Vegan Chicken and Dumpling Soup
Main Dishes,  Recipes

Vegan Chicken and Dumplings — Southern Comfort Food

December 3, 2025 /

When the weather turns cool, there’s nothing more comforting than a warm bowl of vegan chicken and dumplings. This Southern classic is known for its rich, creamy broth, tender vegetables, hearty “chicken” and fluffy dumplings floating on top. But guess what? You don’t need meat or dairy to enjoy all of that home cooked goodness. My vegan chicken and dumplings recipe is proof that vegan comfort food can be every bit as satisfying. By swapping in plant-based ingredients we keep the same delicious flavors but make it lighter and kinder.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

close up of a bowl of Vegan Chicken and Dumpling Soup

Key Ingredients For Vegan Chicken and Dumplings

  • Vegetables: Carrots and onions give this dish flavor and nutrition. Customize by added other veggies like peas and celery.
  • Broth: A rich vegan broth forms the base of this soup. This recipe uses Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base. This is a certified vegan product that I love using! Any time a recipe calls for chicken broth or flavor this is my secret go to item.
  • Spices: Add poultry-style seasoning (sage, thyme, rosemary) for that classic “chicken” soup taste.
  • Dumplings: A simple dough made with flour and other kitchen staples, uses vegan butter and almond milk to keep the dumplings tender.
  • Vegan “Chicken”: Customize your dish by adding your favorite plant-based chicken strips, soy curls, jackfruit, or even chickpeas for protein and texture.
Hand holding jar of Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base vegan broth
Better Than Bouillon – No Chicken Base is the perfect vegan broth!

Step-by-Step Overview

  1. Sauté the vegetables until softened.
  2. Simmer in broth with herbs until everything is fragrant and tender.
  3. Mix the dumpling dough while the soup simmers. Just stir together the dry ingredients, plant milk, and vegan butter.
  4. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the simmering stew. Cover and cook until the dumplings puff up and cook through (about 15 to 20 minutes).
  5. Serve warm and garnish with fresh parsley.

Tips for Dumplings

  • Use a fork (or your hands) to bring the dough together.
  • The dough will be dry and crumbly. Don’t add too much milk.
  • Try to make the dumplings roughly the same size.
  • Don’t peek while the dumplings are cooking. Steam is what makes them rise and become fluffy.
Southern vegan chicken and dumpling soup

Why You’ll Love It

This vegan chicken and dumplings recipe is:

  • Hearty and filling
  • Made with simple ingredients
  • Dairy-free and egg-free
  • Perfect for family dinners or meal prep

Plant-based comfort food is every bit as rich and satisfying as the original. Whether you grew up with chicken and dumplings at your grandmother’s table or you’re trying it for the first time, this vegan version is sure to become a favorite.

vegan chicken and dumpling soup
5 from 5 votes
Print

Vegan Chicken and Dumplings

Course Dinner
Cuisine Southern, vegan
Keyword Carrot, Dumplings, Soup
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6

Ingredients

  • 1 White Onion Finely Diced
  • 1 tbsp Vegan Butter
  • 1 cup Carrots Chopped
  • 1/2 tsp Poultry Seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp Sage
  • 1/4 tsp Cumin
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 6 cups Water
  • 4 tsp Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base If not using this replace water with vegetable broth

For the Dumplings

  • 1 cup All Purpose Flour
  • 2 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 tbsp Vegan Butter Cut into pieces
  • 1/2 cup Plant Based Milk I use Almond Milk

Instructions

  1. Use a large pot over medium high heat. Melt a tablespoon of vegan butter. Saute the onions and carrots in the butter for about five minutes.

  2. Then add the spices (poultry season, sage, cumin, bay leaf) and stir to combine with the onions and carrots.

  3. Once the spices are toasted add six cups of water. Add four teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon No Chicken Base to the water.

  4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes.

  5. While the soup is simmering make the dough for the dumplings. Mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt) together then using your hands or a fork mix in a tablespoon of vegan butter and 1/2 cup of plant based milk. Work the dough to incorporate all ingredients. Dough will be dry.

  6. Simmer the soup until vegetables are tender. Remove the bay leaf. Drop spoonfuls of dumpling dough into the soup. Cover and cook until the dumplings puff up and cook through, about 15 to 20 minutes

More Southern Comfort

If you love southern cooking check out these other great recipes:

5 Comments