Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings
I love this Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings and have since I was a young girl. I might have modified it a bit over the years but it’s still my mom’s recipe handed down from her mom. It’s a family tradition!
Time sure flies, especially in the month of February; it’s almost OVER? Didn’t it just start? So this month’s Progressive Eats event is upon us a bit earlier than normal but I’m thinking it’s perfect timing. Except for the heartless person bragging today about living in ‘SoCal’ because they are not dealing with snow, most of us are in the middle of winter. And when I’m in the middle of snow and cold, there is nothing I crave more than this Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings.
Snow, sleet, ice, windchill; words we are hearing too often. Freezing cold and too much snow are wrecking havoc out East and I feel lucky we’ve only just received 8 inches of snow, but still, it’s winter, it’s cold and it’s time to say Soup’s On!
This months’ event is being hosted by Lauren Keating from the blog Healthy. Delicious. My contribution to this event is healthy because Chicken Soup is magical. Seriously. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement but it has been proven to have positive health benefits; my version is chock full of veggies and that it tastes so warm and satisfying is why I think it’s so good for you! Without a doubt my favorite soup and I know this for a fact; it is certainly delicious!
My grandmother first made this Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings and then my mother before me and I’ve been cooking it for years. I’ve made some slight variations of my own; the peas, mushrooms, white wine and balsamic vinegar are ingredients I thought could only elevate a fabulous soup with a layering of additional flavors. The decision to brown the chicken is a good one but still, it’s just a modification of what has always been an old and comforting favorite.
Sick? This is my tried and true dish for friends that are under the weather; I have a feeling some will even fake a cold if it means I pull out the stockpot and make chicken and dumplings for them!
Though I typically make this soup using freshly purchased chicken, it’s also a great way to use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving; either prepare the soup and include chopped up pieces from your leftovers or put some bone in pieces into the stock and cook long enough for the meat to fall off the bone. Believe me, turkey and dumpling soup is equally delicious! I’ll use a whole chicken, cut up parts or this time around, boneless thighs. Have to tell you; I loved them. SO easy once it was done to just pull the meat apart and not deal with bones. It is definitely my new favorite!
True confession? I use Bisquick for the dumplings. It is the only reason I buy it. Sure, I could make my own biscuit mix but Bisquick has never failed me and the truth is I hesitate to try anything else for fear I won’t like them and will have used some of my precious soup for a trial that did not work. If you have a great recipe; please leave it in the comments; I might try something that comes highly recommended! I like dumplings that are light and fluffy and just absorb a bit of the surrounding soup. Umm um, good!
The hardest part of making soup for the blog is taking the time to write down ingredients; I doubt I make it the same each time, but this time I paid attention and the result was outstanding so I think we’re good to go. Another thing I do that my Grandma did not. I make the soup using chicken stock, not water. If made with water I’ve simply made stock…so if serving as soup it needs to be richer so the addition of stock to the mix makes a huge difference. Try it, you’ll see!
Soups On! Visit my friends for more fabulous dishes for a soup themed dinner!
Soups
Lamb and Barley Soup from Healthy Delicious
Sausage, Pepper and Bean Soup from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Creole Black Eyed Pea Soup from Never Enough Thyme
Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings from Creative Culinary (You’re Here!)
Watercress and Buttermilk Vichysoisse from The Wimpy Vegetarian
Pressure Cooker Chorizo Chicken and Kale Soup from Pressure Cooking Today
Rhode Island Clam Chowder from girlichef
Salads and Breads
Quinoa Beet Kale Apple Walnut Goat Cheese Salad from Jeanette’s Healthy Living
Gado Gado – Indonesian Vegetable Salad from Spice Roots
Buttermilk Herb Rolls from Stetted
Gluten-Free Corn Muffins with Jalapeno and Cheese from The Heritage Cook
Dessert
Berry Soup Dessert Shooters from Miss in the Kitchen
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month’s theme is Soup’s On! and is hosted by Lauren Keating who blogs at Healthy. Delicious. Need some warming up? We can help!
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats, a theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out.
We have a core group of 12 bloggers, but we will always need substitutes and if there is enough interest would consider additional groups. To see our upcoming themes and how you can participate, please check out the schedule at Creative Culinary or contact Barb for more information.
PIN IT! ‘Old Fashioned Chicken Soup with Dumplings’
Chicken Soup with Dumplings
Ingredients
For the seasoned flour:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic salt
For the Soup:
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 1 whole chicken cut into pieces or 8-10 boneless thighs or combination of thighs and breast meat
- 1 large onion diced
- 3-4 large carrots sliced
- 1 cup celery sliced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced (optional)
- 6 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup white wine optional but not really
- 2-3 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 2 Tbsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ teaspoon rosemary leaves crushed
- ½ teaspoon thyme leaves
- ½ tsp Paprika
- 2 Bay leaves
- ½ to 1 cup of frozen peas optional
- ½ cup half and half
For the Dumplings:
- 2 cups baking mix I use Bisquick
- ⅔ cup milk
- 2-3 sprigs of parsley minced (optional but sure attractive!)
Instructions
- Mix ingredients for seasoned flour and put into a shallow dish or plate, holding aside 1/4 cup of mixture.
- Add butter and olive oil to pot and heat on medium until sizzling.
- Make sure chicken has been patted dry; put into seasoned flour mixture and put pieces into pot; do not crowd. Saute a couple of minutes on each side until lightly browned. Remove all pieces and put onto plate. We're just browning, not thoroughly cooking the chicken.
- Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic to pot and saute lightly for about 5-7 minutes until onion is translucent. Add mushrooms and saute just until they start to wilt.
- Return chicken to pot and add chicken stock, white wine, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, paprika and bay leaves to pot; if necessary, add enough water to cover all ingredients and bring to simmer. Cover and cook on low heat for approximately 60 minutes til meat is tender and/or falling off of bone if using chicken parts.. Remove the chicken from the stock and allow to cool. Once cool, remove skin and bones if necessary and pull meat into bite size pieces and return chicken to pot.
- Taste soup and correct seasonings if necessary.
- Add reserved seasoned flour to half and half and add mixture to soup. Bring to a boil to thicken.
To Make Dumplings:
- Mix baking mix and milk just until soft dough forms. Drop by spoonfuls onto boiling soup, reduce heat. Cook uncovered 10 minutes, Cover and cook additional 10 minutes.
- Remove dumplings to a serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm. Add peas if using to soup stock. Allow soup to cool for approximately 5 minutes and serve in bowls with dumplings.
Very delicious!!! may be i should try this out today or tomorrow.
Hey, I had this soup when i was in Tel Aviv.
May be its famous there. Simply i loved it.
Thanks for sharing.
I wouldn’t be surprised; chicken soup is known a a very Jewish tradition…although I thought typically made with matzo balls instead of dumplings? I LOVE the dumplings more! 🙂
The soup that you just described is Mata Ball Soup, the “dumplings” being mata balls. It is a Jewish soup.
It’s really good though:)
I’m sure there are similarities but this is not necessarily a Jewish soup. Matzoh ball soup is made with matzoh meal; these dumplings are made with flour and leavening. This recipe is one handed down for generations in my family without any Jewish lineage so it’s just simply Chicken Soup with Dumplings; no heritage implied! 🙂
Big confession #1: I love Bisquick and always have it on hand. I’ve cooked with it for decades. Big confession #2: I’ve never made dumplings. Your soup looks amazing – I need, really need, to make it. And I’m pulling out my Bisquick!
Me too me too! I use it for two things. Dumplings and biscuits for strawberry shortcake. And it’s always so good I’ve never been inclined to make it harder (ie find a similar recipe from scratch). So would you make a veggie version or take this opportunity to wimp out and have a bit of chicken?
I must confess that I have never made dumplings. I just realized that because I couldn’t stand the texture of a dumpling as a child, I’ve never made them. I’m matured since I was 7. This soup looks SO good – even the dumplings. 🙂
You had bad dumplings! They really are like biscuits but absorb some of the delicious liquid and are so wonderful. They should be light and airy. Now, there are some who think dumpling are heavy, thick noodles that aren’t fluffy. They are wrong. 🙂
There is absolutely nothing…nothing…in this world that compares with chicken and dumplings. My granddaughter asks me to make it for her every time they visit and I usually do! Although mine are the southern rolled type of dumplings, I just might have to try a Bisquick dropped dumpling one of these days 🙂
I’ve always used Bisquick too. But a secret that was shared with me from an 80 something friend many moons ago was to make the dumpling dough and let it rest in the bowl about 20 minutes to let it start its rising process. Makes the lightest fluffiest dumplings you have ever tasted.
It doesn’t get any more comforting than chicken soup, and on a snowy night like this one I sure hope you have leftovers to enjoy!
I haven’t had this dish in years! And it’s a good one. Who doesn’t love dumplings? When it comes to drop dumplings, I usually use the recipe from The Joy of Cooking. It’s timeless, and it works. Sometimes I add an extra egg for richness. Anyway, good stuff! Perfect for the weather we’re having.
OK, I’ll trust you and give that a shot John; that’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Thanks for all the comments. You know what I’m talkin’ bout. 🙂
I haven’t had chicken and dumplings in forever! Love the idea of it in soup form – so warm and comfy.
I can just barely call this a soup I like to stuff it with so much goodness Jeanette; but it still is and yes, it is exactly that.
My mother always made dumplings with her chicken soup. I never make dumplings, never been good at getting them just right. You certainly have mastered them and the soup.
You should try the Bisquick. They turn out perfect every time…why I can’t quit it! Light and fluffy every single time. Do it! 🙂
More than anything else, this is the meal that takes me back to my childhood and cooking with my grandmother. Thanks for the beautiful soup, luscious recipe, and a walk down memory lane for me Barb!
Me too Jane…I was serious, it’s all about family and of course friends who know this is what is coming if they are under the weather. It’s magical I tell ya!
In my book, this is comfort food at its finest. I love the ease of boneless chicken thighs, too. I’m so happy that you took the time to finagle all the ingredients into a recipe to share with us. Now, pass me a big bowl, please!
I have always loved dark chicken meat but I used breasts for years because of the ease of boneless. SO happy to be able to get boneless thighs now. Not so happy with how pricey they are but obviously I’ll pay for that convenience! Wish I could share, trust me.
I didn’t have a good chicken soup with dumplings recipe. Now I do. I can make these a tradition and when my daughter grows up she san say “this is my aunt Barb’s recipe”! That girl loves your food !
Aunt Barb it is…although it’s been too long. I need to make her some of the peanut butter cup rice krispies I did recently. That would seal her love forever. 🙂
Chicken and dumplings is one of my all-time favorites. My mom makes an amazing pot of dumplings and I don’t think mine ever turn out quite as good as hers. I love that you brown the chicken thighs, totally brilliant for that added flavor. So glad you shared this incredible recipe for this month’s Progressive Eats Dinner!
I know when I started with this recipe it was really good but adding some layers of flavors has only made it better. Maybe it’s one of those recipes that is really best when we’ve made it 50 times? 🙂
We always have a box of Bisquick for when Bill makes his weekend breakfasts. Love how fluffy your dumplings look and how comforting this soup must be. Cough, cough…do you deliver to Indiana??
They turn out SO well I just can’t make the shift to anything else. BUT I did just do a pancake recipe that is made in the blender Liz that maybe Bill should try. Beats convention for sure because it’s so easy but also beats Bisquick by a mile!
I love soup but this one is exceptional. I like the fact that you can actually chew something from it but the spirit of the “healthy” chicken soup is still there. Spoonful Of Comfort
Thank you Samantha; I guess in another world it might even be called a chicken stew…but never was in mine. It is my all time favorite and a few degrees cooler here in Denver and it will be on the table stat!
I made turkey and dumplings today with the leftover turkey and gravy. I used gluten free bisquick and a slightly different recipe… just comfort in a bowl 🙂
Chicken Soup is one of my favorite dishes of all time. it is very tasty and the ingredients are very available. sometimes i put a dash of chili over my chicken soup because i like it spicy hot.
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i love to eat Chicken Soup, my mom used always serve that dish with me specially when i am sick during my childhood days.
This is what I always cooked for my children when sick too…or take to a neighbor when they get a cold or the flu. Maybe it’s the nutrients but I just like to think it has some magic!
Awesome recipe….looks so gorgeous. Have bookmarked it. Thx lots for recipe!