comfort food

Life Changing Chicken and Dumplings

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I don’t know about y’all, but when I’m trying to eat healthier, it’s the comfort foods that I really crave. What is it about trying to eat well, that makes us crave all of the things that are so bad for us?  One of my favorite comfort foods is chicken and dumplings.  Tonight, I decided to try the current two-ingredient dough craze that’s gone viral in the Weight Watchers world to see if I can make a chicken and dumpling recipe that would satisfy my craving without crashing my diet.  I’m here to tell you folks, that this recipe is light done right.  Try this recipe and think of your grandma in her kitchen as you’re cooking!  ~Tracy

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Ingredients:

½ c. yellow onion, finely chopped

5 c. fat free chicken broth

3 c. cooked white meat chicken (I like to use shredded chicken breasts from rotisserie chickens)

1 ½ c. self-rising flour

1 ½ c. plain, non-fat Greek yogurt

1 t. kosher salt

Instructions:

In a large soup pot (approx. 3 qt.), sauté the onions in 3 or 4 T. of your chicken broth, just until the onion begins to become translucent.   Add in the remaining chicken broth and cooked chicken.  Bring to a heavy simmer (no need for a full boil, you want the mixture to be lightly bubbling).

While the chicken and broth are heating, mix together the flour, salt, and yogurt until they form a sticky dough.

Once the chicken broth is simmering heavily, spray two small spoons with cooking spray.  Drop dumplings by spoonsful into the simmering broth mixture until all of the dough is used.

Allow dumplings to cook in the broth for approximately 5 minutes.  Remove a large dumpling and cut open to test doneness.  When the middle of the larger dumplings appear cooked through, remove the pot from heat.    Allow the pot to sit for approximately 5 minutes before serving so that all dumplings finish cooking within the hot broth.

Weight Watchers info.:  Makes approximately 8, 1 cup servings at 2 Weight Watchers Freestyle points each.

Mom’s Best Weekday Chicken

5 Comments

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The slow cooker is my best friend during the week. With all that goes on — work, helping with homework, shuffling kids to various activities, etc. (you know, the list goes on and on) – there is nothing better than coming home to a meal that is pretty much ready to go!  This recipe is rich with a ton of flavor.   Served over egg noodles, it’s a great, quick-to-assemble weeknight dinner.   See notes for Weight Watchers alternative ingredients. ~Kathy

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (use breasts, if following Weight Watchers)
  • 2 (10 ¾ oz. each) cans Campbell’s Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 (10 ¾ oz.) can Campbell’s Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
  • 1 c. sour cream or plain nonfat Greek Yogurt (use Greek yogurt, if following Weight Watchers)
  • 1 T. paprika, plus more for garnish
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. chicken base, mixed in 1/3 c. hot water**
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. pepper
  • 1 lb. package wide egg noodles – not included in SmartPoints calculation below

Instructions:

Trim chicken of any visible fat. Place in a slow cooker that’s been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray (or lined with a crockpot liner).  In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low about 8 hours, until chicken is fork tender. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon to a cutting board or plate and cut into bite sized pieces.  Return to sauce mixture.

Cook egg noodles according to package directions. Serve chicken mixture over noodles.  Garnish with extra paprika, if desired.

**Chicken base is found in the isle next to chicken bouillon (which I recommend using for this recipe).  It is generally not as salty as cubed bouillon. I prefer Better than Bouillon brand. If not available, substitute one chicken bouillon cube and omit salt. This may alter the flavor slightly.

Weight Watchers info:

This recipe makes 7 servings, 10 ounces (weight) each.  On the Freestyle plan, each serving is only 2 Smartpoints!  This calculations is for the chicken/soup mixture only, so don’t forget to add the points for your serving of noodles.