A Hearty Chicken Stew with Dumplings: Comfort Food Made Simple
There are few meals as satisfying, warm, and cozy as a bowl of chicken stew topped with soft, fluffy dumplings. Packed with tender chicken, nutritious vegetables, and topped with doughy goodness, it’s the ultimate comfort food for chilly nights. And the best part? It’s easy to make! You don’t need fancy ingredients or cooking skills to whip up this family favorite. Follow this simple recipe and create a hearty meal that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Creating chicken stew with dumplings doesn’t require anything complicated. Most of the ingredients can be found in your kitchen or easily picked up at the grocery store. Here’s what you need:
For the Chicken Stew:
- 2 tablespoons of oil (vegetable or olive oil)
- 1 pound (450g) of chicken (boneless thighs or breasts work well)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
- 2 celery stalks, sliced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 cups (1 liter) of chicken broth
- 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
- 1 cup of frozen peas
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme (or 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme)
- 1 bay leaf
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (for thickening)
For the Dumplings:
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons of baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley (optional)
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2 tablespoons of butter or oil (melted)
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken Stew
Start by cooking the chicken. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large pot over medium heat. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the pot and cook until it’s golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Don’t worry about cooking it all the way through; it will finish cooking in the stew later. Once done, remove the chicken from the pot and set it aside.
In the same pot, add chopped onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes until they soften and become fragrant. Stir occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the bottom.
Now, add the 2 tablespoons of flour to the vegetables. Stir well until the flour blends with the mixture. This step helps thicken the stew as it cooks.
Pour in the chicken broth slowly, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add the diced potatoes, dried thyme, and bay leaf to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Add the cooked chicken back into the pot along with the frozen peas. Simmer everything together for another 10-15 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Be sure to taste your stew and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
2. Make the Dumpling Dough
While the stew simmers, it’s time to prepare your dumplings. In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. If you like a touch of herbiness, add 1/2 teaspoon of dried parsley.
Next, add the milk and melted butter to the dry ingredients. Stir gently until a dough forms. Be careful not to over-mix; you want the dough to stay soft so the dumplings remain fluffy.
3. Cook the Dumplings
Once your stew is ready and bubbling away, it’s time to add the dumplings. Use a spoon to scoop small portions of the dough (about 1-2 tablespoons each) and drop them gently onto the surface of the hot stew. Leave space between each dumpling, as they’ll expand while cooking.
Cover the pot with a lid and let the dumplings cook for about 15 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time—steam is what helps the dumplings puff up and cook through.
After 15 minutes, check to ensure the dumplings are firm and fluffy. If they’re cooked, your hearty chicken stew is ready to serve!
Serving and Enjoying
Ladle the chicken stew and dumplings into bowls and serve while it’s hot. You can garnish it with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or a side of crusty bread for an extra treat. This dish is perfect on its own and doesn’t need much else to shine.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: No fancy techniques or expensive items—just wholesome food you likely already have.
- One-Pot Wonder: Everything cooks in one pot, which means fewer dishes to clean!
- Customizable: Add or swap veggies based on what you have, or season it differently to suit your taste.
- Comfort Food: The combination of tender chicken, flavorful broth, and fluffy dumplings is hard to beat.
This hearty chicken stew with dumplings is more than just a recipe—it’s a hug in a bowl! Whether you’re cooking for your family or just yourself, this warm and filling dish will never disappoint. Give it a try, and enjoy a homemade meal filled with love and flavor!
