Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings

Do you want everyone to think you’ve spent hours in the kitchen preparing their favorite comfort foods, but really you’re short on time and patience? That’s okay, this recipe will be our little secret. Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings ready in just 25 minutes? Please and thank you!

The secret to this amazing recipe is time-saving hacks.

Time-saving hack number one is to use an already-cooked rotisserie chicken. That’s right, there is absolutely no need to spend time cooking up a chicken from scratch when your local Costco has already done the work for you. Grab a rotisserie chicken at your local market to save a ton of time. Just be sure that you are getting a traditional rotisserie chicken and not a chicken that has been seasoned or flavored differently, like garlic or lemon flavored. You can pull apart this chicken, chunk or shred the meat quickly, and bam! Half the work is already done.

Time saving hack number two is to use ready made chicken stock. I know our grandmothers would have their own homemade chicken stock on hand, but that’s okay. You’re family will never know the difference because this meal is so delicious, they’ll be too busy enjoying to wonder where you got all this extra time to cook such a scrumptious meal.

Time-saving hack number three, don’t overthink those dumplings. Dumplings are actually super easy when you follow this recipe.

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why do I love Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings?

• Comfort food recipe
• Made from scratch
• Creamy flavors and loaded with flavor
• Delicious and great for a crowd

Do Cracker Barrel dumplings have meat in them?

Yes, this will have chicken in it. You will use diced or shredded chicken to create a comforting meal in one. Such a tasty dish that the whole family can enjoy.

What is the difference between biscuits and dumplings?

Dumplings offer a very soft outer texture with a fluffy center. Since they are cooked in liquid the texture of the dumplings are different.

Now you can use biscuit dough to make a dumpling though if you want, and it will have the soft outer texture and fluffy biscuit center just as a dumpling.

Are dumplings a meal or appetizer?

Dumplings depending in how they are cooked can be an appetizer but those generally are like a Chinese dumpling. Those have meat and veggies inside with either a soft or hard shell. This type of dumpling in this recipe is a dinner as it is served with soup.

How to serve Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings?

This can be a meal in one, or can be served up as a dinner with a vegetable side dish or even dinner rolls. Bread and butter would be another delicious option for you as well.

Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings Cooking Tips and Variations:

• Make sure the chicken is fully cooked for this recipe. I like to use leftover rotisserie chicken.
• The dumplings need to cook long enough so the centers cook through. One way is to take a dumpling and slice it into it to ensure it is cooked through.
• Feel free to change up any of the seasonings you might have to create different flavor components.
• Add in fresh or frozen veggies to add more flavor to the dumplings recipe. Just go ahead and do diced carrots, peas, corn, and green beans, if you would like.

Ingredients:

Dumplings:

• All-purpose flour
• Italian seasoning
• Black pepper (freshly cracked)
• Canola oil
• Whole milk

Chicken:

• Rotisserie chicken (skinned and shredded)
• Low-sodium chicken stock
• Garlic salt
• Italian seasoning
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• Bunch (freshly chopped) chopped parsley

How to make Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings:

Step 1. Prep a cutting board by tossing flour to cover it.

Step 2. Dust a rolling pin with flour.

Step 3. Set both aside.

Step 4. Coat a dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 5. Pour the chicken stock in the dutch oven.

Step 6. Warm on medium-high heat.

Step 7. Add flour, Italian seasoning, and pepper to a large bowl.

Step 8. Whisk to combine.

Step 9. Form a hole in the center of the flour mixture.

Step 10. Slowly pour in the oil and milk.

Step 11. Use your hands until the dough comes together forming a moist ball.

Step 12. Remove the dough ball from the bowl and put it on the flour-covered cutting board.

Step 13. Sprinkle a light coat on the dough ball.

Step 14. Using the rolling pin, spread the dough ball into a ¼-inch thick sheet.
(Add more flour if necessary to avoid the dough from sticking to the cutting board or rolling pin.)

Step 15. Once the dough is rolled out, use a knife to cut pieces into 1-inch wide sections.

Step 16. Cut the inch sections into 2-inch long pieces.

Step 17. Sprinkle the cut sections of dough with a light coat of flour.

Step 18. Add the garlic salt and Italian seasoning to the chicken stock. Stir well.

Step 19. Bring the chicken stock to a boil.

Step 20. Carefully add the dumplings (1 at a time) to the stockpot.

Step 21. Gently stir.

Step 22. Reduce heat to a simmer.

Step 23. Cook on simmer for 15-20 minutes. (Or until the dumplings have cooked through.)

Step 24. Gently stir so the dumplings don’t stick to the bottom of the pot.

Step 25. The sauce should begin to thicken.*

Step 26. At the last 5 minutes add the shredded chicken to the pot.

Step 27. Stir carefully to mix.

Step 28. Taste test for adding more salt and pepper.

Step 29. Taste to make sure that the dumplings are thoroughly cooked.

Step 30. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Note: If the chicken broth doesn’t thicken add a mixture of 1 Tbsp of cornstarch and 1 Tbsp of water combined to the pot. Stir to mix.

Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Do you want everyone to think you’ve spent hours in the kitchen preparing their favorite comfort foods, but really you’re short on time and patience? That’s okay, this recipe will be our little secret. Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings ready in just 25 minutes? Please and thank you!

4.41 from 5 votes

Review Recipe

Ingredients 

Dumplings:

• 2 ½ C all-purpose flour
• ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp black pepper, freshly cracked
• ¼ C canola oil
• ¾ C whole milk

Chicken:

• 1 Rotisserie chicken, skinned and shredded
• 2 containers, 32 oz each low-sodium chicken stock
• ¼ tsp garlic salt
• ¼ tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 1 bunch, freshly chopped chopped parsley

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Instructions

• Prep a cutting board by tossing flour to cover it.
• Dust a rolling pin with flour.
• Set both aside.
• Coat a dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray.
• Pour the chicken stock in the dutch oven.
• Warm on medium-high heat.
• Add flour, Italian seasoning, and pepper to a large bowl.
• Whisk to combine.
• Form a hole in the center of the flour mixture.
• Slowly pour in the oil and milk.
• Using your hands until the dough comes together forming a moist ball.
• Remove the dough ball from the bowl and put on the flour covered cutting board.
• Sprinkle a light coat on the dough ball.
• Using the rolling pin, spread the dough ball into a ¼ inch thick sheet.
  (Add more flour if necessary to avoid the dough from sticking to the cutting board or rolling pin.)
• Once the dough is rolled out, use a knife to cut pieces into 1 inch wide sections.
• Cut the inch sections into 2 inch long pieces.
• Sprinkle the cut sections of dough with a light coat of flour.
• Add the garlic salt and Italian seasoning to the chicken stock. Stir well.
• Bring the chicken stock to a boil.
• Carefully add the dumplings (1 at a time) to the stock pot.
• Gently stir.
• Reduce heat to a simmer.
• Cook on simmer for 15-20 minutes.
  (Or until the dumplings have cooked through.)
• Gently stir so the dumplings don't stick to the bottom of the pot.
• The sauce should begin to thicken.*
• At the last 5 minutes add the shredded chicken to the pot.
• Stir carefully to mix.
• Taste test for adding more salt and pepper.
• Taste to make sure that the dumplings are thoroughly cooked.
• Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

If the chicken broth doesn’t thicken add a mixture of 1 Tbsp of cornstarch and 1 Tbsp of water combined to the pot. Stir to mix.

Author: Laura

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How to store Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings?

Store any leftovers you happen to have in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. You will find that this dish does reheat well. But the chicken will be the first thing to spoil so if you find the smell or flavor to be off, toss it out.

How to reheat Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings?

Go right ahead and reheat any leftovers you have in a pot on the stove, or you can warm them up in the microwave. You will find the broth can thicken as it gets cold so simply warm it up on the stovetop slowly and stir often.

Can I make ahead Cracker Barrel Chicken ‘n Dumplings?

Yes, you can make these in advance if you would like. Simply store it in a sealed container for up to a day and then when you want to serve it up, reheat it for about 15-30 minutes or until it is warmed through.

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Beef and Barley Soup – This beef barley soup recipe is hearty and filling, and it’s the perfect meal to warm you up on a cold winter day.