This Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings recipe brings the essence of comfort right to your kitchen, offering a warm, satisfying dish that tastes like it’s straight from the country kitchen of Cracker Barrel. Perfect for chilly evenings or whenever you need a hearty, comforting meal, this dish combines tender chicken and soft, fluffy dumplings in a rich, savory broth.
Heartwarming Comfort: Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
Replicating Cracker Barrel’s famous dish allows you to recreate a piece of the home-style cooking experience in your own home. This recipe focuses on simple, wholesome ingredients and traditional cooking techniques to produce a meal that feels both familiar and exceptionally comforting.
Preparation Details:
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 45 to 55 minutes
- Servings: 4 to 6
Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
Enjoy the classic flavors of this beloved dish, perfect for gathering the family around the dinner table.
Ingredients:
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 2 ribs of celery, broken in half
- 1/2 medium onion, kept as a large chunk
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, each breast cut in half
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- In a large stockpot or Dutch oven, add the chicken broth, celery, and onion chunk. Place the chicken breasts in the broth. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer, partially covered, for about 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the dumplings. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually stir in the milk just until the mixture forms a shaggy dough.
- Flour a clean surface and turn the dough out onto it. Roll the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 1 to 2-inch strips or squares.
- Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the pot to a cutting board. Also, remove and discard the celery and onion pieces.
- Drop the dough pieces into the simmering broth. Let them simmer for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the dumplings are cooked and the broth thickens to a gravy-like consistency.
- While the dumplings cook, shred or chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Return the chicken to the pot.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir well.
- Serve the chicken and dumplings warm, ensuring each bowl is filled with a generous portion of dumplings and chicken, smothered in the thickened broth.