When the weather gets colder outside, it makes me kind of sentimental. My mammaw always made us chicken and dumplings. Don’t get me wrong, she made them all year round, but I seem to think about them more when the weather gets cold. It must be a comfort food thing. Although I think hers were THE best, I have learned how to make the dish myself. However, I have learned some shortcuts of my own as a busy mom. She used a whole chicken (skin and all) to make the broth herself… I use chicken broth from a carton and some chicken breasts without the skin and fat on them. In essence, I’ve learned to make quick chicken & dumplings.
Don’t get me wrong, you can still use a whole chicken and make your own broth. I applaud anyone who goes the long way around. In fact, my granny was just telling me the other day that I should try making them that way. Little does she know, I don’t want to feel like I’m eating chicken fat. I just don’t. I know there’s some in the broth, but it is what it is.
Preparing the Chicken
All I do to prepare the chicken is cut the fat off. Next, I pour some chicken broth in my Ninja Foodi pot and put the chicken in it. Then, I put the seal lid on, turn it to “pressure” mode, and let the chicken cook for 8 minutes. If the chicken is frozen, let it cook for 10-12 minutes. That’s it!
After that, add the rest of the chicken broth (I use an entire large carton), and then pour in half a can of evaporated dry milk. I go ahead and add some salt and pepper here. Then I put the Ninja Foodi on “saute” mode, and I let it all heat up while I go start on the dumplings.
Making Dumplings
First, I prepare my work surface. I get some wax paper down, and I put flour on the top of the paper. I spread it out to cover it. Then, I take the first biscuit (I used canned biscuits for this recipe), cover it in flour, and then I use a rolling pin to flatten it out. Once flat, I take a pizza cutter and cut it in “strips” somewhat. I can’t think of a proper term to describe the shape, but they’re squares that will puff into a rounder shape.
I continue this process until I have gone through all of the biscuits in the can.
By now, the Ninja Foodi should have the liquid contents boiling, which is perfect. I then start dropping dumplings into the boiling liquid. Remember, the dumplings should have plenty of flour on them. This helps them not stick together as you’re adding them.
Once all are added, make sure you stir it all up. Let it sit and cook for 3-5 minutes before you stir again. You’ll know the dumplings are done when they aren’t all fighting to float to the surface. When they’re still cooking, it’s like they’re all fighting to be on top of the liquid. However, when they’re finished, some of them will start “sinking,” if I can put it that way.
Add more salt and pepper to taste, and enjoy!
Making Quick Chicken & Dumplings Without a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot
Truthfully, before I had an Instant Pot or a Ninja Foodi, I always made my quick chicken & dumplings on the stove in a big kettle. It took longer than 25 minutes, but what matters is that they still tasted delicious! They also took less time to make than some other meals I prepared.
Side Dish Ideas
So for some people, the chicken and dumplings are a one pot meal. On quick nights, that’s what they are for me too. To be totally honest though, my husband prefers that I make some sides with them. He’s not a huge fan of “liquid” foods (soups, chilis, etc.), so he feels like it’s more of a dish if there are sides. I’ve made mashed potatoes, green beans/peas, and corn on the side of my chicken and dumplings. Those are always true crowd-pleasers! You can’t go wrong with the true southern staples!
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Quick Chicken & Dumplings
Equipment
- 1 Ninja Foodi an instant pot will work also
- 1 Pizza Cutter a knife is a substitute option
- 1 wax paper sheet
Ingredients
- 2 breasts Chicken
- 6 oz Evaporated milk
- 48 oz Chicken Broth
- 1 can Buttermilk Biscuits butter biscuits work well too
- 1/4 cup Flour I use all purpose
Instructions
- Pour 1/4 of the chicken broth in the Ninja Foodi pot. Then add the chicken. Put the Foodi on "Pressure" setting for 8 minutes, and press "start."
- Once chicken has cooked, cut it up/shred it. Then add it back to the pot. Pour in the rest of the chicken broth. Then add the evaporated milk. Put Foodi on "saute" setting.
- While the liquid comes to a boil, prepare the dumplings. Lay wax paper on the work surface, and put flour over the paper. Take each biscuit one at a time, and roll it in the flour on both sides. Take a rolling pin and flatten each biscuit. Next, cut them up with the pizza cutter to your desired dumpling size.
- Once liquid comes to a boil, begin adding the dumplings. Then stir.
- Dumplings are finished cooking when they begin "sinking." Keep stirring as they cook.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot, and enjoy!