If you ve ever craved the cozy, comforting flavors of a warm bowl of chicken and dumplings but wished for a little cheesy twist, then you re going to absolutely love this Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe. It s like your favorite Red Lobster cheddar biscuits decided to jump into a creamy, savory chicken stew, and trust me, it s everything you never knew you needed. I remember the first time I made this dish-it filled the kitchen with the best aroma, and every bite was like a hug on a chilly night.

This Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe is a real crowd-pleaser whenever I want something hearty but special, whether it s a casual family dinner or a comfort food night after a long day. The combination of sharp cheddar, tender chicken, and fluffy, flavorful dumplings makes it stand apart from your everyday chicken and dumplings. You ll find yourself wanting to make it again and again, and it s surprisingly easy to pull together with ingredients that might already be sitting in your pantry!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Comforting Flavor Fusion: Combines the cheesy goodness of cheddar bay biscuits with classic chicken and dumplings for a unique taste.
Simple Ingredients, Big Impact: Uses easy-to-find kitchen staples and a box of biscuit mix to make cooking approachable and fun.
Hands-Off Dumpling Cooking: Dumplings cook in the soup covered-no need to constantly check, making dinner prep less stressful.
Perfect for Any Occasion: Great for family meals, dinner parties, or anytime you want to impress with hearty, homemade comfort food.

The image shows a white bowl filled with a creamy, thick soup that has a light yellow color. Inside the soup, there are four large, round dumplings that have a soft, bumpy texture and are lightly browned, sprinkled with small green herb bits. The soup also contains small chunks of orange carrots and other small pieces that blend into the creamy broth. The bowl is placed on a white marbled surface with a gray and white checkered towel in the background. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 6.1

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe plays a key role in creating the ultimate texture and flavor balance. From the rich cheddar bursting in the dumplings to the hearty chicken and veggies in the soup base, these elements come together perfectly. When shopping, look for good quality chicken and fresh veggies to really elevate the final dish.

Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix: This gives your dumplings that unmistakable cheesy biscuit flavor that s the star of the dish.
Cold Water: Helps create the right dough consistency for soft, fluffy dumplings.
Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Adds a punch of cheesy goodness to the dumplings-don t skip it if you can help it!
Boneless, Skinless Chicken: You can use breasts or thighs-both work well; I usually go with thighs for juiciness.
Salt and Pepper: Essential for seasoning the chicken and tweaking the soup to your taste.
Olive Oil or Preferred Cooking Oil: Needed for sautéing the chicken without sticking.
Salted Butter: Adds richness to the veggie sauté and base of the soup.
Yellow Onion, Carrot, Celery: Classic mirepoix veggies that build amazing depth of flavor in the broth.
Garlic Cloves: Fresh is best here for aromatic depth.
All-Purpose Flour: Helps thicken the soup into a comforting, creamy consistency.
Chicken Broth: Forms the flavorful liquid base-homemade or store-bought both work fine.
Heavy Cream: For that luxurious, creamy texture; you can substitute half and half but it won t be as rich.
Kinder’s Buttery Steakhouse & Roast Chicken Seasoning: These add a savory, slightly herby kick-if you can t find them, garlic and onion powders plus a hint of poultry seasoning do the trick.
Dried Parsley Flakes: For color and a mild fresh herb flavor.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love making this Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe my own by switching up a few ingredients or adding extras that my family enjoys. Don t be shy about experimenting based on what you have in the fridge or your dietary preferences-this recipe is really flexible!

Using Rotisserie Chicken: When I m short on time, shredded rotisserie chicken works beautifully and saves a bit of prep work without sacrificing flavor.
Dairy Alternatives: I ve tried using half and half instead of heavy cream for a lighter result, though I do miss some of the richness.
Vegetable Boost: Adding mushrooms or peas into the soup gives extra texture and nutrition, perfect for a veggie-loving crowd.
Herb Twist: Swapping dried parsley for fresh thyme or rosemary completely changes the aromatic profile-great for when you want to mix things up seasonally.

How to Make Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Step 1: Season and Sauté Your Chicken

Start by seasoning your bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and pepper. If you re using rotisserie chicken, you can skip this part and jump ahead. Heat your olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat, then add the chicken. Cook the chicken for about 5 to 6 minutes until it s cooked through with a nice light golden sear. Once done, set it aside. This step locks in flavor and keeps the chicken nice and juicy in your final dish.

Step 2: Build That Flavor Base with Veggies and Butter

In the same pot, add your salted butter and melt it down. Toss in the diced onion, carrot, and celery. Let them cook on medium heat for about 8 to 10 minutes until they re wonderfully soft and slightly sweet. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, just enough to release its aroma without burning. This veggies and butter combo creates the perfect foundation for your soup s depth of flavor.

Step 3: Thicken Up and Add Creaminess

Sprinkle in the flour and stir it into the veggies and butter, cooking for about 3 to 4 minutes to remove the raw taste. Next, slowly pour in your chicken broth while stirring continuously to avoid lumps. Follow that with the heavy cream. Add the seasonings-Kinder s Buttery Steakhouse and Roast Chicken seasoning if you have them, or garlic and onion powders with a touch of poultry seasoning otherwise. Add the dried parsley flakes now as well. Stir everything well so the mixture starts thickening and looks silky smooth.

Step 4: Bring it All Together and Simmer

Return the cooked chicken to the pot, stirring it into the creamy soup base. Reduce your heat to low and let the soup gently simmer while you prepare the dumplings. This slow simmer melds the flavors beautifully, so don t rush it!

Step 5: Create the Cheddar Bay Dumplings

In a separate bowl, combine the cheddar bay biscuit mix seasoning with cold water first-that helps get the seasoning evenly distributed. Then mix in the biscuit mix and shredded cheddar cheese. Be careful not to over mix; stop once the dough comes together but is still soft. Over mixing can make the dumplings tough, and we want them light and tender.

Step 6: Cook the Dumplings in the Soup

Drop spoonfuls of the dumpling dough gently into the simmering soup, spacing them apart as much as you can (don t worry if they touch). Cover the pot with a lid and cook them for 20 minutes-resist the urge to peek! This steam-cook method is key for fluffy dumplings without drying them out. Once cooked, use a spoon to carefully separate the dumplings and let the dish rest for about 10 minutes to thicken up before serving.

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Pro Tips for Making Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

Don t Rush Dumpling Prep: Mix until combined but gentle-less stirring means fluffier dumplings every time.
Use a Heavy-Bottomed Pot: This helps regulate heat and prevents your soup from scorching while simmering.
Season in Layers: Taste the soup before adding dumplings and adjust salt or seasoning-since dumplings can mellow flavors.
Keep the Lid Closed: Resist opening the lid while dumplings cook-the steam is what makes them tender and perfect.

How to Serve Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe

A white round bowl filled with thick creamy chicken and dumplings soup. The soup has a pale yellow cream base with small orange carrot cubes, light green celery pieces, and small bits of white chicken scattered throughout. On top, there are three large, soft, biscuit-like dumplings floating, speckled with small green herbs. The woman's hand holds a silver spoon in the foreground scooping a large piece of one dumpling along with some chicken and vegetables. The bowl sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 6.1

Garnishes

I love sprinkling a bit of fresh chopped parsley or green onions on top to brighten up the rich colors and flavors. Sometimes a little extra shredded cheddar right before serving adds that extra cheesy kick that everyone raves about. A dash of cracked black pepper on each bowl just feels right as well.

Side Dishes

This dish shines on its own but pairing it with a simple mixed green salad with a light vinaigrette adds freshness that balances the richness. Crusty bread or garlic bread on the side can soak up any leftover broth and dumpling deliciousness you don t want to miss.

Creative Ways to Present

For special occasions, I ve served this in rustic soup bowls garnished with edible flowers and a drizzle of herb-infused oil to elevate the look. Or, spooning it into small individual cast iron skillets for a cozy, personal touch always gets compliments.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the fridge and they stay tasty up to four days. When reheating, I prefer warming it gently on the stove over low heat, stirring occasionally, to keep the dumplings nice and tender without drying out the soup.

Freezing

Honestly, I don t recommend freezing this Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe because the dumpling texture changes and the creamy broth can separate. It s best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated if you plan to eat it within a few days.

Reheating

To reheat, gently warm your leftovers on the stovetop with a splash of broth or water to loosen the soup if it thickened too much. Microwaving works in a pinch, but stirring halfway through helps avoid hot spots and keeps everything evenly heated.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken breasts or thighs, but make sure to thaw them completely before cooking. Cooking from frozen can lead to uneven cooking and a less tender texture, so plan ahead for the best results.
What can I substitute if I don t have Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix?

If you don t have the biscuit mix, you can try making a simple cheddar biscuit dough from scratch or use any cheddar biscuit or savory biscuit mix you find in stores. Keep in mind that the flavor might be slightly different, but it will still be delicious.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

This recipe as written uses a biscuit mix and flour containing gluten. To make it gluten-free, you d need to use a gluten-free biscuit mix and a gluten-free flour blend to thicken the soup. Be sure to check labels carefully to maintain flavor and texture.
How can I tell when the dumplings are cooked through?

When cooked, the dumplings will be puffed up, firm but tender to touch when gently separated in the soup. Cooking them covered for the full 20 minutes without lifting the lid is crucial to steaming them perfectly.
Is there a way to make this recipe lower in calories?

To lighten up the dish, use half and half or whole milk instead of heavy cream, choose chicken breasts over thighs, and reduce butter slightly. You can also add more veggies to bulk it up without adding many calories.

Final Thoughts

This Cheddar Bay Chicken and Dumplings Recipe has become one of my absolute go-to comfort meals because it s both special and surprisingly simple to make. It s the kind of dish that brings people together and leaves everyone feeling warm and satisfied. Whether you re a seasoned home cook or just trying it out for the first time, I encourage you to give it a shot-you might just find your new favorite cozy dinner!