Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
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- Enameled Cast Iron Skillet
- 11" · Harbour Blue
- $149
- Rolling Pin
- 20"
- $29
- Paring Knife
- Harbour Blue · 3.8"
- $69
- Sheet Pan
- 1/2 Sheet
- $25
A semi-homemade version of the nostalgic classic, this Skillet Pot Pie relies on frozen puff pastry and comes together in one pan, making it a weeknight-friendly meal.
·Feb 22, 2023
Frozen grocery store chicken pot pie can be comfortingly nostalgic—until you taste the under seasoned filling and soggy bottom crust. This semi-homemade version requires just a bit more effort, but saves time by relying on frozen puff pastry and making everything in just one supremely versatile pan: the Enameled Cast Iron Skillet. A mix of fresh thyme, sweet paprika, and a hint of freshly grated nutmeg cuts through the richness, lightening an otherwise heavy meal. To further minimize prep time, feel free to swap the cubed carrots, celery, and potatoes for 3 cups mixed vegetables of your choosing (you can use the frozen vegetable medley, we won’t judge!). Don’t skip sautéing the onion and garlic in the roux, or you’ll lose some of the filling’s flavor.
Note: This recipe was developed using Diamond Crystal kosher salt. If using Morton’s, reduce salt by half.
Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
A semi-homemade version of the nostalgic classic, this Skillet Pot Pie relies on frozen puff pastry and comes together in one pan, making it a weeknight-friendly meal.
Rhoda Boone, Culinary Director
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling pastry
- 2 medium carrots, cut into ½” cubes (about 1 cup)
- 1 celery stalk, chopped (about ½ cup)
- 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth (plus more, if necessary), at room temperature
- 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream, divided, at room temperature
- 3 teaspoons chopped thyme, divided
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika (often labeled “paprika”)
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, fat trimmed, cut into 1” pieces (about 4 cups)
- 1 small russet potato, peeled, cut into ½” cubes (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 large egg
- 1 14- to 17-ounce box frozen puff pastry (preferably all-butter puff), defrosted according to package directions
- Flaky sea salt
- Chopped parsley, for serving (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon mixed with ½ teaspoon granulated sugar (optional)
Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400F.
Heat butter in a large Enameled Cast Iron Skillet or other deep, oven-safe skillet, over medium. Add flour and cook, using a silicone whisk or wooden spoon to stir constantly, until roux is foaming and light blonde in color, adjusting heat if necessary, about 3 minutes.
Add carrots, celery, onion, garlic, 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper and cook, stirring, until tender and soft (but not browned), and roux just begins to stick to bottom of Skillet , 5–7 minutes.
Slowly add broth, 1 cup cream, 2 tsp. thyme, paprika, nutmeg, 1 ½ tsp. salt, and 1 tsp. pepper, whisking to incorporate. Bring to a low boil to activate flour, then reduce heat and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Add chicken and potato and cook, stirring to incorporate. If you feel like your sauce is getting too thick, now is the time to add a little more chicken broth. Remove from heat and let cool 10 minutes while you prepare pastry.
Beat egg with remaining 1 Tbsp. cream to create an egg wash.
Lightly dust work surface with flour and unfold puff pastry. If your package has 2 sheets, place them side by side with a slight overlap and roll a floured Rolling Pin over to seal them together to create 1 big sheet. Use Rolling Pin to roll puff pastry into a 14" square (large enough to cover Skillet with a bit of overhang). Brush outside rim of Skillet with egg wash to help pastry stick. Roll pastry around Rolling Pin and unfurl over Skillet, draping it over top and allowing it to slump in a little bit without stretching.
Trim pastry using a Paring Knife so that there is a 1" border all around. Press pastry onto top and outside rim of Skillet. Reserve puff pastry trimmings.
Using a pastry brush, brush top of pastry with egg wash. Cut 5 small slits in center so steam can escape. Sprinkle top with flaky salt, pepper, and remaining 1 tsp. thyme. Place on a Sheet Pan to catch any drips, and bake pot pie until crust is light golden brown, 30–35 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350F and continue to bake until filling is bubbling around edges and crust is well browned, 10-15 minutes longer. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Slice into crust with a knife or use a large spoon to scoop out and plate filling with crust on top. Finish with parsley, if desired.
For an extra treat, cut puff pastry trimmings into any shapes you desire, then brush with remaining egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. Place on a Sheet Pan and bake alongside the pot pie until puffed and golden brown, about 15 minutes.
