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Some Amish cooks, especially in Indiana and Iowa, enjoy making a homemade savory meat pie that resembles a tastier version of the frozen Swanson pot pies you find at the store.
We've talked a lot on this site about "pot pie soup", the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch hearty stew of veggies, square egg noodles, and meat. It is confusing to some people when they hear about an Amish cook serving "pot pies", 99 percent of the time they are referring to the soup. Pot pie soup is a Pennsylvania specialty of dough squares, veggies, and meat. This Old-Fashioned Amish Chicken Pot Pie is the other 1 percent! But this is a delicious dish.
I have a lot of memories of eating the frozen store-bought ones. Those were favorites of my father. The pies would bake for an hour and be so hot by the time they were done. We pierced the top with a fork and it just seemed like it would take forever for it to cool. Ah, those were the days...I don't think I've had a frozen pot pie in probably 30 years.
With this Old-Fashioned Amish Chicken Pot Pie recipe, you can "cheat" and use a frozen store-bought pie crust (top and bottom). That'll save you a lot of time with making pie crusts. The peas in the recipe you can use frozen or, if you have access to fresh, those are always better. And feel free to load it up with more chicken, the 3 cups is sort of a baseline.
Make sure you use a good chicken base, that'll infuse the pie with flavor. You can also add favorite spices, herbs, and seasonings. Fresh thyme is a favorite. Or some rosemary.
These are the pot pie veggies (frozen mixed vegetables) after they've been stirred into the broth and this is what gives it that really store-bought (better than) flavor and texture. This old fashioned chicken pot pie bursts with flavor. Dice in some celery for extra crunch. Use a wooden spoon or whisk to stir in a large bowl.
You can use a frozen store-bought crust or make your own with this wonderful pat-a-pan recipe. For the top crust, you'd have to crumble it on top. Or make your own crust and lay it flat on top. Use can use frozen chicken that is precooked. We like to de-bone a rotisserie chicken and use the meat in a pot pie. We do that with casseroles also.
Seal with a top crust pastry and get ready to pop it in the oven! Cut some slits in the top to vent. Make sure the bottom crust is pressed in firmly.
Anyway, why buy a Swanson frozen pot pie when you can make your own - much better - homemade version? The taste of the veggies and meat swimming in a sauce is amazing! Check out this amazing recipe for Old-Fashioned Amish Chicken Pot Pie below!
Amish Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients
- 2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
- 1 1 /4 cups sliced carrots
- 2 /3 cups chopped onion
- 1 cup butter softened
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 3 /4 teaspoons salt
- 1 /4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons chicken soup base
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 1 /2 cups milk
- 4 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 cup cup fresh or frozen peas
- 2 pie shells , homemade or store-bought
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425.
- Boil the potatoes and carrots in a large saucepan over medium heat until almost tender., about 10 minutes.
- Drain and set aside. In a large skillet, saute the onion and butter until tender.
- Stir in the flour, salt, pepper, and chicken soup base until blended.
- Gradually stir in the broth and milk. Cook, stirring for 2 minutes or until thick.
- Add the chicken, peas, potatoes, and carrots to the broth mixture.
- Remove from the heat.
- Divide the chicken mixture evenly between two unbaked pie shells.
- Use some water to wet rim of the bottom crusts which will help both crusts adhere together.
- Cover the pies with the top crusts, crimping the crusts together all the way around.
- Bake the pies for 35 to 40 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
- Cool on a wire rack or windowsill until the pie is firm, about 45 minutes.
- Pie will keep for a week sealed in the refrigerator.
Claudine Bratcher
RE: The recipe Baked Chicken Pot Pie:
In the ingredients list is says 2/3 cup chopped onion. Right under that it says 1 cup butter, softened. I am assuming this means to cook the chopped onion in the butter until the onion is softened. However how much butter is to be used? Surely not 1 cup of butter.
Please clarify this for me as this recipe looks absolutely divine and I am anxious to give it a try.
Thank you for all the great recipes you share in your newsletter and I do so enjoy reading them. They are very informative and well written.
Kevin
Claudine, I just checked the original and it DOES say 1 cup....geez, the original is all I have to go by too...I hope that is not wrong? Sounds like you know what you are doing, I'd go with what you think and then let me know how it turns out and I'll correct if necessary!
Chris Austin
I would say the 1 cup butter is correct. Note that it also states one cup flour. When making a roux to thicken you use equal parts butter and flour. The roux is necessary of course to thicken the 3 cups chicken broth into a gravy/sauce for the pie. Using the entire cup of butter while sauteing the onion will infuse the butter/roux with more flavor along with the 2 tablespoons of chicken soup base. I have made many chicken and turkey pot pies. The ratio of ingredients seems correct to me.
Kevin Williams
THanks, Chris, good insights!