Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings is the ultimate comfort food for a quick dinner. After making this many times, I’ve perfected the creamy texture and hearty flavor. The trick I discovered is using a mix of fresh and frozen peas for the best taste. This cozy dish is perfect for chilly nights and is better than takeout. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Keto Caprese Stuffed Avocado Bites Recipe and Classic Scalloped Potatoes with Cheddar Cheese Recipe.

What You'll Need for Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe 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
• 1 cup fresh peas (if in season)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
• Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
• Optional: Crumbled bacon
• Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

1. Step 1: Sauté chicken and onions in a large pot until chicken is cooked through and onions are translucent. Remove from pot and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, melt butter and add flour to make a roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Step 3: Add chicken broth, peas, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary to the pot. Stir well to combine.
4. Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until peas are tender.
5. Step 5: Add the cooked chicken and onions back to the pot. Stir well to combine.
6. Step 6: In a separate bowl, mix together 2 cups of the hot broth mixture and 2 cups of milk. Slowly pour this mixture back into the pot, stirring constantly.
7. Step 7: Let the mixture simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the dumplings are cooked through and the mixture has thickened.
8. Step 8: Serve hot, topped with your choice of optional toppings.

Storing & Reheating Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Up to 3 days Make-ahead tip: Yes, prepare all ingredients ahead of time

Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Not recommended

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Not recommended Microwave: Yes, until warmed through

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker soup, add less broth and milk.
• Best substitution: Substitute the chicken with diced ham or cooked sausage for a different flavor.
• Make-ahead: Prepare all ingredients ahead of time and store separately in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, add more broth or milk. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a longer time to reduce.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

45 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1 cup fresh peas (if in season)
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tsp rosemary
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

Optional Toppings

• Chopped fresh parsley
• Crumbled bacon
• Shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: Sauté chicken and onions in a large pot until chicken is cooked through and onions are translucent. Remove from pot and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, melt butter and add flour to make a roux. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
3. Step 3: Add chicken broth, peas, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary to the pot. Stir well to combine.
4. Step 4: Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, until peas are tender.
5. Step 5: Add the cooked chicken and onions back to the pot. Stir well to combine.
6. Step 6: In a separate bowl, mix together 2 cups of the hot broth mixture and 2 cups of milk. Slowly pour this mixture back into the pot, stirring constantly.
7. Step 7: Let the mixture simmer for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the dumplings are cooked through and the mixture has thickened.
8. Step 8: Serve hot, topped with your choice of optional toppings.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker soup, add less broth and milk.
• Best substitution: Substitute the chicken with diced ham or cooked sausage for a different flavor.
• Make-ahead: Prepare all ingredients ahead of time and store separately in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the soup is too thick, add more broth or milk. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a longer time to reduce.

Storage

• Fridge: Up to 3 days
• Freezer: Not recommended
• Oven reheat: Not recommended
• Microwave reheat: Yes, until warmed through
• Make ahead: Yes, prepare all ingredients ahead of time

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 50g
• Fiber: 8g
• Sugar: 6g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 80mg
• Sat. Fat: 6g

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

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe 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!