Mom’s Chicken ‘n’ Buttermilk Dumplings

Total Time

Prep: 45 min. Cook: 2 hours

Makes

8 servings

Updated: Oct. 31, 2023
Meet the Cook: I serve this - with a tossed or cucumber salad - to friends dining with us or on visits by our two sons and families (including two grandchildren). -Ellen Proefrock, Brodhead, Wisconsin

Ingredients

  • 1 stewing chicken (about 5 pounds), cut up
  • 10 cups water
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 medium carrots, sliced
  • 3 celery ribs, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup half-and-half cream
  • DUMPLINGS:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 4 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

  1. In a stockpot or Dutch oven, combine first seven ingredients. Bring to a boil; skim foam from broth. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until chicken is tender, about 1-1/2 hours. Remove chicken; when cool enough to handle, debone and dice. Strain broth, reserving broth and vegetables.
  2. In the same pot, melt butter. Stir in flour, paprika and pepper until smooth. Gradually stir in 6 cups reserved broth (save remaining broth for another use). Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in the cream, reserved vegetables and chicken. Cover and bring to a boil; reduce the heat to simmer.
  3. For dumplings, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in a bowl. Combine eggs, buttermilk and butter; stir into dry ingredients to form a stiff batter.
  4. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto simmering mixture. Cover and simmer until a toothpick inserted in a dumpling comes out clean (do not lift cover while simmering), about 20 minutes. Serve immediately.
buttermilk
To substitute for each cup of buttermilk, use 1 Tbsp. white vinegar or lemon juice plus enough milk to measure 1 cup. Stir, then let stand 5 min. Or, use 1 cup plain yogurt or 1-3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar plus 1 cup milk.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 614 calories, 32g fat (14g saturated fat), 201mg cholesterol, 1059mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 42g protein.