If you have never made your own version of chicken dumpling soup before, it can be tricky knowing what to do and what ingredients to use. This is where we come in – we have pulled together this in-depth guide to the chicken dumpling soup.
Here, you can learn how to make chicken dumpling soup. It’s quite simple and who knows – it may be your new favorite soup recipe! So, check out the guide below and enjoy!
Quick Answer: How To Make Chicken Dumpling Soup
There are two steps to making chicken dumpling soup. First, you need to make your dumplings using self-rising flour, whole milk, butter, and parsley. Then, you must make the rest of the soup with chicken, flour, leeks, carrots, celery, parsnip, seasoning, and garlic.
Stew everything with chicken stock or broth and enjoy this filling, nutritious soup!
It’s actually a traditional American soup dish, born and bred here in the US, even though dumplings are more often associated with Asian dishes from countries like China or Japan.
However, dumplings are actually very common and found in dishes from all over the world including Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. They are also found in a ton of American dishes – including chicken dumpling soup.
Dumplings are cooked dough that sometimes contains a type of filling. Because they are so large, they make up most of the body of the soup – and are the reason why this soup is so hearty and filling.
They bring a soft, delicious texture to the soup and work well alongside the other key ingredient in this soup, chicken.
Chicken is often used in comfort food as it’s soft and tasty, but also very healthy. Not only is it backed with protein but it’s lower in calories compared to other meats like beef or pork.
This makes it an excellent food for improving your muscle growth and helping with weight loss. In this recipe, the chicken is seared which is one of the healthiest cooking techniques used to cook chicken.
So, this helps make chicken dumpling soup super filling and healthy!
Overall, this broth is a warm, comforting dish to serve up during the chilly fall or winter season. It’s packed with nutrients and vitamins so it’s a popular choice of soup to eat whenever you are feeling a little sick.
This again is why so many people view chicken dumpling soup as an ultimate cozy dish!
Chicken dumpling soup can be served as a filling lunch or as part of a larger supper. You can enjoy a bowl of this soup alone or alongside a variety of side dishes (more on that topic later) so it’s very versatile.
If you want to try serving this delicious comfort soup, then all you need to do is follow the recipe below! Check it out now!
Key Ingredients For Chicken Dumpling Soup
Here, we will be listing all the ingredients you will need for a traditional chicken dumpling soup. Check them out below and make sure you have all the ingredients you need before you start cooking!
Dumpling Ingredients
Self-Rising Flour – This recipe will require you to make your very own dumplings. You can purchase them pre-made but if you want to make your own, you will need 1 ¾ cup of self-rising flour.
Whole Milk – Whole milk is a key ingredient needed to make dumplings. For this recipe, you will need ¾ cup and a further separate 2 tablespoons of whole milk.
Butter – 2 ½ tablespoons of melted butter are required to make your dumplings soft and tasty.
Parsley – The dumplings in this version of chicken dumpling soup are packed with herbs for additional flavor. Here, we will be using 1 tablespoon of parsley. Make sure that the parsley is finely chopped before you measure it out and that the tablespoon is heaping!
Chicken Soup Ingredients
Chicken – Of course, if you want to make chicken dumpling soup, you are going to need chicken. This recipe uses 6 chicken thighs (with the skin left on and the bone still in) but this can be easily swapped out for some chicken breasts or scraps of leftover chicken from previous meals.
Chicken Stock or Chicken Broth – This ingredient is vital for providing the liquid to your chicken dumpling soup. You will need at least 8 cups of either chicken stock or chicken broth.
Flour – Flour is added to the soup to help thicken it. This recipe requires 3 tablespoons of flour.
Leeks – Leeks are a great vegetable to serve alongside chicken so it’s no surprise to see them included in this recipe. You will only need 2 small leeks for this recipe and only use the white parts. Clean and quarter them in preparation, then finely chop them up.
Carrots – Another classic vegetable often used in soups is carrots. For this recipe, you will need to gather 3 small carrots, peel and slice them up in preparation.
Celery – Celery works great in chicken soup recipes. For this recipe, take 2 ribs of celery and dice them up into tiny cubes.
Parsnip – This root vegetable works well in lots of different soups. You will only need 1 small parsnip for this soup but remember to peel and dice it up ready.
Garlic – Garlic is a classic ingredient used to enhance the flavor of a lot of meals – including chicken dumpling soup. Here, you will need 3 cloves of garlic. Press them through a garlic press beforehand.
Butter – Butter is used to soften the chicken before it is added to the soup. You will need 1 tablespoon of butter for this recipe.
Seasoning – There are a lot of different seasonings you will need for this recipe. Some are used to season the chicken, others the soup itself.
Here is a condensed list of what you will need:
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon of white pepper
Salt
Black pepper
Herbs – Herbs are also added to the soup to bring some more delicious flavor. You will need 1 tablespoon of parsley (chopped finely) and a single teaspoon of thyme leaves.
Chicken Dumpling Soup Recipe
Once you have gathered all of the ingredients listed above and you have also prepared them all ready for cooking, then you can start following this chicken dumpling recipe!
To begin, you will be cooking your chicken thighs. Place them on a large plate and season them generously with salt and black pepper.
Then, place your large pot and add the tablespoon of butter. Turn up the heat to a medium-high to allow the butter to melt and you can start searing the chicken. Set the chicken skin down and sear them until the skin is golden brown.
This should take about 3 to 6 minutes on each side.
Once your chicken thighs are fully seared, remove them from the pot and place them back on the plate. Add your vegetables (carrots, parsnip, celery, and leeks) to the pot and saute them in the remaining butter and chicken fat.
Add the remaining seasoning and garlic, stirring well to mix them into the vegetables. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and continue stirring.
Once everything is mixed well, it’s time to pour in the chicken stock to create your soup base. Remember to whisk the soup well to avoid any lump bits from the flour.
Bring the soup base to a simmer and add the seared chicken thighs back into the pot (you should also pour in any juices collected on the plate for extra flavor).
Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and leave the soup to simmer for around 20 minutes.
Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and place them onto a cutting board. Once they are cool enough to touch, remove the skins and bones from the chicken. Shred the remaining chicken and throw it back into the pot.
While your soup continues to cook, it’s time to make your herb dumplings.
Gather all the ingredients you need for your dumplings and mix them all together in a large mixing bowl. This will create a thick batter.
Bring your soup back to either a vigorous simmer or a gentle boil by increasing the heat. Using a large spoon, drop a scoop of dumpling batter into the soup. The batter will immediately ‘puff up’ and become dumplings!
Once you have added all the batter to the soup, cover it once more and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Do not stir the soup and just let the dumplings cook until they are light and tender.
Your chicken dumpling soup will be ready for serving after these 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining herbs just before you are ready to ladle out your soup into your bowls – and you are done!
Final Thoughts
Making chicken dumpling soup may sound complicated at first as there are a lot of ingredients you need to gather and a lot of steps to follow in any chicken dumpling soup recipe.
However, the end result is definitely worth it – a comforting, cozy soup that is packed with nutrients and tasty ingredients. It’s filling and tasty and perfect for those chilly days when you don’t feel like yourself.
We hope that the guide above is just what you were looking for. We have included an easy but detailed recipe for chicken dumpling soup so you can make the tastiest version of this classic dish as quickly as possible. Try it out and good luck! Happy cooking!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can You Serve With Chicken Dumpling Soup?
Chicken dumpling soup is a pretty filling meal all on its own but there are still plenty of satisfying side dishes you can serve alongside it.
The obvious choice is bread. Some warm buttery rolls are perfect for soaking up the thick liquid of this soup and for filling up your hungry stomach. They are tasty and satisfying and perfect for serving with soups and broths!
You can try other similar sides like cornbread or biscuits. These are also great for soaking up the leftover liquids of soup so that not a drop of your hard work goes to waste. They are very similar in consistency to bread but are softer and sweeter.
Mashed potatoes are an unusual but effective side dish for chicken dumplings too.
You can also try similar carb-filled side dishes like rice or orzo as these are super filling.
These are sometimes even added to chicken dumplings soup to make them especially thick – but we prefer them served as a side dish as we believe that when added to the soup, they can sometimes take away from the texture of the dumplings.
Alternatively, you can try serving a hearty salad alongside your chicken dumpling soup to provide a variety of textures, flavors, and nutrients.
Because chicken dumpling soup works great as a cozy pick-me-up whenever you are feeling sick, adding more vegetables to the meal just makes sense.
Some great examples include Brussels sprouts, green beans, asparagus, spinach, or cabbage.
These vegetables can be steamed, boiled, caramelized, or roasted – whatever cooking method works for you! This means you have a lot of choices open to you when it comes to serving vegetable sides with your chicken dumpling soup.
How Can You Store Chicken Dumpling Soup For Later?
If you have made too much chicken dumpling soup then don’t worry – it can easily be stored and saved for another day!
In fact, it’s possible to make parts of your chicken dumpling soup in advance. The soup base can be made and stored a day or two before you make the dumplings. When you are reheating the soup base, you just add the dumpling batter in as normal!
This method actually allows the soup to develop a stronger flavor as it will thicken over time. If you prefer a thicker soup, this is a good method to try – or just add more flour to the broth for a thicker consistency.
If you still have some soup left over, then all you need to do is move the soup to an airtight container once it has cooled. Then, store it in a refrigerator and eat it within three days.
Because the soup contains cooked meat (the chicken), it needs to be stored in the refrigerator for it to last longer. Keeping the soup at room temperature will only cause it to go bad sooner and make it unsafe to eat!
Alternatively, you can freeze your chicken dumpling soup and eat the rest at a much later date. Frozen chicken dumpling soup can last up to 3 months in the freezer.
When you are ready to eat it again, allow it to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it and serving it!
To begin, you will be cooking your chicken thighs. Place them on a large plate and season them generously with salt and black pepper.
Then, place your large pot and add the tablespoon of butter. Turn up the heat to a medium-high to allow the butter to melt and you can start searing the chicken. Set the chicken skin down and sear them until the skin is golden brown.
This should take about 3 to 6 minutes on each side.
Once your chicken thighs are fully seared, remove them from the pot and place them back on the plate. Add your vegetables (carrots, parsnip, celery, and leeks) to the pot and saute them in the remaining butter and chicken fat.
Add the remaining seasoning and garlic, stirring well to mix them into the vegetables. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and continue stirring.
Once everything is mixed well, it’s time to pour in the chicken stock to create your soup base. Remember to whisk the soup well to avoid any lump bits from the flour.
Bring the soup base to a simmer and add the seared chicken thighs back into the pot (you should also pour in any juices collected on the plate for extra flavor).
Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and leave the soup to simmer for around 20 minutes.
Remove the chicken thighs from the pot and place them onto a cutting board. Once they are cool enough to touch, remove the skins and bones from the chicken. Shred the remaining chicken and throw it back into the pot.
While your soup continues to cook, it’s time to make your herb dumplings.
Gather all the ingredients you need for your dumplings and mix them all together in a large mixing bowl. This will create a thick batter.
Bring your soup back to either a vigorous simmer or a gentle boil by increasing the heat. Using a large spoon, drop a scoop of dumpling batter into the soup. The batter will immediately ‘puff up’ and become dumplings!
Once you have added all the batter to the soup, cover it once more and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Do not stir the soup and just let the dumplings cook until they are light and tender.
Your chicken dumpling soup will be ready for serving after these 20 minutes. Stir in the remaining herbs just before you are ready to ladle out your soup into your bowls – and you are done!
Hey! I’m Lana, the original Soup Chick! I decided to create this website as I am a massive soup fan. I will literally make soup for every occasion. Whether a friend is under the weather, has the flu, or I just want to try out something new in my slow cooker!
I hope that you can find some really interesting and different soup recipes to try out with my site. I know I’ve had a lot of fun curating and trying them all, and I hope that you do too!
