Name: Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 230 min
Total time: 240 min
Ingredients: 1 large fryer chicken; 1 large onion (peeled and cut in half); 3 carrots (cut into large pieces); 3 stalks of celery (cut into large pieces); salt (to taste); pepper (to taste); 3 cups flour; 3/4 tsp. baking soda; 3/4 tsp. salt; 4 1/2 tbsp. shortening; 1 cup milk

Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

By Stephanie on January 5, 2019 | Updated November 1, 2021 | 19 Comments

If you are looking for the BEST Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe this is it! This chicken and dumplings recipe tastes just like the Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings, actually if I am being totally honest I think this copy cat Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe tastes better then the one you get at the restaurant! This easy chicken and dumplings recipe is one that I love to make and my whole family enjoys!

Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings

I came up with this chicken and dumplings recipe because when I was a little girl, any time we were on a road trip my family would stop at Cracker Barrel. It was a great place because we would be able to get a good meal and stretch our legs in the fun store. My mom would always get the chicken and dumplings whenever we went. Cracker Barrel Chicken and dumplings was her must have meal every time.

Chicken and Dumplings is her favorite but she doesn’t get to have it often since there is not a Cracker Barrel near her. I wanted to be able to give her a meal she loves so much right at home so I made her this Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. I don’t know if she was saying it because she is my mom or if it 100% true, but she told me this is the best homemade chicken and dumplings recipe she has ever eaten.

I am going to say that my husband and kids say the same thing when I make this chicken and dumplings from scratch recipe, so I am leaning towards believing she really means it. 😉

Looking for more dinner recipes? Check these out!

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings from Scratch

When I make chicken and dumplings from scratch I make my own stock, you can make your own or use a boxed one. If you are making your own and have leftover stock, use this trick for storing the extra chicken stock for any extra chicken stock you have when making your Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings. If you have left over chicken stock and you are trying to figure out what to do with it, Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, is AMAZING!

You will be cooking a full chicken for this easy chicken and dumplings recipe, and then shredding it, for this you may want to use my trick on how to shred chicken, It is so simple!

Depending on the size of the chicken you may end up having left over chicken. When I do I freeze it in 2 cup amounts to use for other recipes later.

Variations of this recipe

While I personally take the time to make this whole recipe from scratch, it does take about 4 hours from start to finish. Most of that time is with the chicken cooking in the stockpot and making the broth while the chicken is boiling. If you are looking to make this a quick meal then there are a few short cuts you can do.

Use store bought chicken broth. You will need 6 cups of chicken broth.

Use a rotisserie chicken. You can grab a precooked chicken from the grocery store and shred it. You can also use 2-3 pounds of chicken breasts, boil them and then shred them to use.

What to serve with Chicken and dumplings?

Normally when I make chicken and dumplings I serve it with some fresh bread, garlic cheddar rolls or homemade biscuits. However if you are looking for more side dish recipes that go great with it check these out.

Mashed potatoes
steamed veggies like broccoli, corn, carrots or green beans.
grilled veggies like broccoli, corn, carrots or green beans.
Green Beans with Bacon
sauteed veggies like broccoli, corn, carrots or green beans.
Broccoli Slaw

Chicken and Dumplings Ingredients

fryer chicken or a stewing hen
onion
carrots
Celery
Salt
Pepper
water

Dumplings Ingredients

Flour
Baking soda
Salt
Shortening
Milk

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

Remove the chicken neck and gizzards. Place the chicken, onions, carrots, and celery in a large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so water maintains a gentle simmer.

Cook chicken for 2-3 hour. I love to cook it for a long time to get a lot of flavor.

When you have about 30 minutes left on the chicken start making your dumplings.

Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles small peas. Add milk a quarter cup at a time, you may not need a full cup.

Stir until a ball of dough just begins to form, being careful not to over mix. On a flour surface roll about 1/4 inch thick.

Using a pizza cutter cut dough into rectangles about 1 inch wide by 2 inches long. Place strips on flour sheet pan and allow to harden for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours.

Once chicken is done, remove from the broth and let cool. Remove chicken from the bone and shred into medium-sized pieces, discarding bones and skin.

Pour the chicken broth through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter, discarding vegetables. Reserve 6 cups of the broth for the dumplings.

Refrigerate or freeze the rest to use in for another recipe.

In a large pot over medium-low heat, bring broth to a gentle simmer and drop in dumplings.

Cover and allow to cook for 7-10 minutes.

Reduce heat to low and add chicken.

Allow to cook until thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Season generously with salt and pepper.

Looking for more Chicken recipes? Check these out!

Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Created by Lauren

3.66 from 129 votes

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 3 50

Total Time 4

Servings 6

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Looking for an amazing Chicken and Dumplings Recipe? This Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings recipe is sure to be a hit!

Ingredients

Chicken And Dumplings Ingredients

1 large fryer chicken
1 large onion peeled and cut in half
3 carrots cut into large pieces
3 stalks of celery cut into large pieces
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Dumplings

3 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
4 1/2 tbsp. shortening
1 cup milk

Instructions

Remove the chicken neck and gizzards. Place the chicken, onions, carrots, and celery in a large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so water maintains a gentle simmer.
Cook chicken for 2-3 hour. I love to cook it for a long time to get a lot of flavor.
Mix flour, baking soda, and salt together in bowl. Cut shortening into flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles small peas. Add milk a quarter cup at a time, you may not need a full cup.
Stir until a ball of dough just begins to form, being careful not to over mix. On a flour surface roll about 1/4 inch thick.
Using a pizza cutter cut dough into rectangles about 1 inch wide by 2 inches long. Place strips on flour sheet pan and allow to harden for at least 30 minutes or up to several hours.
Once chicken is done, remove from the broth and let cool. Remove chicken from the bone and shred into medium-sized pieces, discarding bones and skin.
Pour the chicken broth through a fine mesh sieve lined with a coffee filter, discarding vegetables. Reserve 6 cups of the broth for the dumplings.
Refrigerate or freeze the rest to use in for another recipe.
In a large pot over medium-low heat, bring broth to a gentle simmer and drop in dumplings.
Cover and allow to cook for 7-10 minutes.
Reduce heat to low and add chicken.
Allow to cook until thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Season generously with salt and pepper.