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Cozy Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Close-up of chicken and dumplings stew in a yellow pot, a perfect example of Budget Dinners Under $10.
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Tender chicken thighs simmered in a rich gravy, topped with fluffy, scratch-made dumplings for a satisfying and budget-friendly meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, about 1 lb.)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion (diced)
  • 2 garlic cloves (minced)
  • 2 carrots (diced)
  • 2 stalks celery (diced)
  • 4 Tbsp butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 tsp dried parsley
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried rosemary
  • ½ tsp dried sage
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (for dumplings)
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp dried parsley (for dumplings)
  • ½ tsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp salt (for dumplings)
  • ⅛ tsp garlic powder
  • ⅛ tsp black pepper (for dumplings)
  • ½ cup milk (for dumplings)
  • 2 Tbsp butter (melted, for dumplings)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
  2. Add the chicken thighs and brown on each side. Remove the partially cooked chicken to a clean bowl.
  3. Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet and sauté over medium heat until the onions soften. Stir to scrape up browned bits from the bottom.
  4. Add the diced carrot and celery and continue to sauté for about five minutes more.
  5. Add the butter and flour to the skillet and stir until a paste coats the vegetables. Cook and stir this mixture for about two minutes.
  6. Add the parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, salt, pepper, chicken broth, and milk to the skillet. Turn the heat up to medium-high and stir until the mixture simmers and thickens into a gravy.
  7. Dice the chicken and add it back to the skillet with the vegetables and gravy. Cover and let the chicken simmer over medium heat while you prepare the dumplings.
  8. To prepare the dumplings, combine the flour, parsley, sugar, salt, baking powder, garlic powder, and pepper in a bowl.
  9. Pour the milk and melted butter into the flour mixture, then stir until a soft, scoopable batter forms. Do not over stir.
  10. Remove the lid from the chicken and gravy and drop the dumpling batter onto the surface of the gravy in 2 Tbsp dollops (about 12 total).
  11. Make sure the gravy is still simmering, then place the lid back on the skillet and allow the dumplings to simmer for 15 minutes.
  12. Serve hot.

Notes

  • Browning the chicken first adds depth to the final gravy flavor.
  • Do not lift the lid while the dumplings are simmering, as this releases the steam needed for them to cook through and become fluffy.

Nutrition

Keywords: Budget Dinners Under $10 (Budget-Friendly), Budget Friendly Meals, Under $10, Family Dinner, Cheap Eats, Pantry Staples, Chicken and Dumplings

Find it online: https://www.meltitclean.com/budget-dinners-under-10-budget-friendly/