Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings is a comforting classic that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly tender dumplings every time. The creamy, savory flavors will make your whole house smell cozy and inviting. Try it with my Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe and Easy Grilled Shrimp and Avocado Bowl Recipe.

What You'll Need for Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 cups frozen peas
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary
• Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
• Optional: Crumbled bacon

How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

1. Step 1: In a large pot, combine peas, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil.
2. Step 2: Add chicken to the pot. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and butter, and stir until a soft dough forms.
4. Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of dough into the pot. Cover and let cook for 10 more minutes, until dumplings are cooked through and tender.
5. Step 5: Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crumbled bacon if desired.

Storing & Reheating Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the dumpling dough and set it aside. Cook the peas and chicken, then refrigerate. When ready to serve, bring the mixture to a boil, drop in the dumpling dough, and cook as directed.

Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

Freeze cooked peas and dumplings for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with diced carrots or sweet potatoes.
• Best substitution: No substitutions for the chicken broth. It's the key to the rich, flavorful base of this dish.
• Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are tough, you may have overmixed the dough. Next time, try not to overmix.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

45 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen peas
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tbsp butter

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried rosemary

Optional Toppings

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crumbled bacon

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large pot, combine peas, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and rosemary. Bring to a boil.
2. Step 2: Add chicken to the pot. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and let simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and salt. Add milk and butter, and stir until a soft dough forms.
4. Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of dough into the pot. Cover and let cook for 10 more minutes, until dumplings are cooked through and tender.
5. Step 5: Serve hot, topped with chopped fresh parsley and crumbled bacon if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, substitute the chicken with diced carrots or sweet potatoes.
• Best substitution: No substitutions for the chicken broth. It's the key to the rich, flavorful base of this dish.
• Make-ahead: See storage notes for make-ahead tips.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are tough, you may have overmixed the dough. Next time, try not to overmix.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked peas and dumplings for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare the dumpling dough and set it aside. Cook the peas and chicken, then refrigerate. When ready to serve, bring the mixture to a boil, drop in the dumpling dough, and cook as directed.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 420
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 50g
• Fiber: 8g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!