Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole Recipe

Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole Recipe

What makes this dish easy?

This Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole stands out for its incredible simplicity, making it a favorite for home cooks everywhere. The foundation of its ease lies in using readily available ingredients and straightforward steps. Instead of making dumplings from scratch, we leverage the convenience of Bisquick mix, which yields light and fluffy dumplings without the extra work. Furthermore, starting with pre-cooked chicken – whether it’s leftover rotisserie chicken, boiled chicken breasts, or canned chicken – drastically cuts down on preparation time. This clever use of shortcuts means you spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying a delicious, comforting meal with your loved ones. Forget complicated techniques; this recipe is all about assembly and baking, making it accessible even for novice cooks looking to whip up a satisfying cheesy chicken and rice casserole alternative or any simple dinner.

Perfect for weeknight dinners.

Weeknight dinners often call for meals that are quick, fuss-free, and satisfying. This easy chicken casserole fits the bill perfectly. Its minimal hands-on time means you can get dinner on the table even after a busy day. The layering process is intuitive, and once assembled, the oven does most of the work, allowing you to focus on other tasks or simply relax. The combination of tender chicken, creamy sauce, and fluffy dumplings creates a wholesome and fulfilling meal that requires no additional side dishes, unless you wish to add them. It’s a complete meal in one pan, simplifying both cooking and cleanup. This dish is designed to bring a warm, homemade feel to your table without adding stress to your evening routine, becoming a reliable staple for your casserole repertoire.

Why Choose This Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole?

Comfort food for all.

When the weather turns cool or you simply crave a hug in a bowl, this Chicken and Dumpling Casserole delivers. It embodies the essence of comfort food – warm, hearty, and deeply satisfying. The rich, creamy sauce coats every piece of tender chicken, while the soft, pillowy dumplings soak up all the delicious flavors. It’s a meal that evokes nostalgic feelings of home-cooked goodness, making it appealing to all ages. Whether you’re feeding a family with diverse tastes or looking for a dish that offers solace, this casserole consistently hits the mark. Its wholesome ingredients and familiar flavors create a comforting experience that warms you from the inside out, making it a household favorite for its sheer deliciousness and ease.

Simple family meal idea.

Finding a meal that pleases everyone can be a challenge, but this casserole simplifies family dinner planning. It’s a straightforward, crowd-pleasing option that doesn’t require extensive culinary skills. The ingredients are common pantry staples, making grocery shopping a breeze, and the preparation steps are easy to follow, even for older children who might want to help in the kitchen. This dish is hearty enough to satisfy hungry appetites, yet its balanced flavors are generally well-received by picky eaters. It’s not just a recipe; it’s a solution for creating joyful family moments around the dinner table, providing a delicious and effortless meal that everyone will look forward to. For more ideas for family Dinners, check out our other recipes.

Gather Your Simple Casserole Ingredients

List of main items.

The beauty of this easy chicken casserole lies in its accessible ingredient list. You won’t need to hunt for obscure items; most are likely already in your pantry or easily found at any grocery store. For your main components, you’ll need cooked chicken, which can be shredded or diced. A good quality all-purpose baking mix like Bisquick is crucial for those incredibly fluffy dumplings. You’ll also need milk, chicken broth, and a can of condensed cream of chicken soup to form the creamy, flavorful base of your casserole. These core ingredients work together to create a harmonious blend of textures and tastes, forming the backbone of this beloved dish. The simplicity of these items ensures that you can whip up this comforting meal any night of the week without a special trip to the store.

Fresh veggies and seasonings.

To add depth of flavor, color, and a touch of freshness, a few simple vegetables and seasonings are incorporated. You’ll need a medium onion, finely chopped, and a bell pepper (any color works, but green or red adds a nice visual contrast) also diced. These vegetables soften and sweeten as they bake, complementing the chicken and creamy sauce. For seasonings, basic salt and black pepper are essential to enhance the overall taste. Additionally, a touch of garlic powder adds a subtle aromatic layer, while dried parsley flakes contribute a hint of herbaceousness and a pop of green color. These simple additions elevate the dish without complicating the preparation, making every bite of your dumpling casserole burst with balanced flavors.

Preparing Your Chicken and Dumpling Casserole

Oven and dish setup.

Before you begin assembling your delicious chicken and dumpling casserole, it’s important to set up your cooking environment correctly. First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures that the casserole bakes evenly from the moment it enters the oven, leading to perfectly cooked chicken, tender vegetables, and beautifully golden dumplings. Next, select a suitable baking dish, typically a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) casserole dish, which provides ample space for all the layers and allows for proper heat distribution. Lightly grease the inside of the dish to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier. A quick spray of cooking oil or a smear of butter works wonderfully. This initial setup is a small but crucial step that sets the stage for a successful and enjoyable baking experience, contributing to the overall ease of this recipe.

Melt butter in dish.

After preparing your oven and baking dish, the next step involves a simple yet flavorful addition: butter. Place 1/4 cup of butter (or 4 tablespoons) directly into your greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Then, carefully place the dish into the preheated oven for just a few minutes, allowing the butter to melt completely. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning. Once melted, carefully remove the dish from the oven. The melted butter will form a delicious, golden base for your casserole, adding a rich depth of flavor to the bottom layer. It also helps to prevent the chicken and vegetables from sticking and contributes to the overall golden-brown crust that develops during baking. This small step truly enhances the taste and texture of the finished dish, ensuring every bite is rich and satisfying.

Layering Chicken and Vegetables

Spread chicken evenly.

Once your butter is melted and your baking dish is ready, the layering process begins with the star ingredient: the chicken. Take your pre-cooked, shredded or diced chicken and spread it evenly across the bottom of the dish, directly over the melted butter. It’s important to ensure the chicken forms a relatively uniform layer. This even distribution guarantees that every serving will have a good amount of chicken and that the heat penetrates uniformly during baking. Using cooked chicken not only saves time but also ensures that the chicken is tender and juicy throughout the baking process, absorbing the flavors of the subsequent layers. This foundational layer sets the stage for a hearty and satisfying casserole experience.

Add onion and bell pepper.

Following the chicken, it’s time to add your fresh vegetables. Sprinkle the chopped onion and diced bell pepper evenly over the chicken layer. The vibrant colors of the bell pepper and the pungent aroma of the onion will not only add visual appeal but also introduce a fresh, crisp texture and a burst of flavor to the casserole. As the casserole bakes, these vegetables will soften beautifully, infusing the dish with their natural sweetness and savory notes. Distributing them uniformly ensures that each scoop of the casserole offers a balanced combination of chicken, vegetables, and sauce, enhancing the overall taste and nutritional value of your simple family meal.

Sprinkle with seasoning.

To tie all these delicious components together, a light dusting of seasoning is essential. Evenly sprinkle salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley flakes over the chicken and vegetable layers. These seasonings are carefully chosen to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients without overpowering them. The salt brings out the inherent tastes, black pepper adds a subtle warmth, garlic powder provides an aromatic depth, and parsley offers a fresh, herbaceous note. This step ensures that every spoonful of your chicken and dumpling casserole is seasoned to perfection, contributing to a rich and well-rounded flavor profile that will delight your taste buds. This quick seasoning is a key part of making this easy honey garlic chicken rival in flavor.

Mixing the Dumpling Batter

Whisk Bisquick with milk.

Now it’s time to prepare the secret to those perfectly fluffy, tender dumplings: the Bisquick batter. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the Bisquick baking mix with milk. The ratio is crucial for achieving the right consistency, so follow the recipe quantities precisely. Using a whisk, gently combine the ingredients until just moistened. It’s important not to overmix the batter; a few lumps are perfectly fine and often result in lighter, more tender dumplings. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, leading to tougher dumplings. This simple two-ingredient batter is what makes this casserole so incredibly easy, eliminating the need for measuring multiple flours, leavening agents, and fats, and cutting down significantly on prep time for your homemade casserole.

Season with salt and pepper.

Although the primary flavors will come from the sauce and chicken, seasoning the dumpling batter itself adds an extra layer of taste that truly elevates the dish. Once your Bisquick and milk are combined, sprinkle in a pinch of salt and black pepper directly into the batter. This step ensures that the dumplings are flavorful on their own, rather than being bland and relying solely on the sauce for taste. A subtle seasoning in the batter enhances the overall savory profile of the casserole and ensures a harmonious blend of flavors in every bite. Stir gently to incorporate the seasonings without overmixing the batter, maintaining its light and airy texture.

Pour over chicken layer.

With your seasoned dumpling batter ready, it’s time to add the next crucial layer to your casserole. Carefully and evenly pour the Bisquick batter over the chicken and vegetable mixture in the baking dish. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to gently spread the batter to cover the entire surface, ensuring that the chicken and vegetables are fully encased. This layer will expand and transform into the soft, fluffy dumplings as it bakes, creating that classic chicken and dumpling experience. Spreading it evenly is key for consistent cooking and to ensure that every serving has a delightful portion of these tender morsels. This method is much simpler than traditional dumpling making, making your easy chicken casserole a breeze.

Preparing the Soup Sauce

Combine broth and soup.

The creamy, savory sauce is what brings all the elements of this chicken and dumpling casserole together, creating a rich and comforting liquid base. In a separate bowl, combine the can of condensed cream of chicken soup with the chicken broth. Condensed soup is a fantastic shortcut here, providing a thick, flavorful foundation without needing to make a roux or béchamel from scratch. The chicken broth thins out the condensed soup to the perfect consistency, ensuring it can easily spread throughout the casserole and cook the dumplings effectively. Using these two ingredients simplifies the sauce-making process immensely, keeping the overall recipe incredibly easy and quick for your weeknight dinner.

Mix until very smooth.

After combining the cream of chicken soup and chicken broth, it’s essential to whisk them together until the mixture is very smooth. This step prevents any lumps of condensed soup from remaining, ensuring a consistently creamy and appealing sauce throughout the casserole. Use a whisk or a fork to thoroughly blend the two liquids until no streaks of thick soup are visible and the mixture has a uniform consistency. This smooth sauce will then evenly coat all the ingredients in the casserole, infusing them with its delicious flavor and helping to create that comforting, gravy-like texture that is characteristic of a classic chicken and dumpling dish. Proper mixing here makes a noticeable difference in the final product.

Pour over Bisquick layer.

Once your smooth soup sauce is perfectly prepared, it’s time for the final layering step. Carefully and evenly pour the combined chicken broth and cream of chicken soup mixture over the Bisquick dumpling batter layer in your baking dish. Make sure the sauce covers the entire surface of the batter. As the casserole bakes, this liquid will seep down, cooking the dumplings from above and below, and mingling with the chicken and vegetables to create a rich, integrated flavor. The sauce is vital not only for cooking the dumplings but also for keeping the casserole moist and adding that signature creamy, comforting element that makes this easy chicken casserole so beloved. This final pour completes the assembly, readying your dish for the oven.

Baking Your Easy Chicken Dumpling Casserole

Set oven temperature.

With all the layers meticulously assembled, your chicken and dumpling casserole is now ready for its transformation in the oven. Ensure your oven is preheated to the correct temperature of 375°F (190°C). This temperature is ideal for baking this type of casserole, allowing the ingredients to cook thoroughly, the flavors to meld beautifully, and the dumplings to puff up to a light and airy texture. An accurately preheated oven is crucial for achieving consistent results and ensuring that your easy chicken casserole bakes perfectly from edge to edge. Placing the casserole into a cold or insufficiently heated oven can lead to uneven cooking and a less satisfying outcome for your simple family meal.

Cook until golden brown.

Once the oven reaches the target temperature, place your casserole dish carefully into the preheated oven. Bake the casserole for approximately 40-50 minutes. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so it’s important to observe the visual cues for doneness. You’re looking for the top of the casserole, particularly the dumpling layer, to turn a beautiful golden brown. This golden hue indicates that the dumplings are fully cooked through, light, and wonderfully fluffy. The browning also adds a delightful textural contrast to the soft interior, creating a delicious crust that is a hallmark of a well-baked casserole.

Check for bubbly edges.

In addition to the golden-brown top, another key indicator that your easy chicken and dumpling casserole is ready is the appearance of bubbly edges. As the sauce heats and cooks, it will begin to bubble vigorously around the perimeter of the baking dish. This bubbling signifies that the internal temperature has reached a sufficient level and that the creamy sauce has thickened, infusing all the ingredients with its rich flavor. The combination of a golden-brown surface and visibly bubbly edges confirms that your casserole is cooked to perfection, ready to be removed from the oven and enjoyed. It’s the assurance that every element, from the tender chicken to the fluffy dumplings, is cooked just right for a delightful comfort food experience.

Cooling Before Serving Your Casserole

Let dish rest briefly.

While the aroma of a freshly baked chicken and dumpling casserole can be incredibly tempting, it’s crucial to resist the urge to serve it immediately. Once you remove the golden-brown, bubbly casserole from the oven, allow it to rest for at least 5-10 minutes on a wire rack. This resting period is not just about letting it cool down to a more palatable temperature; it serves a vital purpose in the overall success of the dish. During this time, the liquids in the casserole will redistribute and settle, allowing the sauce to thicken further and the dumplings to firm up slightly. This prevents the casserole from being too soupy or falling apart when served, ensuring that each spoonful holds its shape and delivers the perfect blend of flavors and textures, making your homemade casserole even better.

Serve warm to enjoy.

After the brief resting period, your Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole is ready to be enjoyed! Serving it warm is key to appreciating its comforting qualities. The gentle heat enhances the flavors of the creamy sauce, the tender chicken, and the fluffy dumplings, providing a truly satisfying culinary experience. Use a large spoon or spatula to scoop generous portions onto plates. While this dish is a complete meal on its own, it pairs wonderfully with a simple green salad or a side of crusty bread to soak up any extra sauce. Gather your family around and savor this incredibly simple yet profoundly delicious creamy baked mac and cheese alternative. This comfort food is sure to become a cherished addition to your recipe rotation, proving that easy can also be incredibly delicious.

Quick Prep and Cook Times

Total time is clear.

One of the most appealing aspects of this Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole is its efficient timeline, making it a dream come true for busy individuals and families. The preparation time is impressively short, typically requiring only about 15-20 minutes of hands-on work. This includes gathering ingredients, quickly layering the components, and mixing the simple dumpling batter and sauce. Following this swift prep, the casserole bakes for approximately 40-50 minutes. When you factor in a short 5-10 minute resting period, the total time from start to delicious finish is generally around 60-80 minutes. This clear and concise timeline allows you to plan your meals effectively, ensuring a wholesome and satisfying dinner without prolonged kitchen commitments.

Serves six people.

This recipe is perfectly portioned to serve a family of six, making it an excellent choice for a standard family dinner or for having a couple of servings left over for lunch the next day. The 9×13-inch baking dish yields a generous amount, ensuring that everyone at the table gets a hearty and fulfilling portion of this comforting dish. The substantial nature of the chicken, creamy sauce, and fluffy dumplings ensures that even the hungriest appetites will be satisfied. If you’re cooking for a smaller household, the leftovers store well in the refrigerator for a few days, making it ideal for meal prepping or enjoying a second round of this delightful homemade casserole with minimal effort.

Extra Tips for Your Recipe

Add fresh herbs for flavor.

While the basic recipe for this Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole is incredibly flavorful on its own, adding fresh herbs can elevate it to new culinary heights. Consider stirring in a tablespoon of freshly chopped chives, parsley, or thyme into the dumpling batter or sprinkling them over the top during the last 10 minutes of baking. Fresh herbs impart a vibrant, aromatic freshness that beautifully complements the rich, savory notes of the chicken and creamy sauce. They can brighten the overall profile of the dish and add a professional touch to your simple family meal. Experiment with your favorite herbs to customize the flavor to your liking, enhancing this comfort food even further. Find more delicious ideas by visiting Carina Recipes on Pinterest.

Ideas for serving sides.

This chicken and dumpling casserole is undeniably a complete meal in itself, offering a hearty combination of protein, starch, and vegetables. However, if you wish to round out your dinner or add more variety, there are several excellent side dish ideas that pair wonderfully. A simple green salad with a light vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the richness of the casserole. Steamed or roasted asparagus, green beans, or broccoli are also fantastic choices for adding extra vegetables. For those who enjoy dipping, a side of crusty bread or warm dinner rolls is perfect for soaking up any leftover creamy sauce. These thoughtful additions can transform your easy chicken casserole into an even more elaborate and satisfying dining experience for your family. Get more inspiration from Carina Recipes on Instagram.

Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole Nutrition

Calories per serving.

Understanding the nutritional value of your meals can be helpful for dietary planning. While precise calorie counts can vary based on specific brands of ingredients, the amount of chicken used, and exact portion sizes, an estimated serving of this Easy Chicken and Dumpling Casserole typically contains around 450-550 calories. This figure accounts for the chicken, Bisquick dumplings, creamy soup base, and vegetables. It’s a hearty and satisfying portion, providing a good balance of protein and carbohydrates for sustained energy. For the most accurate nutritional information, it’s recommended to calculate based on the specific ingredients and measurements you use. This dish offers a fulfilling meal without being excessively heavy, aligning with a balanced approach to your daily intake, similar to other delicious main course options.