How Many Calories Are in Chicken Dumplings? A Detailed Look

Chicken dumplings are a delicious comfort food that can be a hearty addition to soups, stews, and casseroles. But with their doughy texture and savory flavor, you may wonder just how many calories are packed into these little pillows of goodness.

A Brief Overview of Chicken Dumplings

Chicken dumplings are made from a simple dough containing flour, salt, baking powder or baking soda, milk, and sometimes eggs. This dough is then cut into small pieces and dropped into boiling chicken broth, stew, or soup. The dumplings cook quickly, absorbing some of the surrounding broth and becoming light, fluffy, and tender. Classic chicken and dumplings combine the dumplings with chicken meat and broth to make a complete one-pot meal.

Chicken dumplings can be made with various types of flour including all-purpose self-rising, or wheat flour. The nutrition information may vary slightly depending on the exact ingredients used. But in general, chicken dumplings are considered a high-calorie food due to their high carbohydrate content from the flour.

Calorie Count in Chicken Dumplings

According to the nutrition database Nutritionix, a 100 gram serving of chicken dumplings contains:

• Calories: 330
• Total fat: 9 g
• Carbohydrates: 50 g
• Protein: 11 g

This means that chicken dumplings contain approximately 330 calories per 100 grams.

To put that into perspective, here is the calorie count for a typical serving size of chicken dumplings:

• 5-6 dumplings (140g) = 462 calories
• 10-12 dumplings (280g) = 924 calories

As you can see, it’s easy to consume a high number of calories from these little doughy puffs, especially if you are enjoying a big bowl of chicken and dumplings!

Nutrition Pros and Cons

While chicken dumplings are high in calories, they do provide some valuable nutrition:

Pros:

• Contain protein from the flour and chicken broth
• Provide some B vitamins like thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin
• Offer carbohydrates for energy

Cons:

• High in calories if consuming large portions
• Low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals
• Made with refined flour that lacks nutrients

Tips for Enjoying Chicken Dumplings in a Healthy Way

Chicken dumplings certainly taste good, but they aren’t the most nutritious choice. Here are some tips for keeping your chicken dumpling calories under control:

• Stick to a small portion of 5-6 dumplings.
• Avoid frying the dumplings; stick to boiling or steaming.
• Choose whole wheat or vegetable-based dumpling recipes.
• Fill up on nutritious sides like vegetables, salad, or broth.
• Enjoy chicken dumplings only occasionally as a treat.

While chicken dumplings aren’t the epitome of healthy eating, they can still be incorporated into a balanced diet when consumed in moderation. Keep portion sizes reasonable, and be mindful of your total calorie intake for the day when enjoying these cozy comfort bites.

The calorie count for chicken dumplings varies significantly based on size, ingredients, and preparation method. A single steamed chicken dumpling can range from around 49 calories, while a cup of homemade chicken and dumplings can be around 339 calories.