This homemade Individual Chicken Pot Pie recipe transforms simple ingredients into cozy, comforting perfection. With golden puff pastry crowning a creamy chicken and vegetable filling, these personal-sized pot pies deliver restaurant quality with minimal effort. Perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep, theyโre guaranteed to become a family favorite!
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Portioned: Individual servings mean everyone gets their own special pie with that perfect pastry-to-filling ratio.
- Time-Saving Shortcuts: Using rotisserie chicken and frozen vegetables cuts prep time dramatically while maintaining incredible flavor.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: These pot pies freeze beautifully, giving you a homemade dinner solution for busy nights.
- Customizable Comfort: The basic recipe is fantastic as-is, but you can easily adjust seasonings and vegetables to suit your familyโs preferences.
Ingredients Youโll Need
- Rotisserie Chicken: The ultimate time-saver that adds rich, pre-cooked flavor to your pot pies. The dark and white meat create perfect texture variety.
- Frozen Vegetables: A convenient mix that adds color, nutrition, and texture without all the washing and chopping.
- Chicken Stock: Forms the flavorful base of the filling. Go for unsalted to control the sodium level.
- Cream of Mushroom Soup: Provides creaminess and body to the filling without having to make a complicated sauce from scratch.
- Onion and Celery: These aromatic vegetables create the flavor foundation for any good pot pie.
- Garlic: Adds depth and complexity to the filling โ donโt skimp here!
- Butter and Flour: Works together to thicken the filling to that perfect, spoonable consistency.
- Fresh Thyme: Brings a subtle earthy flavor thatโs classic in pot pies. The fresh version makes a noticeable difference.
- Seasonings: Ground mustard, sea salt, chili powder, and black pepper balance the richness with just enough warmth and depth.
- Puff Pastry: Store-bought puff pastry creates a gloriously flaky, golden crust with minimal effort.
- Egg Wash: Gives the pastry that professional-looking golden sheen.
Variations
- Meat Swaps: Try leftover turkey or ham instead of chicken for holiday leftovers transformation.
- Vegetable Mix-Ups: Add mushrooms, leeks, or parsnips for different flavor profiles.
- Dairy Free: Replace cream of mushroom soup with dairy-free cream soup and use plant-based butter.
- Herbal Notes: Rosemary or sage can replace thyme for a different aromatic direction.
- Spice it Up: Add red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for subtle heat.
How to Make Individual Chicken Pot Pies
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace
Preheat your oven to 400ยฐF and arrange your individual baking dishes on a baking sheet. This catches any potential overflow and makes handling multiple pot pies easier.
Step 2: Create the Flavor Base
In a pot over medium-high heat, melt butter until hot but not smoking. Add onion, celery, garlic, and fresh thyme, and cook for about 5 minutes until the vegetables soften and become aromatic. The kitchen should start smelling amazing at this point!
Step 3: Thicken the Filling
Sprinkle flour over the sautรฉed vegetables and stir continuously to coat everything evenly. Keep stirring until no dry flour is visible โ this prevents lumps later on. This quick roux will give your filling body and velvety texture.
Step 4: Add Liquids
Pour in chicken stock and cream of mushroom soup, whisking constantly to create a smooth mixture. Bring to a boil for 1-2 minutes to activate the thickening power of the flour. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
Step 5: Prepare the Pastry
Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut to fit your baking dishes. For the best presentation, trim the pastry into squares or circles just slightly larger than your dishes. Cut an โXโ in the center of each piece to allow steam to escape.
Step 6: Combine and Assemble
Mix the frozen vegetables and chopped rotisserie chicken into the cooled soup mixture. Divide evenly among your baking dishes, about 2 cups per serving. Gently place a pastry square on top of each filled dish.
Step 7: Apply Egg Wash
Whisk together egg and water, then brush this mixture over the pastry tops and edges. This creates that irresistible golden-brown finish. (Skip this step if planning to freeze the pies.)
Step 8: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake at 400ยฐF for 35 minutes, then increase temperature to 450ยฐF and move to the top rack for the final 10 minutes. This two-stage baking ensures the filling is hot and the pastry develops that perfect flakiness and color.
Pro Tips for Making the Recipe
- Room Temperature Puff Pastry: Make sure your pastry is properly thawed but still cool โ about 30-40 minutes at room temperature is perfect.
- Donโt Overfill: Leave about half an inch of space between the filling and the top of your dish to prevent overflow during baking.
- Cool the Filling: Allowing the filling to cool slightly before adding the pastry prevents the pastry from getting soggy.
- Baking Sheet Trick: Always place your individual dishes on a baking sheet โ itโs easier to move multiple dishes in and out of the oven, and catches any potential drips.
- Proper Seasoning: Taste your filling before assembly and adjust seasonings โ the flavors will concentrate slightly during baking.
How to Serve
These pot pies are perfectly satisfying on their own, but here are some serving suggestions to complete the meal:
Side Dishes:
Pair with a simple green salad dressed with light vinaigrette to balance the richness of the pot pies.
Accompaniments:
A side of cranberry sauce offers a tangy contrast that works wonderfully with chicken pot pie.
Beverages:
These pair beautifully with a crisp white wine or sparkling cider for a special dinner.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Refrigerate baked pot pies in their baking dishes, covered with foil, for up to 3 days. The flavor actually improves after a day as the ingredients meld together.
Freezing
For best results, freeze unbaked pot pies without the egg wash. Prepare as directed through assembly, then freeze completely. Once frozen, wrap well in foil and place in freezer bags. Theyโll keep for up to 3 months.
Reheating
To reheat refrigerated pot pies, bake at 350ยฐF for about 20-25 minutes until heated through. For frozen unbaked pies, follow the detailed freezing instructions in the notes section โ no need to thaw before baking!
FAQs
Can I make one large pot pie instead of individual servings?
Absolutely! Use a 9ร13 inch baking dish instead of individual ones. Youโll need to increase the baking time to about 45-50 minutes at 400ยฐF until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling.
What if I donโt have oven-safe individual dishes?
Disposable aluminum pot pie pans work perfectly and make cleanup even easier. You can find these at most grocery stores, often in the baking aisle.
Can I use homemade pie crust instead of puff pastry?
Yes! Traditional pie crust works wonderfully. You can either top just the filling or create a double-crust pie by lining your dishes with pastry before adding the filling. Adjust baking time as needed.
My filling seems too thin. How can I thicken it?
If your filling looks too thin after combining all ingredients, create a quick slurry by mixing 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water. Stir this into the hot filling and cook for a few minutes until thickened.
These Individual Chicken Pot Pies bring together simple ingredients to create something truly special. The combination of flaky pastry and creamy, savory filling makes for a dinner that feels like a warm hug on a plate. Whether youโre cooking for a family dinner or preparing meals ahead for busy days, these pot pies deliver restaurant-quality comfort food with minimal fuss. Give them a try on your next cozy night in!
PrintIndividual Chicken Pot Pies Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
Deliciously flaky puff pastry crowns these homemade individual chicken pot pies, filled with tender rotisserie chicken, vegetables, and a creamy herb-infused sauce. Perfect for comforting weeknight dinners or make-ahead meals that can be frozen for later enjoyment.
Ingredients
- 1 small rotisserie chicken, skin and bones removed, chopped (550 grams cleaned chicken)
- 24 oz frozen mixed vegetables (680 grams)
- 2 1/2 cups Swanson Chicken Cooking Stock, Unsalted (20 fl oz)
- 2 cans (10.5 oz each) Campbellโs Healthy Choice Cream of Mushroom Soup
- 1 medium sweet onion, chopped (250 grams)
- 2 ribs celery, chopped (70 grams)
- 5 cloves garlic, minced (20 grams)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp all purpose flour (16 grams)
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- 1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare for Baking: Pre-heat oven to 400ยฐF. Arrange individual oven-safe baking or meal prep dishes on a baking sheet, ensuring theyโre ready to receive your pot pie filling and can withstand high baking temperatures.
- Create the Base Sauce: In a pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Once hot, add onion, celery, garlic, and fresh thyme. Cook while stirring for about 5 minutes until vegetables become tender. Sprinkle flour over the vegetables and stir to coat evenly, ensuring no dry flour remains visible. This forms the essential roux that will thicken your sauce.
- Develop the Filling: Add chicken stock and cream of mushroom soup to the pot, whisking thoroughly to prevent flour clumps. Bring the mixture to a boil for 1-2 minutes to activate the thickening agents, then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly before proceeding.
- Prepare the Pastry Tops: Unroll the thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface. Trim pieces to fit the opening of your baking dishes, preferably using square dishes to minimize waste. If you need to join pastry pieces, lightly wet the edges and press them together firmly. Create decorative crimped edges using your fingers, then cut an โXโ in the center of each pastry square to allow steam to escape during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: Whisk together egg and water to create an egg wash. Brush this mixture over the top and edges of each pastry square to promote beautiful golden-brown coloration during baking. Skip this step if you plan to freeze the pot pies for later use.
- Assemble the Pot Pies: Mix the frozen vegetables and chopped rotisserie chicken into the cooled soup mixture. Distribute this filling evenly among your 6 baking dishes, aiming for approximately 2 cups of filling per serving.
- Top with Pastry: Gently place each prepared pastry square on top of the filling in each dish. Carefully press the corners down if they extend above the dish edge, but avoid pressing the pastry into the filling to maintain separation between crust and filling.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake at 400ยฐF for 35 minutes, then increase the temperature to 450ยฐF and move to the top rack for the final 10 minutes. The pastry should puff up, become flaky, and develop a rich golden-brown color, indicating itโs perfectly cooked.
Notes
For tracking purposes, scan the barcode or search for โPeanut Butter and Fitness Easy Individual Chicken Pot Piesโ in My Fitness Pal.
Freezing and Baking from Frozen:
- Skip the egg wash step when preparing for freezing
- Assemble pot pies in 2-cup Souper Cubes instead of glass dishes
- Freeze unbaked pot pies completely
- To bake from frozen: Preheat oven to 400ยฐF, place frozen pot pies in oven-safe baking dishes
- Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes
- Remove foil, apply egg wash, increase temperature to 425ยฐF, and move to top rack
- Continue baking for 45-55 minutes until crusts are deep golden brown
- Cool to safe temperature before serving
For best results, use high-quality puff pastry and rotisserie chicken. You can customize the vegetable mix according to preference, and adjust seasonings to taste for a personalized comfort meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pot pie
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
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