Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken & Dumplings

4 of 5 (87)
member ratings
Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 6
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 181.4
  • Total Fat: 1.4 g
  • Cholesterol: 13.7 mg
  • Sodium: 365.7 mg
  • Total Carbs: 33.5 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 5.3 g
  • Protein: 11.6 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Chicken & Dumplings calories by ingredient


Introduction

This is a makeover of Cracker Barrel's Chicken & Dumplings. My aunt had created the original recipe which called for 1.75 lb chicken and whole milk. It was always one of my families favorite dinners that I made once in a while on special Sundays. Recently, I decided to try a healthier version of it with lower calories, cholesterol & sodium to see if it would pass the "family test". It did! They couldn't tell the difference. The healthy version of this recipe went down 76 calories, 31mg cholosterol & 1104 mg of sodium per serving.

On a side note, I know some people who use prepackaged biscuit dough to make their dumplings to make it easier but I don't like the taste of the perservatives because it makes the whole recipe taste like it came out of can. There is nothing like homemade!

This is a makeover of Cracker Barrel's Chicken & Dumplings. My aunt had created the original recipe which called for 1.75 lb chicken and whole milk. It was always one of my families favorite dinners that I made once in a while on special Sundays. Recently, I decided to try a healthier version of it with lower calories, cholesterol & sodium to see if it would pass the "family test". It did! They couldn't tell the difference. The healthy version of this recipe went down 76 calories, 31mg cholosterol & 1104 mg of sodium per serving.

On a side note, I know some people who use prepackaged biscuit dough to make their dumplings to make it easier but I don't like the taste of the perservatives because it makes the whole recipe taste like it came out of can. There is nothing like homemade!


Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients

    2 quarts of water
    1.75 lbs of skinless, boneless chicken breasts
    1.5 tsp salt substitute
    2 stalks of celery, chopped
    1 med onion sliced
    1 clove garlic, peeled & quartered
    1 bay leaf
    5 parsley leaves
    1 tsp coarsly ground pepper
    1 lemon wedge juice

    Dumplings:
    2 cups whole wheat flour
    1 tbsp baking powder
    1.25 tsp salt substitute
    1 cup of non-fat milk

Tips

Adding a sprig of rosemary at the end will make this dish picture perfect on your dinner table.


Directions

Bring water to boil in a large pot. Add chicken, 1 tsp of salt sub, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf & parsley. Reduce to simmer and cook chicken uncovered for 2 hrs. Liquid will reduce by 1/3. Remove chicken and set aside to cool. Strain stock to remove vegies & scum. Reserve 6 cups of pure stock back in pot. Add pepper, .5 tsp of salt sub & juice from lemon wedge. Reheat over med heat until simmering.

Dumplings: combine flour, baking powder, salt sub & milk in medium bowl. Stir until smooth and let dough rise for 5-10 min. I tear small bits of dough & flatten into mini-pancake form and drop in simmering stock. Use all dough. Dumplings will swell and then slowly shink as they partially dissolve into a white gravy. Simmer 20-30 minutes until thick, stirring almost constantly. Tear cooled chicken into large pieces (so it looks like it came from a whole chicken) and drop into pot. Simmer another 5-10 minutes and serve. Makes approximately 6 2-cup servings.

TAGS:  Poultry |

Member Ratings For This Recipe


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    Good
    9 of 11 people found this review helpful
    Firstly, I started with 2 quarts of water, but was left with only 2 cups, so i had to add stock. Second, the dumplings are too dense, they need more milk or water. third, your calorie count is off.

    other than that, it's good.
    - 5/20/10


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    9 of 10 people found this review helpful
    Chicken was great but dumplings were heavy I will make them more lighter next time by adding either milk or water . I also put the onions and celery back in. - 3/15/10


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    Incredible!
    6 of 6 people found this review helpful
    Very good! I left the onions and celery in it and it was very enjoyable. My hubby loved it! - 2/21/10


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    Very Good
    5 of 9 people found this review helpful
    Sounds really yummy, but the picture show does't look very appetizing. Not enough color. - 11/4/09

    Reply from INDIANAGAL1 (11/5/09)
    Thanks for rating!

    If you have seen Cracker Barrel's dish, it looks very similar to mine. No yellow coloring added. I have eaten other restuarants' chicken & dumplings and usually if it yellow it means something in it came out of a can because it usually has that perservative taste to it.



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    Bad
    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
    The chicken and broth were very good but the dumplings were TERRIBLE. I followed the recipe to a T and the dumplings were raw in the middle. I wished I would have used canned biscuits. If the dumplings were better this would have been a five star recipe. - 2/24/10


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    Incredible!
    1 of 3 people found this review helpful
    Sounds yummy! I will definitely try this one. - 11/4/09


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    Good
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I think I'll try this one. I'm really hoping the dumpling does not turn out a soggy lump - I can't deal with soggy! A picture would have been great. - 11/4/09

    Reply from INDIANAGAL1 (11/4/09)
    I just added a photo.

    The meal is in a thick "gravy". The longer you simmer, the thicker it gets.

    I really hope you like it.



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    Sounds simple - 6/10/21


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    Very Good
    Added more black pepper and lemon juice - 5/19/21


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    Very Good
    I have made this and it was soooooooooooooooo good...I will be making it again - 5/19/21


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    Very Good
    I can't wait to share these with my sister - 5/19/21


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    Incredible!
    Fantastic!!! This has become a family favorite! I do add a bag of frozen Peas when I add the chicken at the end. - 3/6/21


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    Incredible!
    love it - 3/3/21


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    The chicken was good but dumplings were really heavy - 2/1/21


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    Cracker Barrel has had a policy of firing people not for performance but for who they are. - 1/24/21


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    Incredible!
    my boys thought they were good. - 12/6/20


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    needs some color such as diced carrots and mushrooms and broccoli mixed in - 9/17/20


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    I leave salt out. - 9/7/20


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    Good
    good - 8/15/20


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    I love chicken and dumplings... I cant wait to try this - 7/3/20


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    Love me some chicken and dumplings - 6/30/20


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    looks good - 5/20/20


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    O.K.
    Much too bland. - 5/19/20


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    love chicken & dumplings - 5/19/20


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    Loved the chicken but sorry I just don't like dumplings no matter how they are made - 5/19/20


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    Very Good
    Yum, but dumplings were too heavy. Making smaller next time, see if that helps - 5/19/20


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    Very Good
    Enjoyed this - 5/19/20


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    Dumplings heavy - 5/19/20


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    Can't wait to try this! - 5/19/20


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    Very Good
    Ok - 5/19/20


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    Very Good
    Whole wheat dumplings are like eating wood paste. Use half regular white flour to half whole wheat. - 5/19/20


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    A true favorite when it comes to comfort food. - 5/19/20


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    Not a fan of dumplings. - 5/19/20


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    Love chicken and dumplings going to have to make this when it gets cold again - 5/1/20


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    Awesome! - 3/22/20


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    I went 1 hour on a low dinner with a lid on and then 1 hour on a low simmer with the lid off. I didn’t see the point in boiling all of the water away just to add plain water back into it. Also, I’m using plant milk for the dumplings - 1/14/20


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    Very Good
    Tasty and low in calories if not sodium. - 1/11/20


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    O.K.
    Ok - 1/8/20


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    Thanks. - 12/28/19


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    Great! - 10/3/19


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    Wow, this was really delicious!!! - 9/11/19


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    Very Good
    Used regular flour, also used kosher salt, substitute salt is just as bad as regular salt, just look on the box! - 7/30/19


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    I make biscuit-type dumplings and they are very light. - 7/8/19


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    Yum - 6/26/19


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    Sounds good! - 6/22/19


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    I have always wanted to make chicken and dumplings but never had a recipe. Thanks for this recipe.... - 6/6/19


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    Great I added the onions & celery & some more veggies - 5/22/19


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    Incredible!
    I made this as is, good recipe~ - 5/20/19


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    Incredible!
    This was pretty good however the dumplings were rather dense for my liking. I loved the flavor so I will experiment to lighten the dumplings a little more. - 5/19/19


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    I love chicken and dumplings. - 5/19/19


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    Incredible!
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    My family loves when I make this chicken and dumpling recipe! - 5/19/19


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    AFTER READING THE REPORTS I DECIDED TO USE WHITE FLOUR AND IT TURNED OUT FINE. PERHAPS THE WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR IS TOO DENSE. - 5/19/19


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    Incredible!
    I love this chicken and dumplings recipe! Yummy - 5/19/19


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    ive always added carrots to mine. - 5/19/19


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    Incredible!
    I love that the recipe was skinnied down and still flavorful. I also added in lots of carrots, celery, sweet onions, and a sprig of thyme. - 5/19/19


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    Good
    The dumplings were too heavy, noodles were better. - 5/19/19


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    O.K.
    I made a version of this. Used a whole chicken , stewed with celery, celery, spices. Mixed dumplings like I do biscuits cut in butter in regular flower, used milk, dropped spoonful's in hot chicken broth. It tasted like my Gram's , which was what I wanted. A nice meal for once in a while. - 5/19/19


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    Good - 5/19/19


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    nice recipe - 4/3/19


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    Very Good
    True about the incorrect calories. The dumplings alone should be like 155 per serving - 4/1/19


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    Very Good
    - 2/16/19


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    NICE - 1/20/19


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I have never made dumplings from scratch. This should be interesting. - 12/30/18


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    INDIANAGAl 1 There is a chance I may have clicked on report Inappropriate recipe and It was a accident. Sorry. - 12/12/18


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    great fall and winter recipe - 10/1/18


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    Be ware, the calories are woefully wrong on this recipe. The Sparker added 1.75oz and not 1.75lbs of chicken in the nutrition. I'll be trying this recipe tonight. Calories should be 350, not 181. - 9/14/18


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Sounds like an awesome dish I would like to make. Thank you for sharing this recipe. - 9/7/18


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    I left the veggies in and added carrots and mushrooms. - 8/25/18


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    Very Good
    Thanks for sharing - 8/4/18


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    good - 6/18/18


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    Grew up with chicken and dumplings, so I am excited to try this! - 6/16/18


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    Very Good
    Thx for the dumplings tips. I increased the milk slowly til the consistency was thinner then tested it out by making a blackberry dumpling dessert to eat; the bulk of the dumpling mix was used w/ chicken and it came out very tasty. NOTE: added turmeric & curry for color and a little spicier. - 6/7/18


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    Incredible!
    loved this recipe. this is what I order at cracker barrel - 6/5/18


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    tasty - 5/27/18


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    One of our favorite comfort foods! - 5/20/18


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    Comfort food. - 5/20/18


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    A favorite of ours. The wheat flour makes the dumplings too dense for us so I use regular flour. - 5/19/18


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    Absolutely great - 5/19/18


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    Very Good
    Good food makes eating better - 5/19/18


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    Very good - 5/19/18


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    for richer stock, use chicken with bones and skin (do the day before). after 2 hours take meat off and return the rest to the pot, cook several hours covered. refrigerate overnight, reheat, strain and remove fat. Then proceed with directions. more flavor and more minerals this way. - 5/19/18


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    Seems interesting, but the comments don't back it up. - 5/19/18


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    thanks - 5/19/18


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    very good - 5/19/18


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    Good
    I followed the recipe but with all the comments about the dumplings I used low carb flour tortillas. We liked it. - 5/19/18


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    Such a favorite of mine - 5/19/18


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    yummy - 5/19/18


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    Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    I like restaurant ones better! - 5/19/18


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    Very tasty - 5/4/18


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    worth trying... - 4/30/18


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    We make our dumplings lighter here, but this is still good! - 3/27/18


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    This looks yummy and just like Cracker Barrels! I am excited to try it! - 2/8/18


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    Incredible!
    Love this recipe. - 2/4/18


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    Looks tricky - 2/3/18


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    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
    interesting.... - 1/28/18


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    Incredible!
    Very good and tasty. We enjoyed it and will make again. - 1/25/18


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    Yummy - 12/27/17


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    Very Good
    Yum will try shamim. - 10/14/17


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    Good
    These are fair - 10/14/17


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    Yum. - 9/26/17