Enjoy a comforting bowl of homemade Quinoa Chicken and Dumplings, a hearty soup that gives a classic comfort-food favorite a wholesome twist. Tender pieces of chicken simmer with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, parsley, and bay leaf to create a flavorful broth. Instead of traditional all-purpose flour dumplings, this recipe combines quinoa flour and whole-wheat flour for a rustic dumpling with a little extra character.
The secret to a good chicken and dumplings recipe is giving the broth time to develop flavor. Simmering the chicken with aromatic vegetables and herbs creates a savory base, while a little lemon juice adds brightness. Once the broth is ready, the chicken and vegetables are set aside while the dumplings are prepared.
Making the dumplings from scratch is straightforward. Combine quinoa flour, whole-wheat flour, baking powder, salt, and coconut or almond milk to form a soft dough. After a short rest, roll the dough to about half an inch thick and cut it into small squares. A pastry wheel or pizza cutter makes it easier to cut the rolled dumpling dough into even squares. Add the pieces to the simmering broth and cook until the dumplings are cooked through and the liquid thickens. Return the chicken and vegetables to the pot for the final simmer.
This recipe makes approximately six to eight servings, making it a good choice for a family meal or leftovers for another day. Serve it hot in generous bowls, with extra parsley or freshly ground black pepper if desired. The broth, vegetables, tender chicken, and hearty dumplings make a satisfying meal on a chilly evening.
Plan ahead for the longer simmering time: the recipe card lists about 2 hours and 45 minutes from start to finish. Keep the broth at a gentle simmer and check that the dumplings are cooked through before serving. If you enjoy traditional chicken and dumplings but want to experiment with different flours, this quinoa version offers a comforting homemade option.
Check out these Tasty Quinoa Recipes to perfectly cook quinoa for every occasion. Healthy super grains never tasted so good.
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Quinoa Chicken & Dumplings
- Total Time: 2:45
- Yield: 6-8 1x
Ingredients
Chicken and Broth
- 3 Quarts Water
- 1 lb. Chicken cut into bite size pieces (replace with tofu if Vegan)
- 2 Tsp. Sea Salt
- 2 Med. Carrots sliced
- 1 Med. Onion diced
- 2 Celery Stalks sliced
- 1 Tbsp. Garlic
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 Tbsp. Parsley Leaves
- 1 Tsp. Fresh Ground Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
- 2 quarts water
- (Feel free to add any additional vegetables like mushrooms, corn, zucchini, you name it)
Dumplings
- 1 C. Quinoa Flour
- 1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 Tbsp. Baking Powder
- 1 Tsp. Sea Salt
- 1 C. Coconut or Almond Milk
Instructions
- Bring water to a boil in a large pot. Add chicken, salt, onion, celery, garlic, bay leaf, and parsley to the pot. Reduce heat to simmer and cook the chicken, uncovered, for 2 hours.
- When the chicken has cooked, strain chicken and vegetables and set aside. Return broth to pot.
- Add 2 Quarts of water to broth, fresh ground pepper, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the lemon juice, then reheat the broth over medium heat while preparing the dumplings.
- For dumplings, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and milk in a medium bowl. Stir well until smooth, then let the dough rest for 5-10 minutes. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface to about a 1/2 inch thickness.
- Cut dough into 1/2 inch squares and drop each square into the simmering broth. Use all of the dough. Simmer for 15 minutes until thick. Stir often.
- Add chicken and vegetables to the dumplings and simmer for another 5-10 minutes, stir easily, serve.
Notes
Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh for this recipe?
Yes, you can use dried herbs instead of fresh. Dried herbs are more potent measure for measure, so cut down the amount by half.
How can you tell when dumplings are done?
To test if dumplings are done, stick a toothpick or skewer into the dumpling after the specified cook time. If the skewer comes out clean, the dumplings are done. If it comes out wet or sticky, cover and let cook a bit longer. Floating isn’t as good of a gauge of doneness, so stick with a toothpick.
Can you overcook dumplings?
Yes, you can overcook them. Overcooked dumplings will start to fall apart and disintegrate in the broth, so don’t walk away from the stove. Be diligent about checking them when the cook time is nearly up.
- Prep Time: :30
- Cook Time: 2:15
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stove Top