Better than Cracker Barrel® Chicken ‘n Dumplings

Description

My Grandma grew up on a farm and this was her recipe – no shortcuts but still pretty easy. For best results you must use a whole chicken and flour. You can also use some chicken stock for added flavor. The trick is the lemon which makes the chicken tender and adds flavor to the soup. Leftovers won’t last very long with this.

Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken
  • 1 pinch salt
  • water to cover
  • 1 lemon, halved
  • 2 stalks celery, sliced
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, sliced, or more to taste
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • salt and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Place chicken and 1 pinch salt in a large pot; cover with water. Bring to a boil
  2. skimming any scum off the surface with a slotted spoon. Add lemon
  3. celery
  4. onion
  5. and carrots. Simmer broth over medium heat until chicken starts to fall off the bone
  6. about 1 hour.
  7. Discard lemon. Remove chicken from the pot; let cool.
  8. Place flour
  9. salt
  10. and pepper in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. Ladle in 2 to 3 scoops of hot broth. Mix in flour with a spoon until dough comes together into a ball.
  11. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead carefully until smooth. Roll out into a large rectangle; cut into small rectangular dumplings.
  12. Drop dumplings one at a time into the simmering broth. Cook
  13. stirring occasionally
  14. until tender
  15. about 30 minutes.
  16. Bone chicken and chop into pieces. Add to the pot; cook until heated through
  17. about 5 minutes.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 1 hr 40 mins

Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins

Servings: 6

Leave a Comment