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Mother's Old-Fashioned Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Mother's Old-Fashioned Homemade Chicken and Dumplings
Image Credit:
Sam Jones/Vaughn Communications
Written By: The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors The Almanac Editors and Staff
Yield
Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Category
Poultry
Course
Main Dish
Preparation Method
Boil
Sources
Old Farmer's Almanac Contests

Shirley Wollard Woodlock of Texas learned to make chicken and dumplings while watching her mother, Jennie Wollard Nunn. “Hers were made to perfection,” recalls Shirley. “She would always say, ‘Don’t forget the bay leaves and the pepper.’” Now Shirley always makes her mother’s chicken and dumplings to bring to Wollard family reunions. The recipe was passed down from Shirley’s grandmother, who grew up in the hills of Tennessee.

Editors’ note: Today, this is one of our readers’ all-time favorite recipes! Whether you make your dumplings in strips, balls, or squares, all are acceptable forms. “Dumplings,” simply put, refer to small pieces of dough that can be savory or sweet. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 whole fryer chicken or hen
4 to 5 bay leaves
salt and pepper, to taste
4 to 6 tablespoons butter
pepper, to taste
Dumplings:
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup water
2 small eggs
3 cups flour

Instructions

1. Wash the chicken and place into a large Dutch oven. Cover well with plenty of water and add bay leaves. Add salt and pepper, and the butter (the more butter, the richer the dish). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook, uncovered, until the chicken is well done, about 1 hour.

2. Remove the chicken from the broth. Discard the bay leaves. When the chicken has cooled, remove the meat from the bone and return the deboned chicken to the broth. About 1/2 to 3/4 pot of broth should remain.

3. For dumplings: In a large bowl, mix together the salt, oil, water, and eggs. Slowly add the flour to the mixture, blending it constantly with a fork. Stir only long enough to mix the dough.

4. Turn the dough out onto a floured board. Pinch the dough in half, and roll out until thin, about 1/4 inch. Slice the dough into 1/2-inch-wide strips, and cross-slice into pieces 4 to 8 inches long, for ease in handling.

5. Bring the broth and chicken back to a boil, and pepper well to taste. Drop the dumpling strips into the boiling stock. Boil approximately 20 minutes, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the dumplings are done (they’ll be puffy). Most of the broth will be absorbed. Serve with red pinto beans and corn bread.

About The Author

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

The Almanac Editors and Staff

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Comments

<span>Jessie Nehlsen</span> Wed, 01/26/2011 - 11:55
I'm waiting for someone to answer concerning the flour. Use self-rising or regular?
<span>Elizabeth</span> Wed, 08/09/2017 - 16:12
I use all purpose flour. So did my mom.
<span>Phyllis Marks</span> Mon, 01/31/2011 - 03:04
Sorry, I haven't been online for a while. I use all-purpose flour with this recipe, and make southern style dumplings, not biscuits. I roll out 1/3 of the dough at a time. If you can see your hand through the dough but it doesn't tear, it's thin enough to cut. A pizza cutter is a great way to cut these dumplings quickly. Hope this helps.
<span>Nancy Mayton</span> Sun, 01/30/2011 - 12:19
Has to be self rising in order for the bisquits to rise, other wise the turn out doughy
<span>Sundance</span> Wed, 01/26/2011 - 16:43
I make my own dumplings using Hudson Cream self rising.
<span>Sundance</span> Wed, 01/26/2011 - 16:39
When I make my own dumplings ..I use self rising flour ( Hudson Cream)
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 01/26/2011 - 12:41

Hi Jessie, For this recipe, use regular all-purpose flour.

 <span>Phyllis Marks</span> Wed, 12/01/2010 - 12:28
This has become a family favorite! Thank-you!
<span>Suzan Heming</span> Thu, 05/06/2010 - 15:03
My mother did something special for the dumplings. Instead of adding milk or water, she used the chicken broth. It makes the dumplings have a deeper, richer taste. Try it some time.
<span>Sheshedd</span> Tue, 12/11/2012 - 22:34
My Grandma used the broth too! She also used Crisco instead of oil, but I dont know how much. So much better than those doughy balls.