Pepper Belly Pete Chicken and Dumplings Recipe
This Pepper Belly Pete Chicken and Dumplings Recipe feels like a warm hug. I make it on slow days. The pot simmers gently. The smell fills the house.
Ingredients
- Boneless chicken thighs – 1 1/2 pounds
- Chicken broth – 6 cups
- Onion chopped – 1 medium
- Carrots sliced – 2 large
- Celery sliced – 2 stalks
- Garlic cloves minced – 3
- Butter – 3 tablespoons
- All-purpose flour – 3 tablespoons
- Heavy cream – 1/2 cup
- Salt – 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper – 1 teaspoon
- Dried thyme – 1 teaspoon
Dumplings
- All-purpose flour – 1 cup
- Baking powder – 2 teaspoons
- Salt – 1/2 teaspoon
- Milk – 1/2 cup
- Melted butter – 2 tablespoons
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken
- Cut chicken into bite sized pieces. Pat dry lightly. This helps with browning later.
Melt the Butter
- Add butter to pot. Heat over medium heat. Let it melt fully without browning.
Cook the Vegetables
- Add onion, carrots and celery. Stir gently. Cook until softened and fragrant.
Add Garlic
- Stir in garlic. Cook for one minute. Avoid burning for best flavor.
Add Chicken
- Add chicken pieces to pot. Stir gently. Cook until lightly opaque.
Sprinkle Flour
- Sprinkle flour over chicken. Stir well. This helps thicken the broth.
Pour Broth
- Slowly add chicken broth. Stir constantly to avoid lumps forming.
Season the Soup
- Add salt, pepper, and thyme. Stir gently. Bring mixture to a soft simmer.
Simmer Slowly
- Lower heat. Cover partially. Simmer for twenty minutes until chicken is tender.
Make Dumpling Dough
- Mix flour, baking powder and salt. Add milk and butter. Stir until soft dough forms.
Drop the Dumplings
- Spoon dough gently into simmering soup. Space them slightly apart.
Cook Dumplings
- Cover pot fully. Simmer for fifteen minutes. Do not lift the lid.
Add Cream
- Uncover pot. Stir in heavy cream slowly. Soup becomes rich and silky.
Taste and Adjust
- Taste broth. Adjust seasoning gently. Add more pepper if desired.
Rest Before Serving
- Turn off heat. Let dish rest five minutes. Dumplings finish setting.
Notes
- Use thighs for juicy chicken.
- Do not overmix dumpling dough.
- Add peas for color.
- Use milk instead of cream if lighter.
- Add crushed red pepper for heat.
- Fresh herbs add brightness.