Chicken Soup with Fluffy Dumplings (Printable version)
A classic comfort dish with tender chicken, fresh vegetables, and pillowy dumplings in savory broth.
# Ingredient List:
→ For the Soup
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 medium onion, diced
03 - 2 carrots, sliced
04 - 2 celery stalks, sliced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1 teaspoon dried parsley
08 - 1 bay leaf
09 - 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
10 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
11 - 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 - 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
13 - 1 cup frozen peas
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ For the Fluffy Dumplings
15 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
16 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
17 - ½ teaspoon salt
18 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
19 - ½ cup whole milk
20 - 1 large egg
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, sliced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables begin to soften.
02 - Stir in minced garlic, dried thyme, dried parsley, bay leaf, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes to develop flavor.
04 - Add shredded cooked chicken and frozen peas to the broth. Simmer for 5 additional minutes.
05 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk melted butter, milk, and egg together. Combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring gently until just combined without overmixing.
06 - Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dumpling batter onto the simmering soup surface. Cover pot with a lid and cook for 18 to 20 minutes without removing the lid, until dumplings are puffed and cooked through.
07 - Remove bay leaf from the soup. Stir in fresh chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
08 - Ladle soup and dumplings into serving bowls and serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The dumplings puff up like little clouds and soak up just enough broth to create the perfect spoonful every time.
- You can throw this together with a rotisserie chicken on busy weeknights, and the leftovers taste even better the next day when all the flavors meld together.
02 -
- Never, ever lift the lid while the dumplings cook, or theyll deflate and become dense instead of fluffy.
- Adding the peas right before the dumplings ensures they stay bright green and maintain a slight pop when you bite into them.
03 -
- Save Parmesan rinds in your freezer and toss one into the simmering broth for an incredible depth of flavor without any noticeable cheese taste.
- For extra-fluffy dumplings, chill your mixing bowl before combining the dumpling ingredients it helps keep the butter from melting too quickly.