Chicken & Turkey Recipes

Chicken Pot Pie

These individual Easy Chicken Pot Pies are the perfect comfort food. Homemade flaky crust tops a chicken and leek filing

Serves 4
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 1 hour

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You will also love my Lobster Pot Pies With Puff Pastry Crust

Can you believe that in the all the years I have been cooking (and baking) I never made chicken pot pies? What is wrong with me? In order to rectify this wrong I made them twice in 10 days and now I am completely hooked.

The pie crust is so easy to throw together and it just perfect – flaky and crisp. You can play with the ratio of cheese / butter if you want but I think this is just right – and you can use it on sweet pies too. I made an apple pie with this dough and it was awesomazing (but more about that in another post).

This quantity of pastry is enough for 8-10 mini (10cm/4in) chicken pot pies or 4 plus 1 small double crust pie. It can be kept in the fridge for about a week or in the freezer for much longer and is fantastic to have on standby.

Recipe

Easy Chicken Pot Pie

These individual Easy Chicken Pot Pies are the perfect comfort food. Homemade flaky crust tops a chicken and leek filing – sure to become a family favorite!

Serves 4
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 40 minutes
Total 1 hour

Ingredients

For the pie crust

2 ½ cups (315g) all-purpose flour ((= plain flour))
1 stick (115g) very cold butter (, cubed)
¼ cup (50g) vegetable shortening ((I used Trex))
generous ½ cup (60g) strong Cheddar cheese (, grated)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
¼ cup (60ml) ice water
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 egg + 1 tsbp milk for egg wash

For the filling

1 lb 2 oz (500g) mini chicken breasts ((or leftover cooked chicken))
3 large leeks ((white parts only))
4 ½ oz (130g) cooked chestnuts ((canned or vacuum packed))
4 slices of prosciutto (, chopped)
1-2 tbsp butter ((for frying))
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp unsalted butter
⅓ cup (80ml) white wine
⅓ cup (80ml) milk ((or cream))
⅓ cup (80ml) chicken stock
1-2 tbsp grated Parmesan ((optional))
Dash Worcestershire sauce
2 tbsp flat leaf parsley (, chopped)
Salt and freshly ground pepper (to season)
few herbs to decorate the pastry ((optional))

Method

1
To make the pastry dough, put all the dry ingredients in a food processor and pulse briefly a few times until the mix resembles large breadcrumbs.
2
Mix the vinegar and ice water then slowly pour the water into the dough while pulsing. You may not need to use all the water - stop once the dough forms clumps around the blade. (You can also make the pastry by hand or using a pastry blender).
3
Line a large piece of cling film on your worktop and dip the dough on it. Pat dough it into two disks, cover and put in the fridge for at least an hour (or freezer if you are in a hurry).
4
To make the filling, heat a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and add the leeks and prosciutto. Fry for 4-5 minutes until softened.
5
Grill the chicken breasts for 15 minutes until cooked through then chop into bite-sized pieces (do same if using cooked chicken).
6
Add the chopped chicken and chestnuts into the leeks and cook for a couple of minutes. Season generously and then set aside while you make the sauce.
7
Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Add the flour and stir. Switch to a hand whisk and gradually add the wine, milk, stock and Parmesan (if using) mixing continuously until you have a smooth sauce. Simmer until it thickens slightly. Add the chicken filling, Worcestershire sauce and chopped parsley and mix together. Check the seasoning.
8
Divide the filling between four 4-inch (10cm) oven proof dishes and cool. Heat the oven to 190C | 375F.
9
Flour your work surface then roll out 1 of the pastry disks about 1/2cm (1/4inch) thick. Stamp out rounds large enough to fit over your bowls. Brush egg wash around the rims and place the dough rounds on top. Press slightly to seal.
10
Brush the tops with egg wash and press some herbs on top for decoration if you like. Make two or three slits in the top of each with a sharp knife. Sprinkle tops with salt; bake until crust is golden brown, 35-40 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.