This Chicken and Dumplings Casserole is a family favorite. The dumplings make themselves! Tender, cooked chicken in a creamy flavorful sauce!
CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS CASSEROLE
AN ALL-PURPOSE COOKBOOK
You know where I got this recipe? From that cookbook pictured below. It is The Southern Bite Cookbook and it was written by my friend Stacey Little of SouthernBite.com. Stacey shares generational recipes as well as some of his newer favorites. All inspired by the southern food he grew up with. 
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS CASSEROLE:
- For a shortcut, try using store-bought rotisserie chicken. This will save you some time when making this! Get the family size chicken and just dice it up (you’ll need about 3 cups of chicken.) Costco sometimes even sells pulled rotisserie chicken. A huge timesaver!
- Self-rising flour is a must in this. If you use all-purpose flour, it just won’t turn out right.
- Use real salted butter, not margarine.
- Cream of Chicken with herbs and cream of mushroom all work well with this recipe.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS CASSEROLE (STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS):
Pour this mixture over the chicken. Do not mix the layers.
Then bake until the casserole is set. Sprinkle with a bit of dried parsley when finished cooking.
Enjoy!
Originally published: March 2014
Updated & republished: May 2020
CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS CASSEROLE
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick)
- 1 cup small onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, chopped
- 3 cups cooked (shredded or diced) chicken
- 1 cup Self-Rising Flour
- 1 cup milk (2% or higher)
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (10.75 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add chopped onion and celery.
- Cook for about 8-10 minutes (until veggies are soft). Season with salt and pepper.
- Pour the butter and veggie mixture into your prepared baking dish.
- Add the chicken in a layer on top of the vegetables.
- In a small bowl, combine self-rising flour with milk.
- Pour this mixture over chicken (do not stir mixture).
- In another small bowl combine the chicken broth with the cream of chicken soup. Season with ab it more salt and pepper.
- Pour this mixture over the chicken. Do not mix the layers.
- Then bake for about 45-50 minutes or until the casserole is set.
Video
Notes
- Use store-bought rotisserie chicken to make preparation even faster
- You must use self-rising flour in this recipe (not all-purpose)
Nutrition
CRAVING MORE RECIPES? GIVE THESE A TRY!
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BISQUICK BURRITO BAKE
CHICKEN ENCHILADA BAKE
MOM’S CHICKEN & RICE CASSEROLE
EASY CHICKEN NOODLE CASSEROLE
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CHICKEN AND DROP DUMPLINGS
Hi Brandie,
So I made this for dinner on Thursday. I thought I messed it up because I didnt completely mix up the broth and cream of chicken soup. It came out more like a chicken pot pie, but it was delicious enough to make it again the next night because we ate all the leftovers. I have since given the recipe to both my mom and brother who have made it and loved it.
Made this by tossing 3 large bone-in chicken breasts into the crock pot (in the early a.m.) on high for 4 hours then pouring residual juices into a measuring cup. Stuck it all into the fridge to cool for a few hours to cool. Skimmed the fat off the stock and shredded one large breast. Diced 4 smallish carrots, 1 small green bell and 4 celery stalks and sauteed them in 1/4 stick (NOT A FULL STICK — YAY!) of butter. I used 1 C. all purpose + 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder + 1/4 tsp. salt for the dumpling topping and used the stock from the crock pot with the cream of chicken soup. Next time I'll use 1 3/4 C. stock so it's not so soupy. Be sure to go easy on additional salt, even if using low-salt soup. This worked great adding other veggies and would be good with even more: leeks, mushrooms, etc., to "veg it up" a bit. Between 4 of us we killed the entire 8×11 dish — and that was with lots of veggies. I'll make it again, happily. Thanks, Brandie, for sharing the recipe!
Just made this for dinner, it was AMAZING!!! We love chicken and dumplings in our house, and this was a nice change!! VERY quick and easy, we look forward to having it for lunch tomorrow as well ! Thank you for sharing!
I made this for tonight's supper…and it was so yummy! My husband and I decided we like it better than traditional chicken and dumplings. I didn't have the self rising flour so I made my own with a teaspoon and half of baking soda and a half teaspoon of salt and enough regular flour to make the cup.
I've got the oven heating up right now for the chicken and dumpling casserole to go in, can't wait to try it. with 7 kids still at home I love casseroles
Made this tonight!!! Everyone devoured it!! It was fantastic!!! Thank you. Will try some more of your recipes.
I made this dish tonight…simple easy as I am watching my two grandbabies and cooking for my family & my in laws every night….It is amazing!! But definitely needs the parsley for some color, Thank you for giving me an easy delicious dish that tastes like I worked all day on it. Blessings!
You have no idea how much this warmed my heart to read! I am so thankful you took the time out of your busy day to leave me such a sweet note! So, so happy to hear this!
This recipe is wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing it. I only made one change and that is I used Campbell’s Healthy Request Cream of Chicken soup and added a half cup of fresh, sliced mushrooms. Healthy Request has no MSG and is the only type of soup I can use without getting put in the hospital. Otherwise – this recipe is fantastic. I am only one person – so I have 5 servings in my freezer to eat for later meals.
Tried your chicken and dumpling recipe for supper tonight,and it was delicious, will make this again for supper.
This is very close to what us Virginians make! We call it chicken pudding the recipe is from old colonial williamsburg it was a recipe that Thomas Jefferson loved. (I learned this actually at Williamsburg) The only difference in this recipe and the Chicken Pudding recipe is we use buttermilk instead of milk. Now Chicken and Dumplings (buttermilk dumplings) in my all time fave food in this world and none will be better then my sweet little momma’s 🙂
I’m from Virginia and live in Southwest Virginia. I actually grew up near Williamsburg! Where do you live? I have never heard it called chicken pudding though. Love history! Still sounds good 🙂
Is it possible to make in advance and refrigerate overnight or freeze for a later time? Just wondering if that ruins the self-rising flour. Thanks for any assistance.
I don’t thinks this is one I would make in advance. It has the potential to turn “gloopy” if you do. 🙂
Made this last night and it was awesome!! I added 8 petite carrots chopped in with the onion and celery. I used a rotisserie chicken and mixed it into the veggie mixture then followed everything else the way the recipe reads.. hands down an amazing dish ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was great!!! I added frenches fried onions on top and served it with a side of broccoli! Delish! Great comfort food!
Good idea on the fried onions!!
I made the chicken and dumpling casserole as written except I added peas and carrots and we thought it was very good.
I only made 3 changes. I used Bisquick instead of self-rising flour. Bisquick I always have in my pantry all of the time and never have self-rising flour. I also used Better than Bouillon Chicken Base and Healthy Request Cream of Chicken soup. Both of these products have low sodium and no MSG.. It came out great and was ready in 45 minutes. Thanks for sharing. this recipe. I will be taking it to a pot luck next week.
Thanks for these comments. You just answered the question I already asked, lol. I use heart healthy bisquick, there is absolutely no difference in taste or texture. THanks!
I never had much luck making dumplings. I tried the chicken and dumpling casserole and it was great.
So happy you finally had some success – yahoo!
This recipe was so delicious and flavorful. I followed the recipe with a few minor changes…I didn’t have the self rising flour I followed the advice of another commentor to add 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp to regular flour. I added about 6 baby carrots chopped up to the celery and onion mixture and I added a cup of sharp shredded cheddar cheese to the chicken then topped it off with some French’s Crispy fried onions. YUM! Pure comfort food. I will most definitely be making this again.
I am no kind of cook at all so don’t laugh at my question. Does Bisquik and self rising flour work the same way?
Hi Pam – there are no silly questions here! It does actually. The big difference is that Bisquick also has vegetable shortening in it – which makes it simple for making biscuits. So, you would need to add some sort of oil or real butter to self-rising flour to make it work the same way. Does that make sense?
No the bisquick already has milk and shortening in the mix.
This recipe looks fantastic! Do you think I could substitute Bisquick for the self rising flour? Also, in the interest of saving dirty dishes, lol, I highly recommend using two large forks to shred the chicken meat. Do it while the chicken is still hot, it works really well!
Looking forward to making this soon.
Mmmm! That recipe is delicious!
I love the tip on how to shred chicken using your mixer. That was a great idea.
So happy you found that helpful Sheri!!
I would love to hear exactly how you shred the chicken in the mixing bowl! Unfortunately, I can’t find it on this page or when I enter the term in the search box. Could you please tell me how to do that?
I LOVE thecountrycook.net and come here several times a week to find the BEST recipes!! They’re SO right up my family’s alley as well as the way I was taught to cook ! Thank you so much, Brandie!!!!!!
Hi Milia! So sorry for any confusion on that! I should probably have a blog post just for that tip! So what you are going to do is put your cooked chicken into a large bowl or into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a handheld electric mixer (or your stand mixer with the beater attachment on) you are going to slowly begin “mixing” the chicken. You can do it in batches if you like. But you will notice that it will easily shred the chicken for you. Just keep going until you get it to the thickness you prefer. I hope that made sense! And thank you for being here. I appreciate it more than you know!
I made this tonight for dinner. This was very good. I did add some garlic powder and used Swanson canned chicken breast ( 2 large cans was perfect). Great short cut to chicken and dumplings. If time permits I’m still a fan of homemade chicken n dumplings though. I give it a thumbs up though for sure.
Love your additions to this! Thank you for coming back to comment, Diane!
So does the self rising flour added over the chicken just clump up and form it’s own dumpling? I really want to try this, as my family loves chicken n’ dumplins, but I’m confused on how it works.
I love your site, and thanks for all you do!
Yes it does! Just pour it evenly all over the chicken. No need to try to form dumplings with the milk/flour mixture. It will turn out similar to drop dumplings once cooked. Definitely try this. It’s so good!
Hi Bobbie, that is sort of the theory. This particular recipe isn’t mine. It’s from the Southern Bite cookbook so I totally can’t take credit for it. But the flour should come together (lightly) to give you a dumpling texture. 🙂
Awesome!
Thank you Tamela!
This looks amazing!! I can’t wait too fix this for my family!! Have you tried freezing this?
Hi Michelle! Hope you love it. I wouldn’t recommend freezing it though. It would probably become a grumpy mess. LOL.
I’m so glad i tried this recipe. It is fantastic. It taste like it has from scratch dumplings. This recipe is a keeper!
Awwww Vickie – wow!! Thank you so much!!
Cannot believe how good this was. So easy.
Love hearing that – thank you Chris!
I added a cup of peas and a cup of corn over the veggie layer, but otherwise made it as is. Wow, what a hit! This goes into my favourites list! Thank you so much!
I love the added veggies – great idea!! Thanks so much Laura!
Did you drain the added vegetables ?
Really tasty dish. My family has enjoyed this several times. I recommend everyone to try it. It is very easy to make.
I made this Monday evening. I let it cook for 50 minutes and it was pretty runny. Next time I make this I will probably let it cook for an hour. It tasted really good and was even better last night after it had time to set up in the fridge. I plan to add this into my dinner rotation for sure!
I have a quick question for you Brandi, I put the self rising flour in the bowl first, then the milk. I did not mix as suggested so I had a lot of flour on the bottom of my bowl which I tried to scoop out with my fingers and spread across the top. There were however, some flour spots on the top of the casserole after it was done. Should I add the milk to the bowl first, then the flour?
Thanks for the great recipe!
Recipe says to combine so you need to stir it together.
This is one of my all time favorite recipes. I make it again and again! We like it better than traditional chicken and biscuits
Made this for dinner tonight. I used cream of chicken with herbs soup, no extra seasoning required.
Do u think i can add precooked rice to bottom then everything ekse
Hi Pam! I think you could absolutely do that!
Made this for dinner tonight. Will make again but with less chicken broth, think 1 cup would be enough
Looks delicious going to make tonight. Can I use rotisserie chicken I purchase in store and just shred it?
Thanks Chris
For sure! I am actually making it again myself tonight and am using rotisserie chicken! 🙂
I made this tonight with rotisserie chicken, following the recipe. It was AMAZING!
Perfect substitute!! Thanks so much Cindy!!
OMG, I’m usually not a fan of traditional chicken and dumplings I can’t believe how creamy this was (I even used half the butter). Took it to work and the ones that were able to taste it wanted the recipe. The others didn’t get there in time. 🙂
Can you just sauté the onions and leave out the celery? This sounds so yummy!
Absolutely! 🙂
SOOOO yummy! A comfort food staple!!!
This is a fantastic recipe… so comforting and reminds me of my grandmother who cooked great meals like this. Thank you so much for a wonderful recipe and all your hard work.
This recipe was GREAT!! But I need to be completely honest: I forgot the flour !! I was SO worried about adding the baking soda & salt in order to make the flour self-rising that I must have subconsciously thought I was adding the flour when I was adding the soda & salt! I left it in the oven longer because it seemed more soupy than I had expected, but…and I’m embarrassed to admit this…I’ve only had Chicken & Dumplings ONE time during my WHOLE life, and I’m 52!! So I couldn’t remember how liquid-y it was supposed to turn out. The top LOOKED like there was a thin layer of biscuits on it . It wasn’t until we were halfway through dinner & trying to figure out what I had done wrong when my husband asked, “Are you sure you put flour in this?” moment! It actually tasted WONDERFULLY, believe it or not. It definitely was too soupy, but it kind of reminded me of Bob Evan’s Chicken & Noodles (sans noodles). I had added a can of drained can of mushrooms + a teaspoon of chicken seasoning & fajita seasoning, & an extra can of drained chicken, so that probably helped absorb some of the extra liquid. But my family of six LOVED it!! They said I should actually add in the flour the next time but that it was great the way it was. So, in case anyone out there makes that same mistake , serve it anyway and tell everyone it’s a thick soup & that it’s in a pan b/c your soup pot was in the dishwasher !
PS – And thank you so much, Brandie, for the chicken shredding tip! I never would have thought of that !!