Chicken and dumplings
One of my 15 month olds favorite meals.
Chicken & Dumplings
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded, pre-cooked, rotisserie chicken
2 qts chicken broth, more if you want it soupier For the dumplings:
2 cups flour (plus more)
1.5 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
2 tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp salted butter, cold but not frozen
1 cup milk
Directions:
1. Prepare chicken by pulling from bone and cutting into smaller pieces.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and pepper.
3. Cut in butter.
4. When thoroughly incorporated, add 3/4 cup of milk until pastry forms a dough ball.
5. Heavily flour countertop and pat out using more flour as necessary to manage the texture. Before beginning to cut the strips, begin heating 2 qts of chicken broth and bring to a boil.
6. With a knife, cut dough into strips.
7. Once strips are cut and broth is boiling, drop dumplings in a few at a time, stirring to keep them from sticking together. Don't worry about the excess flour on the dumplings, it just thickens things up nicely.
8. Cook for 15 minutes then carefully add the Chicken. Simmer five more minutes.
Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food that's especially popular in many homes for its warmth and satisfying flavors. This dish combines tender shredded chicken with fluffy, soft dumplings cooked in rich chicken broth, making it an ideal hearty meal for all ages—including toddlers, as noted here. To elevate your chicken and dumplings, consider a few tips that can improve texture and flavor. Using pre-cooked rotisserie chicken is a great time-saver, but you can also poach or roast your own chicken breasts or thighs for a fresher taste. When shredding the chicken, ensure there are no bones or skin pieces for a smooth eating experience, particularly important for young children. The dumpling dough is simple, made from flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, butter, and milk. Allowing the dough to rest for 10-15 minutes before cutting can help the baking powder fully activate, resulting in lighter dumplings. When cutting the dough into strips, try to keep them relatively uniform in size so they cook evenly. As the dumplings cook in the boiling chicken broth, the excess flour not only prevents sticking but also subtly thickens the broth, creating a rich, stew-like consistency. Stirring gently ensures dumplings don’t clump together without breaking them apart. For additional flavor, you can add aromatics like chopped onions, garlic, or herbs such as thyme and parsley to the broth before boiling. Vegetables like carrots, celery, or peas also complement the dish well and provide added nutrition. This recipe is especially child-friendly, with mild seasoning and soft textures, making it suitable for 15-month-old toddlers and up. It’s an excellent way to introduce young children to homemade meals that are both nourishing and delicious. Overall, chicken and dumplings is versatile and forgiving—feel free to customize the ingredients, add extra spices, or adjust the broth quantity for a soupier or thicker consistency. This makes it a perfect meal to prepare in advance, enjoy throughout the week, and share with the whole family.
That looks so hearty and delicious! My little one would love this too. 😍