Chicken Pot Pie is perfect comfort food and these are made easy with a store-bought puff pastry topping. Great with leftover turkey, too!
These delicious and easy chicken pot pies with puff pastry, are super tasty and I love the balance of chicken to vegetables. This is no bland pie (and I've had a few!) but you do need to be sure to season well with salt and pepper, depending on the saltiness of your chicken stock. Good seasoning will bring all the flavours together.
The creamy filling combines cooked chicken with carrots, potatoes and mushrooms and it cooks up easily and quickly on the stovetop. It's a great use for leftover cooked chicken or turkey. Even if you don't have leftovers, a few chicken breasts can be easily cooked up and chopped, or start with a rotisserie chicken.
To finish these off, simple and easy store-bought frozen puff pastry is cut into squares to cover the top, for a lovely presentation and a crispy, tasty topping.
Ingredient Notes
Chicken - these chicken pies are a great use for left-over cooked chicken. A store-bought rotisserie chicken would also work well. Alternately, simply cook off some chicken breasts to use. These chicken pot pies are just as nice with turkey, especially leftover Thanksgiving turkey!
Puff Pastry - I love the pre-rolled sheets of puff pastry, as it eliminates the rolling step and ensures even cooking, as they are evenly thick.
Cook's Notes
Of course, leftover chicken, poached or baked chicken breast meat and/or store-bought broth is just fine here. If you can though, I strongly suggest fresh carrots and thyme (frozen carrots are just never the same and fresh thyme leaves are such a nice touch in dishes like this!). Frozen peas are just fine, though.
Be sure to cut your carrots into small pieces, to ensure they will be tender. I taste test them before spooning into the individual bowls, to ensure they are tender, as they won't cook much more in the oven. Cook a little longer on the stove-top if necessary.
If you'd prefer one big chicken pot pie instead of individual ones, bake this recipe in a 9x13-inch pan instead.
I can't stress enough that salt is critical for this dish. Taste your filling before baking. You should taste the salt. If it tastes bland or without flavour, add more salt. A nice grinding of fresh pepper is also good here.
Top Tip! Avoid soggy bottomed puff pastry by allowing both brushing the bottom of the pastry with egg wash and allowing a small space between the pastry and the filling as it bakes.
Speaking of the puff pastry crust, I don't cut any slits or holes into these, as the steam can easily escape out the narrow sides. It also prevents the centre of the crust from collapsing down. Puffing up is nicer :)
Recipe
Individual Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Topping
Ingredients
- 2 rolls frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 5 Tbsp all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 5 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4" pieces
- 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2" pieces
- 12 oz button mushrooms, stems removed
- 2 cups chicken broth, homemade or store bought
- 1 cup milk
- 5 cups cooked chicken, or turkey, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup green peas, fresh or frozen
- 2 Tbsp chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 2 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, or 1/2 - 3/4 tsp dried thyme, or to taste
- 3 tsp coarse Kosher salt, or 1 1/2-2 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp water
Instructions
- Do ahead: Thaw puff pastry and the roll out on a lightly floured surface into a 1/4-inch thick square or rectangular larger than the dimensions of your baking dish (or disheby about 3 inches on each side. Transfer to a baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Remove chilled dough from refrigerator, and place on a cutting board. Place your intended baking dish directly onto the dough, with the opening side down. With a sharp knife, cut around the dish so that you have an even 3 inches around the dish on all edges. Return the dough to the baking sheet, wrap tightly with plastic, and chill for an additional hour.
- Prepare vegetables and chicken and have ready.
- In a large heavy pot, melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion, potatoes, and carrots. Cook, stirring regularly, until the potatoes and carrots are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms, cooking until mushrooms are heated through. Add flour, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in chicken stock and milk. Stir well. Bring to a simmer and cook until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in chicken, peas, parsley, and thyme. Taste and season well with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Transfer filling to your baking dishes, filling not quite to the top, so there will be a bit of space between the filling and the topping. Let stand to allow to cool 10 -15 minutes before topping. Meanwhile, place oven rack in lower third of the oven and preheat oven to 425° F.
- Prepare your egg wash by combining 1 egg and 1 tsp. water. Remove dough from refrigerator and brush surface evenly with egg wash. Measure how bit a piece your will need to cover the top of your baking dishes and cut pieces of puff pastry to that size. Invert dough (with egg brushed side down) and place directly over the casserole, pressing lightly to seal overhanging crust to the side of the dish. Brush top surface of dough with egg wash.
- Transfer dishes to a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment (to catch any boil-over!). Bake for 10 - 15 minutes (or until crust is nice and golden), then cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent crust from burning, and continue baking for about 25 minutes more, or until filling is bubbling and crust is golden. Serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.
Irene says
Made this awhile back but set the receipe aside. When I found it (!), couldn’t remember which of your receipes it was but I taken photos ‘cause it was impressive!
Used a casserole dish to prevent any overflow. OUTSTANDING!!!!
Jennifer says
Thanks! So glad you enjoyed it :)
Kit says
Thank you Jennifer for your help! I am looking forward to making them
Kit says
Hello Jennifer,
I love your site. The pictures of your food are beautiful and the recipes are amazing.
My question for you is - Can you make the Chicken Pot Pies with the Puff Pastry ahead and freeze ? Would you first cook them then freeze or freeze unbaked ? Would you defrost after taken out from freezer then bake or just go straight from freezer to oven ? Also will the Puff Pastry still puff up nicely if not baked ahead?
What are your thoughts ?
Thank you.-Kit
Jennifer says
Hi Kit and thanks very much :) I haven't actually tried it, but if I wanted to freeze these, I would assemble with the puff pastry, but skip the egg wash. Wrap and freeze. To cook, simply cook from frozen, but allow extra time in the oven as it is starting from frozen. My feeling is that it would cook up just fine. Maybe watch the puff and have a piece of foil handy. If it seems to be browning before the filling is hot, simply lay loosely over the top for the last part of cooking. Hope that helps!
Laura | Tutti Dolci says
What a perfect dinner idea, I love the puff pastry!
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Laura :)
[email protected] says
This looks amazing! We made two turkeys this year and barely scratched the surface of the second, so this recipe suits my needs perfectly! Pinned!
Jennifer says
Thanks Annie :)
Milena says
These are so incredibly cute and yes - love your remarks about the salt. Cannot stand bland anything:)
Jennifer says
Thanks Milena and yes, salt is the most important ingredient in all cooking, for sure :)
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Love pot pie, especially little individual ones like this (and those dishes are adorable). I have a recipe coming up on the blog soon too. It's the best time of year with all kinds of comfort food like this :)
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Dawn :)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
These are perfect for all the left over holiday turkey Jennifer! One of my husband's favorite meals!
Jennifer says
Thanks Mary Ann!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says
So perfect for these super cold days! We love a hearty, delicious meal, especially on the weekends. Love this simple crust too. It looks delicious Jennifer.
Jennifer says
Thanks Tricia :)
Jennifer says
Thanks Joudie. I had some filling left-over that I froze, so we enjoyed another meal of these just recently. Just as good!
joudie's Mood Food says
MY OH MY OH MY! This is the way to my heart! I love chicken pot pie. This has to be the most beautiful one i have seen and sounds so tasty. I am definitley making this tonight. I am so glad i found your blog. Just beautiful!
Jennifer says
So glad, Jenni! I often seem to have puff pastry around since I love the stuff, but I'm sure a regular pie crust was just as nice.
Jenni says
Oh man! We had this for dinner! It was the best dinner ever! I used pie crust rather than puff pastry, because I don't regularly stock puff, and pie is easy :) deeeelish!
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
Chicken pot pie is the ultimate comfort food in my book, and I think you and Martha did a great job with this one. :) It looks fabulous!