If you’re not using your slow cooker for ribs, you’re not using your slow cooker! These tender, saucy, slow-cooker country-style ribs come out perfect every time, and the Crockpot does nearly all the work for you.
Country-style pork ribs in the slow cooker are easy to prepare on a weeknight, but this dish is also perfect for a game-day snack or a holiday meal. Boneless pork ribs are also affordable, which is extra essential when feeding a family or a crowd.
And as with all the best barbecue ribs recipes, these slow-cooked pork country-style ribs go perfectly with your favorite barbecue sides, so you know this meal will be a hit.
When you need a cool, creamy dessert ASAP, check your freezer for a tub of Cool Whip. You’ll find the recipe details for the sweets in this graphic. Want more cool ideas? Check out our best no-bake desserts.
These zucchini patties have a nice flavor and are compatible with just about any entree. My sister gave me this recipe and I, in turn, have given it to many of my friends. —Annabelle Cripe, Goshen, Indiana
Zucchini Patties Tips
Why are my zucchini patties falling apart?
Excess water can cause your zucchini patties to fall apart. Make sure to pat your shredded zucchini dry of excess water before adding it to the binding mixture. The binding mixture (biscuit mix, cheese and eggs) helps keep your zucchini patties together, too.
How do you store zucchini patties?
Store these zucchini patties in an airtight container in the fridge for about three to four days. You can also freeze them for about two months. Here’s how long other leftovers last.
Some recipes just remind you of traditional homestyle cooking. For me, chicken and dumplings is one of them. With juicy pieces of chicken, fresh vegetables and little clouds of dumpling dough, every spoonful of this soup takes me back to visits at my grandma’s house.
This classic version is, without a doubt, the best chicken and dumplings recipe. It’s chock-full of everything you want (and need) in a delicious homemade soup recipe and is made the old-fashioned way: low and slow. Busy weeknight? Opt for this quick chicken and dumplings made with frozen biscuits. This recipe is for those slow, chilly weekends when you want something simmering away on the stovetop while you curl up in a blanket with your favorite book or movie.
What are chicken and dumplings?
Chicken and dumplings is a comforting chicken soup topped with uncooked dumplings that puff up as they cook in the simmering liquid. Depending on where you live, the chicken and dumpling soup base might be thin and brothy or have a thick, creamy consistency like gravy. The soup almost always contains chicken and vegetables, but the dumplings vary from fluffy, drop-style dumplings to thin, noodle-like or biscuity dumplings.
What are the different types of dumplings?
There are three main types of dumplings used in chicken and dumplings recipes:
Drop-style dumplings: These dumplings are made with a leavening agent like baking powder to help the dough puff up into soft, pillowy bites. The dough is scooped directly from the bowl and dropped onto the surface of the hot soup, where it steams to a somewhat spongey texture. This is the type of dumpling we use in this recipe.
Rolled dumplings: These dumplings are made with lard or shortening. The dough is rolled out and cut into strips or irregular pieces (as seen in Dolly Parton’s chicken and dumplings). They simmer in the soup, giving them a slight chew and the appearance of thick-cut noodles.
Biscuit-style dumplings: These dumplings are made with biscuit dough (like 2-ingredient biscuits or store-bought biscuits). The dough is rolled and cut into large or small biscuits, which steam like drop biscuits when placed onto the soup’s surface. Biscuit dumplings have more structure than drop dumplings, so they’re firmer and less airy.
Chicken and Dumplings Ingredients
Chicken: The best chicken and dumpling soup is made with whole chicken for a nice mix of white and dark meat. You can substitute bone-in chicken pieces, but we don’t recommend boneless chicken. The bones add a ton of flavor and ensure the chicken stays ultra-moist and juicy.
Flour: Dredging the chicken in flour helps it brown as it sears in the pan. Flour also thickens the soup while it simmers.
Chicken stock and heavy cream: This combination forms the flavorful base of chicken dumpling soup. The chicken stock is savory, and the cream adds richness and body. You can use your favorite store-bought brand of chicken stock or homemade chicken stock—your choice.
White wine: Wine adds depth to the soup. Choose a crisp white wine with nice acidity, like a pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. To omit the wine, swap in apple cider instead (as we do in this apple cider chicken ‘n’ dumplings recipe).
Aromatics and seasonings: This easy chicken and dumpling soup uses a traditional mirepoix of carrots, celery and onions, plus a little garlic. Bay leaves and whole peppercorns season the broth, and fresh herbs like parsley and thyme finish the dish with a punch of color and freshness. Finally, sugar counters the acidity of the wine and balances the soup’s savory flavors.
Homemade drop dumplings: Like most recipes with drop dumplings, our dumpling dough consists of flour, baking powder, salt, melted butter and milk. The dough comes together in about a minute with very little mixing.
Low-calorie does not mean low-flavor, and this list of wholesome summer grilling ideas confirms that. Our light, delicious, low-calorie barbecue recipes are perfect for a backyard barbecue. The best part? Each serving is less than 350 calories!
At Taste of Home, we know the grill can handle many different ingredients, so we have tons of unique grilling recipes—many of which are low-cal! In this list, expect lean meats in entrees like our herbed pork chops, grilled salmon fillets and fish tacos. We also include super flavorful sides, like mojito-style tomato salsa, grilled guacamole and lime-sesame grilled eggplant, that get a whammy of flavor thanks to one or two components’ time on the grill.
Book Reviews by the Reluctant Retiree 