Get Almanac's Daily Updates Extended Forecasts Where to Buy Contact Us

Mother's Old-Fashioned Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Photo Credit
Sam Jones/Quinn Brein
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
Print Friendly and PDF

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

Under the guiding hand of its first editor, Robert B. Thomas, the premiere issue of The Old Farmer’s Almanac was published in 1792 during George Washington’s first term as president.Today, the Almanac...
Read More from The Old Farmer’s Almanac Editors

What's cooking in The Old Farmer's Store?

More Like This

Comments

<span>Jbl55</span> Thu, 05/06/2010 - 15:23
Absolutely, Suzan -- the best homemade dumplings I've ever had were made w/broth. Thanks for mentioning that!
<span>Lp Crawford</span> Thu, 05/06/2010 - 13:02
So did my grandma make these! I grew up in the N.Carolina hills, just next door! One question: does one need all purpose flour, or self-rising? Here in the northwest, self-rising is not readily available. (Nor is self-rising cornmeal :-( Thanks for the recipe, and for your help.
<span>Joan C.</span> Tue, 02/27/2018 - 18:57
You can look online for "self-rising flour", and it will tell you how to make it. Or someone on here will possibly tell you. It's very simple to do. I just can't recall now, how to do it.
<span>Merricat</span> Sat, 01/12/2013 - 17:39
I used to make this when my kids were little and all I ever had on hand was all-purpose and I don't recall having any trouble with the dumplings. I made my own bread for a few years so I also used a lot of organic/health food store flours in my recipes. Hope this helps :)
<span>Rose Parisella</span> Thu, 05/06/2010 - 11:11
sounds delicious!
<span>Pamelanne</span> Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:06
I was so thrilled to see this old fashioned recipe...it will be great and thanks so much for old country cooking...its great:)
<span>Don Webber</span> Thu, 05/06/2010 - 11:50
MY MOTHER MADE THESE AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THE RECIPE, THANKS DON
<span>Tom Shain</span> Wed, 09/23/2009 - 15:20
Sounds almost exactley like the recipe my mother use to use. Raising 5 boys she had probably cooked hundereds of lbs. of chicken and dumplings over the years. Cheap and went a long ways to feed a hungry mob.
<span>Nikro</span> Wed, 09/16/2009 - 14:43
I can't wait to try this! My husband has been asking for this dish for years and I have been too intimidated to try it...this recipe looks simple and delicious. Thanks so much for sharing!