The pressure cooker chicken and dumplings recipe has gained incredible popularity with over 130,000 pins. Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings combines modern convenience with traditional comfort food perfectly.
This classic Southern comfort dish serves 6 people and takes only 40 minutes to prepare. Your family will love this meal, and it works great for weekly meal prep. The recipe scales up easily for bigger gatherings or extra portions.
Simple, available ingredients make this beloved dish special. Buttermilk creates the fluffiest dumplings, while whole chicken delivers rich flavors throughout. You can become skilled at making this Cracker Barrel favorite right in your kitchen. Let’s get cooking!
Essential Ingredients for Cracker Barrel Style Chicken and Dumplings
Quality ingredients make the difference between good and exceptional Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings. Each ingredient plays a vital part in creating that signature taste and texture.
Choosing the Right Chicken Cut
Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work best for this recipe. We used thighs because they stay moist and handle longer cooking times better than other cuts. Boneless chicken breasts can work too, but you’ll need to watch them carefully so they don’t dry out. A store-bought rotisserie chicken makes a great time-saving option.
The Core Components for Perfect Dumpling Dough
Cracker Barrel’s signature dumplings need specific ingredients to achieve their distinctive texture. Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour with 2 teaspoons baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt. The perfect consistency comes from adding 1 cup whole milk and ¼ cup vegetable oil.
The best results come from:
- Fresh baking powder helps dumplings rise properly
- The mixture should become crumbly when you work in cold butter
- Whole milk’s fat content creates tender dumplings
- Extra flour while rolling prevents sticking and naturally thickens the broth
Broth Ingredients for Authentic Flavor
Great Cracker Barrel-style broth starts with 6 cups of high-quality chicken broth. The broth develops its rich flavor from aromatics including:
- Celery ribs, halved
- Medium onion chunks
- Chicken bouillon or soup base to improve taste
The flour coating on dumplings naturally thickens the broth, creating that signature creamy texture. Some cooks add buttermilk or evaporated milk at the end to make it even richer.
Preparing the Perfect Chicken Broth Base
Making the perfect broth base needs careful attention to temperature, timing, and technique. You should start with cold water at the time you begin, as this helps your broth stay clear.
Proper Seasoning Techniques
A flavorful broth starts with balanced aromatics. Add these ingredients:
- Fresh garlic cloves
- Celery ribs
- Medium carrots
- Large onion
- Fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary)
Black peppercorns and sea salt will improve the savory profile. We simmered these aromatics gently to release their flavors without turning bitter. To add depth, you can sauté the vegetables in butter before adding them to the broth.
Achieving the Right Consistency
Your broth needs a gentle simmer – bubbles should dance slowly around the pot. A good broth takes at least 90 minutes of cooking time to extract enough flavor and gelatin. The flour from the dumplings naturally thickens the broth to create that signature Cracker Barrel texture.
To name just one example, see these adjustments to add body:
- Mix flour and cold water into a slurry if the broth looks too thin
- Add evaporated milk near the end to improve richness
Visual Cues for Perfect Broth
Watch for these signs of success:
- Your broth should look deeply golden and clear, not cloudy
- Skim off any foam that appears during simmering with a spoon
- The broth will feel slightly sticky on your lips when it’s ready
Keep in mind, your broth needs to simmer at a low temperature – aggressive boiling will break the dumplings apart. A partially covered pot lets some steam escape while keeping the right temperature. The result will be a rich, savory base that perfectly complements tender dumplings.
Mastering Cracker Barrel’s Dumpling Technique
The authentic Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings recipe depends on your dumpling technique. Your success relies on how carefully you handle the dough.
Rolling and Cutting Methods
Place the dough on a heavily floured surface to begin. Knead it four to five times – any more will make tough dumplings. Skip the rolling pin and pat the dough gently with your hands to keep it tender.
A pizza cutter works best to create uniform pieces. Cut the dough into 1-inch by 1.5-inch rectangles. These dimensions will give a perfect cook time and prevent dumplings from becoming too big or small.
Proper Thickness Guidelines
Cracker Barrel-style dumplings should be 1/8-inch thick. Even thickness throughout the dough helps everything cook uniformly. Thin dumplings cook faster and soak up broth better, while thick ones stay doughy in the middle.
To get the best results:
- Roll dough on a well-floured surface to prevent sticking
- Keep thickness uniform across all pieces
- Use plenty of flour to dust cut pieces
- Don’t stack dumplings before cooking
Common Dumpling Mistakes to Avoid
Knowing what can go wrong helps you make perfect dumplings. Here are vital points to remember:
Tough, chewy dumplings come from overworking the dough. Keep your pot at a gentle simmer because aggressive boiling breaks the dumplings. Don’t stir too often after adding the dumplings – they’ll fall apart.
Wet filling will break your dumplings. The lid should stay closed while cooking to keep steam levels right. A crowded pot prevents proper cooking.
Dust your dumplings with flour before they hit the broth – this extra flour creates that signature velvety texture. The broth thickens naturally as dumplings cook, giving you that classic Cracker Barrel consistency.
Step-by-Step Cooking Process
The perfect Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings need two vital elements – the right temperature and timing. These steps will give you perfect results every time.
Temperature Control Tips
The right heat level is vital to make great dumplings. We started by bringing the broth to a gentle simmer, not a rolling boil. You need to watch the pot to prevent it from boiling over and making a mess.
For optimal results:
- Start with medium-high heat to bring broth to temperature
- Reduce to medium-low once simmming begins
- Maintain gentle bubbles throughout cooking
- Put your ear near the pot to hear a soft simmer
Adding Dumplings Without Breaking
The way you add dumplings affects their texture by a lot. You can drop them into the simmering broth with a spoon or cookie scoop. Another option is to use two large spoons to lower golf ball-sized portions into the soup.
Your dumplings might dissolve a bit, which helps thicken the soup. Don’t stir too much after adding them because they can break. The pot should stay covered so steam can build up properly.
Testing for Doneness
You can check if dumplings are done in several ways. They usually take 15-20 minutes to cook. Here’s how to test them:
Visual Indicators:
- Dumplings should quadruple in size
- They should cover the stew’s surface
- The broth should look like gravy
Physical Tests:
- A toothpick in the center should come out clean
- Cut one in half – it should feel like a soft dinner roll
- Take a bite – it should feel like a slightly dense al dente noodle
The dumplings keep cooking even off the heat. Let them rest for 5 minutes after they’re done. The center shouldn’t be doughy or raw when you test them.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even experienced cooks struggle with Cracker Barrel-style chicken and dumplings. All the same, you can achieve consistent success by knowing common problems and their fixes.
Fixing Dough Problems
Perfect dumplings are built on the right dough texture. We worked with sticky dough by dusting small amounts of flour until it became manageable. The dry dough needs cold water added bit by bit until it hits the sweet spot.
Your dumplings might turn tough because of:
- You kneaded the dough more than 4-5 times
- Your flour had too much protein
- You rolled or patted the dough too much
The dough might tear easily when it’s too stretchy or soft. Let it rest for 15-20 minutes between kneads. The dough should feel smooth but not elastic and form a clean ball that won’t stick to your hands or bowl.
Adjusting Broth Consistency
Cracker Barrel’s signature broth needs just the right thickness. Mix 2 tablespoons cornstarch with ¼ cup cold water to fix thin broth. The broth will start to thicken once you add this slurry.
These tweaks will help you nail the perfect consistency:
When broth gets too thick:
- Add chicken broth gradually
- Stir in warm water slowly
- Blend with a small whisk
For thin broth, create a paste with equal parts flour and soft butter, about 2-3 tablespoons each. Stir this mix into your simmering broth to thicken it up.
Salvaging Broken Dumplings
Wrong temperature or handling can make dumplings fall apart. Stop stirring if your dumplings start breaking. Use a slotted spoon to fish out the most damaged pieces.
You can prevent and fix this by:
- Keeping a gentle simmer instead of a rolling boil
- Cooking with the lid on for the first 10 minutes
- Taking the lid off at the end to avoid sogginess
Dumplings that stick together will separate on their own as they cool. A thin silicone spatula works great to unstick dumplings from the pan.
Note that slightly broken dumplings taste just as good and help thicken your broth. If your dumplings turn too soft, fresh biscuits or puff pastry make great alternatives.
Conclusion
To become skilled at making Cracker Barrel chicken and dumplings, you need attention to detail and practice. The right ingredients and techniques will help you create this beloved Southern comfort dish in your kitchen.
Three key elements determine your success: a well-prepared broth, well-crafted dumplings, and the right temperature control. Cold ingredients create the best dumplings, and gentle simmering helps them cook perfectly without falling apart.
You can solve common problems with simple adjustments. A flour slurry adds thickness, and letting the dough rest helps too. The dough shouldn’t be overworked, and heat must stay consistent throughout cooking.
These classic dish secrets will guide you. Grab your ingredients and start cooking. Your family will definitely love the homemade warmth and comfort of perfectly prepared chicken and dumplings.
FAQs
Q1. What are the key ingredients for Cracker Barrel-style chicken and dumplings? The main ingredients include boneless chicken thighs or breasts, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, milk, and chicken broth. For authentic flavor, use high-quality chicken broth and fresh baking powder.
Q2. How do you achieve the perfect dumpling consistency? Roll out the dumpling dough to about 1/8-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch by 1.5-inch rectangles. Dust the dumplings with flour before adding them to the broth to help achieve the signature velvety texture.
Q3. What’s the secret to making tender dumplings? Avoid overworking the dough – knead it only 4-5 times. Use cold ingredients and handle the dough gently. When cooking, maintain a gentle simmer rather than a rolling boil to prevent the dumplings from breaking apart.
Q4. How long should you cook the chicken and dumplings? The cooking time is typically 15-20 minutes. The dumplings should quadruple in size and blanket the surface of the stew. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of a dumpling – it should come out clean.
Q5. How can you troubleshoot common issues when making chicken and dumplings? For dough that’s too sticky, dust with small amounts of flour. If the broth is too thin, create a slurry with cornstarch and cold water. To prevent broken dumplings, avoid stirring the pot frequently and maintain a gentle simmer throughout cooking.