Mamaw’s Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Get cozy on a cold fall or winter’s night with this easy Southern chicken and dumplings recipe straight from the kitchen of a Southern grandma.
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I was reared on the Southern chicken and dumplings of a lady named Ms. Dot, who was basically the community baby-sitter. After I grew up, years went by and I snubbed my nose at plate after plate of chicken and dumplings because they simply did not match the culinary goodness of what I remember as a kid. That is, until I met Mamaw.
Mamaw is my husband’s grandmother and she loves to feed people. She takes offense if you show up at her house not hungry. Back when The Husband was still just The Boyfriend, he decided things were getting serious enough between us to meet Mamaw. When we met, she set a plate of chicken and dumplings down in front of me. I just knew I probably wouldn’t like them, but there was no way I was going to break this little old lady’s heart by turning down her food. So, I gingerly raised a fork to my lips and took a bite.
Oh glorious rapture in heaven! Finally, someone who knew how to make the Southern chicken and dumplings of my childhood! Shortly after The Husband and I got married, I went to her house with the sole purpose of learning her recipe. Of course, there was no recipe. It was “a little bit of this” and “a little bit of that.” I watched, frantically jotted down notes, and listened to her stories of growing up on a farm in south Mississippi. Later, I went home and made it again, this time writing down measurements, cooking times, and adding my own touches.
Make the Dumplings
I prefer my dumplings to be like thick, flat noodles. In order for them to keep their shape an hold up during cooking, they will need to try out for a few hours. I always make the dumplings first, then let them sit out at room temperature to “dry” while I cook the chicken and make the broth.
To make the dumplings, you’ll need two cups of self-rising flour, four tablespoons of shortening (like Crisco), and 1/3 cup of ice-cold water in a large mixing bowl. Mix the flour and shortening together, breaking the shortening into smaller pieces, until you have small pea sized pieces of shortening mixed evenly throughout the flour.
Next, stir in 1/3 cup of ice-cold water. Start mixing until the dough comes together and pulls away from the side of the bowl. You may need to add additional water, but do so 1-2 tablespoons at a time to make sure you don’t add too much.
Turn the dumpling dough out onto a floured surface like a large cutting board. Knead the dough with your hands 2-3 times. Then flatten the dough out into a disk and start rolling it out until it’s about 1/8-inch thick. Then start cutting the dumplings into strips that measure 1-inch wide and about 2-inche long. I find it’s easiest to use a pizza cutter to do this, but a sharp knife will also get the job done. Once you’ve cut the dumplings, set them aside.
How to Freeze the Dumplings for Later
Uncooked dumplings freeze beautifully! Arrange your cut dumpling in a single layer on a foil lined baking sheet. Place the entire sheet on a flat surface in the freezer and leave them overnight or until the dumplings are frozen solid. Carefully place the frozen dumplings in a large freezer bag, squeeze out the air, seal the bag and place them back in the freezer. The dumplings can be frozen for up to three months.
Make the Chicken Broth
I like to use dark meat chicken, such as chicken thighs, because they have more flavor. Using a sharp knife, I remove and discard the skin from four large chicken thighs. I place them in a stock pot and cover them with eight cups of cold water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
Remove the chicken from the water and set aside to cool. Once the chicken is cool enough to touch, remove the meat from the bones and shred it.
Cook the Dumplings
Bring your broth to a simmer over medium to medium-low heat. Too rapid of a boil will quickly overcook your dumplings, so we want to start out slow. Add the dumplings, one at a time. Allow the dumplings to boil in the broth for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
If you’re using previously frozen dumplings, I do find it’s better to cook them from their frozen state rather than thawing them. They tend to fall apart if thawed first. Follow the instructions above, but you will have to allow the dumplings to cook for just a little longer.
Add your cooked, shredded chicken to the pot along with one teaspoon of garlic powder. Cook for an additional five minutes until everything is heated through. Remove the pot from the burner and add salt and pepper if to taste. Allow the chicken and dumpling to set for 15 minutes before serving.
How to Reheat Leftover Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Leftover chicken and dumplings should be cooled completely before transferring them to an airtight container with a lid. Consume leftovers within four days. Because the dumplings will continue to soak up all the broth, you will need to add some additional chicken broth to reheat. Simply place the chicken and dumplings in a saucepan, add about one cup of chicken broth, and reheat over medium heat. Feel free to add more chicken broth if needed to reach your desired consistency.
I don’t recommend freezing chicken and dumplings once they’ve been cooked. The texture of the dumplings changes and they become grainy and mushy.
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Mamaw’s Southern Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
For the dumplings:
- 2 cups self-rising flour
- 4 tablespoons shortening softened
- 1/3 – 2/3 cups ice water
For the broth:
- 4 large chicken thighs skin removed
- 8 cups water
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
For the Dumplings:
- Mix the flour and shortening together, breaking the shortening into smaller pieces, until you have small pea sized pieces of shortening mixed evenly throughout the flour.
- Stir in 1/3 cup of the water. Start mixing until the dough comes together and pulls away from the side of the bowl. You may need to add additional water, but do so 1-2 tablespoons at a time.
- Turn the dumpling dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough with your hands 2-3 times.
- Flatten the dough out into a disk and start rolling it out until it’s about 1/8-inchthick.
- Cut the dumplings into strips that measure 1-inch wide and about 2-inches long. Set them aside and let them dry at room temperature for two hours or up to four hours.
For the broth:
- Place the chicken in a large stock pot. Cover with the water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover the pot and cook for 20-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and allow it to cool until you can handle it. Remove the chicken meat from the bone and shred the meat.
- Reserve the broth.
To make the chicken and dumplings:
- Bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat.
- Add the dumplings one at a time. Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cooked shredded chicken and garlic powder. Cook for an additional five minutes until heated through.
- Remove the chicken and dumplings from the heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Allow the chicken and dumplings to rest for 15 minutes before serving.
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I’m from Canada but lived in California for a period of time had a friend from Alabama
heard about chicken and dumplings but never tasted them.
Is this a side dish with vegetables? I make dumplings with beef stew, the receipt is almost the same but it sticky and drop into the stew by the spoon.
I learned from the very best our moma & she learned from her mom ,moma being from St. Louis she’d make the Missouri slicks the very best by far same basic recipe here but she’d always took out 2cups of broth & let it cool milk was use in recipe but if more liquid was needed she’d say broth was better & rolling out to about 1/8th thick cutting strips into long straps then cutting into 3’s drop into broth stir they will float to top when done continue till done stir turn add chicken cover turn heat way down to simmer. It’s now our comfort food
I make my moms chicken and dumplings recipe. She boil’s a couple of chicken breast and used the broth to drop the dumplings. Her dumplings are made pretty much the same way. She cut hers with a knife, I use a pizza cutter. I drop them in the broth cook until dumplings float to top,…done, delish!
Thanks, Cheryl! The package I use is the 24 ounce Value Pack.
This sounds just like my grandmother’s recipe. We’ve all struggled with the dumplings and I can’t wait to try the freezer variety. What size dumpling package do you use for one fryer? Economy or Family?
Hi Susan, yes you can definitely just drop the dough in. My family prefers the dumplings like big noodles, that’s why I cut them.
Have you ever just dropped the dough in the boiling chicken broth without rolling out the dough? I misplaced my recipe and it wouldn’t be convenient to roll them out as I am traveling to a family reunion and will have a time restraint?
Thank you for the tip, Pat! One of my goals for the New Year is to master homemade dumplings.
My mother was raised in a poor sharecroppers family. She learned to make dumplings very simply. To each cup of flour add 1/2 tsp salt. Add enough milk and salt and pepper to make a sticky bread like mass. Use lots of flour to keep it from sticking. Roll out very thin and cut in 2 to 3 inch long strips, about 1 inch wide and drop them 1 at a time in the boiling broth. Some of them will melt into the broth and some will cook very quickly. If u drop them slowly enough they won’t stick together. In a pinch u can use flour tortillas. They are ready to eat almost when u put the last one in. I usually use 2 cups of flour for my bunch and 1 chicken, boiled. Very good.old times recipe.
How about home made dumplings?