Description
Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings create comfort through Southern culinary tradition. Home cooks can easily recreate restaurant flavors with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques you’ll love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless, about 1 lb or 454 g)
- 6 cups (1.4 L) chicken broth
- 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (237 mL) + 2 tbsps milk
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 2 tbsps butter
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 medium onion (halved)
- 2 ribs celery (halved)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Fresh herbs (parsley or thyme, optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Broth Preparation: Combine chicken broth, celery, and onion in a large stockpot, gently heating until the liquid reaches a delicate simmer.
- Chicken Poaching: Submerge whole chicken breasts in the simmering liquid, cooking until the meat becomes fork-tender and reaches 165°F (74°C), approximately 15-18 minutes.
- Meat Preparation: Transfer chicken to a cutting board and shred into delicate, bite-sized pieces using two forks, keeping warm while preparing subsequent components.
- Dumpling Mixture: In a mixing bowl, blend all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually incorporate milk, stirring until the mixture forms a soft, slightly tacky dough with a consistent texture.
- Dough Handling: Dust a work surface with flour and roll out the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Slice the rolled dough into uniform 1-inch squares using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
- Dumpling Cooking: Carefully drop dough squares into the simmering broth, avoiding overlap. Cover and allow to cook for 12-15 minutes until the dumplings become puffy and fully cooked.
- Final Assembly: Gently reintroduce shredded chicken to the pot, stirring to distribute evenly. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, and optionally stir in unsalted butter for added richness.
- Serving: Ladle the aromatic chicken and dumplings into serving bowls, ensuring each portion is generously portioned. Garnish with finely chopped fresh herbs for an elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Temperature Control: Keep broth at a gentle simmer to prevent tough chicken and prevent dumplings from becoming rubbery during cooking.
- Chicken Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe, perfectly tender meat that shreds easily.
- Dumpling Technique: Handle dough minimally to maintain tenderness; overworking can create dense, chewy dumplings instead of light, fluffy ones.
- Broth Enhancement: Optional butter adds richness and depth, transforming the dish from simple to restaurant-quality comfort food.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 44 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg