Puff Pastry Chicken Pot Pie

A delicious recipe for home-made chicken pot pie, combined and adapted from two recipes we've made. With a mix of tender chicken and flavorful veggies, topped with a crispy, flaky crust, you won't have many leftovers after serving this dish.

Ingredients: 

-1 lb chicken breasts

-canola or olive oil

-2 c frozen mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans), cooked according to package

 

-2 stalks celery, finely chopped

-2-3 carrots, chopped

-½ large yellow onion, chopped

-3 cloves garlic, minced

-2 sprigs thyme, minced or equivalent dried

 

-4 tbsp butter

-½ cup all-purpose flour

-2 cups chicken stock

-1 cup milk

-salt and pepper

 

-1 c shredded cheddar (optional)

-puff pastry, thawed (allow at least 20 minutes for this)

-1 egg, beaten

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Set aside a 7x11inch baking pan. Cook chicken in 1 t oil. Rest and then chop. Place in 7x11 or a large bowl with the mixed vegetables, for later.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add celery, carrots, onion, garlic and thyme and cook, stirring frequently, until carrots are tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from pan and pour into the large bowl with chicken and frozen peas.

3. In the same, now empty, saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour (mixture will be thick and dough-like) and cook, stirring constantly, until combined. Gradually pour in the chicken stock while whisking constantly. Add the milk and cook until mixture has thickened slightly and coats the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.

 

4. Combine with chicken, vegetables, and celery mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

5. Pour entire mixture into casserole dish. Top with cheese if desired. Top the surface with the sheet of puff pastry - cutting into shapes and decorating the top if desired. If not, be sure to slice a few slits in the pastry to release steam. Brush/spoon egg onto the pastry. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until puff pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbling around the sides.

 

NB-if you're short on time, you can simplify this recipe by simply combining the chicken, cooked vegetables, and a can of cream of chicken soup. Top with cheese, pastry, egg.