Mia Patel
Chicken and dumplings is a hearty dish that can be rounded out with a variety of side dishes. For those who enjoy vegetables, options like roasted broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, green beans, and salads can add a refreshing crunch to your meal. If you're craving something more indulgent, buttered noodles, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, cornbread, or biscuits are sure to satisfy. For a Southern-style kick, try collard greens or fried cabbage with bacon. And don't forget dessert—a fruit pie or cobbler can be a sweet finish to your feast.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Salads | Israeli salad, green bean salad, citrus salad |
| Fruits | Strawberries, grapefruit, kiwi, pineapple |
| Breads | Buttermilk biscuits, buttermilk cornbread |
| Vegetables | Turnip, mustard greens, collard greens |
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What You'll Learn
Green bean casserole
Chicken and dumplings is a hearty meal, but it can be made even better with the right sides. A green bean casserole is a great option, and it's a traditional recipe that's perfect for Thanksgiving or any time you want a comforting meal. Here's how to make it:
Ingredients
- Fresh green beans
- Butter
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Garlic
- Flour
- Chicken broth (low sodium)
- Worcestershire sauce
- Heavy cream or half-and-half or milk (not skim milk)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- French fried onions
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a generous amount of salt. Add the green beans and cook for 5-6 minutes. Remove the beans and place them in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Set aside to dry.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until softened.
- Add mushrooms and cook until lightly browned. Then, add the garlic and stir for about a minute.
- Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the flour to coat the mushrooms and onions.
- Slowly pour in the chicken broth, whisking vigorously to remove any lumps.
- Pour in the heavy cream (or half-and-half or milk) and simmer for 3 minutes, stirring continuously. Add more salt and pepper as needed.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- In a 9x13 baking dish, place the green beans and pour the mushroom cream sauce over them. Stir until all the beans are coated.
- Sprinkle the fried onions over the top.
- Bake for about 25 minutes. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations
You can also try bite-sized green bean casseroles by cutting the green beans into smaller pieces and combining them with soup, milk, soy sauce, and French fried onions. Spoon the mixture into mini phyllo pastry cups and bake at 350°F for 7 minutes or until hot. For a cheesy twist, substitute 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese for the soy sauce.
For a broccoli casserole variation, substitute cooked broccoli florets for the green beans. Add some chopped red pepper for a festive touch or try an Italian version with pancetta and rosemary.
Other Sides for Chicken and Dumplings
While green bean casserole is a delicious option, there are also many other sides that go well with chicken and dumplings. Here are some ideas:
- Mashed potatoes
- Roasted vegetables (e.g., Brussels sprouts, broccoli)
- Salads (e.g., tomato cucumber salad, apple cabbage slaw)
- Fried green tomatoes
- Buttered noodles or garlic Parmesan linguine
- Cornbread
- Biscuits
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Southern-style collard greens
Chicken and dumplings is a meal in itself, but if you're looking for sides, a fresh and crunchy salad with a citrus vinaigrette is a good option. You could also serve some fruit, like strawberries and cream, or apple cobbler.
Now, for a detailed recipe for Southern-style collard greens, a perfect side dish for chicken and dumplings, and a staple of the Southern kitchen:
Ingredients:
- 2 bunches of collard greens (about 20 whole large leaves or a little over 1.5-2 lbs)
- Onion
- Garlic
- Chicken stock
- Water
- Ham hock or smoked turkey wings/drum
- Bacon or smoked sausage (optional)
- Brown sugar or honey (optional)
- Salt and pepper
- Bacon fat or vegetable broth
- Cornbread (to serve)
Instructions:
- Start by cleaning the collard greens thoroughly. Fill your sink with cold water and add a generous amount of vinegar and a pinch of salt.
- Remove the stems from the collard greens by folding the leaves in half and pulling the leaves away from the stems. You can discard the stems or chop them into pieces and simmer them in seasoned water or broth until tender.
- Place the collard greens into the water and swish them around, scrubbing to remove any dirt. Let them soak for 15-20 minutes, then drain and refill the sink with plain water for another soak if needed.
- Repeat this process until there is no grit left in the water.
- Once the greens are clean, cut the leaves into small pieces. You can roll them up and cut them horizontally, or tear them with your hands.
- Heat a large pot over medium-high heat and add bacon fat or vegetable broth. You can also use any type of oil.
- Sauté the onion in the fat, stirring often, until the edges begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
- Add the ham hock or smoked turkey, garlic, chicken stock, and water. Bring this mixture to a simmer, cover, and cook for about an hour.
- After an hour, add the collard greens and cook until they are tender. This will take about 45 minutes to an hour.
- To serve, remove the meat from the bones, chop it up, and stir it back into the greens.
- If you'd like to add some sweetness to balance the bitterness of the greens, you can add a drizzle of honey or a pinch of brown sugar.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve with hot cornbread and a glass of Southern iced tea.
Leftovers:
Store your leftover collard greens in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can also freeze them for 10-12 months. Reheat on the stovetop over medium-low heat or in the microwave in short bursts until heated through.
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White bean, apple, and cabbage slaw
Chicken and dumplings are a hearty meal, and while some people choose not to serve sides with it, a fresh and crunchy salad or slaw is a great, healthy option.
To make the slaw, combine the shredded cabbage, onion, apple, white beans, parsley, dill, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl. You can use any type of cabbage for this recipe, such as savoy, red, napa, or green. The addition of apples brings a nice sweetness to the slaw, and the white beans add protein and extra creaminess.
For the dressing, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, honey, mustard, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a separate small bowl or jar. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the slaw ingredients and toss to coat. You can also add some crumbled blue cheese and walnuts to the slaw for extra flavour and texture, tossing them with the other ingredients before adding the dressing.
This white bean, apple, and cabbage slaw is a wonderful side dish to serve with chicken and dumplings, offering a refreshing and healthy contrast to the hearty main course.
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Buttermilk cornbread
Chicken and dumplings is a hearty meal, but it can be even better with a side dish. From mashed potatoes to roasted vegetables, there are many options to choose from. But if you're looking for a side dish that's a little more unique, why not try buttermilk cornbread? Here's a recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- Cornmeal
- Flour
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Butter
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and position a rack in the middle. If you're using a cast iron skillet, place it inside the oven to heat up. Otherwise, lightly grease an 8-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter. Make sure the butter has cooled slightly before adding it to the mixture.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and whisk or stir until just combined. A few lumps are okay.
- Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven if using and pour the melted butter into it. Alternatively, pour the butter into your prepared baking dish.
- Pour the batter into the skillet or baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Let the cornbread stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Tips and Variations:
- You can experiment with adding different ingredients to the cornbread, such as caramelized onions, snipped chives, Parmesan cheese, or minced jalapenos.
- If you want to add a touch of sweetness to your cornbread, try adding some honey or extra sugar to the batter.
- If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk.
- For a lighter side, serve the cornbread with a crisp and refreshing salad, such as a tomato cucumber salad or a broccoli salad.
- For a heartier meal, pair the cornbread with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes.
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Biscuits
Chicken and dumplings is a classic comfort food that has been enjoyed for generations. While the traditional recipe calls for making dough from scratch, modern recipes offer shortcuts using canned biscuits, which makes this dish even more accessible and easier to prepare.
When it comes to the biscuits used in chicken and dumplings, there are a few options to consider. You can opt for refrigerated biscuit dough, which is a convenient choice as it saves time and effort. Pillsbury Grands!™ biscuits are a popular option, and you can choose from a variety of flavours like Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits, Southern Homestyle, or Butter Tastin' Biscuits. These biscuits are designed to be used as dumplings and will give you fluffy, light, and airy results.
Alternatively, you can make your own biscuit dough from scratch if you prefer a more homemade approach. Recipes for buttermilk biscuits or gluten-free biscuits can be found online and tailored to your taste. Making your own dough allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring they complement the other flavours in your dish.
To use biscuits in chicken and dumplings, you'll want to cut them into smaller pieces. Some recipes suggest tearing or cutting each biscuit into quarters, while others recommend cutting them into 8 equal small pieces. You can also try tearing each biscuit into three layers, dipping them in flour, and then tearing each layer into three pieces. This technique helps prevent the dumplings from dissolving in the broth and gives them a better chance of holding their shape.
After preparing the biscuit dough, the next step is to add them to your chicken and vegetable mixture. Bring your soup to a gentle boil and then carefully drop in the biscuit pieces. Remember to stir the mixture occasionally to prevent the dumplings from sticking together as they cook. The dumplings are ready when they have a light and airy texture inside.
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Frequently asked questions
Chicken and dumplings is a meal that contains meat, veggies, and starch. However, if you want to add a side dish, you could try something light and fresh like a salad, or roasted vegetables.
Yes, if you are looking for a lighter option, you could try sauteed asparagus, broccoli salad, or apple cabbage slaw.
Yes, there are several southern-style side dishes that can accompany chicken and dumplings. Some examples include green bean casserole, collard greens cooked with bacon, onions, and garlic, and fried cabbage with bacon.
