Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings

3. Roll It Out Thin

Generously dust a clean countertop or large cutting board with extra flour. Turn your dumpling dough out onto the surface and dust the top of the dough too. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out until it is quite thin—about ⅛-inch thick. Remember, Cracker Barrel dumplings are flat and noodle-like, not round drops! 📐🥖

4. Slice Into Strips

Using a pizza cutter or a sharp chef’s knife, slice your rolled dough into uniform rectangles or strips, roughly 1 inch wide by 2 to 3 inches long. 🔪📐

5. Drop and Simmer

Turn the heat under your pot up slightly so the broth is at a steady, rolling simmer. Drop the flour-dusted dumpling strips into the hot liquid one by one so they don’t stick together. Give the pot a very gentle stir to submerge them. 🌪️🍲

6. Let the Magic Happen

Reduce the heat back down to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let it simmer for 15–20 minutes. The extra flour coating the outside of your dumplings will naturally thicken the chicken broth into a luxurious, creamy gravy texture as they cook! ⏲️🔒

7. Add Chicken and Serve Hot

Uncover the pot and gently fold in your 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken. Let everything simmer together for another 5 minutes until the chicken is thoroughly warmed through. Ladle the thick, pillowy dumplings and juicy chicken into deep bowls, top with an extra sprinkle of black pepper, and dive right into Southern heaven! 🍽️🎉😋

✨ Chef’s Recipe Notes:

• The Quick Chicken Shortcut: To make this recipe an absolute breeze for a busy weeknight, simply use a store-bought rotisserie chicken! Just shred up the breast and thigh meat and slide it in at the very end. 🐔💡
• The “No-Stir” Secret: Once you drop your dumplings into the simmering broth, try not to stir them aggressively with a spoon. Instead, gently shake or swirl the pot from side to side. This keeps your delicate, tender dumplings from breaking apart before they fully set! 🤫🍲
• Flawless Leftovers: This dish tastes even better the next day as the dumplings absorb more of that savory chicken flavor! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a small splash of extra chicken broth or milk to loosen up the rich gravy. ❄️⏳