Everyone knows if you want a taste of Southern comfort, you hit up your local Cracker Barrel! The chain serves everything from fried okra to Southern hash, but many people go for their Chicken N’ Dumplins. This dish features creamy, flavorful chicken broth with a hint of onion and juicy chicken. The recipe is accented with uniform dumplings that are perfectly doughy, giving every bite a beautiful variety of textures. There are a thousand recipes for Chicken and Dumplings, but many prefer Cracker Barrel’s recipe because it features no veggies and is mostly dumplings.
Anyone can tell that this dish is the ultimate comfort food. We wanted this stew in our recipe arsenal, so we created our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe. This one-pot stew is so easy to make and feeds a crowd. It’s perfect for family dinners or a make-ahead meal to store in the freezer. Serve it solo, or add a baguette and Caesar salad for a fancy feast that will make anyone’s day. Grab your favorite Dutch oven and get ready to make this iconic Southern dish from scratch.
All About Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken and dumplings are most commonly associated with the American South but actually find their roots in European culture. This recipe became popular during the Great Depression when simple meals using flour and the entire chicken were desirable. In those times, homemakers would simmer the whole chicken, carcass and all, instead of purchasing chicken stock and breast. Since you could easily adjust the quantity of the stew by increasing the stock water, even the largest families could be fed for less.
Chicken and dumplings can vary based on your locale. For example, some home chefs or restaurants prefer adding more vegetables or savory seasonings like thyme and sage. Dumplings can also differ; some prefer drop dumplings, and others, like Cracker Barrel, go for uniform, thin, square dumplings. In Europe, chicken and dumplings feature a thin broth sans cream, and the chicken is folded into the dumpling dough. If you’re looking for a one-pot meal with plenty of history, whip up a batch of our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe. There’s a reason it’s withstood the test of time!
Cost to Make Our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
One order of Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings (and two side dishes) will cost you about $10. In contrast, you can make 8-10 servings of our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe for just $11.98. Even if you divided your stew into 6 generous servings, you’d still come out on top at about $2 a serving.
Remember that this total can vary based on where you live and what ingredients are available in your area. Here’s how that breaks down:
- Chicken breasts: $5.00
- Chicken broth: $3.50
- Onion: $0.50
- Salt: $0.05
- Black pepper: $0.05
- All-purpose flour: $0.90
- Baking powder: $0.05
- Butter: $0.13
- Milk: $0.30
- Cream: $0.50
Grand Total: $11.98
How to Make Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings
Keep reading to discover how to make our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.
Step One: Boil the Chicken Breasts
Slice the chicken breasts in half and set them in a large soup pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken broth, sliced onions, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken breast is cooked through.
Step Two: Make the Dumpling Dough
While the chicken cooks, make the dumpling by mixing the flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk until just combined. Your mixture will resemble a shaggy dough.
Step Three: Form the Dumplings
Turn the dumpling dough onto a floured surface and roll to ½-inch thick. Slice lengthwise into strips, then widthwise into smaller pieces.
Step Four: Finish the Soup
Remove the chicken breasts from the soup pot and shred, then return to the pot. Add the cream and dumpling strips to the pot, then cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, until the dumplings are tender and the soup is thick. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!
What to Serve With Our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
This recipe is excellent on its own, but you can always add a side salad and crusty bread for a complete Cracker Barrel-style feast.
Storing Leftover Chicken and Dumplings
You can store leftover Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings in the fridge for up to five days or freeze them for up to five months.
Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
Skip the restaurant wait time and scratch the Cracker Barrel itch at home with this delicious stew. Our Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is a simple dish that will please even the pickiest eaters. It features a silky smooth broth infused with flavorful chicken breast and doughy dumplings. It’s the best dish for cold nights or to soothe the soul after a rough day!
- Dutch Oven
- Mixing Bowl
- Rolling Pin
- Pizza Cutter
- 1 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
- 7 cups chicken broth
- 1 count onion (sliced)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 count salt & pepper to taste
Slice the chicken breasts in half and set them in a large soup pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken broth, sliced onions, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, until the chicken breast is cooked through.
While the chicken cooks, make the dumpling by mixing the flour, baking powder, salt, butter, and milk until just combined. Your mixture will resemble a shaggy dough.
Turn the dumpling dough onto a floured surface and roll to ½-inch thick. Slice lengthwise into strips, then widthwise into smaller pieces.
Remove the chicken breasts from the soup pot and shred, then return to the pot. Add the cream and dumpling strips to the pot, then cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, until the dumplings are tender and the soup is thick. Taste and add more salt and pepper, if desired. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!