Post by Loupy on Jun 3, 2016 1:33:02 GMT -7
HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE--MAKE AHEAD AND FREEZABLE!
Author: Brenda @ www.mealplanningmagic.com/
Awhile back I made this for my freezer meal exchange group and they raved about it. Just about everyone wanted a copy of the recipe because their families loved it too! It came in handy too for some friends of ours whose daughter was in the hospital and needed some support during that time (she’s fine now thankfully!) I love that it uses all fresh ingredients too! It was a cinch to put together and totally worth it because it’s great to be able to pull it out of the freezer and bake it up. Wow! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it—I need to make this again soon!
A healthier, homemade version of the classic comfort food, chicken pot pie. This recipe includes instructions for making and baking right away or making ahead and freezing and baking later.
Prep time: 30 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 16 (2 pies)
INGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrot
⅓ cup butter
½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half and half or evaporated milk (I personally use skim or 1% milk and it’s still good!)
2 cups chicken, cooked, chopped
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
4 unbaked pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
INSTRUCTIONS
TO MAKE FILLING
Saute the first 3 ingredients in butter in a big skillet over medium heat until tender.
Add flour; stir until smooth.
Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add chicken broth and half & half/evap. milk; cook, stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
Stir in chicken, peas, salt, and pepper.
VERY important!Cool before pouring into pie crusts.
FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS:
At this point you may freeze the filling in a labeled freezer safe container/bag.
To prepare from frozen, read instructions below.
Or you may also assemble the whole pie and freeze whole.
To do that, prepare crusts.
Roll them out and place the bottom crusts in the pie plates and set aside the top crusts until ready to cover.
Pour filling mixture into bottom crusts and cover with top crusts.
Fold edges under and crimp.
Poke slits in the top (you can make a nice pattern here too!)
Cover with foil, label and freeze.
See below for preparation instructions
TO PREPARE POT PIE FROM FRESH
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prepare crusts.
Roll them out and place the bottom crusts in the pie plates and set aside the top crusts until ready to cover.
Pour filling mixture into bottom crusts and cover with top crusts.
Fold edges under and crimp.
Poke slits in the top (you can make a nice pattern here too!)
Bake assembled pie uncovered, for 30-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
TO PREPARE POT PIE FROM FROZEN
Thaw filling in refrigerator.
You might need to stir or mush the filling together to combine well and reincorporate.
Assemble as described above and bake accordingly OR you may bake the whole pie from frozen.
To do so, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and bake 30 more minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
Serves 16 (from two pies--if you're just making one pie it will just serve 8).
Freezes very well separately or fully prepared in the crust.
Try them both and see which way you prefer.
NOTE: This recipe makes 2 whole pies. Make one to enjoy now and freeze another for later!
Author: Brenda @ www.mealplanningmagic.com/
Awhile back I made this for my freezer meal exchange group and they raved about it. Just about everyone wanted a copy of the recipe because their families loved it too! It came in handy too for some friends of ours whose daughter was in the hospital and needed some support during that time (she’s fine now thankfully!) I love that it uses all fresh ingredients too! It was a cinch to put together and totally worth it because it’s great to be able to pull it out of the freezer and bake it up. Wow! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it—I need to make this again soon!
A healthier, homemade version of the classic comfort food, chicken pot pie. This recipe includes instructions for making and baking right away or making ahead and freezing and baking later.
Prep time: 30 mins
Total time: 30 mins
Serves: 16 (2 pies)
INGREDIENTS
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped carrot
⅓ cup butter
½ cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half and half or evaporated milk (I personally use skim or 1% milk and it’s still good!)
2 cups chicken, cooked, chopped
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. pepper
4 unbaked pie crusts (homemade or store-bought)
INSTRUCTIONS
TO MAKE FILLING
Saute the first 3 ingredients in butter in a big skillet over medium heat until tender.
Add flour; stir until smooth.
Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
Add chicken broth and half & half/evap. milk; cook, stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
Stir in chicken, peas, salt, and pepper.
VERY important!Cool before pouring into pie crusts.
FREEZING INSTRUCTIONS:
At this point you may freeze the filling in a labeled freezer safe container/bag.
To prepare from frozen, read instructions below.
Or you may also assemble the whole pie and freeze whole.
To do that, prepare crusts.
Roll them out and place the bottom crusts in the pie plates and set aside the top crusts until ready to cover.
Pour filling mixture into bottom crusts and cover with top crusts.
Fold edges under and crimp.
Poke slits in the top (you can make a nice pattern here too!)
Cover with foil, label and freeze.
See below for preparation instructions
TO PREPARE POT PIE FROM FRESH
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prepare crusts.
Roll them out and place the bottom crusts in the pie plates and set aside the top crusts until ready to cover.
Pour filling mixture into bottom crusts and cover with top crusts.
Fold edges under and crimp.
Poke slits in the top (you can make a nice pattern here too!)
Bake assembled pie uncovered, for 30-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
TO PREPARE POT PIE FROM FROZEN
Thaw filling in refrigerator.
You might need to stir or mush the filling together to combine well and reincorporate.
Assemble as described above and bake accordingly OR you may bake the whole pie from frozen.
To do so, preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, then cover with foil and bake 30 more minutes.
Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
Serves 16 (from two pies--if you're just making one pie it will just serve 8).
Freezes very well separately or fully prepared in the crust.
Try them both and see which way you prefer.
NOTE: This recipe makes 2 whole pies. Make one to enjoy now and freeze another for later!
