ReelsMealsSign inStart cooking

Chicken and dumplings: 3 creator recipes compared

Every one is built on onion, chicken and butter. Some add mini dumplings or onion powder.

Start with Brandon Gouveia’s versionSee all 3 side by side

Times are estimated preparation and cooking; chilling or resting is extra. Updated 9 November 2026.

Creamy Cajun Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Lemon Herb Topping by Brandon Gouveia, a frame from the Instagram video

Make this one first.

We put the most-saved version first: Brandon Gouveia’s. A hearty, creamy Cajun chicken soup packed with tender shredded chicken, fluffy chive dumplings, and a bright lemon‑herb topping. The smoky spice blend, rich cream, and fresh herbs create a comforting dish perfect for any season.

Creamy Cajun Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Lemon Herb Topping from Brandon Gouveia’s Instagram video

The video loads from Instagram when you tap.

Creamy Cajun Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Lemon Herb Topping

Recipe from Brandon Gouveia, from their Instagram videoWritten down by ReelsMeals from the caption and voiceover.

  • 1 hr
  • Serves 4
  • 23 ingredients
  • One pot

The only one of the 3 with celery stalk, bell pepper, tomato paste and thyme.

Ingredients

  • 1onion
  • 2carrot
  • 2celery stalk
  • 1bell pepper
  • 4chicken thighs
  • 2 tbspbutter
  • 3garlic
  • 2 tbsptomato paste
  • 4 cupschicken stock
  • 1 tspfresh thyme
  • 1bay leaf
  • 1 cupheavy cream
  • 1/2 cupparmesan cheese
  • 1 cupall‑purpose flour (dumplings)

Dumplings

  • 1 cupall‑purpose flour
  • 1 tspbaking powder
  • 2 tbspchives
  • 1/2 cupmilk
  • to tastesalt

Lemon Herb Topping

  • 1 tbsplemon zest
  • 2 tbsplemon juice
  • 2 tbspfresh parsley
  • 1 tbspchives
  • 1 tbspolive oil

How it goes

  1. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper, then brown them in a pot over medium‑high heat until nicely colored; remove and set aside.

  2. In the same pot melt the butter and sauté the diced onion, carrot, celery, and bell pepper until softened, about 5 minutes.

  3. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for another minute while stirring.

  4. Stir in 2 tbsp all‑purpose flour to form a roux and cook briefly, about 1 minute, to remove the raw flour taste.

  5. Gradually whisk in the chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

  6. Return the browned chicken thighs to the pot, add the fresh thyme and bay leaf, and simmer until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes.

Then 7 more steps in the full recipe.

Open the full recipe

All 3, side by side.

From each creator’s recipe as we saved it. Time is the estimated preparation and cooking time; chilling is extra where they say so. Ingredient counts include everything on the list.

Sort by

10 min or less · 7 or fewer11 to 29 min · 8 or 930 min or more · 10 or more

3 chicken and dumplings recipes compared by estimated time, servings, ingredients, method and what only that version uses. Brandon Gouveia’s, the one to make first, is highlighted.
VersionTime (est.)ServesIngredientsMethodOnly this one uses
Creamy Cajun Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Lemon Herb ToppingBrandon Gouveia · make this one first1 hr423One pot, Oven, Pan-fried, Simmeredcelery stalk, bell pepper, tomato paste and thyme
Chicken with Butter‑Sautéed Mini Dumplings and Mushroom Cream SauceSalima30 min210Pan-friedmini dumplings, champignons, cooking wine and dark soy sauce
Chicken and DumplingsDarren Cooper1 hr 5 min417One pot, Oven, Pan-fried, Simmeredonion powder, smoked paprika, celery and cream chicken soup

What they share.

  • All 3use onion.
  • All 3use chicken.
  • All 3use butter.
  • 2 of 3use carrot. Salima’s version leaves it out.
  • 2 of 3use garlic. Salima’s version leaves it out.
  • 2 of 3use flour. Salima’s version leaves it out.

Counted from each version’s ingredient list. Salt, pepper, oil and water are left out, and names are matched loosely, so chicken thighs and chicken legs both count as chicken.

Where they differ.

  • How they cook it

    Brandon Gouveia and Darren Cooper keep everything in one pot; Salima doesn't. Brandon Gouveia and Darren Cooper use the oven; Salima doesn't. Brandon Gouveia and Darren Cooper simmer, poach or braise; Salima doesn't.

  • Something only one of them uses

    Brandon Gouveia is the only one to use celery stalk, bell pepper, tomato paste and thyme. Salima is the only one to use mini dumplings, champignons, cooking wine and dark soy sauce. Darren Cooper is the only one to use onion powder, smoked paprika, celery and cream chicken soup.

  • Time and list length

    Salima takes the least time (30 min); Darren Cooper the most (1 hr 5 min). Salima uses the shortest ingredient list (10); Brandon Gouveia the longest (23).

All 3, with their videos.

Each one opens as a full recipe with the creator credited and the original video linked.

How this comparison works.

Every recipe here comes from a creator’s own video. ReelsMeals writes it down from the caption and the voiceover, and publishes it with the creator named and the original linked. When three or more versions of a dish from at least two creators are saved, the dish gets a page like this one. Reposts and the same video saved twice count once.

Times and servings come from the saved recipe cards and may be estimated. Ingredient names are matched loosely, so chicken thighs and chicken legs both count as chicken. We don’t rank them by taste: the version shown first is the one ReelsMeals cooks have saved most. Last updated 9 November 2026.

Is one of these yours? Email [email protected] to correct it or take it down.

Turn your own saved reel into a recipe

More dishes, compared.

Or browse all 150 dishes or every recipe.