Easy Chicken Pot Pie

What I love about this easy chicken pot pie is that I usually always have all of the ingredients in the pantry, the freezer, or the refrigerator. I can make this dinner in one hour, literally, start to finish. Of course, the pie crust must be thawed the day before.

If you make pie crust from scratch you will save a few dollars by making them yourself. The Marie Calender’s pie crusts I used can be located in the freezer section of your local grocery store.

They must be popular because where I shop they usually only have two or three in the designated freezer section. I’ve tried other pie crust brands, but they don’t pass my taste testing.

This chicken pot pie has a creamy gravy, lots of healthy vegetables, bite-size pieces of chicken, and the best pie crust ever! You can use rotisserie chicken, leftover baked chicken, and even canned chicken.

I highly recommend stocking up on canned chicken, cream of potato soup, and cans of Veg-All. Here’s the deal, I had trouble finding the Veg-All vegetables canned product. I finally found them at Krogers/Smiths Food King stores. I’m sure other stores carry them, but don’t give up if you can’t find them at first, they’re really the best for a recipe calling for a mixture of veggies.

This recipe is so easy to make and is perfect to take to a family in need, to a potluck, or just to fully enjoy a family meal. Be ready to hand out the recipe, this one is a keeper, my friends!

In case you missed my post, Easy Turkey Pot Pie

Kitchen Items You May Need:

• 9-inch Pie Plate
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Whisk (for egg)
• Colander

Ingredients – Easy Chicken Pot Pie

• Cream of Potato Soup: The perfect canned condensed soup for pot pie! Campbell’s variety is the best. It is a combination of potatoes, onions and a delicious rich creamy buttery sauce.
• VEG-ALL: A can that contains the perfect combination of 7 vegetables, cut up just right for the pot pie. Potatoes, green beans, carrots, peas, celery, corn, and limas beans. So simple and easy!
• Chicken (I used rotisserie chicken): I love to use rotisserie chicken that can be bought at the store. It’s cooked and has a delicious roasted flavor! It’s ready to be cut up into bite-sized pieces! Cooked chicken can also be used. An excellent source of protein!
• Milk: Due to the fat content, milk helps to produce a moist and creamy dip. It also helps to enrich the flavor of all of the other ingredients.
• Thyme Seasoning: Thyme has a very distinct, almost minty flavor. If fresh thyme is used, it is preferable to use just the leaves and discard the stem.
• Black Pepper: Pepper adds flavor and helps to bring all of the flavors together.
• Frozen Pie Crusts (thawed): Marie Callender’s has the perfect frozen pie crusts for this recipe! They are prepared and ready to go! They provide a savory flavor of butter and a homemade flaky crust!
• Egg (slightly beaten): Browns the pie crust during the cooking process. Adds a deliciously rich flavor to the pot pie!

Chicken Pot Pie

Step One – Gather Ingredients

Gather your ingredients, including the chicken that you’ve cut into bite-size pieces.

Step Two – Preheat Oven – Grease Pie Plate

Preheat your oven to 375°F -190°C. Grease your 9-inch pie plate and place one of the pie crusts on the pie dish or plate.

Step Three – Combine Ingredients in Bowl

In a bowl, combine and stir the potato soup, the can of VEG-All, the cubed chicken, the milk, the thyme, and salt and pepper to make the chicken pot pie filling.

Step Four – Scoop Mixture into Pie Crust

Scoop the mixture into the first pie crust.

Step Five – Cover with Pie Crust – Crimp Edges – Slit Top

Cover the mixture with the second pie crust. Crimp the edges to seal the mixture in the pie crusts. Use a knife to make a few small slits on the top crust for the steam to release while cooking.

Step Six – Brush Crust with Egg – Bake for 40 Mins

Brush the top crust with the beaten egg wash (optional). Bake for 40 minutes, or until golden brown.

Finished Product – Cool 10 Mins – Enjoy!

Cool 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy.

Where did pot pies come from?

Archaeological finds tell us that “pies” of various kinds date back to the Neolithic Age which was about 9500 B.C. Greeks have always loved their meats, and they would mix them with other flavored items and served in a pastry shell known as an Artocreas. As part of the Roman Empire expansion, the Romans were introduced to the pastries and they incorporated them as key banquet offerings. They expanded the meat side of the pie by offering them filled with fish, including shellfish like mussels and oysters. The Romans used a flour and oil mixture to create their “crusts.”

During the Crusade period, the pies took various shapes and ingredients all over medieval Europe. Besides new vegetable add ons, the pies also started to include new meats like venison, pork, lamb, and game animals and birds. The pilgrims brought their pie recipes with them as part of the move to the “New World” and the art of making pot pies spread throughout the US as part of the western expansion and settlement.

One of the first mentions of chicken pot pie in the Americas was a recipe found in the American Cookery cookbook which was published in 1796. Many famous kitchen names like Betty Crooker and Pillsbury have had chicken pot pie in their recipe inventory for many years.

I still buy Marie Callendar’s frozen chicken pot pie at Costco so I have something quick and easy on those really busy days, or when guests unexpectedly show up. I understand they are different from what Marie made in her home kitchen and ultimately offered in her restaurants, but I still love them.

Are pot pies always baked in an oven?

No, you can cook them in other ways too. Some people like theirs in a skillet used over a stovetop, others in a pie iron cooked over an open flame, or I’ve seen them cooked in a Dutch oven similar to a cobbler recipe.

What meats can I use in a pot pie?

Although you’ll see or hear about other meat-based pot pies, like steak/beef, fish, ham, bacon, and leftover turkey. The most common pot pie is made with chicken breasts. Although not meat-based, you’ll also come across pot pies made with cheese, mushrooms, and other plant-based ingredients.

Our family loves pot pies, and most often use some variety of meat, we do make them with just the veggie components from time to time. We’ve found that either fresh or frozen mixed vegetables seem to taste best, and we shy away from most canned veggies. That’s why I was so surprised to experience the Veg-All brand and its delicious flavor and texture. Don’t be afraid to branch out and add some onions, garlic, celery, fresh herbs such as fresh parsley, and other flavorful veggies to change up the flavor and texture of your pot pie.

Will homemade pie crusts work well for chicken pot pies?

All my readers know I love any meal recipe that can be made from scratch. I harp on that all the time. The one item that has tended to baffle me over the year is how to make good pie crusts that hold their shape and taste like those in the frozen section at the store. I also have appreciated how quickly I can make meals calling for pie crusts if I have them in my freezer, ready to go. I’m always feeling a little busy, so getting them at the store works best for me.

By the way, when it comes to pie crusts, I realized many people use them for other things besides just pies. I haven’t done any research yet, but check out online some options, including:

• tarts
• buttery crackers
• empanadas
• palmiers
• pie crust cookies
• breakfast pastries
• samosas

Using a puff pastry in the refrigerator section would also be an option. I really love the Marie Calendar’s frozen pie crusts, but it is always fun to try making your own crusts. Start with using quality ingredients like butter or shortening, all-purpose flour, salt, and cold water. Then use the correct technique of cutting in the fat with the flour until it resembles coarse crumbs. Finally, add just enough cold water to form a dough that is easy to roll out without sticking to your hands or surface. 

Final Word

When it comes to cooking a meal that millions have called their favorite “ultimate comfort food” for decades, jump on the bandwagon and give this homemade chicken pot pie recipe a whirl. It really is easy to make, has ingredients that most family members enjoy, and with the hefty amount of vegetables included, can be considered a pretty healthy meal. Don’t be afraid like me when it comes to trying your hand at making homemade pie crusts, give it a shot.

I really love the flavor of this chicken pot pie recipe! The combination of the vegetables along with the buttery flaky pie crusts make this a meal that will make family members wanting to come back for seconds and thirds! It is the perfect dish to serve at Christmas dinner or even a Thanksgiving feast.

Let me know how things go when making this recipe, I love hearing from you. My God bless this world. Linda