Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (2024)

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ByJune Albertson-DickPublished

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After such a hot summer I am finding myself ready for fall weather and food. Warm and comforting dinners like this Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe are just what I am looking for. The best part is that in 30 minutes you can have a bowl of hearty and delicious Chicken and Dumplings that your whole family will go crazy for.

Do you love comfort food? Try this Crock Pot Meatloaf Recipe!

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What are Chicken and Dumplings?

Chicken and Dumplings is a soup that includes chicken and sometimes vegetables that are cooked in a broth.

The dumpling, which is normally in the form of biscuit dough, is cooked in the soup to create a soft and pillowy biscuit-like texture.

Why is this Chicken and Dumplings Recipe so fast!

This Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings recipe is so fast because we are using chicken that has already been cooked which saves a ton of time. In fact, leftover chicken {or turkey} is a perfect option.

The recipe also uses store bought chicken broth and the dumplings only have 3 ingredients. Using pancake mix to make the dumplings makes it super simple.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (2)

How to easily Make Chicken and Dumplings

Begin with your list of ingredients and have everything prepped. This will save you so much time.

  • Butter-used to saute the vegetables and as the fat to thick the soup with the flour.
  • Vegetables-onion, carrots and celery are what we have used but it can be changed up.
  • Flour-combined with the butter it will help thicken the soup to just the right consistency.
  • Chicken Broth-using chicken broth will add a ton of flavor, I prefer a low sodium variety.
  • Milk-used in both the soup and the dumpling, it adds creaminess for the soup and binds the dumpling together.
  • Cooked Shredded Chicken-this recipe is the perfect place to use leftover chicken or turkey.
  • Pancake Mix-such a time saver, pancake mix gives you the structure for your dumplings.
  • Fresh Thyme-I love the flavor of fresh thyme in chicken soup! If you don’t have fresh, use dried or even just eliminate it altogether. Don’t let this ingredient stop you from making this recipe.

Now it is time to put everything together!! Begin by making the dumpling batter.

Combine the pancake mix, milk and fresh thyme to a medium bowl and stir to create a thick batter. Set it aside until it is ready to use.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (3)

Easy Chicken and Dumplings Recipe:

  1. Grab your vegetables and cooked shredded chicken.
  2. Melt your butter in a heavy bottom pan or Dutch Oven and add your vegetables. Saute until the vegetables are slightly softened.
  3. Add the flour to the softened vegetables.
  4. Stir to coat the vegetables with the flour and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minutes.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (4)

Once you have the vegetables cooked it is time to start assembling and getting this Easy Chicken and Dumpling soup recipe going.

  1. Add the chicken broth and stir to combine. I like to scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any bits that have stuck because it adds so much flavor. Bring to a boil.
  2. Once it is at a boil, add the milk and chicken. Turn down to simmer.
  3. Grab your bowl of dumpling batter and use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1.5 tablespoons} to scoop mounds of batter into the pot.
  4. You should get about 1 dozen dumplings. Add the lid to the top of the pot and cook for 15 minutes on simmer or until the dumplings are fluffy, cooked and have floated to the top.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (5)

Can I make this recipe ahead of time?

I wouldn’t suggest making this Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings recipe too far ahead of time. If you do need to make it ahead then I would make the soup part ahead.

I would make the dumplings right before serving. The great thing is that they do not take much time to cook.

Can I use chicken thighs or other dark meat?

Absolutely! Any kind of chicken {or turkey} that has already been cooked will work wonderfully and taste amazing.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (6)

Do I have to add vegetables to my Chicken and Dumplings recipe?

No, you do not have to add vegetables. In fact, there are many recipes that do not include any kind of veggies.

It is really a personal preference but I love adding a few vegetables for both flavor and color.

Pro Tips for making the BEST Easy Fluffy Dumplings

  • Don’t over mix the dumpling batter. The more you mix the ingredients the more tough it can tend to get. I recommend stirring until everything is just combined.
  • Use a cookie scoop to distribute dumplings into the soup. That way each dumpling is the same size and will cook evenly.
  • Once you put the lid on, set a timer and don’t peek. The steam that is created by adding the lid is what ultimately cooks the dumplings, so keep that baby on there.

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (7)

Do you love comfort food? Try these recipes…
  • Crock Pot Meatloaf
  • Homemade Mac and Cheese
  • Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup
  • 30 Minute Chili
  • Lasagna Skillet
  • Shepard’s Pie Skillet

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (8)

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

This simple recipe for Chicken and Dumplings can be made in less than 30 minutes. A perfect way to use leftover chicken, this Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe will quickly become a family favorite.

Course: Main Course

Author: June Albertson-Dick

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

4.90 from 39 votes

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Ingredients

Dumplings

  • 2 cups pancake mix {I used Bisquick}
  • cup milk {I used 1%}
  • ½ tsp fresh thyme {finely chopped}

Soup

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • ½ small onion {diced}
  • 2 carrots {diced}
  • 2 stalks celery {diced}
  • ¼ cup all purpose flour
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • ½ cup milk {I used 1%}
  • 2 cups shredded cooked chicken {or turkey}

Instructions

Dumplings

  • Combine pancake mix, milk and finely chopped fresh thyme in a medium bowl. Stir until you have a thick batter. Set aside until ready to use.

Soup

  • In a large heavy bottom skillet {or Dutch oven}, melt butter over medium high heat. Add onion, carrots and celery to the melted butter and sautee until softened slightly {about 3-4 minutes}.

  • Add in flour and stir to coat softened vegetables. Continue to cook for about 30 seconds. Add chicken stock to softened vegetables and stir, scraping the bottom of the pot to remove any bits {so much flavor}. Bring to a boil.

  • Turn the heat down to simmer. Add milk and cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  • Use a medium cookie scoop {or about 1.5 tablespoons} to scoop mounds of dumpling batter into the soup. Continue until all of the batter has been used {you should get about 12}. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until the dumplings are fluffy, cooked and have floated to the top.

  • Serve in a bowl with a sprinkling of cracked black pepper and a few springs of fresh thyme. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days.

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @PracticallyHomemade or tag #practicallyhomemade!

Easy Pancake Mix Chicken and Dumplings Recipe | Practically Homemade (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to pancake mix to make it better? ›

Change your plain pancake mix into a flavorful breakfast by adding a few drops of extract to the batter. Go with vanilla extract for a naturally sweet enhancement or lemon for a tangy breakfast treat. For those mornings where you're feeling extra festive, try using peppermint extract for a seasonal flavor.

How do you thicken homemade chicken and dumplings? ›

Use Cornstarch to Thicken Chicken and Dumplings

To give that a little thicker texture we're going to add 1 cup of cool water to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir it up well. Make sure the soup is brought back to a good boil and go ahead and stir in the cornstarch mixture.

How do you keep dumplings from falling apart in chicken and dumplings? ›

The steam that builds up by covering the pot is what cooks the dumplings. Don't boil or stir the dumplings. Vigorous boiling and stirring will cause the dumplings to fall apart.

Can I use milk instead of water in pancake mix? ›

Can you use milk instead of water for pancakes? You sure can! Instead of water, you can use any kind of milk, including almond milk and coconut milk, to mix up the pancake batter.

What does adding an extra egg to pancake mix do? ›

Eggs also give the batter additional, richer flavor from the yolk fat. If you add too many eggs, you'll have “pancakes” that look more like custard or crepes. When you don't add enough eggs, the cakes will be drier and tougher.

What does adding butter to pancake mix do? ›

Melted butter rounds out the texture of pancakes by adding just the right amount of fat to keep the stacks rich and moist. No need to go crazy with it, though; a little goes a long way. Just add a tablespoon of melted butter per cup of pancake mix for super tasty pancakes.

Why are my chicken and dumplings not creamy? ›

Create a Slurry.

Combine flour and milk in a sealable container like a Mason Jar, and shake it up. You'll get a smooth flour mixture called a slurry, which will help to thicken your sauce. This turns this recipe into more a a creamy chicken dumpling soup, loaded with flavor.

Why are my chicken and dumplings not fluffy? ›

If it's boiling too hard, the dumpling dough can fall apart. Simmering broth might not be hot enough to raise the dumpling dough. Remove or tilt the lid after they've cooked so the dumplings don't over-steam and get soggy and dense. At least, that's the way I was taught and dumplings come out fluffy and delicious.

How to tell when dumplings are done in chicken and dumplings? ›

Here's how you can tell whether your chicken and dumpling soup is done and ready to eat. If the biscuit pieces feel gooey or mushy, they are not thoroughly cooked—give them more time to simmer in the rapidly boiling liquid until perfectly pillowy and fluffy.

What is the secret to perfect dumplings? ›

Overworking the mixture, thus having heavy dumplings is a common mistake people make. Dumplings need very gentle handling, so mix only until the ingredients are just combined, and if your recipe involves rolling them out with extra flour, avoid using too much.

Do you cook dumplings with lid on or lid off? ›

Once your water is boiling, let your dumplings cook in the steam for about ten minutes. Don't remove the lid as letting the steam escape will disrupt the cooking process and result in undercooked dumplings, so keep that lid on!

Why isn t my chicken and dumplings thick? ›

Use cornstarch or flour slurry: Mix a few tablespoons of cornstarch or flour with cold water to create a slurry. Gradually add this slurry to the simmering chicken and dumplings while stirring constantly. Cook for a few minutes until it thickens.

Does pancake mix need eggs? ›

Pancake mix usually requires you add eggs. Eggs provide flavor, structure, and leavening as well as richness from fat in the yolks and color to the final baked product. The height of the pancakes and their tenderness comes from the eggs. You can, however, make pancakes without eggs.

Does pancake mix taste better with milk or water? ›

Can I Use Water Instead of Milk in Pancakes? Milk adds both flavor and texture to pancake batter, so if you are looking to make pancakes without milk, a simple swap to water doesn't always do the trick. For pancakes made without milk, you'll want to add some flavor through melted butter and vanilla extract.

Is it better to add milk or water to pancake mix? ›

Pancake lovers' biggest complaint when adding water instead of milk is that the flavor seems to change. Pancakes aren't as richly flavored with water. There are a few ways to improve your batter when you've used water, including: Add extra butter.

What is the trick to fluffy pancakes? ›

5 Tips for Fluffier Pancakes
  1. Allow the Batter to Rest. A good rule of thumb when you're wondering how to make fluffy pancakes is to let the batter rest. ...
  2. Beat the Egg Whites. Separate your yolk from the egg white then beat to create a fluffy pancake. ...
  3. Don't Over Mix! ...
  4. Wait for the Bubbles. ...
  5. Follow a Good Recipe.
Dec 1, 2019

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