Southern Chicken And Dumplings The Black Way  (2024)

Chicken and dumplings is a traditional Southern dish with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Chicken and dumplings is so popular that it’s considered aholiday classicin many African-American families.

If you’re looking to satisfy yourcomfort foodcravings, this is one dish that does just the trick.

What are chicken and dumplings?

Chicken and dumplings is a classic dish hailing from the Southern U.S. It can be a main dish or tasty accompaniment to other Southern favorites likeSouthern fried chicken.

It’s a thick soup comprised of boiled biscuit dough (the dumplings) and shredded chicken or chicken pieces (chicken breast or chicken thighs, bone-in or bone-out) served together in a creamy broth.

How do you make chicken and dumplings?

Chicken and dumplings is a classic Southern soup consisting of juicy chicken pieces, vegetables like onions and celery, and soft dough balls.

The chicken is first simmered in water to make the chicken broth, and then the dumplings are cooked with the broth to complete the soup.

Chicken, of course, is the main ingredient for this dish and is simmered in a flavorful broth until tender. The second most important ingredient, dumplings, are small balls of dough that are either dropped into the simmering chicken broth or placed on top of the chicken.

What ingredients do you need to make Southern homemade chicken and dumplings?

A classic Southern homemade chicken and dumplings recipe is made with basic ingredients like flour, milk, celery, onion, chicken broth, garlic, salt, pepper, and of course, chicken.

What other names are there for Southern chicken and dumplings?

Southern chicken and dumplings are also known by the names chicken dumplings, chicken and sliders, chicken and slicks. Or, like my grandma used to say, chicken and pastry.

Black chicken and dumplings is the same as soul food chicken and dumplings and chicken and dumplings the Black way.

What is Southern chicken and dumplings the Black way?

Making Southern chicken and dumplings the Black folks’ way involves a flavorful chicken broth with seasoned chicken, plump biscuit dumplings, and just the right amount of savory, tender vegetables.

It’s another epic display of soulful Southern comfort food at its finest!

What ingredients do you need to make Black folks’ Southern chicken and dumplings?

Soul food versions often include savory vegetables like carrots and celery.

And, of course, there’s no skimping on garlic, thyme, parsley, salt, and ground black pepper. The essential herbs, seasonings, and spices and the essence of soul food cooking. The flavor.

If you love comfort food, this Black folks’ chicken and dumplings recipe will fit the bill!

The dumpling dough is easy to work with, and before being cooked, it can be cut into shapes or made into flat dumplings for more visual appeal. Or rounded into dough balls.

Whichever way, this soul food recipe is the perfect comfort food and a big warm, flavorful hug.

Can you make chicken and dumplings in the Instant Pot?

People ask if Instant Pot chicken and dumplings yield a regular can of cream of chicken?

Not so!

Instant Pot chicken and dumplings are the real deal!

The prep and cook times are unbelievably efficient!

Instant Pot delivers the same old-fashioned creamy chicken and homemade dumpling recipe in less than 30 minutes!

So whatever coast you live on, West Coast Los Angeles, CA to East coast New Orleans, LA. With Instant Pot, you can easily make and enjoy this yummy simmering broth chicken dish.

You’ll think you’re eating a crockpot chicken or slow cooker chicken recipe.

Black Southern chicken and dumplings

These ain’t your regular recipe box instructions or canned cream of chicken!

Black Southern chicken and dumplings is made the soul food way!

Seasoned chicken and a creamy boiling broth are homemade with flavorful stock and heavy cream. The pastry dumplings are made from scratch using all-natural ingredients like the classic version grandma used to make.

As a result, there aren’t any unnecessary additives or preservatives you may find in a frozen dumplings store-bought version.

With intention, I also leave the shortening and cornstarch out of this recipe. And it’s not even missed (or needed)!

Kitchen equipment for soul food chicken and dumplings

• Instant Pot electric pressure cooker

Shop my kitchenware!

Instant Pot Duo Nova | The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls | Pyrex measuring glass | Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | Amazon cutting board | Anthropologie dish towel | Amazon stainless steel mixing bowl | Amazon large serving spoon | The Pioneer Woman similar white bowl | The Pioneer Woman similar floral bowl |

Ingredients for the dumplings

• 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• ½ a teaspoon of salt

Ingredients for the chicken soup

• 2 cups of chicken breast, pre-cooked, seasoned & chopped
• 2 cups of chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup of carrots, chopped
• 3/4 cup of yellow onion, diced
• 1/2 cup of celery, chopped
• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
• 2 teaspoons of chicken bouillon
• ½ a teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ cup of heaving whipping cream
• ¼ cup of fresh parsley, chopped to garnish (optional)

Instructions for the homemade dumplings recipe

1. Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium-sized bowl.
2. Then stir in the milk and vegetable oil until thoroughly combined.
3. Set aside this flour mixture to make the dumplings later.

Instructions for Southern soul food chicken and dumplings

1. Open the Instant Pot lid and turn it on to the sauté setting.
2. With the lid off, allow the sauté to heat up, and after a minute, add the vegetable oil.
3. Then add the carrots, onion, and celery.
4. Sauté for 2-3 minutes so that the onion and celery soften.
5. Add the garlic, chicken bouillon, thyme, salt, and pepper and cook for an additional minute.
6. Stir in the broth, then the cooked chicken, and turn off the Instant Pot.
7. Pinch off the dough and form 1-2″ course dumpling-shaped balls by quickly rolling the dough with your hands. The dumplings will increase in size as they cook.
8. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 3 minutes.
9. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
10. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
11. Then stir in the heavy whipping cream.
12. Optionally, garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
13. Serve Black folks’ Southern chicken and dumplings right away, and enjoy!

What do you serve with chicken and dumplings?

Chicken and dumplings is served with a wide variety of foods, including vegetables, fruits, bread, and rolls. It’s an excellent accompaniment tocornbread,coco bread,baked apples,salad, orseasoned green beans.

Many Southerners enjoy chicken and dumplings with a glass of sweet tea. Some restaurants serve chicken and dumplings withgrits.

How many people does this recipe serve?

This recipe serves 4 people.

However, you can use the dynamic recipe card below to quickly get the amount of ingredients needed to increase or double the serving size.

Soul food Southern chicken and dumplings FAQs

How long do you cook the chicken?

I like to use leftover seasoned and cooked chicken when making chicken and dumplings. (Waste not, want not!)

However, if you need to make the chicken for this recipe, you can use my easyInstant Pot whole chicken recipe HERE.

If brining the chicken first, it takes about 30 minutes then 25 minutes to cook the chicken.

You can use the broth from the cooked chicken for this chicken and dumplings recipe.

Why do you cook the chicken in water?

You cook the chicken in a salt water brine to make it tender and juicy. Then add the shredded or chopped chicken with all the ingredients into the soup broth.

Can you use a rotisserie chicken with this recipe?

Absolutely! The seasoned, tender, juicy meat will make for a delicious dish!

Do celery and carrots belong in chicken and dumplings?

Yes, celery and carrots belong in chicken and dumplings. They are part of the Southern soul food flavor and natural seasoning.

Chicken and dumplings are usually made with homemade chicken, flour dumplings, poultry seasoning, chicken stock or broth, starches like rice and noodles, and healthy vegetables like carrot and celery blended in.

When boiled, they provide a nice texture. Carrots have a slight sweetness, which adds to the dish’s flavor. Celery is not sweet and adds a subtle crunchiness to the plate.

It’s always a good idea is to add some vegetables to soup to make it healthier.

Can you use a bag of mixed vegetables instead of fresh veggies?

Yes, a bag of mixed or frozen veggies will work fine.

How do you make Southern chicken and dumplings in an Instant Pot?

To make chicken and dumplings in the Instant Pot, first, boil the chicken pieces with the sauté function.

Make the flour dumplings. Then mix all the remaining ingredients in the inner pot and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. Natural release for 10 minutes.

And boom! Your heart-warming chicken and dumplings are ready to serve.

What size pot should you use?

A standard 6-quart Instant Pot was used for this recipe.

Can you make this dish early in the day and leave it simmering until dinner time?

Yes, and this is another reason why I love Instant Pot cooking!

Once the cooking time is finished, you can choose to leave this recipe on the automatic ‘keep warm’ setting.

Simply give the soup a stir when you’re ready to serve.

Can you substitute buttermilk for the milk in the dumplings?

Absolutely, yes. But the main difference will be in the consistency of the batter.

Buttermilk is thinner than milk yet still lends itself to making beautiful dumpling dough. This has made buttermilk a popular milk substitute. It can be used in many recipes where you use milk or cream.

Can whole milk be substituted?

Yes, and even with evaporated milk. But again, the main difference will be in the consistency of the batter, so you may need to add more flour.

Does evaporated milk add a sweet taste?

A slightly sweeter taste than whole milk, but not overly sweet like condensed milk, which is not recommended for the dumplings.

Can you substitute with canned coconut milk for the same results?

Make sure the cream and coconut water are not separated, and know that you’ll get a slightly sweeter dumpling.

What makes this soup so creamy?

The secret to creamy chicken and dumplings is heaving whipping cream. No, it’s not a typo. Heavy whipping cream is used to give the dish its signature creamy texture. The cream helps to create body in the soup. The eggs in the cream help to thicken it up.

If you don’t use heavy cream, your dumpling soup will not have much body, and the dish will be absent of its signature creamy texture.

What kind of dumplings are there?

Are you team round dumpling or team flat?

And which are best, round or flat dumplings?

In my humble opinion, round dumplings always win!

Round dumplings are savory, soft, and sweet. To get the perfect round dumpling, simply pinch off the dough and use your hands to roll it into a round shape.

The flat dumpling is yummy, but it’s easy to break and wither away while cooking.

How do you tell if your dumplings are done?

When cooking dumplings, be sure to test them to see if they are done.

After removing the dumplings from the pot, use a fork to pierce them. If the center is still doughy, it’s not done.

You can eat dumplings with pleasure when the center is soft and fluffy.

Does unsalted butter change or counteract with the cooking?

Nope! This recipe doesn’t call for butter.

But suppose you’re making a chicken and dumplings recipe that does. In that case, unsalted butter is used because salt is usually added to the overall dish. Still, salted butter will have no impact on cooking this.

If you don’t have real butter, can you substitute margarine?

Sure! This is an easy swap, and you can use margarine.

Do you have suggestions on using frozen dumplings?

Frozen dumplings are usually pre-cooked and frozen, so you should check the package to determine precisely how to cook.

If you’re following this Instant Pot Southern chicken and dumplings recipe, there’s no need for a frozen substitute.

As long as you have flour, baking powder, milk, vegetable oil, and salt. Because it only takes mere minutes to make the homemade dumplings.

Can you use canned biscuits or make Bisquick dumplings?

These swaps will work if you don’t have the flour, baking powder, milk, vegetable oil, and salt to make the homemade dumplings in a matter of minutes.

Do you think I could freeze leftovers?

Yes, you can freeze leftover chicken and dumplings.

To freeze, pour the soup in a freezer bag or airtight container. Then, whenever you are ready to serve the leftovers, you can reheat them in the Instant Pot on ‘slow cook,’ in the microwave, or on the stove.

What do you think of this Southern chicken and dumplings recipe made the Black way?

Chicken and dumplings is often served in the South with a side of biscuits or cornbread. Its rich, savory flavor is incredibly comforting on those cold winter nights because this dish is a big bowl of comfort.

What is your favorite kind of soup?

Leave your answer in a comment below!

If you like this recipe you may also like these best soul food Southern chicken recipes HERE!

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