Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings
Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings features tender poached chicken in a clean, aromatic broth with thyme and a gentle kick of cayenne. Light, pillowy dumplings enriched with creme fraiche make each bite comforting and rich without feeling heavy. Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a soothing weekend meal when you crave homestyle warmth.
- Prep15 mins
- Cook1 hr 45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 19 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 92 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 31
- Heart Health
- 35
- Metabolic
- 46
- Digestive
- 30
- Inflammatory
- 59
- Performance
- 51
- General Wellness
- 1
Place the chicken in a Dutch oven. Add water, the carrot, the celery, the onion, 3 sprigs of thyme, and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 1 hour. Remove the chicken from the Dutch oven and transfer it to a bowl; set aside to cool.
- 2
Increase the heat and bring the stock to a simmer. Skim off any chicken fat that rises to the surface of the stock and reserve it in a bowl. Combine 2 to 3 tablespoons of the reserved fat with the flour in a small bowl; stir to form a paste, adding more flour if needed. Add the chicken fat and flour mixture to the stock. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- 3
Remove the chicken meat from the carcass and add it to the stock. Season with salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Continue simmering for 10 to 15 minutes.
- 4
Whisk the creme fraiche, milk, 2 teaspoons of thyme leaves, and the eggs together in a large bowl. Stir in the self-rising flour until almost combined; do not overmix.
- 5
Scoop large spoonfuls of the dumpling mixture on top of the chicken stock. Increase the heat slightly to medium-high. Cover and simmer until the dumplings are light and fluffy and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve garnished with thyme sprigs.
- Calories 897.25 kcal High 45%
- Protein 106.27 g Good Source 213%
- Carbohydrate 69.77 g 25%
- Total Fat 19.54 g High 25%
- Saturated Fat 6.48 g High 32%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 435.95 mg High 145%
- Sodium 1779.25 mg High 77%
- Dietary Fiber 6.39 g Good Source 23%
- Total Sugars 11.06 g --
- Added Sugars 6.2 g Moderate 12%
- Calcium 308.23 mg Good Source 24%
- Iron 3.62 mg Good Source 20%
- Potassium 306.14 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin A 53.28 mcg Low Source 6%
- Vitamin C 2.86 mg Low Source 3%
- Vitamin D 0.86 mcg Low Source 4%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Eggs 🥚
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Celery
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings is made with 14 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 2 hrs and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Carrot, Cayenne Pepper, and Celery. Each serving provides about 897.25 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Carrot, Cayenne Pepper, Celery, Crème Fraîche. The full list of 14 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings?
- About 2 hrs in total: 15 mins to prepare and 1 hr 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 897.25 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 14 ingredients and 5 steps.
- Is Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings healthy?
- Chef John's Classic Chicken with Fluffy Dumplings has an easyChef Pro health score of 54/100. Per serving, it provides 897.25 calories and 106.27 g of protein, or 213% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1779.25 mg (77% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 6.48 g (32% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 6.2 g (12% of the Daily Value). It contains Eggs, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Celery and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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