Dolly Parton’s Chicken and Dumplings–an easy, homemade Instant Pot or Crockpot version of Dolly’s thick and creamy chicken soup with perfectly cooked, light and airy dumplings.
Dolly Parton’s Chicken and Dumplings
You will be singing “I will always love you” to your bowl as you eat this! Jolene can have my man as long as I can have these chicken and dumplings. And you don’t have to work from 9 to 5 to make this dinner because it comes together pretty quickly. 😂
No, but seriously you’re going to love this dinner of pure comfort food in a bowl. Greg, Skyler and I took this whole pot down it one sitting 😬. We had been fasting so that didn’t help either lol. The homemade dumplings come together in a snap so don’t let that dissuade you from making this. They are pillowy and perfect.
Ingredients/Substitution Ideas
- Olive oil–or vegetable or canola oil
- Onion–yellow or white
- Celery
- Water
- Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs–frozen or fresh (same cooking time)
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder–or granulated garlic
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Shortening
- Milk
Steps
Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the onion and celery. Saute for 5 minutes.
Pour in the water and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking. Add in the Better than Bouillon, chicken, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 12 minutes (if you don’t have a soup button use low pressure for 12 minutes).
While pot is coming to pressure make the dumplings: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt. Cut in shortening with a fork or a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Gradually stir in milk until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly for 5 minutes.
Pat dough out to ½-inch thick and cut into 1 inch squares (I use a pizza cutter).
When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid. Use tongs to move chicken to a cutting board. Turn Instant Pot to saute (“normal setting”). Drop dumplings into the broth. Cook for 10 minutes.
Cut chicken into pieces and add back into the pot. Serve and enjoy!
Notes/Tips
- Serve with cooked collard greens, spinach, or kale with garlic and a touch of lemon.
- If you’d like you can add vegetables into your chicken and dumplings. Try adding a bag of mixed vegetables when you drop in the dumplings.
- I used my 6 quart Instant Pot*. You can also make this in a 3 or 8 quart pot.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container* in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Other recipes you can make with celery are Welcome Home Soup and Two Boys Casserole.
- Original recipe is from 12 Tomatoes.
More Instant Pot Dolly Recipes…
Instant Pot Dolly Parton’s 5-Layer Dinner
A simple but delicious fiver layer casserole recipe that’s cooked in the Instant Pot.
Instant Pot Dolly Parton’s Stone Soup
A nourishing soup with cabbage and other veggies and a bit of smoked ham hock. This soup will warm you right up!
Instant Pot Dolly Parton Stampede Chicken
The Instant Pot can cook a whole chicken to moist, delicious perfection in less than an hour. This method makes THE best Instant Pot chicken every single time.
Instant Pot Dolly Parton Diet Soup
An easy soup packed with vegetables and only 78 calories per serving!
Did you know you can filter the recipes on my website to search by meat type, IP or Crockpot, low carb, gluten free, etc.? Use the filter to find exactly what you are looking for.
Dolly Parton’s Chicken and Dumplings
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes (plus 5 minute NPR)
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
An easy, homemade Instant Pot or Crockpot version of Dolly’s thick and creamy chicken soup with perfectly cooked, light and airy dumplings.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup diced onion
- 2 ribs of celery, diced
- 4 cups water
- 1 Tbsp Better than Bouillon Chicken Base
- 1 3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Dumplings
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 Tbsp shortening
- 6 Tbsp milk
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions:
- Turn Instant Pot to saute setting. When display says HOT add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the onion and celery. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Pour in the water and scrape bottom of pot so that nothing is sticking.
- Add in the Better than Bouillon, chicken, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Cover Instant Pot and secure the lid. Make sure valve is set to sealing. Set the SOUP button to 12 minutes.
- While pot is coming to pressure make the dumplings: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt. Cut in shortening with a fork or a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Gradually stir in milk until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly for 5 minutes. Pat dough out to ½-inch thick and cut into 1 inch squares (I use a pizza cutter).
- When time is up let pot sit for 5-10 minutes and then move valve to venting. Remove the lid.
- Use tongs to move chicken to a cutting board.
- Turn Instant Pot to saute (“normal setting”). Drop dumplings into the broth. Cook 10 minutes.
- Cut chicken into pieces and add back into the pot.
- Serve and enjoy!
Slow Cooker Instructions:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Add in the oil and swirl it around. Add in the onion and celery. Saute for 5 minutes. Add to the slow cooker.
- Add in the water, Better than Bouillon, chicken, salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Cover and cook on low 4 hours.
- Make the dumplings: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt. Cut in shortening with a fork or a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Gradually stir in milk until dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead lightly for 5 minutes. Pat dough out to ½-inch thick and cut into 1 inch squares (I use a pizza cutter). Drop the dumplings into the slow cooker.
- Turn slow cooker to high and cook for 1 more hour.
- Use tongs to move chicken to a cutting board. Cut chicken into pieces and add back into the slow cooker.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Instant Pot or Slow Cooker
*Karen Petersen 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.
I have made this over and over again! I have even requested it for my birthday dinner next week.
My only edit- add sliced carrots!
good edit!
I have met dolly once in person at Natchitoches, LA during the filming of Steel Magnolias. Several of the actors stayed at my aunts hotel. We were actually fiscussing recipes and when I said “dumplings”, she said “stop right there. I call ‘um “dumplin’s.” LOL
Anyhow the recipe is fantastic… I’d just change the name to dumplins LOL
oh I just love this so much!
I made this today and it was really good. I didn’t change a thing and next time I won’t either. Chicken was very tender and the gravy has a wonderful flavor. I’ve never made dumplings before so I was kind of worried about that but they were also good. Thank you for a very good recipe.
So glad you liked it Nicolee! Thanks for the 5 stars 🙂
I made this for dinner last night. Did a little tweeking by using chicken breast instead of thighs (on WW – breasts are zero points), cutting them into small pieces and sauteing in butter instead of oil. Added carrots to veggies and sauted until soft. Added minced parsley and basil to dumplings and cut into 1/2 inch cubes. Hubby said to not lose recipe.
Sounds like a great version!