These are the best recipes for chicken and dumplings, so you can enjoy different varieties of the classic comfort food!

With these recipes for chicken and dumplings, you’re sure to find something for everybody! These comfort food classics are crowd-pleasers, and for good reason!

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Chicken and dumplings are pretty much the epitome of comfort food. Chances are, a steaming bowl of chicken and dumplings takes you back to another place and time in your mind, conjuring up memories that warm your heart.

Maybe you remember your mom’s chicken and dumplings, with a pot of savory broth simmering on the stove while the snow flitted down outside.

Maybe you remember the first time you rolled dumplings with your grandmother, as she gently guided your hands on the rolling pin.

Perhaps you have a favorite restaurant variety of chicken and dumplings, and every time life gets a little chaotic, you want to return for a heaping helping of soul food.

The best recipes for chicken and dumplings are those that are easy to make (because, come on, I know you don’t have all day to spend in the kitchen!), evoke a sense of calm coziness, and fill you with warm memories.

That’s why I’m setting out to help you learn everything you need to know to make the perfect chicken and dumplings for your family, so I’m sharing my favorite tips, tricks, and recipes!

Which Chicken is Best for Chicken and Dumplings?

Deciding which chicken to use in chicken and dumplings boils down to your personal preference, what you have on hand, and how much time you have.

For instance, do you like dark meat or light meat? I personally prefer light meat, so I almost always use boneless, skinless chicken breasts in my chicken and dumplings. If you like dark meat, you could use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

Do you have time to cook some chicken? In many recipes, the chicken can cook while the dumplings cook, so it doesn’t require much extra time to use raw chicken. I also find that cooking the chicken with the other ingredients lends some flavor.

However, if you have a rotisserie chicken on hand, you can simply pull off the meat and add it at the end of cooking, allowing it to warm through. Rotisserie chickens are usually well-seasoned and can be an easy shortcut.

If you forget to thaw your chicken, don’t worry! You can definitely use frozen chicken breasts in this pressure cooker chicken and dumplings recipe.

In a pinch, you can also make chicken and dumplings with canned chicken.

How Do You Know when Dumplings are Done?

Knowing when dumplings are done depends on the type of dumpling.

If you are making flat dumplings, as in these Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings Recipe, the dumplings will be a little dense and noodle-like when done. You can cut one in half to check it.

If you are making biscuit-like dumplings, like in chicken and dumplings soup or these easy chicken and Bisquick dumplings, they should be light and fluffy inside, just like a biscuit.

The original Bisquick dumplings recipe makes it easy to enjoy perfect dumplings every time.

Can You Make Chicken and Dumplings in an Instant Pot?

I love making meals in my Instant Pot, so I’ve adapted many recipes to be prepared this way.

Classic pressure cooker chicken and dumplings is one of our family’s favorite dinner recipes.

If you prefer fluffier dumplings, give these Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with Bisquick a try! It’s one of those time-tested recipes that you’ll love.

But, in the event that you don’t have time to make your own dumplings, definitely try making Instant Pot chicken and frozen dumplings to save more time!

Can You Make Chicken and Dumplings in a Crockpot?

Yes, you definitely can! It takes a little longer to cook this way, but it’s mostly hands-free, which can be nice.

In most cases, you’ll cook the chicken, broth, and seasonings for a few hours, then add the dumplings and veggies near the end of cooking.

Try this easy Crock Pot chicken and dumplings recipe for a simple comfort food.

Can You Bake Chicken and Dumplings in the Oven?

Traditionally, dumplings are cooked in a simmering pot of broth. However, you can make an easy chicken and dumpling casserole in the oven!

In this case, chicken, veggies, dumplings, and gravy all cook together in a baking dish. It’s sort of a cross between chicken and dumplings and chicken pot pie, and it’s delicious!

How to Make Dumplings with Canned Biscuits

If you don’t want to make your own dumplings but need a simple shortcut, you can make chicken and dumplings with canned biscuits.

If you have a slow cooker or pressure cooker, try my CrockPot chicken and dumplings with Grands biscuits or my Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with canned biscuits!

Using refrigerated biscuits is a great shortcut–all you have to do is cut each biscuit into 8 pieces. They look small, but don’t worry! They’ll puff up as they cook.

How to Make Dumplings with Bisquick

Bisquick is a great shortcut when it comes to making fluffy dumplings! In this recipe for easy chicken and Bisquick dumplings, I combine Bisquick mix with milk to create a soft dough.

You can also make chicken and Jiffy Mix dumplings the same way.

The soft dough is dropped onto hot simmering broth.

The result is a savory broth chock full of tender chicken and veggies, topped with dreamy, fluffy dumplings. So good!

What are the Best Frozen Dumplings?

When you don’t have time to make homemade dumplings, frozen dumplings can be a fabulous shortcut.

I like to use the Reames brand of frozen dumplings, because they are very similar to the from-scratch dumplings I often make.

They’re easy to find at a lot of grocery stores. Check the freezer section of your store, usually near the frozen bread.

You can see how I use frozen dumplings in this recipe for Instant Pot chicken and frozen dumplings and this stove top recipe for chicken and dumplings using frozen dumplings.

You can also use Reames frozen noodles to make chicken and dumplings, which I do in this recipe for chicken and dumplings with noodles (and its pressure cooker counterpart, Instant Pot chicken and dumplings with noodles!)

How Long Should I Cook Frozen Dumplings?

I’ve found that a cook time of 5 minutes works well for frozen dumplings. Keep in mind that the dumplings will still be “cooking” while the pot comes to pressure and releases pressure.

You will also likely simmer the dumplings just a bit after pressure cooking, especially if you are adding a cornstarch slurry for thickening.

This amount of time allows the dumplings to be slightly soft but firm enough that they aren’t falling apart, sort of like an al dente noodle.

Chicken and Dumplings for Special Diets

Did you know you can make easy gluten free chicken and dumplings? It’s actually really simple, with a substitution of a gluten free baking mix and gluten free cream of chicken soup when preparing the dumplings.

You can also make non dairy chicken and dumplings, so even if you have dietary restrictions, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to enjoy this delicious comfort food! Simply add in your favorite non-dairy milk when preparing the dumplings.

Can You Freeze Chicken and Dumplings?

In general, yes, you can freeze chicken and dumplings! Depending on the type of dumplings you used (flat versus biscuit-type), the texture may change a little bit upon thawing and reheating. But it will still be delicious!

Sometimes the broth may be a bit thicker, as the starches absorb more liquid over time.

You may need to add a little broth or water to thin it a bit when reheating.

How to Reheat Dumplings

There are a few ways to reheat dumplings. You can use the microwave, which can be useful for smaller portions.

Another option for warming smaller portions is to reheat leftovers in the Instant Pot!

If you have a larger portion, you can reheat them on the stove in a pan over medium heat until warmed through. You can also use the Keep Warm function of the Instant Pot to reheat them (just stir occasionally!).

What to Serve with Chicken and Dumplings

Quite often, chicken and dumplings can serve as a meal on its own.

However, if you want to add some side dishes, its best to choose options that aren’t too heavy. Fruit, vegetables, salads, and breads can be comforting additions.

We have a whole list of the best side dishes for chicken and dumplings to get the wheels turning!

The Best Chicken and Dumplings Recipes

I’ve compiled the best chicken and dumplings recipes in the list below, so you can try as many varieties as you’d like! 🙂

Enjoy!