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Comforting Cracker Barrel Loaded Chicken and Dumplings

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A warm, creamy, and nostalgic chicken and dumplings recipe inspired by Cracker Barrel, featuring tender chicken, fluffy dumplings, and loaded with bacon, cheddar, and green onions. Perfect for cozy dinners and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie recommended)
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 3 stalks green onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • ½ cup milk (whole milk preferred)

Instructions

  1. Cook bacon slices in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat until crisp, about 6-8 minutes. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Leave about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the pot.
  2. Shred cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and set aside.
  3. Pour chicken broth into the pot and bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Stir in heavy cream and melted butter. Season with salt and pepper. Warm through for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Gradually add milk while mixing until batter is thick but spoonable.
  5. Drop tablespoon-sized dollops of dumpling batter into the simmering broth. Cover the pot and cook undisturbed for 15 minutes until dumplings are fluffy and cooked through.
  6. Gently stir in shredded chicken, crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and sliced green onions. Warm through for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to melt the cheese.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with extra salt, pepper, or hot sauce if desired.
  8. Serve immediately, garnished with extra green onions or cheese if desired.

Notes

Do not lift the lid or stir the dumplings while cooking to ensure they stay fluffy. Save some bacon fat for added flavor in the broth. Use rotisserie chicken to save prep time. Adjust seasoning confidently for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute flour with gluten-free blend; for dairy-free, use dairy-free cream substitutes.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken and dumplings, Cracker Barrel recipe, loaded chicken, comfort food, creamy dumplings, bacon, cheddar, easy dinner

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/comforting-cracker-barrel-loaded-chicken-and-dumplings-recipe-easy-and-perfect-for-dinner/