy like a bowl of warm, comforting chicken and dumpling soup. Brimming with savory broth, tender shredded chicken, wholesome vegetables, and soft dumplings, this dish is like a hug in every bite—a timeless remedy for cold, rainy days.

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🛒 Ingredients Breakdown

For the Soup Base

Ingredient	Amount
Cooked shredded chicken	2 cups
Onion (diced)	1 medium
Carrots (sliced)	2 large
Celery (diced)	2 stalks
Chicken broth	4 cups
Milk	1 cup
Heavy cream (optional)	¼ cup
Dried thyme	½ tsp
Ground black pepper	½ tsp
Salt	To taste
Olive oil or butter	2 tbsp (for sautéing)
Fresh parsley	1 tbsp (for garnish)

For the Dumplings

Ingredient	Amount
All-purpose flour	1½ cups
Baking powder	2 tsp
Salt	½ tsp
Milk	½ cup
Melted butter	2 tbsp (or oil)

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🥕 Step 1: Build a Flavorful Base

Heat the olive oil or butter in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
Stir in the chicken and season with thyme and black pepper. Pour in the broth and milk, then bring everything to a gentle simmer. This sets the stage for rich, savory flavor.

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🥄 Step 2: Mix the Dumpling Dough

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the milk and melted butter, stirring just until a soft, sticky dough forms.
Don’t overmix—the goal is light and fluffy, not dense and chewy.

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🍥 Step 3: Drop the Dumplings

Scoop small spoonfuls of dough and carefully drop them onto the simmering soup’s surface.
Do not stir. Cover the pot with a lid, reduce the heat to medium-low, and let the dumplings steam undisturbed for 12–15 minutes. They’ll puff up and absorb the flavor of the broth.

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🍶 Step 4: Add Cream & Serve

If desired, stir in the heavy cream to add a silky finish. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Spoon the soup into bowls and top with chopped parsley for a fresh pop of color and herbaceous lift.

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🧣 Final Thought:
Whether you’re curled up on the couch or feeding a hungry crowd, this cozy bowl of chicken and dumplings is pure comfort made easy. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, it’s the perfect meal to warm you from the inside out.