Healthy Chicken and Dumplings

(5.0)
By Adam Fisher
Updated 7/31/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Erin McNamara, RDN, LDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Low Sodium | High Protein | Diabetic
Healthy Chicken and Dumplings
Photo Credit: Baldwin Publishing Staff Photographer

Enjoy a delicious bowl of Healthy Chicken and Dumplings, a lighter, heart healthy recipe for a classic Southern stew. Made with lean chicken breast, tender vegetables, and whole wheat biscuit-style dumplings, this one-pot healthy meal delivers comfort without compromise. With only 3g of saturated fat, 260mg of sodium, and packed with protein and fiber, it’s a heart healthy dinner for anyone following a low sodium diet. 

For more low sodium comfort food ideas, enjoy checking out all of our delicious heart-healthy soup recipes!

Total Time
120 minutes
Servings
6
Calories
423

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings Healthy

Here are few healthy cooking tips to make a healthy chicken and dumplings recipe without unnecessary sodium and no added sugars.

  • Skim milk and unsalted cream of chicken soup create a velvety texture without excess fat or salt, making these ingredients a great choice for a heart-healthy diet and diabetic-friendly diets. There is no heavy cream in this dumplings recipe.
  • The fluffy whole wheat dumplings offer a wholesome texture while keeping the dish low in saturated fat and balanced in carbs and calories. Slow-cooked to perfection, the dumplings soak up the rich, herb-infused broth, creating a cozy meal that’s nutritious.
  • This high protein chicken recipe is naturally rich in flavor thanks to garlic, herbs, and a homemade chicken broth. 

Are chicken and dumplings healthy?

Yes, this healthy recipe is lower in fat and low sodium, made with lean chicken, veggies, and whole wheat dumplings. Each serving has just 3g saturated fat and a low 260mg sodium, making it suitable for a heart-healthy diet.

What makes this chicken and dumplings recipe high protein?

Each serving contains 28 grams of protein, thanks to lean chicken breast and a high protein broth.

Can I eat chicken and dumplings on a low sodium diet?

This healthy chicken recipe was created for low sodium diets. It uses unsalted broth and natural aromatics like garlic, herbs, and onions for full flavor without excess salt

Health eCooks Cookbook on Amazon

Ingredients

Recipe yields 6 servings

Soup

Dumplings

How to Make Chicken and Dumplings

Soup

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the carrots, celery, potato, and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables begin to soften, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

  2. Step 2

    Stir in the thyme, sage, black pepper, bay leaf, and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Transfer mixture to a 6-quart crockpot and discard bay leaf. Set the skillet aside to use later.

  3. Step 3

    Add the shredded chicken, cream of chicken soup, parsley and lemon juice to the slow cooker; stir to combine. Cover and set the crockpot on LOW while preparing the dumplings.

Dumplings

  1. Step 1

    In a small bowl, whisk together the skim milk and lemon juice to make buttermilk. Let stand for at least 10 minutes until it begins to thicken.

  2. Step 2

    In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. Pour in the prepared buttermilk. Using a rubber spatula, stir to combine. The batter should be thick enough to scoop. Let rest for at least 5 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    In the skillet used for the vegetables, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, sprinkle the flour over top, whisk, and cook until flour is golden brown, about 1 minute. Gradually add the milk a few splashes at a time, whisking constantly to remove any lumps. Bring to a gentle boil, whisking continuously, to remove any residual lumps and until mixture thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the milk mixture to the slow cooker; stir to combine.

  4. Step 4

    Turn crockpot to HIGH. With a medium-sized scoop or spoon, scoop dumpling dough by generous tablespoons and drop it on top of soup, spreading them evenly. Cover and cook for 1½ hours, until dumplings are cooked through. To check to see if they are done, remove one from the slow cooker and cut it in half to make sure it is no longer raw inside.

  5. Step 5

    Serve hot garnished with fresh thyme. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
1 cup

423
Calories
11
g
Fat
52
mg
Cholesterol
256
mg
Sodium
55
g
Carbs
3
g
Sat. Fat
7
g
Fiber
28
g
Protein
9
g
Sugars

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