Ingredients
Scale
For the Casserole Base:
- 3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas & carrots
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
For the Dumpling Layer:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- ¼ cup butter, melted
For the Creamy Sauce:
- 1 (10.5 oz) can cream of chicken soup
- 2 cups chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon paprika (optional, for color)
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat & Prepare
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
Step 2: Layer the Chicken
- Spread the shredded chicken evenly across the bottom of the baking dish.
- Sprinkle with onions, peas, carrots, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.
Step 3: Make the Dumpling Batter
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Stir in milk and melted butter until combined.
- Pour the batter evenly over the chicken layer—DO NOT STIR!
Step 4: Prepare the Creamy Sauce
- In another bowl, whisk together chicken broth, cream of chicken soup, Italian seasoning, and paprika.
- Carefully pour this mixture over the dumpling batter—again, DO NOT STIR.
“The secret to fluffy dumplings is layering, not stirring! The batter rises beautifully while baking.”
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
- Place the casserole in the oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbly.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Want extra flavor? Add ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning for a richer taste.
- Gluten-free option: Use gluten-free flour and gluten-free cream of chicken soup.
- Dairy-free version: Substitute almond milk and dairy-free butter.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Reheating Tip: Warm leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes to keep the dumplings fluffy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Southern, American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (about 1¼ cups)1 plate (about 1¼ cups)
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 920mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg