The BEST recipe for Chicken Pot Pie! Carrots, peas, and rotisserie chicken (or use leftover turkey from Thanksgiving!) come together in a deliciously flavorful gravy. All wrapped up in a buttery, flaky chicken pot pie crust! If you’ve only tried frozen pot pies from the store…please, I’m begging you, make this. Originally posted November 22, 2016.
Table of Contents
- How to make the Best Chicken Pot Pie
- This is the Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe!
- What is in a Chicken Pot Pie?
- Chicken Pot Pie Crust Recipe
- Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe tips
- What to serve with Two Crust Chicken Pot Pie
- How to store Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie
- Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe FAQs
- More pot pie, oh my!
- Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe with Double Crust Recipe
Eric’s grandpa is 86 years old and still gets up and goes to work every day. No, I’m not kidding. He had surgery last week. ON HIS BRAIN. He went back to work a couple days ago.
He owns the hardware and furniture store in the little town where Eric grew up, Sidney Montana. (Where are all my Sidney folks??) He doesn’t do it alone of course; it’s a family business that’s been around 100 years.
So I get this text a few weeks ago from Kris, my mother-in-law (who also owns the store) with this picture:
“Bumpa keeps bringing in stuff from his house and trying to sell it!” The tag says, “Trunk Cocktail Table, nice trade in.” Trade-in! As if!
Kris and the rest of the family always have to keep their eyes open for random junk that Bumpa will try to sell in the store so that they can take it off the shelves before anyone sees it. (The trunk was actually a great idea since they are so trendy right now, it sold in just a couple days.)
But one time he tried to sell a shoe horn. Another time he tried to sell an outdoor temperature gauge that had been hanging in his backyard for 40 years. The girls who work the front counter wrapped it up and gave it to him for Christmas. Someday on his tombstone they’ll write, “Paul: Father, Husband, and The Best Darn Salesman in Richland County.”
How to make the Best Chicken Pot Pie
I have been trying to share this chicken pot pie recipe on my blog for years. I’ve made it SO many times and it is a huge family favorite. (Isn’t chicken pot pie everyone’s favorite?) But every time I try to shoot it for the blog something goes wrong–I over bake it, or the photos are washed out, etc.
Today I almost dropped my phone directly on top of the pie while holding it with my shoulder, chatting with my sister and trying to take overhead photos. (When am I going to learn that multitasking is not the path to success for me?? It is usually the path to tripping and dropping things.)
This is the Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe!
You might think, with this homemade, from-scratch crust, that I’m not about taking shortcuts. But you would be wrong. Being a working mom with four kids has made a shortcut lover of me–that is, when they don’t impact the overall quality of my dinner.
Store bought crust? Get that outta here. Rotisserie chicken? Come to mama.
The thing is, a flaky homemade crust is what really elevates this recipe, making it totally unlike a chicken pot pie from the freezer section at the grocery store. Rotisserie chicken is already just as delicious as chicken you cook yourself, and it makes this recipe a lot more doable for busy people (like us!!) who want a warm, comforting pot pie but don’t want to spend 2 hours making it.
What is in a Chicken Pot Pie?
Here’s a quick shopping list to help you gather your ingredients. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients and instructions!
- Flour
- Sugar
- Salted butter
- Butter flavor shortening
- Egg
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chicken broth
- Milk
- Celery seed
- Fresh or dried thyme (optional)
- Shredded rotisserie chicken (1 lb, about 4 cups)
- Frozen peas
Chicken Pot Pie Crust Recipe
This pot pie is amazing. It starts with the most gorgeous tender and flaky crust you can imagine. The crust recipe has half an egg in it, which is kind of annoying, but it makes the dough really workable and tender. Plus for this recipe, we are going to use the other half to brush the top of the pie.
Making the filling
I know I just went on about the crust, but the filling! Oh the filling. Juicy dark and white meat from a rotisserie chicken and veggies sautéed in butter. The sauce is amazing.
I seriously can’t think of anything more comforting than chicken pot pie. It’s my favorite! If you have leftover turkey on Thanksgiving, you could use that instead of the chicken.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Check out my Thanksgiving board on Pinterest if you need more menu ideas.
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie Recipe tips
Making this homemade chicken pot pie is simple. Here are my tips for making a pot pie you and your family will love!
- Use rotisserie chicken. Why cook your own chicken from scratch when rotisserie chicken is often the same price (or even less) per pound of actual meat? (Plus, it saves time. And I am all about saving time whenever possible.)
- Use half an egg in the crust. Pie crusts don’t always include egg, but it helps keep the crust together; plus, you can use the other half of the egg for brushing on top and creating a gorgeous, picture-perfect golden brown crust.
- Make an easy homemade sauce. Creating a roux from scratch isn’t actually that hard, and it tastes way better than something from a can.
- Make your crust from scratch. I know that pie crust can be intimidating, but it is SO worth the effort. Store bought crust has nothin’ on pie crust from scratch. Remember, it doesn’t have to look perfect! It will still taste absolutely incredible.
What to serve with Two Crust Chicken Pot Pie
This chicken pot pie is a great main dish all its own–it’s got protein, veggies, and did I mention that gorgeous golden brown crust? But if you’re serving a hungry group or you’d like to fancy up your dinner, here are some of my favorite pairings.
Easy Broccoli and Bacon Salad << a cool and crunchy salad to go with your hot pot pie.
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Browned Butter << prep while the pot pie is baking, then pop it in the oven while you set the table. So elegant!
Lemon Dijon Green Beans Almondine << you can even make this one ahead of time!
Apple Gorgonzola Salad << a super fresh and delicious copycat recipe from Buca di Beppo.
Soft and Fluffy Parker House Rolls << another amazing comfort food for your supper table.
How to store Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie
You can store this chicken pot pie in the fridge for 3-4 days. I love heating this up for lunch, talk about treating yourself! I just microwave it until it’s warmed through.
Can you freeze chicken pot pie?
Yes, you definitely can. If you want to freeze the finished pot pie, you totally can, just go ahead and wrap it tightly before freezing for up to 3 months. If you’d prefer to assemble it but not bake it until you’re ready to eat it, then you can just follow the instructions through step 19, wrap tightly and freeze. When you want to bake it, you don’t need to defrost it first–just bake straight from frozen, but expect to add 20 minutes or so to the baking time.
Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe FAQs
The secret to keeping the bottom crust from getting soggy is to always add hot filling, never cool filling. If you do want to make the filling ahead of time, you can–even refrigerating or freezing it–you just need to heat it up again before putting it in the crust.
No need! When you’re making a fresh homemade pie crust and adding hot filling, the bottom crust won’t get soggy. Plus, it tastes a million times better than store bought crust.
While you might want to poke holes in the bottom of some pie crusts, it’s not a good idea when you’re making chicken pot pie. The liquidy filling can make the bottom crust soggy if you’re creating little holes for it to seep into.
Some chicken pot pie filling may not have the necessary ingredients to thicken. This pot pie filling includes a roux with flour in it, which acts as a thickener. Also, you’ll notice we’re letting the pot pie rest for 10-15 minutes after we take it out of the oven. That lets the filling set up a little more so it’s not running all over your plate.
The best way to thicken a pot pie filling is to base it on a roux–a fancy way of saying a simple sauce made of butter, flour, and milk. The flour is a thickener and will naturally thicken your pot pie filling to the ideal consistency.
More pot pie, oh my!
Mini Chicken Pot Pies (Quick and Easy!) << no lie.
One Skillet Chicken Pot Pie << this is basically the same filling, but it’s way faster because you only need on skillet and one pie crust.
Classic Shepherd’s Pie with Crispy Cheddar Topping << ultimate comfort food.
Chicken Parmesan Pot Pie << super easy.
Chicken Pot Pie with Chestnut Biscuits from Snixy Kitchen
Mushroom Bourguignonne Pot Pie from Oh My Veggies
Bubble Up Chicken Pot Pie Casserole from Emily Bites
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Best Chicken Pot Pie Recipe with Double Crust
Ingredients
For the pie crust:
- 1/4 cup water, very cold
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter, 1 stick, cold
- 6 tablespoons butter-flavored shortening
- 1 egg, beaten and DIVIDED
For the filling:
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, chopped
- 1/2 cup celery, chopped
- 1/2 cup butter, 1 stick
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 & 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon celery seed, to taste
- 1 sprig thyme, fresh, or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, optional
- 1 pound rotisserie chicken, shredded, about 4 cups
- 1 cup frozen peas
Instructions
- Measure out 1/4 cup water into a glass measuring cup and stick it in the freezer.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, and 1 teaspoon salt.
- Use a pastry cutter or fork to cut in the butter and shortening. Cut until it looks like coarse crumbs. Don't overdo it! You want pea-size pieces of butter.
- In a small bowl beat one egg. Pour half of the egg (you can just eyeball it) into another small bowl and save it for brushing the top of the pie.
- Add the 1/4 cup water in the freezer to the half beaten egg.
- Beat it together, then add it to the shortening mixture. Stir until it is just coming together, then use your hands to knead it once or twice (only to make it come together). Divide the dough in half.
- Generously sprinkle flour onto a sheet of parchment paper or a pastry cloth (or right on the counter) Roll the dough with a rolling pin, using as much flour as you need so that it doesn't stick. Invert the parchment paper onto a deep 9-inch pie pan and gently peel off the paper. (Or transfer it the way that sounds easiest to you. I often loosely roll the dough onto my rolling pin and then unroll it into the pie plate.) Stick the pie plate in the fridge if you have room.
- Roll out the remaining dough and set aside.
- Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F.
- Chop the onion, carrots, and celery.
- In a large skillet, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. When it is hot, add the onions, carrots, and celery. Saute, stirring occasionally until veggies are soft, about 5-7 minutes.
- Make the roux. Tilt the pan* to one side so the butter pools. Add the flour to the butter (try to keep the veggies separate to avoid flour lumps) and whisk together.
- Still tilting the pan, gradually (this means not all at once!) pour in the chicken broth and milk. Heat should still be on medium. Whisk together, still avoiding the veggies so that you don’t have to deal with flour lumps. When all the lumps are gone, stir in the veggies.
- Add 3/4 teaspoon salt, pepper, celery seed, and the sprig of thyme, if you’re using it.
- Cook the sauce for a couple minutes until it thickens a bit.
- Add the chicken and peas and stir. Remove from heat. Remove the thyme stem.
- Pour the mixture into the pie shell.
- Top with the other pie shell. Fold the top pie shell underneath the bottom so that it is sealed, then crimp however you like.
- Brush the top of the pie and the crust with the remaining half beaten egg. Use a sharp knife to make several slits in the top of the pie so that it can vent.
- Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. If you are worried that the pie will spill over, place it on a baking sheet.
- After 15 minutes, cover the crust of your pie so it doesn’t get too brown.**
- Continue baking for another 12-15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown all over.
- Remove from the oven, let stand 10-15 minutes, then devour.
Have you ever frozen the pot pie or made and baked the next day? I want to bring this to a dinner but won’t have time to make it right before eating
Hey Shea! This will work in theory but I’ve never tried it so can’t give any sure baking times for you. I found this article on King Arthur, I would check that out! https://blog.kingarthurflour.com/2010/12/09/freeze-the-fastest-way-to-fresh-baked-fruit-pie/
I’m going to try it! Wish me luck! Being a single mom of two daughters 16 and 14, both very involved in the dance team at school, and my work hours sometimes 16 hour shifts, I don’t have a lot of time to cook. Today, I’m off! I plan on making them dinner, and hopefully a little extra left overs for my lunch tomorrow 😉.
Thanks!
I’m so happy to hear that you’re cooking on your day off Melissa! fun family times :) How did it go? Did the girls like it? Did you have lunch leftovers??
This pot pie is wonderful – I’ve made it a couple of times now! I have a question about the fresh thyme sprig – I had previously used dried and then I made it with the fresh thyme for the first time this past week. Do I just take the spring out or do I put the thyme leaves into the filling and just take the stem out? I was concerned that I was doing it wrong because it didn’t seem like it was in there long enough to infuse a lot of flavour into the sauce – and I didn’t taste the finished product (sadly) as I was making it for my brother and sister-in-law who just had a new baby. Just want to check for next time as I’ve been craving chicken pot pie all week and need to make it again soon! Thanks for the wonderful recipes!
Can I use all butter instead of shortening? It’s not something I typically buy… (This looks delicious I can’t wait to try it, it will be my first pot pie)
Hey Erin! I’ve never made that pie crust with all butter but I’m pretty sure it would work. Good luck!
Just made the filling- WOW!!! So. Good. I did everything except switched out celery for potatoes and left out the celery seed (didn’t have any). This is definitely going into my recipe book! Thank you for sharing it with us!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Linz! That filling really does make it! Next time get your hands on some celery seed, it’s even better :) Thanks for commenting!
I made your chicken pot pie recipe over the holidays. It was dy-no-mite. I made a few little tweaks (a little extra salt, veggie broth instead of chicken broth, and I didn’t have celery seed on hand). The shredded chicken was where it’s at (I roasted my own).
I’ll rave especially about the crust, which I did make exactly according to your instruction. It was really beautiful to look at and amazing to eat.
My father-in-law, who ostensibly hates chicken pot pie, doesn’t hate chicken pot pie anymore.
Thanks for this.
I’m always a fan of a little extra salt. Probably I will die young. And I’m so glad you like the crust! It’s been my favorite pie crust for years, it’s from my best friend’s mom. Thanks for your review Jeff! Happy New Year!
This is the best chicken pot pie recipe post I’ve ever seen. The crust, the filling, everything looks so perfect. And those baby pot pie – skillet looks lovely too. A good suggestion for my dinner tomorrow :) Thanks Karen.
I have totally been wanting to make chicken pot pie for weeks now! So glad I found your recipe! Pinned!
Wow that looks so delicious! I’m glad you put celery in. I love celery! And I love your story telling. It’s like I’m watching a delicious movie lol. Thanks for the post. I’ll save it and make it :)
A delicious movie, hahaha!!! Thanks so much Mary! Enjoy the pot pie, love this stuff.
Your stories are one of my favorite parts! Definitely helps when you’ve got a great looking recipe too! Love pot pie!
Your husband’s grandpa sounds like quite the character! Yummy!
I disagree with a previous commenter. Recipes taste better with a back-story! Love this one, on both counts.
Thanks Jessie!! On both counts :) :)
I bet my dad is going to hear about this blog post one day at church or coffee with his buddies. He’ll never live it down! He definitely is a salesman through and through. You gotta love him.
So glad you posted this. Sometimes when I’m in a hurry I use a can of cream of chicken soup, but this is so much better!
Oh my gosh, I’m craving chicken pot pie at 9:30 in the morning… This is one gorgeous looking pie (and that crust)!!
I love your recipes! I send them to my friends they agree they’re awesome! We all agree that your stories are way too long and are a distraction to us though!
If you don’t like my stories Monique, scroll on by! The difference between personal blogs and recipe sites like epicurious or food network is that on a blog you get stories. I like my blog exactly how it is!
I said your recipes are great and I appreciate them just giving you some feedback! A lot of my friends have subscribed to your page because I showed them your recipes so no offense!
What a incredible rude thing to,say. I love her recipes and love the stories as well. Please don’t change what you are doing
Thanks for your support Patti!