Best Paula Deen Chicken And Pastry Recipe for Soul-Warming Comfort

Paula Deen’s chicken and pastry represents a soul-warming Southern classic that transforms simple ingredients into pure comfort.

Generations of home cooks have cherished this hearty dish with its rich, creamy textures and robust flavors.

Tender chicken pieces swim in a velvety sauce, promising a meal that hugs you from the inside out.

Soft, pillowy pastry strips add delightful substance to each spoonful of this rustic recipe.

Southern kitchens have long celebrated these one-pot wonders that bring families together around steaming bowls of deliciousness.

Regional culinary traditions shine through in every carefully seasoned bite of this timeless meal.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this recipe comes together with minimal fuss and maximum satisfaction: gather your ingredients and prepare for a truly memorable dining experience.

Tips for Perfect Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

• Shake Gently, Not Stir: Handle dumplings with care by swirling the pot in a circular motion. Stirring breaks delicate dough pieces, turning them into an unappetizing mush.
• Precision Matters for Dumplings: Slice dumpling dough strips uniformly to guarantee consistent cooking. Uneven sizes create textural chaos in your chicken and pastry.
• Freeze Water for Perfect Dough: Grab ice-cold water when mixing dumpling ingredients. Chilled liquid keeps dough firm, making it easier to roll and shape with confidence.
• Chicken Cooking Sweet Spot: Pull chicken from heat just as meat starts loosening from bones. Overcooking transforms tender meat into dry, stringy disappointment.
• Cornstarch Control: Introduce thickening agent slowly while constantly stirring broth. Gradual addition prevents lumpy surprises, creating silky smooth stock that hugs each dumpling perfectly.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

• Freeze in Portions: Divide leftover Chicken and Pastry into individual serving sizes before freezing. Pack each portion in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. Label each container with the date and contents to track freshness. These pre-portioned meals will thaw quickly and prevent unnecessary waste.
• Vacuum Seal for Extended Storage: Invest in a vacuum sealer to preserve the dish's quality for up to 4 months. Vacuum sealing removes air that causes freezer burn, keeping the chicken tender and pastry flaky. Seal cooled Chicken and Pastry in vacuum-sealed bags, ensuring maximum protection against freezer degradation.
• Moisture-Rich Reheating Technique: Revive refrigerated or frozen Chicken and Pastry by adding a splash of chicken broth or water during reheating.

Creative Variations on Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

• Southern Herb Garden Chicken: Enhance the classic recipe by adding fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage during the chicken cooking process, infusing the broth with aromatic herb flavors.
• Spicy Southwestern Chicken Pastry: Incorporate diced green chiles, cayenne pepper, and a splash of cumin into the stock for a bold, zesty kick that transforms the traditional comfort dish.
• Creamy Mushroom Chicken Pastry: Sauté sliced cremini or shiitake mushrooms and fold them into the soup before adding dumplings, creating a rich, earthy undertone to the classic recipe.
• Lemon Herb Chicken Pastry: Add fresh lemon zest and chopped parsley to the dumpling dough, then finish the dish with a squeeze of lemon juice for a bright, fresh flavor profile.

Closing Thoughts on Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

Southern comfort cuisine reaches peak perfection with Paula Deen’s chicken and pastry recipe.

Classic ingredients blend harmoniously, creating nostalgic memories of grandmother’s kitchen.

Hearty chicken broth provides rich depth while tender dumplings float delicately across warm surfaces.

Louisiana culinary traditions shine through each carefully crafted bite of this comforting masterpiece.

Homemade goodness whispers stories of family gatherings and cherished moments around dinner tables.

Passionate cooks can savor authentic southern flavors, sharing delightful memories through this classic dish – pin this recipe, spread southern charm, comment your family’s favorite twist, and let taste buds dance with southern hospitality.

Why Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry is Pure Comfort

• Savor Homemade Comfort: This chicken and pastry recipe delivers pure southern-style comfort food that feels like a warm hug from grandma's kitchen, packed with rich, hearty flavors that instantly soothe your soul.
• Master Foolproof Technique: The recipe offers a beginner-friendly cooking method with straightforward steps, allowing even novice home cooks to create a restaurant-quality dish without complicated culinary skills or expensive ingredients.
• Experience Texture Paradise: Every bite combines tender, falling-apart chicken with soft, silky homemade dumplings, creating an incredible contrast between delicate pastry strips and robust, flavorful broth that dances on your taste buds.
• Enjoy Versatile Meal Magic: This one-pot wonder works perfectly for family dinners, chilly evenings, potlucks, or when you need a satisfying meal that feeds a crowd without requiring hours of complicated preparation.

What You’ll Need for Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

• Chicken: A whole chicken with skin and bones for rich, deep flavor and tender meat. Bone-in chicken provides more taste and juiciness.

• Celery, Onion: Fresh vegetables that add depth and classic savory base to the broth.
• Bay Leaves: Provide subtle herbal undertones to the chicken stock.
• House Seasoning: A blend of salt, pepper, and other spices for overall flavor enhancement.
• Bouillon Cubes: Concentrated flavor boosters that intensify the chicken stock's taste.

• Cream of Celery or Cream of Chicken Soup: Creates a creamy, rich base for the dish.
• Cornstarch: Optional thickening agent for a more substantial stock texture.

• Flour: The primary structural ingredient for creating tender, soft dumplings.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor of the dumpling dough.
• Ice Water: Ensures a light, delicate texture in the dumpling pastry.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry

Step 1: Gather Flavorful Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken
• 2 celery stalks
• 1 onion
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 bouillon cubes
• House Seasoning
• Water

Chop celery and onion into small pieces. Place chicken, vegetables, bay leaves, bouillon cubes, and House Seasoning in a large pot. Cover completely with water.

Step 2: Simmer Chicken

Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat. Cook for 30 to 45 minutes until chicken becomes incredibly tender and meat starts falling off the bones.

Step 3: Prepare Chicken Meat

Carefully remove chicken from the pot. Discard skin, bones, and bay leaves. Shred or chop chicken meat into bite-sized pieces. Return meat back to the pot.

Step 4: Create Creamy Base

Stir in 1 can of cream of celery or cream of chicken soup. Bring the mixture to a soft, gentle boil.

Step 5: Optional Stock Thickening

For a richer consistency, mix cornstarch with water. Slowly add to boiling stock while stirring continuously.

Step 6: Mix Dumpling Dough

• All-purpose flour
• Salt

Gradually add ice-cold water, mixing from center outward with fingertips. Knead until a firm dough forms.

Step 7: Prepare Dumpling Strips

Dust work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Let air dry for 2 minutes. Cut into 1-inch wide strips.

Step 8: Cook Dumplings

Gently drop dumpling strips into boiling stock, cutting each strip in half before adding. Softly shake pot to submerge dumplings without breaking them.

Step 9: Final Cooking

Cook dumplings until they float to surface, approximately 3-4 minutes. Ensure dumplings are fully cooked but not overdone. Serve hot and enjoy!

Paula Deen Chicken And Pastry Recipe

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4.5 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Paula Deen’s Chicken and Pastry embodies Southern comfort with tender chicken nestled in creamy, homemade pastry. Rich layers of flavor and hearty ingredients create a classic family-style dish that warms souls and brings diners closer together around the table.

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Ingredients

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Main Protein:

• 1 2.5 lb chicken
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes

Vegetables and Seasonings:

• 1 large chopped onion
• 3 ribs chopped celery
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon Paula Deen’s House Seasoning

Liquid and Thickening Ingredients:

• 4 quarts water
• 1 10.75 ounces (306 grams) can condensed cream of celery or cream of chicken soup
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup ice water
• 2 tablespoons corn starch (optional)

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Instructions

1. Initiate chicken preparation by dissecting the poultry, preserving skin and bones to enhance flavor depth. Combine chicken, chopped celery, diced onion, bay leaves, bouillon cubes, and House Seasoning in a large stockpot, covering with water.
2. Gradually elevate the liquid to a gentle simmer, allowing the chicken to cook for 30 to 45 minutes until meat becomes exceptionally tender and effortlessly separates from the bone structure.
3. Meticulously extract the chicken from the liquid, discard skin, bones, and bay leaves, then carefully reintroduce the shredded meat back into the flavorful broth.
4. Incorporate cream of celery or cream of chicken soup, stirring thoroughly to create a harmonious blend. Bring the mixture to a soft, rolling boil.
5. For enhanced stock consistency, whisk 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of cornstarch with 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of cold water, then gently fold into the bubbling liquid.
6. Craft the dumpling foundation by combining flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Gradually introduce ice-cold water, using fingertips to blend from the center outward until a cohesive dough forms. Knead into a compact, smooth ball.
7. Liberally dust a work surface and rolling pin with flour. Roll the dough to a precise 1/8 inch (3 millimeters) thickness. Allow the sheet to rest briefly, then slice into 1-inch (2.5 centimeters) wide strips.
8. Delicately lower dumpling strips into the simmering stock, strategically halving each strip before submersion. Gently agitate the pot to ensure uniform cooking without disturbing the dumplings.
9. Monitor cooking process until dumplings rise to the surface, approximately 3-4 minutes, ensuring complete cooking while maintaining a delicate texture.

Notes

• Slice Dumplings with Precision: Maintain uniform strip sizes while cutting dumpling dough to guarantee consistent cooking throughout the entire batch.
• Gentle Pot Movement Matters: Circularly shake the pot after adding dumplings instead of stirring, preserving their delicate structure and preventing unwanted breakage.
• Arctic-Temperature Water Technique: Incorporate ice-cold water when preparing dumpling dough to enhance firmness and simplify handling during preparation.
• Chicken Cooking Sweet Spot: Prepare chicken until it begins loosening from bones, protecting meat’s tenderness and maintaining optimal texture within the dish.
• Strategic Cornstarch Integration: Incrementally introduce cornstarch mixture while continuously stirring broth, ensuring silky smoothness without unsightly lumps forming.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 339 kcal
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 930mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 7.7g
• Carbohydrates: 26g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 20g
• Cholesterol: 90mg