This recipe for homemade chicken pot pie from Molly Baz (watch her make it) uses two major shortcuts: The first is using shredded chicken from a rotisserie bird instead of cooking boneless chicken breasts or thighs. The second is using store-bought puff pastry. And since this is a one-skillet affair, there’s no pie plate, baking dish, Dutch oven, or food processor to clean. The results? An easy take on a family favorite, with minimal prep time, that is, in fact, dinner party worthy.
Know this about puff pastry: Letting it thaw overnight in the fridge is nonnegotiable. It’ll crack and become a huge mess if it’s still partially frozen. This slightest bit of planning is the key to flaky pot pie perfection.
You can make the cooked chicken mixture up to three days ahead—transfer it to an airtight container and chill. When you’re ready to serve, assemble as instructed below, then slide the skillet into the oven to brown the crust and reheat the pot pie filling.
We like to brush the top of the dough with cream for this recipe, not egg wash, for a golden brown crust with a rustic sheen (and because it saves us from using an extra ingredient). Cooking the pie on a tray makes it easier to slide into the oven and catches any drippings. If your oven runs hot and the crust starts to singe, very loosely cover it with foil for the last few minutes.
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What you’ll need
Measuring Spoons
$10 At Bon Appétit Market
Measuring Cups
$28 At Bon Appétit Market
Chef's Knife
$34.53 At Amazon
Cutting Board
$10 At IKEA
Medium Bowl
$17 At Amazon
Cast Iron Skillet
$30 At Amazon
Wooden Spoon
$7 At Amazon
Rimmed Baking Sheet
$32 At Amazon
Rolling Pin
$13 At Amazon
Scissors
$17.95 At Amazon
Fork
Pastry Brush
$6 At Amazon
Recipe information
Total Time
1 hour 40 minutes
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
1
2
1
6
1
3
2½
1½
3
1
2
1
1
Preparation
Step 1
Place a rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°. Remove and discard skin of 1 rotisserie chicken, then shred meat into 1" pieces (you should have 4–5 cups meat); set aside. You won't need the bones and carcass from the chicken for this recipe, but that doesn't mean you should throw them out—sling them into a saucepan, cover with water, add whatever aromatics you've got lying around, and you've got the makings of a couple decent quarts of chicken stock.
Step 2
Time to prep your vegetables! Cut 2 onions in half through root, trim root ends, then peel. Finely chop onion and transfer to a medium bowl.
Step 3
Peel 1 lb. turnips, then trim off knobby root ends. Cut in half through the root end. Cut each half into ¾"-thick planks, then finely chop planks into ¾" pieces. Transfer to another medium bowl.
Step 4
Lightly smash 6 garlic cloves with the flat side of a chef’s knife. Peel, then coarsely chop. Transfer to bowl with turnips.
Step 5
Add 1 Tbsp. thyme leaves (from about 2 sprigs) to bowl with turnips and garlic.
Step 6
Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a 12" skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium heat. (Just make sure whatever you're using is oven-safe—you don't want a melting plastic handle.) Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft but not browned, 5–6 minutes.
Step 7
Add turnip mixture, season with 1 tsp. salt and 1½ tsp. pepper, and cook, stirring often, until just beginning to soften, 3 minutes.
Step 8
Sprinkle 3 Tbsp. flour over vegetables and cook, stirring constantly, until flour begins to stick to bottom of pan, about 30 seconds. The flour is going to help thicken the gravy you're trying to create.
Step 9
Add 1 cup wine and cook, stirring constantly, to burn off some of the alcohol, about 1 minute.
Step 10
Set aside 1 Tbsp. cream. Add remaining cream, reserved chicken, 10 oz. peas, and 1½ tsp. salt and bring to a simmer. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Cook, tossing occasionally, until warmed through, 3–4 minutes. Transfer skillet to a rimmed baking sheet, which will prevent any juices that bubble out of the pan from spilling onto your oven floor.
Step 11
Roll out 14 oz. puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 13" square (large enough to cover skillet with a bit of overhang). Roll pastry up onto rolling pin. (You could use an empty wine bottle if you don't have a rolling pin.) Unfurl pastry from rolling pin, draping it over skillet.
Step 12
Trim pastry so that there is a 1" border all around. Fold edge of puff pastry under itself. Crimp edges with a fork (just like you would do when making the top crust of a pie).
Step 13
Using a pastry brush, brush top of pastry with reserved cream. Cut 5–6 small slits in the center so steam can escape. Bake pot pie until crust is light golden brown, 22–24 minutes.
Step 14
Reduce oven temperature to 350° and continue to bake until filling is bubbling around the edges and crust is well browned, 25–35 minutes longer. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Editor's note: This recipe was originally published in December 2018. Head this way for more of our ultimate comfort food favorites →
Leave a Review
Reviews (86)
Back to TopThis was hearty and delicious! It had a different flavor that was a little funky, but maybe I'm just not used to the flavor of parsnips? Or maybe I didn't let the alcohol burn off enough? But overall, I really liked it! I didn't miss the potatoes at all. The filling was flavorful and creamy. I only had regular pie dough in the fridge (Trader Joe's) so I used that and it was yummy. My family were mild fans so I might not make it again. But I enjoyed it and I'll enjoy the leftovers too.
Jen M.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2024
How can I print recipes from the app?
SMK
San Francisco
12/21/2023
Followed recipe without substitutions and loved it. Very easy to make but with a big, impressive output! Loved making this for a group- it was a hit with everyone from the kids to adults.
MW
GA
11/20/2023
This is a regular at our house hold, it's very flexible and easy to work with. I might add carrots and mushrooms sometimes and skip other veggies if I don't have them, doesn't matter comes out great. I typically get a costco chicken which is more than enough for this recipe and use about 2/3 for this and the rest of the chicken for something else the next day.
Anonymous
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2023
I love crispy puff pastry, but find that on top of a pot pie it often doesn't cook through properly. I've taken to baking the pastry on a baking sheet so that it's brown and crispy top and bottom, then cutting it to fit on top of the filling in individual bowls. When I don't need to worry about the presentation, I cut the pastry into small squares, like croutons, and scatter them on top.
Lora
Edmonds, WA
4/7/2023
I cannot recommend this recipe enough, it deserves 5 stars! I have made it several times now, for my husband, a group of friends, and my mother, and every time it has received rave reviews. The recipe is fantastic as is, but I do like to add carrots to mine. Regardless of any modifications, the puff pastry always comes out perfectly flaky and delicious. And to top it off, the recipe makes enough for 2/3 people, with plenty of leftovers for the next day. Overall, I consider this recipe to be an absolute staple in our home. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a crowd-pleasing meal that is both easy to make and incredibly satisfying.
Samantha Biallas
Milwaukee, WI
3/30/2023
Any suggestions for substitutions for the cream?
Anonymous
3/3/2023