Chicken and Dumpling Soup

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/22/21
chicken and dumpling soup

The Spruce / Leah Maroney
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Yield: 1 pot
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
477 Calories
18g Fat
39g Carbs
40g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 477
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 22%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 133mg 44%
Sodium 1604mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 40g
Vitamin C 4mg 19%
Calcium 108mg 8%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 525mg 11%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Chicken and dumpling soup is a lighter version of classic chicken and dumplings that's still creamy, hearty, and satisfying. The homemade dumplings are a breeze to make and are the perfect pillowy texture in this soup. We cooked the chicken in the soup, but if you have leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken on hand, you can always use that instead. 

Add in other vegetables like celery or mushrooms if you like. You can even leave out the chicken, swap it for veggies, and use vegetable broth for a vegetarian soup. Serve with a green salad and crusty bread for an easy, warming feast.

Ingredients

For the Dumplings:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 3 tablespoons butter, cold, cubed

  • 3/4 cup milk

For the Soup:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 1 onion, diced

  • 2 carrots, diced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast

  • 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 6 cups chicken broth

  • 1 bay leaf

  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Steps to Make It

Make the Dumplings

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt to a large bowl. Stir together.

    flour mixed in a bowl for dumplings

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  3. Add the cubed butter and use a pastry blender or two forks to cut the butter into the flour and create pea-sized pieces of butter that are dispersed through the flour.

    flour and butter mixed with a pastry blender

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  4. Stir the milk into the flour mixture using a wooden spoon until the mixture forms a ball. Knead a little bit with your hands until it comes all together.

    dumpling dough mixed in a bowl

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  5. Roll the ball out into a flat sheet on a well-floured surface.

    dumpling dough rolled into a flat sheet

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  6. Cut the dough into 1-inch squares using a pizza cutter or sharp knife. Set them aside while you prepare the soup.

    dumpling dough cut into squares

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

Make the Soup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    chicken soup ingredients

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  2. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a large dutch oven and heat over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes, or until the onions are fragrant and barely softened. Remove from the pot and set aside, leaving as much oil behind as you can.

    sauteed carrots and onions in a pot

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  3. Turn the heat to high and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the pot followed by the cubed chicken and salt and pepper. Leave the chicken undisturbed and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and finish cooking on the other side, another 2 minutes. 

    chicken browned in a pot

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  4. Add in the chicken broth, bay leaf, and the cooked carrot and onion mixture. Heat on medium heat until simmering.

    simmering chicken broth

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  5. Once simmer, add the dumplings a few at a time until they’re all in the pot. Cook for a few minutes, stirring gently so they don’t stick together. Make sure to not shake off the excess flour from the dumplings when you’re adding them in. The extra flour will help thicken the soup.

    chicken dumplings cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  6. Cook on medium-low heat for another 5 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.

    chicken and dumpling soup in a pot

    The Spruce / Leah Maroney

  7. Top with chopped parsley and serve immediately.

    chicken and dumpling soup

    The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney

How to Store

  • Store leftover, cooled soup in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
  • The soup can also be frozen for up to two months, just freeze portions in freezer bags and make sure to lay them flat in the freezer. Add the frozen soup to a pot with a cup of chicken broth and heat until hot.