Homestyle Chicken and Dumpling Stew

Yields: 6 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 35-40 minutes Calories: Approx. 736 kcal per serving

A comforting and hearty stew featuring tender chicken pieces and vegetables in a rich, creamy broth, topped with fluffy homemade dumplings. This version builds flavor with sautéed celery and onion.

Ingredients

For the Stew Base:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large stalk celery, finely diced (New Addition)
• 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (New Addition)
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 3 3/4 teaspoons poultry seasoning (Modified Amount)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (or to taste)
• 3/4 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
• 1.5 pounds (approx. 680g) boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 1/2 cups whole milk
• 3 cups frozen peas and carrots mix

For the Dumplings:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk

Equipment:

• Large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot with lid
• Sealable container (like a large jar) or bowl and whisk (for slurry)
• Medium bowl (for dumplings)
• Fork or pastry blender
• Tablespoon measure or small scoop (for dumplings)

Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: Melt the 3 tablespoons of butter in the Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat. Add the diced celery and diced onion and sauté until softened and fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
2. Build Broth: Pour in the chicken broth and water. Add the poultry seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well, cover the pot, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil.
3. Cook Chicken: Carefully add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the boiling broth. Stir, reduce heat slightly to maintain a strong simmer, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
4. Prepare Thickener (Slurry): While the chicken cooks, combine the 1.5 cups of flour and 4.5 cups of milk in a large sealable container. Seal tightly and shake vigorously until completely smooth and no lumps remain. (Alternatively, whisk the flour into about 1 cup of the cold milk in a bowl until smooth, then gradually whisk in the remaining milk).
5. Thicken Stew: Once the chicken is cooked, ensure the broth is simmering. Slowly pour the flour-milk slurry into the pot while whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming. Continue whisking until the slurry is fully incorporated.
6. Add Vegetables: Stir in the frozen peas and carrots. Bring the stew back up to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally.
7. Make Dumpling Batter: While the stew returns to a simmer, quickly prepare the dumpling batter. In a medium bowl, combine the 3 cups flour, 1.5 tablespoons baking powder, and 3/4 tsp salt; whisk briefly. Add the 1.5 tablespoons softened butter and cut it into the flour mixture using a fork, pastry blender, or your fingertips until it resembles coarse meal. Stir in the 1.5 cups of milk until just combined – do not overmix; the batter will be thick and slightly sticky.
8. Cook Dumplings: Drop the dumpling batter by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the surface of the gently simmering stew, spacing them slightly apart (they will puff up). Use a tablespoon measure or small cookie scoop for even sizes.
9. Final Simmer: Once all dumplings are added, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and let the stew simmer gently for 10-15 minutes. Do not lift the lid during this time. The dumplings should be puffed and cooked through (a toothpick inserted into the center of a dumpling should come out clean), and the stew should be thick and creamy.
10. Serve: Gently stir the stew if needed (try not to break up the dumplings too much). Serve the Homestyle Chicken and Dumpling Stew hot in bowls.

Estimated Nutritional Information (Per Serving – 1 of 6)

• Calories: approx. 736 kcal
• Total Fat: approx. 19g
  • Saturated Fat: approx. 9g
• Total Carbohydrates: approx. 90g
  • Dietary Fiber: approx. 5g
  • Total Sugars: approx. 16g
• Protein: approx. 31g* (Recalculated)
• Sodium: approx. 1100mg* (Recalculated, highly dependent on broth/salt added)

(Note: Nutritional information is an estimate calculated based on the specific ingredients and quantities used in this modified recipe, assuming low-sodium chicken broth and whole milk. Actual values may vary significantly based on specific brands, leanness of chicken, sodium content of broth/salt, and precise measurements. The original recipe’s calorie count appeared significantly inaccurate.)