The best homemade chicken pot pie! Seriously comforting and delicious. This chicken pot pie from scratch is made with a buttermilk pie crust and a creamy chicken pot pie filling.
I’ve tried so many chicken pot pies in my life, from homemade chicken pot pies to frozen ones from the store. The thing is…every recipe or pre-made chicken pot pie I’ve tried was just, you know, “okay.” Good but not spectacular. So, I had to make my own, of course!
There are so many ways to make a chicken pot pie. To make the best ones you need to nail both the filling and the pie crust. If either one is just “okay,” then the whole pie will be just “okay.”
After testing several methods and ingredients, I’m happy to say that this is truly the best chicken pot pie recipe! At least according to me 🙂
The Chicken Pot Pie Crust
This is hands down my favorite chicken pot pie crust recipe. I’ve used it in many recipes, and I think it is perfect for this.
Instead of water, I like to use buttermilk in pie crusts because a) it keeps them very moist, and b) adds richness, and c) helps achieve a nicer golden brown color.
5 ingredients only!
How to Make the Buttermilk Pie Crust
Use a food processor for this crust.
- Add flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor, and pulse a few times to combine.
- Cut the cold butter into small cubes, and add to the dry ingredients. Make sure it’s REALLY cold! I freeze the butter for about 20-30 minutes beforehand. Why? Cold ingredients = flaky crust.
- Pulse a few times until you get pea-sized crumbles.
- Add the buttermilk and run the food processor continuously for several seconds until a dough forms. Make sure the buttermilk is very cold too! At first, it will look like it’s too crumbly and not coming together, but you just have to continue running the food processor for several seconds until a dough forms.
- Transfer to a clean surface, and form a dough with your hands. Divide the dough and, using a rolling pin, form 2 thick disks, about 1 1/2 inches thick.
- Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using or overnight.
Remember, the keys to a great crust are very cold ingredients.
The Chicken Pot Pie Filling
This is the best chicken pot pie filling I came up with after my recipe tests. Let me tell you why:
- it has just the right amount of creaminess (I hate soupy pie filling)
- the chicken is pre-seasoned and pre-cooked (no more bland chicken!)
- it’s got a balanced chicken to veggies ratio
Here’s how to make the creamy chicken pot pie filling:
- Evenly season 2 skinless chicken breasts with olive oil, Kosher salt, minced garlic, ground black pepper, and fresh thyme. Let it sit for about 15 minutes for the flavors to penetrate.
- Heat some olive oil on a large deep skillet, and cook the chicken about 6-8 minutes per side, or until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let it rest for 10 minutes. Why? letting cooked chicken rest allows the inner juices to redistribute evenly, resulting in a moist chicken.
- Melt butter on the same skillet, and cook the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic until tender.
- Add the flour to coat for about 30 seconds and add the chicken broth. Add salt, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, and parsley. The herbs here add so much flavor. Don’t skip this step!
- Whisk in heavy cream, and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes.
- Add the chicken (cubed) and frozen peas.
And just like that, the filling this done!
Assembling the Chicken Pot Pie
Then all you need to do is get that dough out and roll it to about 1/4 inch thick. You may need to let it sit at room temp for a bit so it’s easier to roll out.
Then it’s dough+filling+dough. Seal the dough by folding the dough on top under the bottom pie dough. If you’re unsure how to make the pie crust borders, you can use press down with a fork to create the borders and seal the pie. Turns out just as pretty!
To create the border I made, seal the dough, and the grab a section with your thumb and index finger, and press outward from the middle using a your other index finger. Repeat. If you’re unsure how to do it, here’s a quick video of Sarah Carey from Everyday Food doing this. Skip to minute 6:15.
Finally, make a few slits for the steam to escape.
How to Get a Golden Brown Pie Crust
Apart from the buttermilk pie crust, the egg wash will give it color. Most recipes call for brushing the dough with beaten egg only, but I feel like this is not enough. Instead, prepare an egg wash with a beaten egg and heavy cream. Brush it generously on top (within reason, of course!). Then bake at 400 degrees F.
Oh, one important step! To prevent the edges from browning too quickly, cover the borders or edges with foil or use a pie crust shield (yes, that’s a thing, and it’s on Amazon) 15 minutes into baking.
Whew! That was a lot to take in! Making a pie is honestly so much fun. It may seem like a lot of steps, but trust me, it’s actually easy. Plus, you’ll get both a perfect flaky crust and a super delicious creamy chicken pot pie filling cuz I just spilled all the secrets on how to make the best filling…at least according to me!
I hope you like it, and if you’ve got any questions, just comment below. Also, check out my Kitchen Tips below!
Check out my other comfort food recipes:
And don’t forget to pin this recipe! Thank you!
Kitchen Tips
- For the buttermilk pie crust, make sure the butter and buttermilk are really cold, especially the butter. I freeze the butter 20-30 ahead of time. The buttermilk should be refrigerated.
- Use a pie crust shield to prevent the borders from browning too fast. You can purchase one one Amazon. Alternatively, you can make a DYI pie crust shield with aluminum foil.
- If you prefer not to make your own pie crust, I’d recommend buying a good quality pre-made pie crust at the store.
If you try my recipe, use #cookingformysoul on Instagram! Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook for the latest fun updates and recipes!
The Best Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Ingredients
Buttermilk Pie Crust
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup (2 sticks) very cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1/3 cup cold buttermilk
Seasoned Chicken
- 2 skinless chicken breasts (pounded to 3/4 inch thick)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- Olive oil
Chicken Pot Pie Filling
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup diced yellow onions
- 2 carrots, cubed
- 1 stalk celery, cubed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 2 cups chicken broth, plus more as needed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 beaten egg (for egg wash)
- 1 teaspoon heavy cream (for egg wash)
Instructions
Buttermilk Pie Crust
- Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor by pulsing a few times. Add the butter cubes and pulse a few times until a pea-size coarse meal forms. Add the buttermilk and continue to run the food processor continuously for several seconds, or until a dough forms. At first, it will look like it it's not coming together, but you just gotta continue running the food processor for several seconds until it comes together.
- Transfer onto a non-floured clean surface. Press to form a dough. Divide the dough in half. Roll each half into balls and flatten into thick disks.
- Wrap each disk with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or overnight. Before using, let it sit on the counter for 15 minutes.
Chicken Pot Pie Filling
- Place chicken breasts in a bowl and drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season thoroughly with the salt, pepper, minced garlic, and thyme. Let sit 15 minutes for the flavors to penetrate. In a large deep skillet, heat some olive oil to medium heat. Cook the chicken, about 6-8 minutes each side, until cooked through. Transfer to a plate and let rest for about 8-10 minutes. Cut the chicken into bite-size cubes.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Wipe the skillet and melt the butter to medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, celery, and garlic. Cook until tender, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in flour until vegetables are coated, and cook about about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth. Add the salt, black pepper, thyme, rosemary, and parsley, stirring until well combined with the vegetables. Cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the heavy cream. Whisk until there are no lumps. Add more broth if needed. Bring to a boil and then bring down to a simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the cubed cooked chicken and the frozen peas. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Roll out the dough to a 12-inch circle using a rolling pin on a floured surface to about ¼ inch thick. Repeat for the second disk.
- Transfer dough to a 9-inch pie pan. Fill with the prepared filling. Cover with second rolled out dough. Trim any overhang or excess dough. Seal edges with a fork or with your fingers. Make a few slits at the top to let the steam escape.
- For egg wash: Combine beaten egg and 1 teaspoon heavy cream. Brush the pie with the egg wash. This will give it a golden color.
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until crust is golden brown. 15 minutes into baking, cover edges with a pie crust shield or foil to prevent edges from browning too soon. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Absolutely delicious! I added the meat from 2 whole chickens and just added extra stock/ white wine. I also suggest blind baking the case to avoid a soggy base.
Thank you so much, Elmarie! I am so happy to hear that! And great idea, I’ll try blind baking the crust next time I make it! 🙂
How would you adjust to add potatoes? I really enjoy them in my pot pies!
Hey Abigail! I would recommend pre-boiling cubed potatoes and adding them to the filling at the end, along with the cooked chicken and peas.
Can u make this ahead of time ?
Hi Cheryl! Yes! You can make the filling the day before and store it in a container, in the fridge. Likewise, the dough can also be made ahead of time – keep it wrapped in the fridge. When ready to make, first preheat the filling to get it started – you can do this on the stovetop. Next, roll out the pie dough and assemble the pie with with the pre-made filling. Then bake per the instructions.
I absolutely enjoyed this recipe. I mixed it up a bit and added cream of chicken, spinach, and peas to the filling and it turned out amazing!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Haili! The addition of spinach sounds so good!
Hi, I’m making this for a family in need of meals. I’m wondering if I should freeze it and give her baking instructions or bake it and then give her instructions for reheating? Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi Danielle! If the chicken pot pie will be eaten within a day or 2, I’d recommend baking it because it stores pretty well in the fridge. If not, an alternative would be freezing it unbaked: Make sure the filling is completely cooled before you fill it, cover the unbaked pie in aluminum foil tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or until no longer frozen, and then bake as directed.
Hi Tania, what if I don’t own a food processor, could I use a Vitamix or stand mixer? Thank you!
Hi Anna! You can make it by hand too. In fact, sometimes when I make it by hand, I get an even flakier crust! I have instructions in my Flaky and Buttery Pie Crust guide (link). If making it by hand, you may need a pastry blender tool, but if you don’t have one, you can simply cut the cold butter into very small cubes and rub the flour into the cubed butter with your fingers.
I wouldn’t recommend using a Vitamix or a stand mixer.
This was amazing I added potatoes and used a puff pastry just on top. Best ever
Thank you, Erin!
This pie is simply the best! I sub the green peas with brocolli and blind bake the case first. Both pastry and filling was delicious.. Thank you for this great recipe.!
Thank you for making it, Judy!
I am trying this recipe tomorrow for dinner and am sooo excited! I too, am very particular about my chicken pot pies and don’t like a thin watery filling but I am so excited about the buttermilk pie crust recipe! Thanks so much!
I’ve always baked bone in/skin on chicken breast for pot pies and made a compound butter with the seasonings to penetrate the tougher white meat of the chicken, with fresh herbs.
Thank you for this recipe!!!!
Hope you like it!
Just what I was looking for! The filing tasted wonderful. I added a splash of buttermilk to the heavy cream and the flavor and thickness was perfect.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Can I use half and half instead of heavy cream?
Hi! You could, but it may be a bit too thin or watery. I’d highly recommend using heavy cream for best results.
Tania! this pot pie recipe is absolutely delicious! you take it to a gourmet level. I follow it exactly and I am never, ever disappointed,neither are my guests. Brava!
Do you think I could freeze the filling alone to make later?
Hi! Yes, that’s fine. You can thaw the filling in the fridge overnight before using.
Delicious! Can I use beef instead of chicken?
Hi Monica! I don’t see why not!
This is hands down THE BEST chicken pot pie I’ve ever had. The filling was thick, creamy and full of a ton of flavor and the crust was perfection!! No need to par bake the bottom at all, it turned out perfect and was flaky deliciousness. Thank you for the recipe!!
Thank you so much, Lyan!