When the weather turns chilly and comfort food cravings set in, few dishes satisfy like a classic chicken pot pie. Its warm, savory filling and flaky crust are the epitome of culinary coziness. However, traditional chicken pot pie can be time-consuming to prepare, which is where make-ahead chicken pot pie recipes come in. These recipes allow you to prepare the filling and crust ahead of time, making it a breeze to assemble and bake when you're ready to indulge. Whether you prefer a creamy or hearty filling, a buttery or flaky crust, or a combination of both, there's a make-ahead chicken pot pie recipe out there to suit your taste.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MAKE AHEAD LOW FAT CHICKEN POT PIE RECIPE
This make ahead low fat pot pie recipe is a family favorite that comes together super easily and you don't miss the high fat flavor
Provided by Maria @ staying Close to Home
Categories MAIN DISH
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Preheat oven 400 F if serving immediately Coat pie plate or 2 quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. 2. In nonstick skillet coated with nonstick cooking spray, sauté onion, celery and carrots until tender, stirring. 3. In a small cup, add cornstarch to ½ cup chicken broth, mixing well. Pour into skillet, stirring. Gradually add remaining chicken broth, stirring and cooking over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Add evaporated milk, thyme as well as salt and pepper to taste. Return to boil, add chicken, cooking until mixture is thickened and bubbly. Either proceed or allow mixture to cool, cover and refrigerate. Once you are ready to serve, reheat mixture if made ahead or time and spoon hot mixture into baking pan. Pull apart biscuits and layer on top of mixture, overlapping some if necessary. . Bake 10-12 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown. Allow to cool a few minutes and serve.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE--MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZABLE!
A healthier, homemade version of the classic comfort food, chicken pot pie. This recipe includes instructions for making and baking right away or making ahead and freezing and baking later. NOTE: This recipe makes 2 whole pies. Make one to enjoy now and freeze another for later!
Provided by Brenda Thompson
Categories Main Course
Time 30m
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Saute the first 3 ingredients in butter in a big skillet over medium heat until tender, 5-10 minutes.
- Add flour; stir until smooth. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add chicken broth and milk; cook, stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly, about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in chicken, peas, salt, and pepper.
- Cool before pouring into pie crusts. VERY important! This allows it to thicken a bit more.
- At this point you may freeze the filling in a labeled freezer safe container/bag. To prepare from frozen, read instructions below.
- Freezes very well separately or fully prepared in the crust. Try them both and see which way you prefer! And see instructions below for both.
- Start by preparing the crusts by rolling them out and place the bottom crusts in the pie plates and set aside the top crusts until ready to cover.
- Pour filling mixture into bottom crusts and cover with top crusts.
- Fold edges under and crimp.
- Poke slits in the top (you can make a nice pattern here too!)
- Cover with foil, label and freeze. See below for preparation instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bake assembled pie uncovered, for 30-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
- Thaw filling in refrigerator. You might need to stir or mush the filling together to combine well and reincorporate. Assemble as described above (To Assemble Your Pot Pie) and bake accordingly. OR you may bake the whole pie from frozen.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and bake 30 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 piece, Calories 281 kcal, Carbohydrate 28 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 16 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 16 mg, Sodium 424 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 2 g
CHICKEN POT PIE
Provided by Ree Drummond : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h15m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- For the chicken: Start by putting the chicken in a pot and covering it with water. Bring the water to a boil, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes, and then remove the chicken from the pot. Set the chicken aside to cool briefly.
- Shred the chicken with 2 forks, reserving the bones. For the stock, return the bones to the pot and boil for 20 minutes. Remove the bones from the pot and discard.
- For the pot pie: When you're ready to use the Thyme Pastry, remove from the freezer and allow it to sit on the counter to thaw slightly, about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Begin by finely dicing the vegetables. Slice the celery stalks into narrow strips, then slice in the other direction to create a fine dice. Repeat this process with the carrots, and the onion.
- Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Saute until the vegetables start to turn translucent, a couple of minutes.
- Add 2 cups of the shredded chicken and stir to combine. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the vegetables and chicken, and stir to combine. Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring gently.
- Pour in the chicken broth, stirring constantly. Stir in the bouillon cube and wine if using. The flour will combine with the chicken to create a delicious gravy. Next, add the peas.
- Pour in the cream and stir. Allow the mixture to cook over low heat, thickening gradually, about 4 minutes. Season with the thyme, salt and pepper, and remove from the heat. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. Be sure it's adequately salted!
- Pour the chicken mixture into a deep pie pan or small casserole dish.
- Roll out the pastry so that it's 1 inch larger than the pan. Place the crust on top of the chicken mixture and cut small slits in the top. Press the crust gently into the sides of the dish to seal. I don't worry about making a perfect edge on my chicken pot pie because a) it looks more rustic and b) I'm lazy, hungry and I want to eat.
- Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- To freeze: Allow the filling to cool completely then top with the crust. Cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the freezer.
- To cook from frozen: Remove the pot pie from the freezer, brush with egg wash (1 egg mixed with 2 tablespoons water or cream) and place directly in a 375-degree F oven and bake until lightly browned and bubbly, 30 to 45 minutes.
- For the thyme pastry: Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Using pastry cutter, gradually work the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles tiny pebbles. This step should take 3 or 4 minutes.
- Lightly beat the egg with a fork, and then add it to the mixture. Next, add in the cold water and vinegar. Stir the mixture together until it's just combined, and then remove half the dough from the bowl. (Dividing the dough in half results in two pretty generous pie crusts. If you desire a thinner crust, you may divide the dough into three crusts.)
- Place in a large plastic bag (do not seal) and slightly flatten with a rolling pin. This makes it much easier to roll out the crust later. After flattening, seal the bag tightly.
- Repeat with the other half of the dough and place the plastic bags in the freezer. I like to make several batches of pie crust at a time so I always have a crust ready to go.
- For recipes other than this pot pie, remove from the bag and place on a lightly floured surface. With a rolling pin, begin rolling the dough from the center, outward. Be gentle and patient; it'll take a little time to get the dough completely rolled out.
- If you think the bottom is really sticking to the surface below, use a nice, sharp spatula to loosen it and sprinkle some extra flour on top. Then flip it over to finish rolling. Remember to roll from the center in single, outward strokes; no back-and-forth rolling.
- Again with a spatula, loosen and lift the pie crust and carefully lay it over a pie pan. Using your hand, lightly form the crust so that it fits inside the pan and overlaps the edges.
- Because it's quick and easy, I just tuck the excess dough under itself above the rim. Then you can apply whatever decorative effects that you like to the edge. Or you can leave it plain if you'd like! Just tell yourself it's more rustic that way!
- Fill the pie crust with filling and bake according to the pie recipe's directions. Or, for a pre-baked crust, fill with pie weights (or pinto beans placed on aluminum foil) and bake at 400 degrees F until golden, about 10 minutes.
MAKE-AHEAD CHICKEN POT PIE
This is a delicious, traditional chicken pot pie that I got from my mom. It is one of my favorites, and it makes two pies so you can make ahead and freeze one for up to 3 months.
Provided by kshanto26
Categories Main Dish Recipes Savory Pie Recipes Pot Pie Recipes Chicken Pot Pie Recipes
Time 1h50m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
- Place potatoes and carrots into a large pot and cover with salted water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain.
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat; stir in onion. Cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Slowly stir in flour and thyme. Slowly stir in broth and milk; bring to a boil. Cook until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add chicken, peas, corn, and potato-carrot mixture.
- Place a pie crust in the bottom of 2 pie plates. Fill each with 1/2 of the pot pie mixture and cover with the remaining pie crusts. Cut slits in the top of each crust, and press a fork around the edges to seal. Freeze one pie.
- Bake one pot pie in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 476.6 calories, Carbohydrate 36.6 g, Cholesterol 59.7 mg, Fat 29.9 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 15.7 g, SaturatedFat 12.1 g, Sodium 586.5 mg, Sugar 3.3 g
SHAKER-STYLE CHICKEN POT PIE
Provided by Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 2h30m
Yield one 9-inch pie
Number Of Ingredients 22
Steps:
- For the crust: Whisk together the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and cream cheese and toss to coat with the flour. Using a pastry blender, two knives or your fingertips, work the fat into the flour until the mixture looks like moist cornmeal. Sprinkle in the water, a tablespoon at a time, gently working the mixture into a shaggy dough that just comes together when pinched. Gather the dough into a ball, then divide it in half and form into two disks. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.
- For the filling: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes have softened, about 10 minutes. Add the green beans and bell peppers; cook for another 2 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl with the chicken pieces and set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat and whisk in the flour. Continue whisking over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes (it's OK if the roux colors -- I like the nutty flavor), and then add the cream, milk and vermouth. Continue stirring over medium heat until the mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan, thyme and lemon zest. Season with salt and pepper, then pour the roux over the chicken-vegetable mixture. Stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cool.
- Roll out one of the disks of dough into a rough 12-inch round. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the dough so that it overhangs the edge by about 1/2 inch. Dock the dough in the pie pan by pricking the bottom with the tines of a fork. Add the filling to the lined pie plate. Roll out the second disk of dough into a 10-inch round and top the pie. Crimp the edges to seal. Cut slits in the top of the pie to vent. Place in the freezer until the crust feels frozen, 10 to 15 minutes. (At this point, the pie can be wrapped in plastic and then foil and frozen for up to a month. See Cook's Note for baking instructions.)
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Brush the pot pie with egg wash, place on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbling, about 40 minutes.
GOLDEN CHICKEN POTPIE
The golden crust and creamy sauce make this veggie-packed pie a surefire hit. Mild and comforting, the family favorite has convenient freezer instructions for a night when there's no time for prep. -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 55m
Yield 2 potpies (6 servings each).
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400°. Combine the first 11 ingredients. Divide between two 9-in. deep-dish pie plates., Roll out crusts to fit top of each pie. Place over filling; trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in top. Bake until golden brown, 35-40 minutes., Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked pies up to 3 months. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 425°. Place pie on a baking sheet; cover edges loosely with foil. Bake 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°. Remove foil and bake until golden brown or until heated through and a thermometer inserted in center reads 165°, 50-55 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 415 calories, Fat 19g fat (8g saturated fat), Cholesterol 69mg cholesterol, Sodium 706mg sodium, Carbohydrate 39g carbohydrate (5g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 20g protein.
FREEZE & BAKE CHICKEN POT PIES RECIPE BY TASTY
Here's what you need: butter, onion, celery, large carrots, milk, chicken broth, flour, rotisserie chicken, frozen peas, salt, pepper, refrigerated pie crusts, disposable foil pot pie pans
Provided by Claire Nolan
Categories Dinner
Yield 6 pot pies
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- In a deep skillet, melt the butter and cook celery, carrots, and onion until tender.
- Pour in the flour, and mix in well.
- Stirring constantly, add in the milk and chicken broth a little at a time, alternating between the two. Bring to a boil and continue stirring until thickened.
- Add chicken, peas, salt, and pepper, and stir until combined. Remove from heat and cool.
- Roll out pie crust and use the foil pot pie dish as a template. Cut a piece of dough for the bottom of the dish that is about an inch (²¹⁄₂ cm) thicker than the widest rim of the dish, and a piece that is the same size as the rim. (Roll dough back out and repeat to make more pieces.)
- Place the larger piece of crust in the bottom of the foil dish, fill with the cooled pot pie filling, and top with the smaller crust piece.
- Pinch together, then seal together with a fork. Cut 4 small slits in the middle of the crust.
- Cover each pot pie with foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
- To bake from frozen, preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C), and bake for 30 minutes with the foil on top. Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 969 calories, Carbohydrate 86 grams, Fat 58 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 23 grams, Sugar 12 grams
SLOW-COOKER MAKE-AHEAD CHICKEN
Juicy, cooked chicken is the start to so many favorite meals, from cold chicken salad to warming bowls of chicken noodle soup. That's why we adore this recipe. Its seasoning is neutral enough to go with most any dish and, parceled out in bags in the freezer, it's a dinnertime game changer. With two easy methods, it's easy to make this recipe just about any time. Start it while you're prepping dinner on a Tuesday night, and it'll be done cooking and cool enough to put away by the time dinner's over. Or, go the slow-cooker method, and you can run out the door to do errands, pick up kids or dare we say it-just relax-while your chicken is cooking away! With bags of already cooked chicken parceled out in your fridge, there's no cold that can't be soothed or sandwich that can't be filled.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 3h45m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix oil, salt, garlic powder and ground red pepper. Add chicken; turn to coat.
- Add chicken to slow cooker; pour 1/4 cup water over chicken. Cover and cook on Low heat setting 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours or until chicken is tender and easy to shred.
- Transfer chicken to cutting board; cool slightly. Shred chicken, then toss with 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid. Discard remaining liquid.
- To Freeze: Divide chicken into 2 portions (about 2 cups each). Place each portion in freezer container or resealable freezer plastic bag. Label with date. Cover and refrigerate until completely cooled, at least 1 hour. Transfer to freezer; freeze up to 3 months. Thaw in refrigerator overnight or until completely thawed. Use in recipes calling for cooked chicken.
- To Make in Oven: Heat oven to 425°F. Place rack in large rimmed sheet pan. Spray rack and pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix oil, salt, garlic powder and ground red pepper. Add chicken; turn to coat. Place in single layer on rack in pan. Roast 33 to 38 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of largest thigh reads 180°F and meat is tender enough to shred. Remove from oven; let rest until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Shred chicken with 2 forks. Toss shredded chicken in pan liquid to coat.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 210, Carbohydrate 0 g, Cholesterol 135 mg, Fat 1 1/2, Fiber 0 g, Protein 29 g, SaturatedFat 2 1/2 g, ServingSize About 1/2 Cup, Sodium 550 mg, Sugar 0 g, TransFat 0 g
MAKE-AHEAD TURKEY POTPIE
Some days, your cravings don't jive with your busy schedule. Problem solved! Whip up a batch of these rich, creamy potpies, and enjoy two tonight and tuck two in the freezer for another time. They take less than 30 minutes to prepare, and freeze beautifully. What's even better is the filling lends itself to variation. You can use what you already have on hand, even leftovers! -Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 50m
Yield 4 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°. In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, potato and celery; cook and stir until tender. Add flour and seasonings until blended; gradually add milk and broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in turkey and peas; divide mixture among 4 ungreased 5-in. pie plates., Unroll crust; cut into quarters. On a work surface, reroll 1 quarter into an 6-in. circle; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edge; cut slits in top. Repeat with remaining crust and potpies., Cover and freeze 2 potpies for up to 3 months. Bake remaining potpies until golden brown, 18-22 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving., To use frozen potpies: Remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edge of crusts loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden brown and filling is bubbly, 15-20 minutes longer.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 568 calories, Fat 30g fat (15g saturated fat), Cholesterol 117mg cholesterol, Sodium 967mg sodium, Carbohydrate 46g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 27g protein.
Tips:
- Prep ahead: Save time by prepping the chicken and vegetables in advance. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Use a variety of vegetables: The more colorful your pot pie, the more nutritious it will be. Try using a mix of carrots, celery, peas, corn, and green beans.
- Don't overcook the chicken: Overcooked chicken is tough and chewy. Cook it just until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make a roux: A roux is a mixture of flour and butter that helps to thicken the gravy in your pot pie. Be sure to cook the roux over medium heat until it is golden brown.
- Use a good quality pie crust: The pie crust is an important part of any pot pie. Use a store-bought crust or make your own from scratch.
- Bake the pot pie until the crust is golden brown: This will ensure that the pie is cooked through and the crust is crispy.
Conclusion:
Make-ahead chicken pot pie is a delicious and easy meal that can be enjoyed by the whole family. With a little planning, you can have a hot and hearty meal on the table in no time. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, give make-ahead chicken pot pie a try.
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