This Chicken and Dumpling Soup is filled with the dumplings I grew up eating. They’re somewhere between noodle and spatzle, but bigger. Comfort in a bowl.
If you’re looking for light and fluffy dumplings, you’re at the wrong recipe. These dumplings are just a bit heavier. They have texture. They’re somewhere between noodle and spätzle. But bigger.
Video: Easy Chicken And Dumpling Soup
Ingredients
First, you’ll need chicken broth or stock for the base. I always opt for a low-sodium or no-sodium version so that I can control the salt content.
For the vegetables, we’ll use matchstick carrots and an onion. Want some extra veggies? Add some celery with the carrots, or a couple handfuls of frozen peas in the last few minutes.
I like to use boneless skinless chicken thighs for this soup because they have lots of flavor. You’ll want these cut into small pieces so they cook quickly.
Other than that, you’ll need your dumpling ingredients that I go over below and some heavy cream to finish the soup.
How To Make Dumplings
How did I come up with these big lumpy dumplings? I watched my mom make them for years. When we were home for the day with stuffy noses my mom would make a quick batch of powdered Lipton chicken noodle soup. But she couldn’t leave it at that. Even when making processed food she had to add something of her own. She added quick homemade dumplings!
She doesn’t use a recipe for the dumpling dough. She pulls out a teacup, scoops in flour, adds salt and maybe baking powder. She stirs and then cracks in a large egg, dribbles in milk, and whisks it with a fork. She lifts the fork out of the cup and if thick bands of yellow pull up with it, she nods. That’s about right for the dumpling dough.
Having watched her make these so many times, and having eaten them so many times, these dumplings are pure comfort to me. And I think they will be for you as well. I have given you actual measurements though!
More Comforting Soup Recipes
If you love chicken soup, be sure to check out the recipe for this quick and delicious Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. And if you’d like to make a more classic chicken and dumplings dinner (with soft and fluffy dumplings) in an easy way, head over to my Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings. It’s seriously delicious.
You can browse through my entire soup collection, where there are over 70 delicious soup recipes, over here. And I’m also going to link to a few that I think you’ll particularly like, some of my all-time favorite soup recipes, right here for you:
- Beef and Farro Soup
- Oxtail Soup
- Green Pea and Ham Soup
- Vegetable Soup
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Mussel Soup
Podcast Episode About Making Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this soup, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Easy Chicken and Dumpling Soup Recipe
- Prep Time: 0 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 5–6 servings 1x
- Category: Soup
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
This Chicken and Dumpling Soup has the dumplings that I grew up eating. They’re somewhere between noodle and spatzle, but bigger. It’s pure comfort in a bowl. Yield 10 cups.
Ingredients
- 6 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 2 cups shredded carrot, roughly chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- Small handful of fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 3 boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. baking powder
- 2 eggs
- 4–6 Tbsp. milk
- 6 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
Instructions
- Pour the stock into a large microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for 6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, warm the olive oil and butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the carrot and onion.
- When the microwave is done, add the broth to the pot along with the chicken and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir and cover. Increase heat to high. When it comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer.
- While the broth is coming to a boil, make the dumpling dough in a small bowl by combining the flour with the baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Add the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the parsley and then enough of the milk to make a stiff wet dough.
- Stir the soup and get it to a really low simmer. Drop the dough into the soup by the teaspoonful, dropping them all around the pot so they’re far apart and less likely to stick together. Don’t stir for 30 seconds and then stir gently.
- Increase heat to a stronger simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until dumplings are cooked through, 3-4 minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add the whipping cream. Serve.
Love this recipe? I’d appreciate it if you could scroll down and add a *5 star rating* to help others know they’ll love it as well!
This post originally appeared in December 2014 and was revised and republished in December 2022.
These dumpling are just like my mothers. I can’t wait to try them
Wonderful! Enjoy, Kathleen!
I followed this recipe to a T and it was horrible. So incredibly bland. Even when I added extra salt. Save yourself the time, money and disappointment and choose a different recipe.
Sally, I’m sorry you didn’t like this recipe. I make it all the time and find it to have enough salt for sure. Perhaps were you hoping for other seasonings to be in the mix? I can recommend trying the addition of 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme or rosemary. That would be really good!
I’ve never made soup before and it was so easy!! I can’t say it was clean, but i managed. Only thing I would change, is the intake on salt, I felt like the receipt didn’t have enough salt, but that’s up to each person.
Thanks for sharing with us, Nicole!
Can I roll out the dough, cut it in small strips instead of dropped by tsp
This dumpling dough is soft and sticky (see video) which is why is works better to be dropped in. Enjoy!
This was my first time making chicken and dumpling soup (I’m a college student) and it turned out so good! Thanks for the recipe! I’m going to give it to my sick neighbor and hope it makes her feel better :)
Olivia, I’m really delighted that you like it so much and how sweet to give it to your sick neighbor. Very kind!
Just wanted to take the time to say Thanks! This is as close as it gets to my grandma’s recipe. I’ve been looking for a long time thru recipes with no luck. I made it today, took one taste and was in my grandmothers kitchen. ❤️️
Kathy, Oh wow! That means so much to me. I’m really touched that you liked it and that it brought back good memories. I love when food does that. xo
My mother made these same Dumplings growing up, I have made them for years and my children wanted to learn how to make them. They are the best I have ever eaten.
Nancy, That’s so great to hear. I love them too. Such comfort food!
I want to make this soup but the directions aren’t visible for me. Could you email me the recipe or repost the directions?
Thank you.
Rachel, I am so so sorry. Somehow the directions had been deleted. I re-typed them in and they’re there now. Let me know how it turns out for you!
I made this for dinner tonight. My husband had been craving chicken and dumplings. This really hit the spot for him. He’s already requested it be put into rotation for another dinner.
Thanks for the recipe.
Great recipe! I tried it a while ago and my kids liked it. I liked it as well, very appetizing and easy to serve. I’m glad that I found your blog. Thanks for the inspirations.
Julieane, Thank you so much for trying my recipe and letting me know how you liked it. This one is so comforting. I’m glad you all enjoyed it!
Thanks Sheila! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday season!
This sounds divine! I can see this making an appearance this week for lunch! :)
Thanks Katie! I feel like making some right now, actually :)