These Easy No-Fail Flat Dumplings are soft and tender and they have a secret ingredient that makes them perfect every time.  You’ll be making a double or triple batch of these yummy dumplings!  

I posted this recipe a couple of years back for my Easy No-Fail Flat Dumplings.  However, I’m reposting it today for two good reasons…I cringe when I look at my photography skills from two years ago, and I haven’t met a person yet that hasn’t loved these dumplings.  I also want to share this recipe with anyone who thinks they can’t make dumplings.  If you think for a second that you can’t make dumplings, you are so wrong.  You have my word that you cannot flop this recipe.  In fact, you will turn out the most tender, soft, and flavorful dumplings ever!  I promise!!

Allow me to share with you, how to make perfect flat dumplings that are soft and tender and full of flavor…and oh yes, perfect every time!

Lets’s start by talking about flavor…

You don’t want to waste your time making a delicious dumpling if you don’t have a good broth to cook it in.  Right?  On the other hand, you don’t want to have a good broth and a dumpling that has no flavor.  So what do you do?

  • Start by picking the right part of the chicken to make your broth.  The thigh produces more flavor than any part of the chicken.  I cook several thighs (skin on) in a large pot.  I add a couple of chicken bouillon cubes and salt and pepper.  As you can see in the picture above, the broth is very rich.
  • Next, you want to make sure that your dumplings are infused with flavor themselves.  Don’t just rely on the broth they cook in to give them flavor.  To achieve this add some rich broth to the dumpling dough.

Now let’s talk about how to make a tender dumpling…

Are you ready for me to reveal my secret ingredient that makes these dumplings super tender no matter what?  First of all, you might think these dumplings contain eggs like most flat dumpling recipes, but they don’t.  Okay…time to reveal my secret ingredient.  Sour cream!  That’s right, sour cream is the secret ingredient to these super tender dumplings.  Even if you overcook these dumplings, they will still be tender if you roll them thin as suggested.

Here are some additional tips for making perfect flat dumplings, whether you are using this recipe or another one.

  • Don’t overwork the dough.  Knead the dough as little as possible,
  • Roll the dough twice as thin as you want the cooked dumplings to be.  If you want the cooked dumplings to be about 1/4″ thickness, then roll the dough to about 1/8″ thickness.  Once the dumplings cook in the broth, they begin to soak up the broth, causing them to expand.
  • Don’t go overboard with making dumplings.  One batch of dough may not look like much when you’re cutting it into dumplings, but once again the dough will expand as it cooks.  If you try to cook too many dumplings, such as tripling the recipe, the dumplings will end up absorbing all of the broth and you will end up with lots of dumplings and no broth.  Note:  I usually double this recipe, but I never triple it, because I want plenty of broth.  If you do triple the recipe, add at least 1 can of chicken broth to the pot to ensure you will have enough broth.
  • Don’t be afraid of using too much flour.  When you roll and cut the dumplings, dip them in flour before transferring them to a plate.  This not only keeps them from sticking together, but the added flour helps to somewhat thicken the broth.
  • Don’t overcrowd the dumplings.  Roll out and cut the dumplings.  If you are doubling the recipe, only cook 1/2 of the dumplings at a time.  Once the first batch is done, transfer them to a bowl and cook the second half.  Once the second batch is done, transfer them to the bowl too, while you make the sauce.
  • Divide the cut dumplings between two plates before cooking them.  You don’t want too many dumplings on one plate or the ones on top will weigh down the ones on the bottom, making them stick together.  Although they are dipped in flour, they will stick together if there are too many on top of each other.

How to turn your broth into a thick creamy sauce…

Once the dumplings are done and transferred to a bowl, whisk 1/4 cup of cornstarch into a cup of milk and add it to the hot broth.  Stir the broth over medium heat until it has thickened.  This only takes about 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove from heat.  Taste the broth and add additional salt & pepper as needed and return the dumplings to the pot.

With these tips, I wish you lots of luck on your dumpling-making journey…

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Easy No-Fail Flat Dumplings

★★★★★ 5 from 4 reviews
  • Author: Cindy Gibbs @ My Country Table
  • Prep Time: 30 Minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 1/2 hours
  • Total Time: 25 minute
  • Yield: 4 Servings 1x
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Cook
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

These Easy No-Fail Flat Dumplings are soft and tender and they have a secret ingredient that makes them perfect every time.  You’ll be making a double or triple batch of these yummy dumplings!  

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 package chicken thighs with skins, at least 6
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Dumplings

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, more for work surface
  • 1/2 cup fresh chicken broth, from cooked chicken
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper

 White Sauce

  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1 cup milk

Instructions

Chicken

  1. Add the chicken to a large pot of water.  Add the bouillon cubes, salt & pepper and bring to a boil over high heat.  Reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid, and cook under chicken is tender, at least one hour.  Turn off heat under the pot and transfer chicken to a bowl.  Once chicken has cooled, remove skin and bones and tear chicken into bite size pieces and set aside.

Dumplings

  1. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper.  Add the chicken broth and sour cream.  Mix just enough to combine.  The mixture will be wet.
  2. Transfer dough to a heavily floured work surface.  Sprinkle additional flour on top of the dough.  Lightly knead dough, adding additional flour as needed, until dough is no longer sticky.  Divide dough in half and roll one half at a time.  Roll dough out to a thickness of about 1/8 inch in thickness.  When dumplings cook, they will double in thickness.
  3. Using a pastry or pizza cutter, cut dough into long vertical strips, about 1 inch wide.  Cut the dough horizontally, cutting pieces about 1 1/2 inches or as desired.  Dip 2-3 pieces at a time in flour and transfer to a large plate.
  4. Bring pot of broth back to a boil over medium heat.
  5. Drop a few floured dumplings into the broth at one time, making sure they are not sticking together as you drop them.
  6. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover pot with a lid.  Allow dumplings to cook for about fifteen minutes until they are tender and done.  Check by forking one.  Transfer dumplings to a bowl and repeat steps 2 through 6 with the second half of dough.
  7. Once all dumplings have been cooked and transferred to a bowl, make the white sauce.

White Sauce

  1. Whisk the cornstarch into the cup of milk.  Add the milk to the hot broth and stir constantly over medium heat until the mixture thickens.  This takes about 2 to 3 minutes.  Remove the pot from the heat and taste the broth.  Add additional salt and pepper to taste, then transfer the dumplings and the chicken back to the pot.
  2. Refrigerate any leftovers.  Once dumplings are reheated, if there’s not much sauce, add a little bit of milk or chicken broth.

Notes

Once dumplings are refrigerated, they will soak up more of the broth.  To reheat the following day, add a little bit of canned chicken broth or milk to the dumplings before heating.  Place over medium-low heat and gently mix frequently with a large spoon until the broth has thinned.

Keywords: dumplings, chicken dumplings, flat dumplings, no-fail dumplings,