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!
1cup1% milkyou may also substitute skim, 2% or whole milk but the nutrition facts will change
2cupschickencooked, chopped
1cuppeasthawed from frozen
1tsp.salt
½tsp.pepper
4unbaked pie crustshomemade or store-bought
Instructions
To Make Filling
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.
To Assemble Your Chicken Pot Pie
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!)
Cook Now or Freeze For Later?
How To Freeze Your Chicken Pot Pie
Cover with foil, label and freeze. See below for preparation instructions
To Bake Fresh Pot Pie Now
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.
To Bake Pot Pie From Frozen
If Assembling Pie With Filling....
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.
If Baking a Whole (Assembled), Frozen Pot Pie
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.
Video
Notes
NOTE: This recipe makes TWO pot pies. So that means there are 16 servings total and that's how the nutrition facts have been calculated (based on 1 slice).