How to Make Old Fashioned Chicken and Dumplings

Although I am from the south, I don’t remember having chicken and dumplings very much when I was growing up. My mother never liked to cook so I grew up on T.V. dinners and fast food and the few times I had chicken and dumplings for some reason, I never cared very much for it. Then my best friend fixed it for dinner one evening and it was delicious. She taught me how to make it and now it is one of my family’s favorites. My mother says my chicken and dumplings taste just like her grandmother’s recipe.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup Bisquick (plus some to roll the raw dumplings in and coat your hands to help keep the dough from sticking)
• 1 cup milk
• 3 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• salt to taste

Instructions

1. 

   Place three pieces of de-thawed skinless, boneless chicken breasts into a large pot of water. The water should cover the chicken completely and be around ¾ from the top of the pot. While the chicken is boiling coat a cutting board or smooth surface with Bisquick.

2. 

   After the chicken has boiled do not drain the water as this will be your broth, reduce the heat to low. Once the chicken has cooled cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place the chicken pieces back into the water.

3. 

   In a medium mixing bowl stir 1 cup of Bisquick and 1 cup of milk until dough is soft, gooey and sticky.

4. 

   Shake the dough from the spoon onto a surface covered with Bisquick. Coat your hands with Bisquick to help prevent the dough from sticking to them. Then pick up dropped dough, rolling it in Bisquick forming a ball.

5. 

   Drop the raw dumplings into the pot with the chicken. Once all the dumplings are in the water, turn the heat to medium and cook until dumplings are soft on the outside but no longer raw in the middle (test one big dumpling) about 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• Legs or thighs can be used instead of breasts but should also be skinless.

• You don't have to buy "boneless" meat, just de-bone after boiling (and cooling).

• If you like more dumplings increase the amount of Bisquick and milk.

• Add more milk if dough isn't sticky enough.

• Add salt to water and chicken pieces before adding dumplings.

• For more "broth" add water after putting chicken pieces back in pot or after adding dumplings. This can be done to increase the amount of servings if unexpected quests arrive at diner time.

• This is a fun recipe for children to help with but can be very messy.

• Assist children dropping dumplings into water to prevent them from being burned by the water splash.