Chicken Pot Pie Crumble

 

I have decided I want to make sure I have some of the good old home cooking/comfort food type recipes on here.  So here is a classic chicken pot pie, made easy!  Easy as in no rolling out pie crust, just make a biscuit type crumble for the topping.  It still has some time consuming parts, but it is worth it!  The topping has all the texture & flavor of a crust, but in large crunchy chunks on top.  The filling is flavorful & creamy!  YUM!  

And even though my toddler distracted me & I totally forgot milk in the sauce & baking powder in the topping, it was still fantastic!  But for your sakes I will post the original recipe so you can make it right, but hey even though I had a rough time making a new recipe with distractions of, "Mommy, where are my boots?  Are they in my room?  Are they in your room?  Mommy where are they?" the whole time I was cooking, we still enjoyed this classic savory dish!  It is definitely on my make again list!

*Update 03/30/13: We make this regularly now & we just absolutely love it!  One of our family favorites, so I updated the photos.

Chicken Pot Pie Crumble

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe & lightly altered by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

Chicken & Sauce:

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken (approx. 3 chicken breasts....I used 2)
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1-14.5oz can Swanson's)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 3-4 carrots, peeled & sliced (1 cup)
• 2-3 stalks celery, chopped (1/2 cup, but I used 1 cup)
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 3/4 cup frozen peas (I used 1 cup, b/c I like vegetables)

Crumble Topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 6 Tbsp butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes & chilled
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream (or milk is just fine, I use skim)

1. Simmer chicken in broth in a large pot; cook till just done, about 10-12 minutes. (If you plan in advance you can slow cook in the crockpot on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.)  Transfer chicken to a medium bowl.  Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup & reserve.  Save empty pot for later.
2. Preheat oven to 400*F.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, & cayenne.  Sprinkle the chilled butter pieces over the top of the flour.  Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. (I used my Ninja Kitchen System on the dough setting, but you can use a food processor too & pulse until desired texture.)
3. Stir in Parmesan cheese.  Add the cream (or milk) & stir until just combined.  Crumble the mixture into irregularly shaped pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment/wax paper (I actually find it easiest to use scissors & cut off chunks.)  Bake the crumble topping until fragrant & starting to brown, about 15 minutes, tossing halfway through.  Set aside.
4. For the filling, heat the olive oil in the now-empty pot over medium heat.  Add onion, carrots, celery, a little salt & pepper.  Cover & cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes.  While the vegetables are cooking, shred/cube the chicken into small bite-size pieces.  Transfer the cooked vegetables to the bowl with the chicken; set aside.
5. Over medium heat melt butter in the empty pot.  Stir in the flour & cook for one minute, stirring constantly.  Slowly whisk in the reserved chicken broth & milk.  Bring to a simmer & stir occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes, taking care not to burn the bottom.  Add 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper.  Remove from the heat & stir in the chicken, vegetables, & peas into the sauce.
6. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the filling.  Bake at 400*F until the topping is well browned, & filling is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes.  Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving.

*Serves: 6-8

 

I have decided I want to make sure I have some of the good old home cooking/comfort food type recipes on here.  So here is a classic chicken pot pie, made easy!  Easy as in no rolling out pie crust, just make a biscuit type crumble for the topping.  It still has some time consuming parts, but it is worth it!  The topping has all the texture & flavor of a crust, but in large crunchy chunks on top.  The filling is flavorful & creamy!  YUM!  

And even though my toddler distracted me & I totally forgot milk in the sauce & baking powder in the topping, it was still fantastic!  But for your sakes I will post the original recipe so you can make it right, but hey even though I had a rough time making a new recipe with distractions of, "Mommy, where are my boots?  Are they in my room?  Are they in your room?  Mommy where are they?" the whole time I was cooking, we still enjoyed this classic savory dish!  It is definitely on my make again list!

*Update 03/30/13: We make this regularly now & we just absolutely love it!  One of our family favorites, so I updated the photos.

Chicken Pot Pie Crumble

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe & lightly altered by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

Chicken & Sauce:

• 1 1/2 lbs chicken (approx. 3 chicken breasts....I used 2)
• 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (1-14.5oz can Swanson's)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 3-4 carrots, peeled & sliced (1 cup)
• 2-3 stalks celery, chopped (1/2 cup, but I used 1 cup)
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 3/4 cup frozen peas (I used 1 cup, b/c I like vegetables)

Crumble Topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 6 Tbsp butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes & chilled
• 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 cup heavy cream (or milk is just fine, I use skim)

1. Simmer chicken in broth in a large pot; cook till just done, about 10-12 minutes. (If you plan in advance you can slow cook in the crockpot on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.)  Transfer chicken to a medium bowl.  Pour broth through fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup & reserve.  Save empty pot for later.
2. Preheat oven to 400*F.  In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, & cayenne.  Sprinkle the chilled butter pieces over the top of the flour.  Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. (I used my Ninja Kitchen System on the dough setting, but you can use a food processor too & pulse until desired texture.)
3. Stir in Parmesan cheese.  Add the cream (or milk) & stir until just combined.  Crumble the mixture into irregularly shaped pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment/wax paper (I actually find it easiest to use scissors & cut off chunks.)  Bake the crumble topping until fragrant & starting to brown, about 15 minutes, tossing halfway through.  Set aside.
4. For the filling, heat the olive oil in the now-empty pot over medium heat.  Add onion, carrots, celery, a little salt & pepper.  Cover & cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes.  While the vegetables are cooking, shred/cube the chicken into small bite-size pieces.  Transfer the cooked vegetables to the bowl with the chicken; set aside.
5. Over medium heat melt butter in the empty pot.  Stir in the flour & cook for one minute, stirring constantly.  Slowly whisk in the reserved chicken broth & milk.  Bring to a simmer & stir occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes, taking care not to burn the bottom.  Add 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper.  Remove from the heat & stir in the chicken, vegetables, & peas into the sauce.
6. Pour the mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the filling.  Bake at 400*F until the topping is well browned, & filling is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes.  Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving.

*Serves: 6-8