Warm, comforting, and full of flavor, Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings is a classic dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. This copycat recipe is just as good as the real thing, and it's easy to make at home.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This copycat Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe is easy to make and tastes just like the real thing. This home-style recipe gets extra points for being easy and super tasty and will warm you up from the inside out!
From the tender chicken pieces to its fluffy dumplings, just one spoonful of this this copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings will make you feel like you're back in Grandma's kitchen!
- Easy to make. Even if you are a beginner cook, you should be able to make this dish without any problems.
- Affordable. Chicken and dumplings uses ingredients often stocked in the freezer and pantry, and none of them are expensive.
- Hearty and comforting. Chicken and dumplings is one of those meals that warms you up from the inside out, as well as sticks to your ribs. It's delicious year round, but it's soul warming food in the winter.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Ingredients
- How to Make Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
- Serving Suggestions
- Related Recipes
- Substitutions and Variations
- Equipment
- Storage and Reheating
- Tips for Success
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
- 📖 Recipe
- Food Safety
Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Ingredients
The dumplings are made with pre-made baking mix (like Bisquick). I serve the carrots on the side also, no sense wasting perfectly good cooked carrots!
- Chicken breasts - Boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- Carrots - Cut into large chunks.
- Celery - Cut the stalks into chunks.
- Onion - Quartered.
- Salt - To taste.
- Black pepper - To taste.
- Water
- Biscuit baking mix - Bisquick or any brand of baking mix.
- Milk
- Parsley - Fresh chopped parsley for garnish.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How to Make Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
This recipe is perfect for a family meal or a potluck. Next time you are looking for a delicious, hearty, and comforting meal, be sure to try this copycat Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe.
Make The Chicken Broth
- Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, salt, pepper, and water to a stock pot or Dutch oven (about 6 quarts). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover pot, and reduce to a low simmer for 25 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred using two forks. Set aside.
- Scoop out the vegetables from the broth with slotted spoon and save to serve as a side dish, or discard.
Make The Dumplings
Store bought baking mix is a time saver, but you can easily mix up your own homemade biscuit recipe to use as the dumplings.
- Mix the baking mix with the milk, or make from scratch.
- Roll out dough thinly on a work floured work surface.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into 1" wide x 2" long strips.
Cook The Dumplings
- Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes while you bring the broth back to a boil.
- Drop the strips of dough in the boiling broth and cook until they float to the top.
Add Shredded Chicken Back To Pot
- Return the chicken to the pot with the cooked dumplings. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the broth has thickened.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings with a variety of sides, such as mashed potatoes, green beans, or cornbread. You can also top it with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, chives, or grated Parmesan cheese.
Some great side dish recipes to serve with this Cracker Barrel recipe for chicken and dumplings:
- Instant Pot Apple Blueberry Crumble
- Honey Roasted Peaches
- Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie
- No Bake Key Lime Pie
- Instant Pot Strawberry Cheesecake
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Related Recipes
Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few substitutions and variations using this Cracker Barrel recipe for chicken and dumplings:
- You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for the boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
- You can also add different herbs and spices to the dumplings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, or thyme.
- If you want to make the dish even richer, you can add some heavy cream or sour cream to the pot.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making this Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe.
Storage and Reheating
- The chicken and dumplings can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can also freeze the chicken and dumplings for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat, thaw the dumplings and cook them according to the instructions.
- To reheat the chicken and dumplings, place them in a saucepan over medium heat and cook until heated through.
Tips for Success
- To make the dumplings even more tender, let the dough rest for 10 minutes before cutting them and adding them to the pot.
- If the dumplings are sticking to the bottom of the pot, add a little more chicken broth or water.
- You can also make the dumplings ahead of time and freeze them. Roll them out, cut them, and freeze on a baking sheet. When you're ready to eat, thaw the dumplings and add them to the boiling broth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use store-bought chicken broth. However, homemade chicken broth will give the dish more flavor.
The dumplings are done when they are cooked through and float to the top of the pot.
Some Other Recipes We Are Sure You Will Love
📖 Recipe
Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
Ingredients
- 2 large Chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 2 large Carrots cut into 3" lengths
- 2 large Celery stalks cut into 3" lengths
- 1 Onion quartered
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper or to taste
- 8 cup Water
- 2¼ cup Biscuit baking mix Bisquick or homemade
- ⅔ cup Milk
- parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Add the chicken, carrots, celery, onion, salt, pepper, and water to a stock pot or Dutch oven (about 6 quarts). Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, cover pot, and reduce to a low simmer for 25 minutes.2 large Chicken breasts, 2 large Carrots, 2 large Celery stalks, 1 Onion, 1 teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Black pepper, 8 cup Water
- Remove the chicken from the pot and shred using two forks. Set aside.
- Scoop out the vegetables from the broth with slotted spoon and save to serve as a side dish, or discard.
- Mix the baking mix with the milk, or make from scratch.2¼ cup Biscuit baking mix, ⅔ cup Milk
- Roll out dough thinly on a work floured work surface.
- Using a pizza cutter or knife, cut the dough into 1" wide x 2" long strips.
- Let the dough rest for 10 to 15 minutes while you bring the broth back to a boil.
- Drop the strips of dough in the boiling broth and cook until they float to the top.
- Return the chicken to the pot with the cooked dumplings. Cover the pot, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the broth has thickened. Garnish with parsley and serve.parsley
Notes
- To make the dumplings even more tender, let the dough rest for 10 minutes before cutting them and adding them to the pot.
- If the dumplings are sticking to the bottom of the pot, add a little more chicken broth or water.
- You can also make the dumplings ahead of time and freeze them. Roll them out, cut them, and freeze on a baking sheet. When you're ready to eat, thaw the dumplings and add them to the boiling broth.
Nutrition
Food Safety
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
Leave a Reply