Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings: A Comfort Food Classic Made at Home

By Stephanie Manley Published April 3, 2025

Growing up in the Midwest, Sunday dinners at my grandmother’s house always meant one thing—the intoxicating aroma of chicken and dumplings simmering on the stove. Years later, I found myself craving that same comfort food magic, but living hours away from family meant finding alternatives. That’s when I discovered Cracker Barrel’s version, which transported me back to Grandma’s kitchen. After countless attempts to recreate that heartwarming experience, I’ve finally perfected this copycat recipe that brings restaurant-quality chicken and dumplings to your dining table.

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What makes Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings so good? 

There’s nothing fancy about this copycat Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings recipe. You won’t find any wine or gourmet food here, but what you get is rich chicken gravy, flavorful chicken, and soft dumplings. Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings come together in about an hour on the stovetop, and you can even prepare it in advance and freeze it for last-minute meals.

Why you’ll love this recipe 

You can feel good serving your family this old-style comfort food that they will love. Made with wholesome ingredients that are also budget-friendly, it’s a simple, satisfying meal that is perfect for a large family or when you have a few guests over. When you serve Chicken and Dumplings, no one will want to be late for dinner. 

Why this recipe works 

This humble dish might not be fancy, but one spoonful of these tender chicken pieces, pillowy dumplings, and rich, velvety gravy will convince you that sometimes, the simplest foods create the most profound memories. Here’s why this recipe works:

• Freezer-compatible for future meals
• Family-friendly comfort food that satisfies even the pickiest eaters
• Budget-conscious ingredients that won’t break the bank
• One-pot simplicity for easier cleanup
• Make-ahead friendly for busy weeknights

Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings ingredients 

To recreate the Chicken and Dumplings from Cracker Barrel at home, you’ll need:

• Carrots – Create a sweet foundation for the broth and add essential nutrients
• Celery – Provides aromatic complexity and a subtle savory note
• White onion – Forms the flavor base and adds natural sweetness as it cooks
• Salted butter – Creates richness and helps vegetables release their flavors during sautéing
• Salt – Enhances all the flavors and balances the dish
• Chicken base – Concentrates chicken flavor throughout the broth for restaurant-quality results
• Water – Creates the cooking liquid that becomes your flavorful gravy
• Chicken tenders – Provide tender, easy-to-shred meat without the hassle of breaking down a whole chicken
• All-purpose flour – This forms the structure of the dumplings and helps thicken the gravy
• Baking powder – Creates light, fluffy dumplings by generating air bubbles during cooking
• Buttermilk – Adds tanginess and helps create tender dumplings with a slight chew

How to make the best Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings copycat recipe

To cook the chicken and prepare the base:

1. Cut the carrot, celery, and white onions into large pieces and set aside. Since you will remove the vegetables later, make sure the pieces are large enough to not break down while cooking.
2. Place a large pot over medium heat and melt the salted butter. 
3. Add the cut vegetables and a pinch of salt to the warm pot and cook until the onions become translucent. 
4. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the chicken base into the water until it dissolves and then pour it into the pot. 
5. Add the chicken tenders to the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes. While the chicken cooks, you have plenty of time to make the dumplings. 

To make the dumplings:

1. In a large bowl, bring together the flour, baking powder, salt, and buttermilk into a shaggy dough. 
2. Lightly flour the work surface and turn out the dough. 
3. Roll the dough into a rough rectangle about a quarter of an inch thick. 
4. Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut the dumpling dough into one-inch squares. Separate the dough squares and lightly coat them with more flour to keep them from sticking. 

To finish the Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings recipe:

1. Strain and reserve the cooking liquid. Set the cooked chicken aside and discard the vegetables. 
2. Shred the cooked chicken with a fork.
3. Bring the chicken broth to a boil over high heat in a large pot or Dutch oven.
4. Drop the cut dumplings into the boiling broth a few at a time. After a few seconds, stir the pot a few times to ensure the dumplings aren’t sticking. Continue adding and mixing the dumplings until you have added all of them to the pot. 
5. Add the shredded chicken to the pot and reduce the heat to medium-low. 
6. Cook until the dumplings are cooked through, about 15 minutes. 
7. The cooking liquid should have thickened up. Taste and adjust seasonings according to your preference. 

What to serve them with 

A few sides turn this hearty Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings recipe into the perfect family meal. Here are a few suggestions:

Grandma’s Three Bean Salad. The sweet and tangy dressing in this recipe turns green, waxed, and kidney beans into a bright salad that is in remarkable contrast to the heaviness of the Chicken and Dumplings from Cracker Barrel. Since you use canned beans for this recipe, you can easily throw Grandma’s Three Bean Salad together in just a few minutes. 

Oven-roasted Broccoli and Cheese. Do you think that you hate broccoli? That’s only because you haven’t tried Roasted Broccoli and Cheese! This low-carb side dish has so much garlicky cheddar cheese that even your kids will love it. And you’ll love making it because it’s so easy!

Cracker Barrel Carrot Cake. Carrot Cake is one of those desserts that most people don’t go out of their way to get, but if you have a slice, you wonder, “Why don’t I have this more often?” The crushed walnuts, pineapple pieces, shredded coconut, sweet raisins, and warm baking spices give Cracker Barrel Carrot Cake its moist texture and flavor. And the cream cheese frosting takes it over the top!

Homestyle Cracker Barrel Chicken and Dumplings

Tender chicken, pillowy dumplings, and rich gravy come together in this comforting one-pot meal that tastes just like the restaurant favorite but made in your own kitchen.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Cracker Barrel Recipes

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 314kcal

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons salted butter
• 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 1/2 cup diced white onion
• 1 teaspoon salt divided use
• 6 cups water
• 6 teaspoons chicken base
• 1 pound chicken tenders
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup buttermilk

Instructions

• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, and onions to the pot along with 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook until the onions are translucent.

• Add the water and chicken base to the pot. Stir until the chicken base is incorporated into the water. Add the chicken tenders and cook for about 20 minutes on medium-low heat.

• While the chicken is cooking, prepare the dough for the dumplings: Combine the flour, baking powder, buttermilk, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a mixing bowl. Stir until the dough just comes together—it will be shaggy. Transfer the dough to a floured surface and roll it out into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Cut the dough into 1-inch squares, separating the squares as you cut them so they do not touch one another. Sprinkle the squares with more flour.

• Strain the chicken and vegetables from the broth and return the broth to the pot. Bring to a boil. Slowly add the dumplings, a few at a time, stirring as you go.

• Return the chicken to the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes to ensure the dumplings are cooked through. Taste and adjust the seasonings.

Notes

Tips for Perfect Chicken and Dumplings

• Don’t overmix the dumpling dough – This can make them tough instead of tender
• Maintain a gentle simmer – Boiling too vigorously can break apart the dumplings
• Allow resting time – Let the finished dish sit for 5-10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld
• Season gradually – It’s easier to add more salt at the end than to fix an overly salty dish

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 1053mg | Potassium: 596mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2025IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 136mg | Iron: 2mg

How to store and reheat leftovers

The best method for storing chicken and dumplings is to separate them into two airtight containers. Put the chicken and dumplings in one container and keep the gravy in another to prevent the Chicken and Dumplings from absorbing all of it. You can store the dish like this for two days in the fridge or a month in the freezer. Thaw frozen Chicken and Dumplings before reheating.

Warm the gravy in a pot over medium heat to reheat the dish. You may need to add some chicken stock to loosen the gravy. Once the gravy is hot, add the chicken and dumplings and cook them until they warm through. 

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