Easy Dinner Ideas for Two — The Chicken and Dumplings Patty Always Makes

Halloween week. The school does a small parade for the kids — costumes optional, mostly hats and face paint, very low-key because for several of the students the sensory demands of full costumes are too much. Ms. Reyes sent a note home explaining this weeks ago and every family was accommodating. M. wore a baseball cap that he said made him a player — Ms. Reyes said "What position?" and he said "First base" and it was the most words I have heard him say in sequence in four weeks.

I dressed as a teacher. This is either very meta or very straightforward depending on how you look at it. I wore my regular work clothes with a paper apple taped to my shirt. The kids found this extremely funny. E. pointed at the apple and made the sign for "apple" on her communication device three times in a row, which means she thought it was either correct or hilarious. Probably both.

Going home to Oak Lawn this weekend for a pre-Thanksgiving visit — Patty made a point of saying "Come home, I'll make something." This means she is going to cook an actual meal, which she has been doing less of since it is just her and Steve at home now. I drove home Friday evening with a bag of clean laundry to do on the good washer and a request already put in for the chicken and dumplings.

She made the chicken and dumplings. Steve was in the garage doing something. Babcia Rose came over for dinner unbidden, as she does, with a container of mushroom soup and the opinion that the dumplings could be better. Patty said "Rose, they're fine." Babcia Rose said "Fine is not the goal." Then she ate two bowls of them. I sat at the table between these two women who have been feeding me my whole life and thought: I am going to be okay for a very long time.

Every time I come home to Oak Lawn, I put in the same request — and every time, Patty delivers. There’s something about sitting at that kitchen table, between two women who have been feeding me my whole life, that made me want to hold onto this recipe before another year went by without writing it down. She makes it for just her and Steve now, a quieter version of the same pot she used to stretch for a full house, and honestly? It’s even better that way — rich and slow and exactly enough.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings for Two

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 40 min | Total Time: 55 min | Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1 lb)
• 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 medium carrot, sliced into rounds
• 1 stalk celery, sliced
• 1/2 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• For the dumplings:
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup whole milk
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Instructions

1. Simmer the chicken. In a medium pot or Dutch oven, combine chicken thighs, broth, and water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a steady simmer. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and the broth is fragrant.
2. Shred and set aside. Remove chicken thighs to a cutting board. When cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones and shred the meat into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
3. Build the broth. Return the pot to medium heat. Add butter, onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften. Add garlic, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook 1 minute more.
4. Return the chicken. Add shredded chicken back to the pot. Taste broth and adjust seasoning. Bring to a gentle simmer.
5. Make the dumpling dough. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and melted butter and stir just until a shaggy dough forms — do not overmix.
6. Drop the dumplings. Using a spoon, drop heaping tablespoons of dough directly onto the surface of the simmering broth. You should get 6–8 dumplings. Do not stir.
7. Cover and cook. Place a lid on the pot and cook for 12–15 minutes without lifting the lid. Dumplings are done when they are puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Serve immediately. Ladle into deep bowls, making sure each serving gets plenty of broth, vegetables, chicken, and dumplings.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 520 | Protein: 38g | Fat: 18g | Carbs: 46g | Fiber: 3g | Sodium: 780mg