Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Chicken breasts: Cut into bite-sized pieces, these provide the protein base for the dish.

Carrots: Sliced for a sweet and earthy flavor.

Celery: Adds a crunchy texture and subtle flavor.

Frozen peas: Convenient and adds a pop of color and sweetness.

Chicken broth: Forms the flavorful liquid base of the dish.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.

Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth.

Dried thyme: Provides an earthy, aromatic note.

Heavy cream: Adds richness and creaminess to the dish.

All-purpose flour: Used to make the dumplings.

Baking powder: Helps the dumplings rise and become fluffy.

Milk: Combines with flour and baking powder to form the dumpling batter.

Melted butter: Adds richness and flavor to the dumplings.

When preparing the dumplings, be careful not to overmix the batter. Overmixing can lead to tough and dense dumplings. Stir the ingredients until they are just combined to ensure light and fluffy results.

• chicken breasts - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast has a similar texture and flavor profile, making it a suitable replacement.

• sliced carrots - Substitute with parsnips: Parsnips have a similar sweetness and texture, providing a comparable flavor.

• sliced celery - Substitute with fennel: Fennel offers a similar crunch and a slightly different but complementary flavor.

• frozen peas - Substitute with green beans: Green beans provide a similar color and texture, though they have a slightly different taste.

• chicken broth - Substitute with vegetable broth: Vegetable broth can provide a similar depth of flavor while keeping the dish vegetarian.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add saltiness along with a depth of umami flavor.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile.

• dried thyme - Substitute with dried oregano: Dried oregano offers a similar earthy flavor that complements the dish.

• heavy cream - Substitute with coconut milk: Coconut milk provides a similar creamy texture with a slightly different flavor, suitable for those avoiding dairy.

• all-purpose flour - Substitute with whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour can be used for a slightly denser texture and a nuttier flavor.

• baking powder - Substitute with baking soda and cream of tartar: Mixing baking soda with cream of tartar can replicate the leavening effect of baking powder.

• milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk provides a similar liquid consistency and is suitable for those avoiding dairy.

• melted butter - Substitute with olive oil: Olive oil can provide a similar fat content and a slightly different but pleasant flavor.

• Allow the chicken and dumplings to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.

• Transfer the cooled chicken and dumplings into airtight containers. For individual servings, use smaller containers to make reheating easier.

• Label the containers with the date to keep track of freshness. Chicken and dumplings can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

• For longer storage, place the airtight containers in the freezer. Chicken and dumplings can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.

• When ready to reheat, thaw the frozen chicken and dumplings in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even reheating and maintains the texture of the dumplings.

• Reheat the thawed chicken and dumplings on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. You can also reheat in the microwave, but be sure to stir halfway through to ensure even heating.

• If the dumplings have absorbed too much liquid during storage, add a splash of chicken broth or heavy cream to restore the desired consistency.

• Avoid reheating chicken and dumplings multiple times, as this can affect the texture and flavor. Only reheat the portion you plan to eat.

• For an extra touch of freshness, garnish reheated chicken and dumplings with freshly chopped parsley or a sprinkle of black pepper before serving.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Transfer the leftover chicken and dumplings to a saucepan or pot.
  2. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to maintain the desired consistency.
  3. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
  4. Once heated through, serve immediately.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the leftovers in a microwave-safe bowl.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap with a small vent.
  3. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
  4. Continue heating in 1-minute intervals until thoroughly warmed.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Transfer the leftover chicken and dumplings to an oven-safe dish.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until heated through, stirring halfway if possible.

• Instant Pot Method:

  1. Add the leftovers back into the Instant Pot.
  2. Set the pot to the sauté mode and add a bit of chicken broth or water if needed.
  3. Stir occasionally until the dish is heated through.
  4. Serve immediately once warmed.

• Instant Pot: This is the main cooking device used to prepare the chicken and dumplings, allowing for sautéing, pressure cooking, and simmering.

• Sauté function: A feature on the Instant Pot used to brown the chicken pieces before pressure cooking.

• Pressure cooking function: Another feature on the Instant Pot used to cook the chicken and vegetables quickly under high pressure.

• Glass lid: Used to cover the Instant Pot while the dumplings cook on sauté mode, allowing you to monitor the cooking process.

• Wooden spoon: Useful for stirring the ingredients and ensuring they are well mixed.

• Mixing bowl: Used to combine the ingredients for the dumpling batter.

• Measuring cups: Essential for accurately measuring the ingredients like flour, milk, and chicken broth.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure smaller quantities of ingredients such as salt, pepper, and baking powder.

• Knife: Necessary for cutting the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and slicing the carrots and celery.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for cutting the chicken and vegetables.

• Ladle: Useful for serving the chicken and dumplings once they are cooked.

• Oil: Used for sautéing the chicken pieces in the Instant Pot.

Pre-cut vegetables: Use pre-sliced carrots, celery, and frozen peas to save chopping time.

Rotisserie chicken: Substitute chicken breasts with shredded rotisserie chicken to skip the browning step.

Pre-made broth: Use store-bought chicken broth to avoid making it from scratch.

Quick dumplings: Prepare the dumpling batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge.

Instant pot settings: Familiarize yourself with your instant pot settings to switch modes quickly.