I had never heard of Chicken Mull until a few years ago. And then I found out that the Chicken Mull Festival happens 8 miles from me in Bear Grass, NC, population 69. This year, the festival is on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
Ingredients
- 3-4 lb chicken cut into pieces
- 3-4 qts water enough to cover the chicken
- ½-1 tbsp salt adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper ground
- ½-1 teaspoon cracked red pepper or to taste
- 1 Tbs lard or butter
- 2-3 sleeves Saltine Crackers salted (you will probably use 2-3 sleeves)
Instructions
- Prepare the Broth: In a large stock pot, add several quarts of water, salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper, and a spoonful of lard. Bring to a rolling boil.
- Cook the Chicken: Add the cut-up chicken pieces, making sure there’s enough water to fully cover them. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1–2 hours, until the chicken is tender and falling off the bone.
- Remove and Shred the Chicken: Take the chicken out of the pot. Strain the broth into a large bowl and set aside. Once the chicken has cooled, remove the skin and bones, then shred the meat by hand - checking carefully for any small bones.
- Reheat the Broth: Wash the stock pot to remove any residue. Pour the reserved broth back in and bring it to a gentle boil.
- Make the Mull: Add the shredded chicken to the boiling broth. Reduce the heat to a simmer. Slowly crush and stir in 2 sleeves of saltine crackers, a handful at a time, stirring constantly until the mull thickens. If it still seems thin, add more crushed crackers until you reach your desired consistency.
- Serve hot with toasted bread or hush puppies. The flavor deepens overnight, so leftovers are even better the next day!
- Yield: 6-7 two-cup servings
Notes
How the Bear Grass Chicken Mull Festival Was Born
Q: Who started the Chicken Mull Festival in Bear Grass?
In 2015, Bear Grass locals approached Mayor Charlotte Griffin with an idea: “Let’s create a festival for our town.” Charlotte was intrigued and ready to explore.
Q: Wasn’t there talk of a Moonshine Festival?
Yes! Bear Grass has deep roots in Prohibition-era moonshine—some even call it the Moonshine Capital of the World. But federal red tape made that idea too tricky to pull off.
Q: So why Chicken Mull?
Charlotte shared a story from her grandfather’s tobacco farming days. Back then, farmers had to stay up all night firing the barns to cure the leaf. With little to do, they’d gather around a big iron pot, toss in a chicken and some saltine crackers, and cook up a simple, comforting stew they called Chicken Mull.
I remember my own daddy and Walter Biggs firing the bars right on our farm, but no Chicken Mull. It’s a tradition rooted in hard work, community, and good food – and pure Bear Grass.
It is odd how the tradition didn’t cross Highway 17 into Farm Life where my folks lived. Charlotte did say that her uncle married a Farm Life girl, and he introduced them to Chicken Mull. I don’t remember ever eating Chicken Mull in my youth. In some parts of the south, it is called Chicken Muddle; usually, this has other things in it like tomatoes and peppers. It is difficult to trace the origin of this humble dish.
After the men folks no longer had to fire the barns with wood, they would still cook up a pot of mull at the end of the tobacco season for the “hands” – the folks who worked the fields. Even now, when groups like the Ruritans have a fundraiser, you might see Chicken Mull on the menu.
It seems Chicken Mull is popular in the Carolinas and in parts of Georgia, often popping up in barbecue joints and at church dinners. In some parts of Georgia it is made with milk, but in the Carolinas, it is usually made with water, chicken and saltine crackers. Be on the lookout, or just whip up a batch for yourself.
Don’t miss the Chicken Mull Festival in Bear Grass, NC. It happens every year on the 4th Saturday of October – this year in 2025, it is October 25th. Check out North Carolina Weekend’s story of the Chicken Mull Festival.
Distances From: Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay
Raleigh, NC – 102 miles
Greenville, NC – 20 miles
New Bern, NC – 55 miles
Quiet rentals for traveling nurses & professionals in eastern North Carolina 252-792-8787
Looking for extended stay lodging in Eastern North Carolina? Big Mill Extended Stay offers quiet, fully furnished rentals ideal for traveling nurses, medical professionals, contractors, and guests relocating to the area. Our accommodations provide comfort, privacy, and Southern hospitality, perfect for short-term and long-term stays. We also have three RV rental spaces.
Big Mill Bed & Breakfast Extended Stay Williamston, NC 252-792-8787
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