Really Fast Chicken & "Dumplings"

You know me, I love one pot easy, nutritious meals. This one is super simple, comes together fast and is delicious. You can mix it up with other veggies if you want or keep it traditional with carrots, onions and celery. The secret to the recipe's speed is using store bought rotisserie chicken and gnocchi. If you are not familiar with gnocchi, you are in for a treat. They are round dumplings made out of mashed potato and flour. Simmered in this delicious broth, they are heavenly. Using bone broth ups the protein content. Recipe adapted from the New York Times Cooking. This recipe makes enough for 2 with a little left over for lunch the next day.


Chicken & Dumplings

1 1/2 T butter
1 medium carrot, chopped in 1/2 inch dice
1 celery stalk, chopped in 1/2 inch dice
1/2 medium large onion, chopped in 1/4 inch dice
1/2 T finely chopped rosemary or to taste
1 t fresh thyme leaves or to taste
salt and black pepper
1 1/2 T flour
3 cups chicken bone broth
1/2 cup half and half or full fat milk
1 package shelf-stable store-bought gnocchi
1 cup store-bought rotisserie chicken, meat only torn into bite-size pieces

Melt butter in pot large enough for everything. Add carrots, onion, celery, rosemary and thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring as needed until vegetables have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the flour, cook and stir for about 2 minutes until the flour has incorporated into the butter. Stir in the broth and half and half. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. After it boils, add the gnocchi and reduce the heat so the broth simmers. Cook until gnocchi and veggies are done. Gnocchi will float to the top. Add the chicken just to heat it. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Serve with a bit more fresh thyme and rosemary sprinkled on top if you like or other fresh herbs you have on hand.