• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Urban Foodie Kitchen

Small Scale Recipes

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Desserts
    • Drinks & Cocktails
    • Grilling
    • Main Dishes
      • Pasta & Grains
      • Salads
      • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups & Chilis
    • Vegetarian
  • About Me
    • Work with Me
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures, Terms & Disclaimers
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • Work with Me
  • Let's Connect!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home > Recipes

    Hard Cider Chicken + Dumplings

    Published: January 3, 2019 By Urban Foodie Kitchen Last Updated: July 3, 2021 9 Comments

    Skip to Recipe Print Recipe

    These fluffy dumplings are floating in a rich hard cider spiked soup with tasty chicken and hearty veggies giving you the ultimate cold-weather comfort food!  

    Bowl of Chicken & Dumplings soup on a plaid napkin

    When I lived in Chicago there was a period one winter (Jan 2014) that everyone called the "polar vortex" - for several days the temperature basically never went above zero degrees (Fahrenheit).  One night during that time, I invited a group of girlfriends over for dinner and I made chicken pot pie soup.  I love entertaining during the cold winter months - it's a fun way to keep people from "hibernating" all the time, and of course, it gives me an excuse to cook and try out some new recipes.  The soup I made that night was loosely based on a recipe that I saw in Cuisine at Home Magazine.  It had all the components of a traditional chicken pot pie, including the puff pastry crust in the form of croutons!

    Several months later one of my friends asked me if I could create the soup again and post it on my blog so she could try making it and also share it with some of her friends.   I decided to switch it up a little, keeping most of the ingredients the same but instead of turning it into Chicken + Dumplings.  The twist in this one, you know I like those twists, is the addition of hard cider to the broth.  It gives this dish a really great, unique flavor.

    Chicken & Dumplings in a cream bowl photographed from overhead

    Tips for Making Chicken & Dumplings

    This recipe starts by browning the chicken to get it crisp on the outside, which also provides those nice brown bits on the bottom of the pan to add extra flavor!   The chicken won't be fully cooked after searing it but don't worry, it's going back in the pot to finish cooking pretty quickly.

    Next, you'll sauté the veggies, pour in some chicken stock, thyme and a little hard cider, add the chicken back to the pot and let it simmer.  You can make the entire soup portion of this recipe ahead of time.  Once you add the peas (step 5 below) you'll want to remove the soup from the heat and let it cool.  Then refrigerate for a day or two.  When you are ready to finish, reheat the soup then add the dumplings and your ultimate comfort food will be ready!

    If you are making everything at once, just add the dumplings after you stir in the peas.  They should cover just about all of the soup as you see in the photo below.  Let them cook until they are firm to the touch and you have nice fluffy dumplings.  Then you are ready to eat....just don't forget to remove the bay leaf before you serve the soup!

    Dumplings bubbling on a pot of chicken soup

    One of the many things I love about this version is that it's basically a one-pot meal (you'll need a bowl for mixing the dumplings).  While this is a little richer than the original version, it is also a bit more hearty so it's great, yummy comfort food on a cold winter day.

    Chicken & Dumplings in a cream bowl photographed from overhead

    Hard Cider Chicken + Dumplings

    Author: Kathryn | Urban Foodie Kitchen
    Who doesn’t love fluffy dumplings floating on a rich soup of tasty chicken and vegetables?!
    No ratings yet
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Course Chilis + Soups
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings

    Ingredients
      

    • 8-10 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 cup chopped onion
    • 2 cups chopped carrots
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 8 oz The Anvil Sonoma Hard Cider or other hard cider
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
    • 64 oz chicken broth
    • 1 cup self-rising flour
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon sweet paprika
    • 1 tablespoon butter, chilled
    • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
    • ¼ cup buttermilk
    • 1 cup frozen peas

    Instructions
     

    • In a large dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and brown for 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and keep warm while you saute the veggies.
    • Add onion and carrots to the pan, cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
    • Deglaze pan with hard cider. Add chicken, broth, thyme and bay leaf.  Return the chicken to the pan, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 20 minutes.
    • Make the dumpling batter. While the soup is simmering prepare the dumpling batter by mixing flour, salt and paprika in a medium bowl. Add the butter and using a fork or pastry cutter, mix into flour mixture. Add egg and buttermilk and mix until a stiff, sticky dough forms.
    • Once you've finished making the dumpling dough remove the chicken from the pan and shred or chop into bite-sized pieces.  Add the chicken and peas to the soup and stir to incorporate.
    • Add the dumplings. Using a kitchen teaspoon, drop large spoonfuls of the dumpling batter into the simmering soup until the pot is full or all of the dumpling batter has been used.
    • Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the dumplings are cooked (they will be firm to the touch when done).
    • Remove the bay leaf and serve.
    Keywords : comfort food, Winter soups
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @urbanfoodiekitchen on Instagram or hashtag it #urbanfoodiekitchen

     

    More Recipes You Might Like:

    • Close up of tofu cubes on stir fried brown rice.
      Ginger Tofu Fried Rice
    • Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli Slaw and Kale Salad
    • Butternut squash, sourdough croutons and roasted chicken form a panzanella salad
      One-Pan Roasted Butternut Squash & Chicken Dinner
    • Cranberry Vodka martinis with a bottle of cranberry infused vodka in the background
      Cranberry Infused Vodka

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom says

      March 01, 2016 at 7:31 am

      OH you won me over with this take on chicken and dumplings. Pinned.

      Reply
      • FoodieGirlChicago says

        March 02, 2016 at 8:24 pm

        Thanks Kristen!

        Reply
    2. heather @french press says

      March 01, 2016 at 9:06 am

      comfort food at its best! i absolutely LOVE chicken and dumplings

      Reply
    3. Nell says

      March 04, 2016 at 9:49 am

      I can't wait to try this recipe!

      Reply
    4. Karly says

      October 24, 2016 at 8:09 am

      You had me at the chicken dumplings, but add in the hard cider and I'm now obsessed. This is my perfect fall meal! LOVE!

      Reply
    5. Kristen Roberts says

      March 17, 2017 at 5:52 am

      This sounds so good! I love adding hard cider to recipes and I will definitely have to give these dumplings a try!

      Reply
      • FoodieGirlChicago says

        March 19, 2017 at 8:16 pm

        Thanks Kristen - enjoy!!

        Reply
    6. Sasha @ Eat Love Eat says

      March 18, 2017 at 5:55 am

      What a warming comforting dish!

      Reply
    7. Carol Borchardt says

      March 19, 2017 at 8:03 pm

      Yum, Kathryn! This looks amazing! Love the addition of the hard cider!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Urban Foodie Kitchen (formerly FoodieGirlChicago)! I'm Kathryn and I love all things involving food and wine! More about me...

    Trending Posts

    • Whole grain toast topped with ricotta, avocado and a runny egg
      The Ultimate Ricotta Avocado Toast
    • Close up of two crab cakes staked on a plate drizzled with spicy aioli
      Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Spicy Aioli + Lemon Vinaigrette
    • Grilled pork tenderloin glazed with an apricot sauce
      Grilled Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin
    • Caramelized onion frittata in a grey cast iron pan
      Caramelized Onion Frittata

    Free eBook!

    Subscribe and receive my most popular recipes compiled into an ebook for easy reference!

    Sign Up Here

    Holiday Recipes!

    • Orange cinnamon rolls in a baking pan drizzled with glaze
      Orange Cinnamon Rolls
    • Close up of brownies topped with cream cheese frosting and candy cane bits
      Peppermint Brownies
    • Pieces of chocolate bark in a red holiday gift tin
      Dark Chocolate Bark with Candied Orange Peel
    • Sausage, egg & cheese breakfast casserole shot from above
      Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Casserole

    Trending Posts

    • Whole grain toast topped with ricotta, avocado and a runny egg
      The Ultimate Ricotta Avocado Toast
    • Close up of two crab cakes staked on a plate drizzled with spicy aioli
      Air Fryer Crab Cakes with Spicy Aioli + Lemon Vinaigrette
    • Grilled pork tenderloin glazed with an apricot sauce
      Grilled Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin
    • Caramelized onion frittata in a grey cast iron pan
      Caramelized Onion Frittata

    Free eBook!

    Subscribe and receive my most popular recipes compiled into an ebook for easy reference!

    Sign Up Here

    Holiday Recipes!

    • Orange cinnamon rolls in a baking pan drizzled with glaze
      Orange Cinnamon Rolls
    • Close up of brownies topped with cream cheese frosting and candy cane bits
      Peppermint Brownies
    • Pieces of chocolate bark in a red holiday gift tin
      Dark Chocolate Bark with Candied Orange Peel
    • Sausage, egg & cheese breakfast casserole shot from above
      Make-Ahead Christmas Breakfast Casserole

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Resources

    • Recipe Index
    • Shop

    Newsletter

    • Sign up! for emails and updates

    About

    • About Kathryn
    • Work with Me

    Urban Foodie Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

    © 2023 URBAN FOODIE KITCHEN · PRIVACY POLICY  · DISCLAIMERS + DISCLOSURES · COOKIE POLICY