Rich, creamy, and deeply satisfying chicken and dumplings are made even easier in the Instant Pot. The secret to a tender dumpling is using cake flour.

Photography Credit: Coco Morante

Featured in 13 Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals with Chicken Broth

Have you ever wondered if you can make old-fashioned, comforting chicken and dumplings in the Instant Pot or pressure cooker? The answer is a resounding yes!

Whisk up an easy dumpling batter, add your vegetables, chicken, and broth to the pot, and you’re most of the way to a rib-sticking dinner.

New to Instant Pot cooking? Start here!

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The Trick to Chicken and Dumplings in the Instant Pot

Pressure cooking chicken and dumplings presents a bit of a challenge because thickened liquids either don’t come up to pressure at all, or they do, and you end up with scorching on the bottom of the pot.

To address that issue, I didn’t add flour directly to the broth in this recipe. The dumplings release starch as they cook, which creates a thickened, creamy broth in the end.

You can leave your finished chicken and dumplings in the pot for a few extra minutes after cooking, as the broth will continue to thicken as it sits. The next-day leftovers will thicken up even more.

THE BEST FLOUR FOR DUMPLINGS

I’ve tried making these dumplings with both all-purpose and cake flour.

The cake flour definitely wins as far as the texture is concerned. The dumplings turn out lighter and fluffier, whereas all-purpose flour can yield heavier, chewier dumplings. You can make this recipe with all-purpose flour, but for the best dumplings, use cake flour if you have it.

These pressure-cooked dumplings will have a slightly denser texture than if they were simmered in a pot on the stove. I don’t mind a little extra chew, though, especially because they’re so convenient to make this way!

Make it a Meal!

Chicken and dumplings are a meal all to themselves—you don’t have to make any other side dishes if you’re serving them.

If, however, you really want to add a variety of sides to the table, a batch of collard greens, some cabbage, or a big green salad are all good options.

FREEZING CHICKEN AND DUMPLINGS

You can freeze chicken and dumplings in individual servings for easy reheating in the microwave.

I like to transfer mine into freezer and microwave-safe containers. They will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

When I’m hungry for chicken and dumplings, I pop a container in the fridge a day before I want to eat them. A piping hot meal is ready after only a few minutes in the microwave.

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