Chicken and Dumplings

My mom found this recipe several years ago as a way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey and it has become a tradition to make this the week after Thanksgiving. It's so freaking delicious. The soup part is creamy and rich and the dumplings are light and airy. I am sick this week so this was a pretty easy dinner that is comforting and soothing. It's not exactly healthy but there's vegetables in it! Usually there aren't any leftovers when my mom makes it so if you are feeding a crowd or want leftovers double the recipe, as written it serves 5-6.

Also this week I made a rotisserie chicken do double duty for me so I used half of it in this recipe and half in another recipe I'll post later. I'm trying to buy less meat so I'm pleased this week I only bought one chicken and didn't need any thing else.

This meal is easy enough for a weeknight but special enough for holiday time. It's a perfect way to use up leftover chicken or turkey. If making dumplings intimidates you, don't be nervous, just make sure you don't overfill your pot. It really couldn't be easier. I hope this dinner makes you as happy as it makes me.


Chicken and Dumplings

• 2 Tblsp butter
• 2 stalks celery, chopped (I buy the pre-chopped package because I hate all the extra celery sitting around)
• 3 carrots peeled and chopped
• 1 pkg sliced mushrooms (sometimes I put in 2 packages cause I love mushrooms)
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 3 cups chopped cooked turkey or chicken
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 can (14 oz) reduced sodium chicken stock
• 2 packets McCormick's turkey gravy mix, mixed according to package directions 
• 1 1/2 cups bisquick
• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 2 Tblsp chopped sage
• 1 tsp pepper

In Dutch oven or any pot with a lid, melt butter. Add next 5 ingedients. Allow to saute for about 5 minutes until onions are translucent and  mushrooms are getting color. Add turkey, peas, and broth. Stir in the turkey gravy. Bring to a boil over high heat. In separate bowl combine last 4 ingredients until combined. When soup comes to a boil drop heaping spoonfuls of dumpling mixture over the top. Maintain a low boil and let cook uncovered 10 minutes. Cover and cook another 10 minutes until dumplings are dry and airy on the inside.