Hospital-Style Chicken and Dumplings

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

A hearty dish with tender chicken, buttery dumplings, and a savory broth, inspired by the historical roots of the word 'hospital' as a place of care. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 165 minutes, pairs chicken thighs, onion, carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 1 medium, diced onion
• 1 medium, diced carrot
• 1/2 stalk, diced celery
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup dumpling dough
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Skillet Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, cook 1 tbsp butter over medium heat. Sauté 1/2 cup onions, 1/2 cup carrots, and 1/4 cup celery for 5 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Add 1 tbsp garlic, 1/2 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf, and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Pour in 4 cups beef broth and 1 cup chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch cubes). Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
4. Step 4: In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup flour, 1 cup milk, 1 tbsp butter, and 1/2 tsp pepper until smooth. Stir into the soup.
5. Step 5: Cover and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Form 1/4 cup dumpling dough into 12 small balls and add to the pot. Cook for 15 minutes until risen.