Description
Dolly Parton’s Chicken and Dumplings is a classic Southern comfort food made by simmering a whole chicken with simple aromatics to create a flavorful homemade broth, then adding tender rolled dumplings and shredded chicken.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken, about 3 pounds
- 2 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
- 1 onion, peeled and left whole
- 1/4 cup celery leaves
- 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening
- 3/4 cup milk
Instructions
- Place the whole chicken in a large pot and cover with water. Add the onion, celery leaves, peppercorns, and salt.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently until the chicken is fully cooked, very tender, and the meat pulls easily away from the bones.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool until safe to handle. Strain the broth, discarding the cooked onion, celery leaves, peppercorns, and other solids. Return the strained broth to the pot.
- Remove the chicken meat from the bones and shred or tear it into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, remaining salt, and baking soda. Cut in the shortening until the mixture has a crumbly consistency.
- Gradually add the milk and mix until a dough forms. Knead gently just until the dough is smooth and workable.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Roll it out evenly and cut it into rustic squares.
- Bring the strained chicken broth to a gentle simmer. Carefully add the dumpling squares, separating them as needed to prevent sticking.
- Simmer the dumplings for about 10 minutes, or until tender, slightly plumped, and cooked through in the center.
- Return the shredded chicken to the pot and heat gently until warmed through. Taste, adjust the seasoning if needed, and serve hot.
Notes
- A whole chicken creates both the tender meat and homemade broth that give this recipe its traditional flavor.
- Avoid over-kneading the dumpling dough, as too much handling can make the dumplings tough.
- Roll the dumplings to a relatively even thickness so they cook at approximately the same rate.
- Keep the broth at a gentle simmer after adding the dumplings rather than using a vigorous boil.
- Leftover dumplings will continue absorbing broth in the refrigerator, so add a little chicken broth or water when reheating if needed.
- Nutrition values are estimates and can vary depending on the chicken, portion size, and amount of broth consumed.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1080 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg