Chicken Pot Pie - The World's Food

By The World's Food

Yield: 8

Time: 3 hours

Hearty chicken and vegetable pie with homemade crusts. What's the trick? Poach the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.

Ingredients

3     skin-on chicken breasts
32     ounces (4 cups) chicken broth
1     teaspoon thyme
2     bay leaves
    cups cubed carrots
    cups frozen green peas
1     cup cubed celery
½     cup (1 stick) butter
½     cup onion, chopped
½     cup all-purpose flour
2     teaspoons salt
½     teaspoon black pepper
    cups milk
3     cups bleached white flour
1     teaspoon salt
1     cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
¼     cup cold water + more as needed

Preparation

Directions for Filling:
Step 1
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F

Step 2
Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add 1 Tablespoon oil and crisp the skin of the chicken by cooking the chicken skin-down for 3-5 minutes

Step 3
Pour broth over chicken to cover, add 1 teaspoon thyme and 2 bay leaves

Step 4
Reduce heat to medium and heat until the broth reaches 175 F

Step 5
Reduce heat again to medium-low, partly cover pot and cook chicken in the 175 F broth for 10-15 minutes.  This step will poach the chicken to keep it tender and juicy.  Do not boil the broth. 

Step 6
Turn off the heat completely and allow the chicken to remain in the broth for 15 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 155 F

Step 7
Remove chicken to a plate, cool for 10 minutes, discard skin and cut into cubes, then set aside

Step 8
Add carrots, peas, and celery to the broth in the Dutch oven

Step 9
Increase heat and bring to a gentle boil, cover and cook vegetables 15 minutes

Step 10
Discard bay leaves, then remove vegetables using a slotted spoon, place in a bowl and set aside

Step 11
Strain broth into a second bowl and set aside

Step 12
Using medium-high heat, sauté onions in butter in the Dutch oven until they are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes

Step 13
Add flour, salt and pepper to onions, whisk well and cook for 3-5 minutes

Step 14
Slowly add broth and milk, whisking as needed, and bring to a gentle simmer

Step 15
Simmer sauce until thickened, about 10 minutes, then turn off heat

Step 16
Add chicken and vegetables to sauce, stir and cover pot until pie crusts are ready

Directions for Pie Crusts:
Step 1
Mix flour and salt in a stand mixer or food processor

Step 2
Add cold butter cubes and mix until flour reaches a small crumbly consistency

Step 3
Slowly add water until the dough reaches a soft, pliable consistency that can be rolled easily

Step 4
Divide dough in two and roll on a flat floured surface to form a top and bottom crust using a rolling pin and enough flour to prevent sticking

Step 5
Place bottom crust in pie plate and pour in chicken/sauce mixture

Step 6
Cover with top crust, cut away excess dough and seal edges. Add slits in the dough to allow steam to escape, if needed

Step 7
Bake at 425 F for 30-35 minutes, or until crust is golden brown

Step 8
Cool 10 minutes before serving

See It Made!