Copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

What is your go to meal at Cracker Barrel? I have two; First, I’m a sucker for their pancakes and it doesn’t matter what time of the day it is, I’ll order the Grandmas Breakfast. Yes, the Grandmas Breakfast is no longer on the menu, but most waitresses remember and they will order it for you.😉

My second go to meal is their chicken and dumplings served with mashed potatoes and green beans. I order green beans trying to make the dish a little healthy and not order another starch like corn, which I’d rather have.🙁 But (according to Cracker Barrel) a plate of their chicken and dumplings is only 340 calories, in which 63 is fat. Believe me, we’ve all had worse.

Serves 6 Total Time: 30 minutes


Ingredients:

2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 pinch of salt
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup Buttermilk (no buttermilk, no problem just add 1 tablespoon white vinegar to 1 cup milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.)
8 cups (64 oz) Chicken stock
3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or pieces (remember 1 chicken breast per person...just poach boneless, skinless chicken breasts and let cool.)

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt.

Cut the butter into the dry ingredients with a fork or pastry blender until the texture is like course crumbs.

Stir in the milk, mixing with a fork until the dough forms a ball. You may not use the entire 1 cup.

Flour a work surface very well. You do not want the dough to stick to the work surface!

You’ll need a rolling pin and something to cut the dumplings with. I like to use a pizza cutter. I also like to use a small spatula to lift the dumplings off the cutting surface.

Roll the dough out thin with a floured rolling pin.

Dip your cutter in flour and cut the dumplings into 2 inch squares (approximately). It’s okay for them not to be exact.

Use the floured spatula to put them on a floured plate. Just keep flouring between the layers of dumplings.

To cook them, bring the broth to a boil.

Drop the dumplings in one at a time, stirring while you add them. The extra flour on them will help thicken the broth. Try not to add them too quickly or they try to stick together!

Cook them for about 15-20 minutes or until they are no longer doughy.

Add the cooked chicken to the pot, add pepper to taste and salt if it is needed! Sprinkle a little parsley for color if desired.

If the consistency is too thick for your taste, add more chicken stock! Yum Yum!