Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (2024)

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ByJune Albertson-DickPublished

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After such a hot summer I am finding myself ready for fall weather and food. Warm and comforting dinners like this Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe are just what I am looking for. The best part is that in 30 minutes you can have a bowl of hearty and delicious Chicken and Dumplings that your whole family will go crazy for.

Do you love comfort food? Try this Crock Pot Meatloaf Recipe!

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What are Chicken and Dumplings?

Chicken and Dumplings is a soup that includes chicken and sometimes vegetables that are cooked in a broth.

The dumpling, which is normally in the form of biscuit dough, is cooked in the soup to create a soft and pillowy biscuit-like texture.

Why is this Chicken and Dumplings Recipe so fast!

This Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings recipe is so fast because we are using chicken that has already been cooked which saves a ton of time. In fact, leftover chicken {or turkey} is a perfect option.

The recipe also uses store bought chicken broth and the dumplings only have 3 ingredients. Using pancake mix to make the dumplings makes it super simple.

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How to easily Make Chicken and Dumplings

Begin with your list of ingredients and have everything prepped. This will save you so much time.

  • Butter-used to saute the vegetables and as the fat to thick the soup with the flour.
  • Vegetables-onion, carrots and celery are what we have used but it can be changed up.
  • Flour-combined with the butter it will help thicken the soup to just the right consistency.
  • Chicken Broth-using chicken broth will add a ton of flavor, I prefer a low sodium variety.
  • Milk-used in both the soup and the dumpling, it adds creaminess for the soup and binds the dumpling together.
  • Cooked Shredded Chicken-this recipe is the perfect place to use leftover chicken or turkey.
  • Pancake Mix-such a time saver, pancake mix gives you the structure for your dumplings.
  • Fresh Thyme-I love the flavor of fresh thyme in chicken soup! If you don’t have fresh, use dried or even just eliminate it altogether. Don’t let this ingredient stop you from making this recipe.

Now it is time to put everything together!! Begin by making the dumpling batter.

Combine the pancake mix, milk and fresh thyme to a medium bowl and stir to create a thick batter. Set it aside until it is ready to use.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (3)

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe:

  1. Grab your vegetables and cooked shredded chicken.
  2. Melt your butter in a heavy bottom pan or Dutch Oven and add your vegetables. Saute until the vegetables are slightly softened.
  3. Add the flour to the softened vegetables.
  4. Stir to coat the vegetables with the flour and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minutes.

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Once you have the vegetables cooked it is time to start assembling and getting this Easy Chicken and Dumpling soup recipe going.

  1. Add the chicken broth and stir to combine. I like to scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any bits that have stuck because it adds so much flavor. Bring to a boil.
  2. Once it is at a boil, add the milk and chicken. Turn down to simmer.
  3. Grab your bowl of dumpling batter and use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1.5 tablespoons} to scoop mounds of batter into the pot.
  4. You should get about 1 dozen dumplings. Add the lid to the top of the pot and cook for 15 minutes on simmer or until the dumplings are fluffy, cooked and have floated to the top.

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Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

I wouldn’t suggest making this Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings recipe too far ahead of time. If you do need to make it ahead then I would make the soup part ahead.

I would make the dumplings right before serving. The great thing is that they do not take much time to cook.

Can I use chicken thighs or other dark meat?

Absolutely! Any kind of chicken {or turkey} that has already been cooked will work wonderfully and taste amazing.

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Do I have to add vegetables to my Chicken and Dumplings recipe?

No, you do not have to add vegetables. In fact, there are many recipes that do not include any kind of veggies.

It is really a personal preference but I love adding a few vegetables for both flavor and color.

Pro Tips for making the BEST Easy Fluffy Dumplings

  • Don’t over mix the dumpling batter. The more you mix the ingredients the more tough it can tend to get. I recommend stirring until everything is just combined.
  • Use a cookie scoop to distribute dumplings into the soup. That way each dumpling is the same size and will cook evenly.
  • Once you put the lid on, set a timer and don’t peek. The steam that is created by adding the lid is what ultimately cooks the dumplings, so keep that baby on there.

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Do you love comfort food? Try these recipes…
  • Crock Pot Meatloaf
  • Homemade Mac and Cheese
  • Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
  • 30 Minute Chili
  • Lasagna Skillet
  • Shepard’s Pie Skillet

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (8)

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

This simple recipe for Chicken and Dumplings can be made in less than 30 minutes. A perfect way to use leftover chicken, this Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe will quickly become a family favorite.

Course: Main Course

Author: June Albertson-Dick

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

4.90 from 39 votes

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Ingredients

Dumplings

  • 2 cups pancake mix {I used Bisquick}
  • cup milk {I used 1%}
  • ½ tsp fresh thyme {finely chopped}

Soup

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ½ small onion {diced}
  • 2 carrots {diced}
  • 2 stalks celery {diced}
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup milk {I used 1%}
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken {or turkey}

Instructions

Dumplings

  • Combine pancake mix, milk and finely chopped fresh thyme in a medium bowl. Stir until you have a thick batter. Set aside until ready to use.

Soup

  • In a large heavy bottom skillet {or Dutch oven}, melt butter over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots and celery to the melted butter and sautee until softened slightly {about 3-4 minutes}.

  • Add in flour and stir to coat softened vegetables. Continue to cook for about 30 seconds. Add chicken stock to softened vegetables and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to remove any bits {so much flavor}. Bring to a boil.

  • Turn the heat down to simmer. Add milk and cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1.5 tablespoons} to scoop mounds of dumpling batter into the soup. Continue until all of the batter has been used {you should get about 12}. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the dumplings are fluffy, cooked and have floated to the top.

  • Serve in a bowl with a sprinkling of cracked black pepper and a few springs of fresh thyme. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @PracticallyHomemade or tag #practicallyhomemade!

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (2024)

FAQs

Will plain flour work for dumplings? ›

For dumplings made with wheat flour, all purpose or plain flour will suffice. If your recipe calls for leavening, you'll need to add baking powder and salt. Alternatively, you can use self-rising flour which has the leavening included. For a lot of dumplings, plain flour is all that is required with no baking powder.

Why are my chicken and dumplings not fluffy? ›

Baking powder is the leavening agent of choice for fluffy dumplings. It is important that the right ratio of baking powder to flour be measured. Too little and the dumpling will not rise adequately; if there's too much baking powder, then the dumplings will rise and fall.

What is dumpling mix made of? ›

Combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon fine salt in a medium bowl. Cut in 1 tablespoon softened unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley, if using. Stir together with a fork until blended. Stir in 1/3 cup milk to form a wet dough.

How do you thicken homemade chicken and dumplings? ›

Use Cornstarch to Thicken Chicken and Dumplings

To give that a little thicker texture we're going to add 1 cup of cool water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir it up well. Make sure the soup is brought back to a good boil and go ahead and stir in the cornstarch mixture.

What is the secret to perfect dumplings? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

What are the 3 components of dumplings? ›

What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt.

Do you cook dumplings with lid on or lid off? ›

Once your water is boiling, let your dumplings cook in the steam for about ten minutes. Don't remove the lid as letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and result in undercooked dumplings, so keep that lid on!

Are dumplings supposed to float in chicken and dumplings? ›

The dumplings will float to the top of the broth, even though at first they may plop under the broth. It's okay if they cook on top of the chicken pieces. If you removed the chicken, they'd still float to the top, though.

What can I use instead of self raising flour for dumplings? ›

If you only have plain flour in the house, add some baking powder as well, to help them rise and become fluffy. This post suggests using 1 tsp of baking powder for every 100g of plain flour.

What flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

What are dumplings in chicken and dumplings made of? ›

Then you make the dumplings. About 1 1/2 cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, some fresh black pepper to taste, minced fresh herbs (tarragon is good, as is dill), and enough milk to make a very soft dough. Drop by the tablespoon into the simmering stew and cook until done (about 20 minutes).

Can I use water instead of chicken broth for chicken and dumplings? ›

Chicken Broth Substitute: Salted Butter + Water

If you don't have broth on hand and want a little more flavor than just plain water, try subbing in 1 cup of water plus 1 tablespoon of butter for every cup of chicken broth in your recipe. The butter will help create a richer flavor than just water alone.

How to tell when dumplings are done in chicken and dumplings? ›

Cut a dumpling in half to check the center.

If you really want to be sure, remove a dumpling from the pot (go for a large one) and cut it in half. It should look cooked though, with the texture of a dinner roll. If the center looks a little raw, let the dumplings steam for another couple minutes.

Why did my chicken and dumplings fall apart? ›

Keep the heat low and keep your pot covered so that they steam. The dumplings can cook longer than the suggested times without issues, but agitating them with an aggressive simmer will make them fall apart.

What kind of flour is best for dumplings? ›

These dumplings start with all-purpose flour, which creates structure and holds the other ingredients together. Baking powder is a leavening agent, which means it releases gas that makes the dough expand. It's responsible for the dumplings' light and fluffy texture.

What kind of flour do you use for dumplings? ›

The dumplings are typically made of all-purpose flour, though sometimes cornmeal is added. Shaping them is a fun and quick project that kids can take part in too.

Can I use unbleached flour for dumplings? ›

Note: Bread flour with a moderate amount of gluten, such as widely available Gold Medal, works best to yield tender, yet slightly chewy dough. Unbleached flour produces terrific flavor, but bleached flour imparts a brighter finish that some Asian cooks like.

What can I use if I don't have baking powder for dumplings? ›

Substitute each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder in the recipe with 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) vinegar. Summary: Each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder can be replaced with a 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and a 1/2 teaspoon vinegar.

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