This chicken dumpling soup is one of our favorite cozy dinners, a creamy, herb scented soup full of chicken and vegetables with fluffy biscuit dumplings, made in one pot in about forty minutes. For us that kind of warm, soul soothing comfort is exactly what real food for real life is about. It is the kind of bowl that feels like a warm blanket on a cold night, marrying a creamy, herb scented soup with pillowy biscuit dumplings, all from a single pot.
Carrots, celery, onion, and garlic simmer with broth, cream, and rotisserie chicken, then quartered biscuit dough floats on top and steams into pillowy dumplings. This chicken dumpling soup brings together everything cozy about chicken and dumplings in a hearty, soup style bowl. Letting the vegetables and chicken simmer into a creamy, herby broth before the dumplings go on top means every spoonful is rich and savory beneath those fluffy, steamed pillows.
A creamy chicken and vegetable soup with fluffy biscuit dumplings makes this chicken dumpling soup pure cozy comfort.
Why You Will Love This Chicken Dumpling Soup
- One pot meal. Soup and dumplings cook together in a single pot.
- Fluffy dumplings. Quartered biscuit dough steams into pillowy dumplings on top.
- Creamy and hearty. Broth, cream, chicken, and vegetables make it filling.
- Ready in about forty minutes. A cozy, comforting dinner without much fuss.
- Family favorite. Warm, creamy, and dumpling filled, it pleases everyone.
What Makes This Chicken Dumpling Soup So Good
A great chicken dumpling soup starts by softening carrots, celery, and onion in butter, then blooming garlic and herbs like Italian seasoning and sage to build a savory, aromatic base. Softening the vegetables in butter and blooming the garlic and herbs first builds an aromatic base, so the broth tastes layered and savory rather than thin.
Stirring flour into the vegetables and adding broth and cream creates a rich, velvety soup, while rotisserie chicken and peas make it hearty and complete. Stirring flour into the vegetables before the liquid goes in thickens the broth into something velvety, and the rotisserie chicken and peas make it hearty enough for a full meal.
The key to this chicken dumpling soup is the dumplings. Floating floured biscuit quarters on top and simmering covered lets them steam into light, fluffy pillows without sinking or turning gummy. Resting the floured biscuit pieces on top and simmering them covered is what lets them steam into light, fluffy dumplings instead of sinking and turning dense.
Optional Pro Tip: Float, Do Not Submerge
Rest the biscuit quarters on top of the soup rather than pushing them under, and keep the lid on so they steam into fluffy dumplings. For the best chicken dumpling soup, toss the dough in a little flour first so it holds together as it cooks. Keeping the lid on traps the steam that cooks the dumplings through, and a light toss in flour first helps them hold together and gently thickens the broth.
Tips for the Best Chicken Dumpling Soup
Use rotisserie chicken so the chicken dumpling soup comes together fast, and toss the biscuit pieces in flour before adding them. Reaching for rotisserie chicken keeps this quick and hands off, and tossing the biscuit pieces in flour before they go in is the small step that keeps them tender.
Float the dumplings on top, cover, and simmer gently without lifting the lid so they cook through and stay fluffy. Floating the dumplings on top and resisting the urge to lift the lid lets them steam undisturbed, so they cook through and stay light and fluffy. A gentle hand when you uncover the pot keeps the delicate dumplings whole, so they stay light and pillowy right through to serving.
Variations and Add Ins
- Extra veggies. Add mushrooms, corn, or green beans.
- Herb forward. Add extra thyme, sage, or fresh parsley.
- Thicker soup. Add a little more flour or a cornstarch slurry.
- Homemade dumplings. Use a simple flour and milk dough instead of biscuits.
- Lighter. Use half and half in place of heavy cream.
How to Store and Make Ahead
Store leftover chicken dumpling soup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The dumplings soften but stay delicious. Stored airtight, the soup keeps its cozy flavor for a few days, and while the dumplings soften as they sit, they remain comforting and delicious.
Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of broth if it has thickened. Stir carefully so the dumplings stay intact. A splash of broth stirred in while reheating loosens the soup if it has thickened, and gentle stirring keeps the tender dumplings intact rather than breaking them up.
Serving Suggestions for Chicken Dumpling Soup
Serve this hot in bowls, garnished with fresh parsley, with crusty bread on the side if you like. It is a complete, cozy meal all on its own. A scattering of fresh parsley brightens the bowl, and a slice of crusty bread on the side is perfect for soaking up the last of the creamy broth. Ladled into deep bowls while piping hot, it is the sort of soup that warms you from the inside out on the coldest evenings.
This dish is a dumpling rich version of chicken soup, a comforting bowl of simmered chicken and vegetables, as described in this overview of chicken soup. The fluffy biscuit dumplings are what make this chicken dumpling soup extra hearty.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I add the dumplings?
Float the floured biscuit quarters on top near the end and simmer covered for about fifteen minutes until cooked through. Adding the floured biscuit quarters near the end and simmering them covered until cooked through is the timing that gives you fully steamed, fluffy dumplings.
Why are my dumplings gummy?
Lifting the lid lets steam escape, and submerging them makes them dense. Float them on top and keep the lid on. Gummy dumplings usually come from lifting the lid, which lets the steam escape, or from pushing them under the surface, so float them on top and keep them covered.
Can I use rotisserie chicken?
Yes. It is perfect here and makes the soup come together quickly. Rotisserie chicken is perfect here, adding savory, already cooked meat that lets the whole soup come together quickly without extra steps.
Why toss the biscuit dough in flour?
A light coating of flour helps the dumplings hold together and thickens the soup slightly. A light coating of flour does double duty, helping the dumplings hold their shape as they steam and gently thickening the surrounding broth.
How do I thicken the soup?
The flour and cream thicken it. For a thicker soup, add a little more flour or a cornstarch slurry. The flour and cream are what thicken the soup, so for a thicker bowl, whisk in a little more flour or a small cornstarch slurry before the dumplings go on.
Can I add more vegetables?
Yes. Mushrooms, corn, or green beans all work well in the pot. Mushrooms, corn, or green beans all stir in nicely, so you can add color and extra vegetables to make the soup even heartier.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps for up to three days, though the dumplings soften as they sit. Reheat gently. It keeps for a few days, though the dumplings soften as they sit, so reheat gently and expect a slightly softer, equally cozy bowl.
Can I freeze it?
The soup freezes well, but dumplings can get soft. For best results, freeze before adding them. The soup base freezes well, but the dumplings can turn soft, so for the best texture, freeze the soup before adding them and drop in fresh dumplings when you reheat.
What cream should I use?
Heavy cream gives the richest soup. Half and half works for a lighter version. Heavy cream gives the richest, most luxurious soup, while half and half lightens it nicely if you prefer a slightly leaner bowl.
What can I serve with it?
It is a complete meal, but crusty bread or a green salad pairs nicely. It is hearty enough to be a complete meal, though a chunk of crusty bread or a crisp green salad rounds it out beautifully.
A Soul Soothing Bowl of Comfort
This chicken dumpling soup brings together creamy broth, tender chicken, vegetables, and fluffy dumplings in one cozy, hearty bowl. It is comfort food at its very best. It brings together creamy broth, tender chicken, vegetables, and fluffy dumplings in one cozy, hearty bowl that tastes like comfort itself.
Make it in one pot, drop the dumplings on top near the end, and serve warm with parsley. It is an easy, crowd pleasing dinner perfect for chilly evenings. Make it in one pot, drop the dumplings on near the end, and serve it warm with parsley for an easy, crowd pleasing dinner on chilly evenings.
If you love warm, comforting chicken dishes like this, you will also enjoy our chicken piccata, another favorite from our kitchen.
Results vary by ingredients, equipment, and cooking conditions. Always taste and adjust seasoning as you go.
Chicken Dumpling Soup
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat.
- Add onion, celery, carrot, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for about 8 minutes.
- Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces and toss them in a thin layer of flour.
- Reduce heat to medium and add garlic, Italian seasoning, dried sage, fresh thyme, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.
- Add flour and stir until well combined. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Pour in enough broth to deglaze the pan until you can scrape all the yummy bits off the bottom. Then stir in the remaining broth.
- Add chicken, heavy cream, frozen peas, and bay leaves to the pot. Gently stir to combine all ingredients.
- Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Add floured biscuit dough quarters to the pot, floating them on top of the soup, not submerging them.
- Cover and reduce heat to low. Gently simmer for about 15 minutes or until the biscuit dough is cooked through.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Garnish and enjoy.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Enjoyed the recipe? Share it!
Kitchen Essentials We Recommend
Tools that make cooking easier — tried, tested, and loved.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Got a recipe the world should try?
Share your favorite family recipe or national dish with food lovers in 100+ countries.
Submit Your Recipe