Chicken Pot Pie is a classic comfort food dish, but can also be a time consuming one if you’re making everything from scratch. In my original recipe (that’s on the blog here) you first have to cook the chicken and then spend time making a pie crust from scratch to go on top. These are the days when I miss being able to buy a frozen pack of (highly processed) puff pastry sheets and calling it a day! But despite those challenges, I persevered and figured out how to make a super easy shortcut Chicken Pot Pie version that’s just as wholesome as the original. Because let’s face it – my family LOVES this dish so I had to figure out a way I could make it more often!
My Go-To Canned Chicken: Valley Fresh
There are three ways I was able to make this a “shortcut” recipe. First of all, I used all frozen veggies that were already washed, peeled and diced (gotta love that!). Second of all, I used my fastest and easiest biscuit recipe (that’s mainly just flour and cream) to go on top instead of a more labor intensive pie crust. And lastly, I used “clean” organic canned chicken from Valley Fresh because it made things super easy and tasted great mixed in with the sauce in this dish.
Making everything from scratch is a wonderful goal, but sometimes life simply gets in the way, and the convenience of already cooked chicken can make all the difference! And when it’s certified USDA organic with simple ingredients (sans antibiotics or anything artificial) in a BPA-free can there’s nothing to feel guilty about whatsoever. :)
Shortcut Chicken Pot Pie
I used 3 tricks to make this Shortcut Chicken Pot Pie just as wholesome as the original but faster. Now my family can have it more often...score!
Ingredients
For the Filling
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups frozen veggies, carrot + pea mixture
- 4 cans chicken, drained (I used Valley Fresh Organic)
- 6 tablespoons whole-wheat flour, (I used the same pastry flour I used in the biscuit topping)
- 5 cups broth, (chicken or veggie)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- pepper, to taste
For the Biscuit Topping
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour, + extra for patting out the dough (can substitute regular whole-wheat flour, but pastry flour is so good in this!)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- scant 2/3 cup heavy cream, + a little extra for brushing the top (optional)
Instructions
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Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
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In a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, frozen veggies, and chicken and cook for a couple more minutes.
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Sprinkle in the flour and stir just until the flour is almost completely absorbed and begins to darken in color. You can add a little more butter here if your pan gets too dry.
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Add the broth, cream, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens to the consistency of a thin gravy.
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Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt for the biscuit topping. Pour in the cream and stir to combine just until the dry ingredients are moistened.
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Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and flatten it with your hands so it's the right size and shape for your baking dish (you could use a small square, round or oval baking dish).
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Pour chicken mixture into your baking dish and position the dough on top. Brush with a little cream on top (to help it turn golden brown) and pierce some holes in the top with a fork.
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Bake until the topping begins to turn golden brown and the filling is bubbly underneath, about 15 to 18 minutes.
Recipe Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when feasible.
Nutrition Facts
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I made this tonight and it is so good! I did read the comments and greatly adjusted the broth amounts. I used about 2.5 cups or so (didn’t measure precisely) and it turned out the right consistency. I was afraid it would be too liquidy still when it came out of the oven, but as it cooled a smidgeon, it thickened up. The crust on top was real good with the filling and easy to make.
CAN YOU USE FRESHLY MILLED WHEAT FOR THIS?
Yes! That will work too. – Nicole
Can I make this biscuit dough and either drop onto filling or cut out into rounds and place on top?
Yes, that would work!
If I don’t have canned chicken but a whole BBQ chicken instead , how much of that would this recipe require? 1/4? 1/2?
Thanks! And looking forward to making this!
Turned out very much like a soup. I should have read the comments! Taste was great but consistency was nothing like the picture – had to serve with a bowl and spoon. Think next time I’ll try about 2 cups of broth instead of 5.
Way too much broth. Cut in half and then add more until desired consistency. Not sure how the pie in the picture turned out so thick with 5 cups broth.
We all enjoyed the flavor in this dish but unfortunately mine turned out a soup. I even took other reviewer suggestions and cut back on the broth and I still had to serve this in bowls with a spoon. Again, great flavor just wish it turned out more like a pie.
This was total watery soup for us! Too bad.
I guess I should have read comments first!
I’m updating my review! We really do love the flavor of the recipe. It is watery, but if we look at more like a soup we really enjoy it.
Even my husband who does not like chicken pot pie gives this one a thumbs up.
This was a total watery soup for us! Too bad.
I guess I should have read comments first!
Can this pot pie be put in the freezer and reheated? If so, for how long?
Hi. This might help: https://www.freep.com/story/life/food/recipes/2016/11/02/chicken-pot-pie/93197760/. Reheated food should be heated to an internal temperature of 165.
I make my filling in bulk and freeze so all I have to do is thaw. I can make pot pie, but for a fast meal I make biscuits. While the filling is thawing and heating (on the stove or in the microwave) I make the biscuits. I can have dinner on the table in 30 minutes,
Making this for the second time – but tonight I’m using our leftover Thanksgiving turkey. Easy recipe that my family loved. My only problem was with the topping – it didn’t make enough to cover my dish the first time and kinda fell inside it. It still tasted great, but I’m going to double it for tonight’s dinner.
After I nitially commented I appear to have cliced on the -Notify me when nnew comments are added- checkbox and now every time a comment is adde I recieve four
emails with the same comment. There has tto be
a means yoou are able too remove me from that service? Thanks a
lot!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I bought your cookbook and have been slowly changing our food over to real food but have always had to make separate things for hubby. He hates all things too “healthy” for him, but I made this last night for dinner with some fine ground whole wheat flour and he ate two bowls!!!! and then took the leftovers for lunch today. Thank you again and I am looking forward to making more of your recipes :)
This is our new favorite! I love chicken pot pie but there is so much junk in it pre made, or its usually too much work, but this was perfect. Fast and simple. I made minor changes in quantities (more veggies, less rotisserie chicken) but this is seriously delicious.
This was so good! I made it withwhole wheat pastry flour and leftover chicken that I had on hand. My girls asked if we could eat this again tomorrow.