Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings is a comforting, hearty dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly tender dumplings every time. The cozy aroma of this dish will fill your home and make your family beg for seconds. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Homemade Olive Garden Style Breadsticks Recipe and Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Honey and Spice.
Why This Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Better than takeout
- Creamy peas and fluffy dumplings
- Easy to customize with your favorite veggies
What You'll Need for Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: Crumbled bacon
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken broth: You can use vegetable broth to make this recipe vegetarian.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks food faster and more evenly → See on Amazon
- Immersion Blender — Makes blending soups and sauces easy → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
- Step 1: In a large pot, combine peas, chicken broth, chicken, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme. Bring to a boil.
- Step 2: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup of the hot liquid from the pot with 1 cup of flour until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the dough into the pot.
- Step 4: Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they're fluffy and cooked through. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much flour to the dumpling dough can make them tough. Make sure to use just enough flour to form a smooth dough.
- Pro tip: For extra flavor, try browning the chicken before adding it to the pot.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe vegetarian, substitute the chicken with diced vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers.
Storing & Reheating Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can make the dumpling dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
This recipe does not freeze well due to the dumplings.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker stew, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the pot before adding the dumplings.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with ground turkey or diced ham.
- Make-ahead: This recipe does not store well due to the dumplings, but you can make the stew ahead of time and reheat it before adding the dumplings.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are sticking to the pot, try adding a little more liquid to the pot before adding the dumplings.
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Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups frozen peas
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 onion, diced
Seasonings
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp dried thyme
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Crumbled bacon
Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, combine peas, chicken broth, chicken, onion, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme. Bring to a boil.
- Step 2: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together 1 cup of the hot liquid from the pot with 1 cup of flour until smooth. Drop spoonfuls of the dough into the pot.
- Step 4: Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 10-15 minutes, or until they're fluffy and cooked through. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a thicker stew, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the pot before adding the dumplings.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with ground turkey or diced ham.
- Make-ahead: This recipe does not store well due to the dumplings, but you can make the stew ahead of time and reheat it before adding the dumplings.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are sticking to the pot, try adding a little more liquid to the pot before adding the dumplings.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: This recipe does not freeze well due to the dumplings.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: You can make the dumpling dough ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 25g
- Fat: 7g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Cholesterol: 60mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner FAQs
While you can make the stew ahead of time, it's best to add the dumplings just before serving to prevent them from becoming soggy.
Adding too much flour to the dumpling dough can make them tough. Make sure to use just enough flour to form a smooth dough.
Yes, you can substitute the chicken with diced vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers.
Yes, you can use fresh peas instead of frozen. You may need to adjust the cooking time to ensure the peas are tender before adding the dumplings.
This recipe pairs well with a side of cornbread or biscuits and a simple green salad.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
