There are few meals that evoke the same sense of warmth and nostalgia as a hearty bowl of homemade soup, especially on a brisk day. When you’re in need of a dish that feels like a comforting embrace, one that truly nourishes from the inside out, our classic Chicken Dumplings Homestyle Soup Recipe is the answer. Say goodbye to thin broths and leaden dumplings. We are here to show you how to craft a deeply savoury chicken soup, brimming with tender vegetables and crowned with the fluffiest, most delicate dumplings imaginable. This is the ultimate bowl of comfort, and we’re excited to create it with you.

What Exactly Is Chicken and Dumpling Soup?

In essence, chicken and dumpling soup is a cherished, traditional dish that has been a staple at family tables for many years. It represents a perfect harmony between a robust chicken soup and soft, pillowy dumplings that are cooked directly in the simmering broth. As the dumplings steam, they soak up the soup’s delicious flavours and, in turn, help to thicken the broth into a wonderfully rich, stew-like meal. It’s a genuine one-pot marvel, bringing together protein, vegetables, and carbs in a single, deeply satisfying dish. While it has the same comforting qualities as other favourites like our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe, this soup possesses a uniquely rustic charm that is simply captivating.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A True Bowl of Comfort: This soup is the very definition of comfort food. Its sumptuous flavour and satisfying texture are guaranteed to lift your spirits and provide a deep, soothing warmth.
• Made with Everyday Staples: You’ll find no obscure or difficult-to-source items here. This recipe is built on simple kitchen essentials such as chicken, carrots, celery, and flour.
• Unbelievably Fluffy Dumplings: We are sharing our trusted method for creating dumplings that are wonderfully soft and light as air, every single time. Dense, tough dumplings are a thing of the past!
• A Complete One-Pot Meal: Everything comes together beautifully in a single pot, which means the cooking process is wonderfully straightforward and, better yet, there’s less washing up to do.
• Ideal for Sharing or Saving: This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a large family or for meal prepping. Enjoy a comforting bowl now and freeze the rest for another day.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 kg bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 litres good-quality chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• 250g plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 60g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 150ml whole milk

How to Make Our Chicken Dumplings Homestyle Soup Recipe

Creating this soup is a truly satisfying experience. To guarantee your success, we’ve outlined the process in clear, easy-to-follow stages. Simply follow along, and you’ll soon have a perfect pot of wholesome goodness to enjoy.

Step 1: Create a Rich and Savoury Soup Base

To begin, we’ll establish the foundation of our soup. In a large, heavy-based pot or Dutch oven, warm the olive oil over a medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery—a combination known as a ‘mirepoix’ that is fundamental to a flavourful soup. Sauté for 8–10 minutes, stirring now and then, until the vegetables are tender and the onion looks translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for one more minute until it becomes fragrant. This first step is vital for developing a deep, savoury taste.

Step 2: Simmer the Chicken to Flavour the Broth

Now, gently place the chicken thighs into the pot. Pour over the chicken stock, ensuring the chicken is completely covered. To achieve an outstanding broth, using a high-quality stock is key. If you’d like to try making your own, the team at BBC Good Food has an excellent guide we highly endorse. Add the bay leaf and dried thyme, then bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat, cover the pot, and allow it to simmer for 45–60 minutes, until the chicken is exceptionally tender and easily separates from the bone.

After simmering, carefully lift the chicken pieces out of the pot and place them on a plate to cool. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Once the chicken is cool enough to touch, shred the meat, discarding the skin and bones. Add the shredded chicken back into the soup and season with salt and pepper to your preference.

Step 3: Prepare the Light and Fluffy Dumpling Dough

While your soup is simmering away, it’s time to prepare the true highlight: the chicken dumplings. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Add the cubes of cold butter. With your fingertips or a pastry blender, work the butter into the flour mixture until it has the texture of coarse breadcrumbs.

Pour in the milk and, using a fork, gently combine everything until a soft, slightly sticky dough comes together. The single most crucial advice here is to avoid overmixing. Overworking the dough develops gluten, which leads to tough, dense dumplings. Simply mix until the ingredients are just incorporated.

Step 4: Steam the Dumplings to Fluffy Perfection

Bring your soup back to a consistent, gentle simmer over a medium-low heat. Using two spoons or a small scoop, carefully drop rounded tablespoon-sized portions of the dumpling dough onto the surface of the simmering soup. Leave some space between them, as they will puff up as they cook. Once all the dough has been added, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and turn the heat down to low.

Allow the dumplings to steam for 15–20 minutes. It’s very important that you do not lift the lid during this time! The trapped steam is what ensures the dumplings cook through properly, making them incredibly light and fluffy. After 15 minutes, you can test one to see if it’s done; it should feel firm but springy. Stir through the fresh parsley and serve straight away.

Top Tips for the Best Chicken and Dumpling Soup

To make sure your soup is absolutely spot-on every time, just remember these simple pointers.

Handle the Dumpling Dough with Care

We’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. The secret to feathery, light dumplings is a gentle touch. Mix the dough just long enough for it to come together. A few lumps are completely fine and actually a good sign that you haven’t overdone it.

Keep the Lid Securely On!

You must resist the urge to take a peek while the dumplings are cooking. Lifting the lid lets out the precious steam that is vital for cooking them correctly. A well-fitting lid and a steady, low simmer are the keys to achieving perfectly steamed dumplings.

Select the Best Chicken Cut

For this recipe, we highly recommend using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. As the soup simmers, the bones and skin impart an incredible depth of flavour and richness to the broth. Furthermore, the dark thigh meat remains wonderfully juicy and tender even after a long cooking time. While you can use chicken breasts, they are more prone to drying out.

Variations and Substitutions

One of the wonderful aspects of this recipe is its adaptability. Don’t hesitate to make it your own!

• Boost the Veggies: Feel free to add some frozen peas, sweetcorn, or chopped green beans during the final 10 minutes of simmering the soup.
• Herbaceous Twists: Introduce a sprig of fresh rosemary or a couple of sage leaves along with the thyme to create a new flavour dimension.
• For a Creamier Finish: To make an even richer soup, stir in 100ml of double cream right at the end, just after the dumplings have finished cooking.
• Fancy a different kind of comforting one-pot meal? If you enjoy this style of cooking, you might also adore our satisfying Low Carb Chicken Casserole.

FAQ

A Bowl of Pure Comfort Awaits

And there you have it—a truly wonderful Chicken Dumplings Homestyle Soup Recipe that is guaranteed to provide warmth, comfort, and phenomenal flavour in every single spoonful. This is so much more than a simple meal; it is a nostalgic journey, a cure for a gloomy day, and a dish designed to be shared with the people you care about. It is the kind of food that transforms a house into a home.

We hope you feel inspired to head to the kitchen, gather your ingredients, and whip up this beautiful soup. When you taste that first spoonful of rich, savoury broth with a piece of perfectly fluffy dumpling, you’ll know every moment spent making it was worthwhile. Please do leave a comment below and let us know how your soup turned out. We always love to hear from our fellow food lovers!

Meta Description: Cosy up with our definitive Chicken Dumplings Homestyle Soup Recipe! This guide teaches you to make a rich, savoury chicken soup with perfectly fluffy dumplings that are never heavy. The ultimate comfort food for any occasion.

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Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 1 hr 20 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 kg bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 litres good-quality chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• 250g plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 60g cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 150ml whole milk

Instructions

1. In a large pot, warm the olive oil and sauté the onion, carrots, and celery for 8-10 minutes until tender. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
2. Add the chicken thighs, chicken stock, bay leaf, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, then cover and cook on low for 45-60 minutes until the chicken is tender.
3. Carefully remove the chicken and let it cool. Shred the meat, discarding the skin and bones, and return the shredded chicken to the pot. Season with salt and pepper.
4. To make the dumpling dough, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Rub in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Gently mix in the milk until a soft dough forms; do not overmix.
5. Bring the soup back to a gentle simmer. Drop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the soup, leaving space between them.
6. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and steam on low for 15-20 minutes. Do not lift the lid while they cook. Stir in fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving): Calories: N/A, Carbs: N/A g, Protein: N/A g, Fat: N/A g