This Ham Hocks and Dumplings soup is nice change from chicken and dumplings. My husband loves chicken and dumplings, so this recipe was another favorite of his. My mom happened to stop by the day I made this soup, I often think she calls me in the morning to see what I’ve got cooking and plans her day accordingly. This recipe also had my mom’s approval too! She loved it, even went back for seconds.
This Ham Hocks and Dumplings recipe reminds me of southern cooking. The ham hock flavors the broth with its smokiness, and the dumplings were light and airy. I used Bisquick for my dumplings, I do know how to make homemade dumplings, but I wanted a semi homemade fix for this. I suppose you could use canned biscuits for the dumplings, but for me I enjoy Bisquick dumplings more, they taste more homemade.
My daughter has finished her second week of Kindergarten! Every night she says she can’t wait for school the next day. Her teacher is so patient and I can tell Lola has already bonded with her, I think that’s why things have gone so smooth this year. I hope you try this soup! It’s a keeper. Have a great week!
Ingredients
- 1 32-oz. box chicken broth
- 2 ham hocks or one very large one
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 tsp. dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
For the dumplings
- 1 1/2 cups Bisquick baking mix
- 1/3 cup plus 2 Tbsp. milk
Instructions
- Add the chicken broth, ham hocks, carrots, celery, onion, dried thyme, and black pepper to a 6-quart oval slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
- After the cooking time is up, remove the ham hocks onto a plate. Remove as much meat as you can, shred it with 2 forks, add this meat to the slow cooker. Discard the fat and bones.
- I like to degrease the soup before I add my dumplings, I do this by using a ladle and carefully skimming the fat off, and discard. Then I take a half sheet of a paper towel and lay it over the top of the soup and quickly remove, this will get the last of the fat off the soup.
- Turn the slow cooker on HIGH to keep your soup hot while you prepare the dumpling mix.
- Mix together the Bisquick and milk until almost smooth, some lumps are ok. Using 2 spoons, drop the dumpling mix into the hot soup in the slow cooker. I do about tablespoon size, I use one spoon to scrape up the dough and another spoon to scrape off the dough from the other spoon into the hot soup. Spread out the dumplings evenly in the broth.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 30 minutes. Do not open the lid while the dumplings cook.
- Serve and enjoy!
This soup sounds so comforting. I’ve never meat a Ham Hock I didn’t like!
Ohh, dumplings are pure comfort food for sure! So glad Lola is having a great experience. Makes going to school easier on the whole family 🙂
Pure comfort food perfection right there! So glad Lola is enjoying school. So sweet she looks forward to it! I know that is a big relief for mom 🙂
Love that you changed up a classic comfort food dish by switching out the chicken for ham! 🙂 Looks delicious!
I never think to use ham hocks. What a brilliant idea.
You had me at dumplings! Looks like such a great comfort food!
I have been thinking about making chicken and dumplings myself…but your ham looks delicious too! I am one who will use bisquick too!
I’m with you — I love Bisquick dumplings! Never had Ham hock soup though and will definitely try it!
I found your site while searching for a ham hock recipe that didn’t focus on beans and my husband and I LOVED this!!! Looking forward to trying your other recipes 🙂 this was delish and so easy!
Mom and I have 2 large ham hocks in the cooler.Next problem is what to do with them.I was looking at your easy to make soup mix,and thought instead of dumplings.I shall do Matzo Balls.Home made of course.I love to cook for my Mom.