Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings is a comforting, creamy dinner that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly tender dumplings every time. The golden dumplings floating in the creamy, savory broth are irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Mushroom Spinach Lasagna Recipe for Dinner and Easy Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Meatballs 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 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped

How to Make Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Cook in a large pot until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add frozen peas and cook until heated through. Stir in 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: While peas are heating, make the dumpling dough. Combine flour, salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Stir until a soft dough forms. If too sticky, add more flour. If too dry, add more water.
4. Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of dough into the boiling peas. Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
5. Step 5: After 10 minutes, carefully remove the lid. The dumplings should be floating and tender. If not, cook for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in the cooked chicken and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

Storing & Reheating Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The dumpling dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 1 day.

Freezing Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

Freeze cooked peas and dumplings for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add more vegetables like carrots or corn.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with cooked sausage or ham for a different flavor.
• Make-ahead: The dumpling dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 1 day.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are sticking together, try adding more flour to the dough or cooking them in a non-stick pot.

Easy Southern Peas and Dumplings Recipe for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

25 mins

⏳

Total

40 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 cups frozen peas
• 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup all-purpose flour

Seasonings

• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp thyme

Optional Toppings

• Fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and thyme. Cook in a large pot until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same pot, add frozen peas and cook until heated through. Stir in 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
3. Step 3: While peas are heating, make the dumpling dough. Combine flour, salt, and 1/2 cup of water. Stir until a soft dough forms. If too sticky, add more flour. If too dry, add more water.
4. Step 4: Drop spoonfuls of dough into the boiling peas. Cover the pot and let the dumplings cook for 10 minutes. Do not lift the lid.
5. Step 5: After 10 minutes, carefully remove the lid. The dumplings should be floating and tender. If not, cook for another 2-3 minutes. Stir in the cooked chicken and serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add more vegetables like carrots or corn.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the chicken with cooked sausage or ham for a different flavor.
• Make-ahead: The dumpling dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 1 day.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your dumplings are sticking together, try adding more flour to the dough or cooking them in a non-stick pot.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked peas and dumplings for up to 2 months. Thaw before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Make ahead: The dumpling dough can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 1 day.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 55g
• Fiber: 7g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 75mg
• Sat. Fat: 3g

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!