Chicken and Dumpling Soup (Easy Recipe)

Recipe updated: April 16th, 2024

I love this classic chicken and dumpling soup and so will you! It’s a simple chicken soup recipe to prepare, with plenty of homemade dumplings and shredded rotisserie chicken in every bite.

It also has the best flavor that any chicken and dumplings soup can have. Furthermore, it’s perfect for those cold winter evenings when all you want to do is warm up. However, this delicious soup is not just for winter time, it can be served any time of the year.

For another comforting meal like this dumplings recipe, try our sweet and spicy ground beef chili made in the instant pot, but it can also be made on the stove. Or our hamburger soup with cabbage and potatoes, or maybe something you have never eaten, our milk soup with dumplings.

With basic ingredients such as flour, salt, shortening, and of course water already in your kitchen, all you need to buy at the grocery store is chicken, chicken broth, and celery.

🥣 Key Ingredients

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon of table salt
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 9 tablespoons very cold water
• 3 quarts of low sodium chicken broth – (32 ounces each)
• 1 quart of water
• 1 Rotisserie chicken
• 2 celery sticks, diced

👩‍🍳 How to Make Chicken and Dumpling Soup

These step-by-step instructions are accompanied by detailed photos for enhanced clarity and guidance.

Step 1. Prepare the Dumplings

In a large bowl, use a spoon or spatula to stir 2 cups of flour together with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 cup of shortening, and about 9 tablespoons of very cold water until well blended.

Step 2. Form a Ball with the Dough

Then, using your hands, shape the flour mixture to form a ball. Also, the dough should not stick to your hands, but if it does, put a dusting of flour on them.

Step 3. Place the Ball of Dough on a Working Surface

Put the dough on a cutting board or a clean countertop that is sprinkled with a dusting of flour.

Step 4. Roll out the Dough

Then, flatten out the dough. The best way to do that is to use a rolling pin.

Step 5. Cut the Dumpling Dough into Squares

Next, cut the dough into small squares about 1 and a half inches in size, although none of the squares have to be the same size. We are now going to call these little squares dumplings. Set the dumplings aside for now.

Tip: Using a pizza cutter works fantastic to cut the dough into dumplings.

Step 6. Prepare the Soup Base

Wash the celery and then dice it. Turn the burner on high heat. In a large pot, pour 3 quarts of low sodium chicken broth together with 1 quart of water, then add the diced celery. Bring the soup base mixture to a boil.

Step 7. Add the Dumplings to the Soup Base

With a spoon, drop dumplings, one at a time, into the soup base, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat to medium-high heat or medium heat, depending on how hot your stove gets. Keep an eye on the soup, so the liquid doesn’t boil over the top of the pot.

Cook the dumplings in the chicken broth liquid for about 12 minutes on medium or medium-high heat. Continue to stir the dumplings occasionally so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

Step 8. Prepare the Chicken

This recipe uses a rotisserie chicken bought from Costco, which is the easiest way to prepare this recipe. Also, I think it is the best chicken to use because of the extra flavor you get with the added seasonings a rotisserie chicken offers. Using one for this recipe brings out a delicious flavor to the soup. But, if you want to cook your chicken at home, you certainly can. Another option when you want to make chicken and dumpling soup is to use any leftover turkey you have from Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

The first step to preparing the cooked chicken is to shred it into pieces and place it in a medium bowl for now. You can pull the chicken apart into bigger chunks if you prefer.

Step 9. Add the Shredded Chicken to the Pot of Dumplings

After the dumplings have cooked for about 12 minutes on medium to medium-high heat, add the shredded cooked chicken to the dumplings and chicken broth liquid.

Step 10. Simmer Until Time to Eat

Reduce heat to a low simmer until you are ready to serve dinner. Any leftovers taste even better the next day.

🌟 Recipe Variations

• Add sliced or diced yellow onions to the soup base.
• Sprinkle some black pepper, fresh parsley, fresh thyme, or any favorite fresh herbs you love on top of the finished soup.
• You don’t have to prepare a whole chicken for this easy chicken dumpling recipe. You can also use any cooked chicken meat, whether it be boiled in water or baked skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

🙋 FAQs

💭 💡 Final Thoughts

This creamy soup is the ultimate comfort food to serve on a cold winter day. Many folks love to sprinkle some ground black pepper on the top of their chicken and dumplings soup. With black pepper’s distinct flavor, and also known as the king of spices, it gives this soup an extra special spicy taste.

A side salad, canned biscuits (or buttered rolls) along with this chicken dumpling soup recipe will make this meal a family favorite for sure. It’s an easy recipe to prepare, with plenty of fluffy dumplings and delicious shredded chicken in a tasty soup base that’s sure to please everyone!

🗂️ Printable Recipe Card

💖 More Great Recipe Ideas You Will Love

• This Korean style ground beef is made with browned lean ground beef, minced garlic, brown sugar, minced ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce, and green onions. Then served over a bed of cooked white rice and topped with sesame seeds.
• The ingredients for ground beef Philly cheesesteak includes red bell peppers, yellow onions, lean ground beef, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and Italian blend shredded cheese all spread on buttered toasted hoagie rolls. So good!
• This chicken and noodle casserole with red peppers also includes cooked macaroni, chopped onions, butter, cream of chicken soup, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and chunks of premium chicken breast baked. It is made in one casserole dish. A delicious meal in itself.