Chicken Pot Pies W/Cream Cheese Crust {Total Comfort Food}

One of my favorite comfort foods is Chicken Pot Pie. There is just something about it, the aroma and the feeling of satisfaction that it gives you in every bite. I have had a hard time trying to recreate a homemade pie that taste as good as the ones you buy in the store (Marie Callender) . 

For me it is usually the sauce, trying to perfect it was always so difficult for me. I was piddling around one of my favorite sites the Sunday Baker. I saw that Tanya had posted a recipe for these cute little individual chicken pot pies.

Three things about this recipe caught my eye. One, the crust was made from scratch with cream cheese, two the filling and sauce looked so smooth and flavorful just like what I have been searching for. And three, Tanya stated that the recipe was adapted from Taste of Home! I love Taste of Home recipes, so you see I just knew this recipe had to be great.

My husband loves Chicken Pot Pie, so I knew he would be in for a treat. I was so excited to make this recipe and get his thoughts. Off I went making the crust and filling. The crust was so easy to prepare and smelled wonderful. And the filling..... well it was DIVINE!!! I was in heaven!!!!!!!!!! I could of sat and ate that filling right out of the pot LOL. This pot pie baked up beautifully and my husband loved it.

I'm so excited that to have found in my opinion to be the perfect Chicken Pot Pie Recipe. The crust turned out so flaky and the addition of the cream cheese was very awesome. If you want to save time you can purchase a store bought rotisserie chicken to save time. Just have the roasted chicken for one meal and save the leftovers to make this wonderful pot pie. You wont be disappointed.
The only thing I did differently in this recipe was, I made one large pot pie instead of individual ones. I had a hard time locating the individual pie pans. I finally did at my local Kroger so I will use them next time. I also left out the celery seeds in the crust. If my kids saw those they wouldn't eat it! They would of said whats all those little spots in the pie? yuck!! I would rather just leave it out so I know they will eat it.

For the crust, combine the flour, cream cheese, butter, and if using celery seed add to the bowl. Cut in the cold cream cheese and butter until you have a crumbly mixture.

While I prepared the pie crust I started on cooking the chicken. If you have some leftover roasted chicken you can use that. I did not, so I just add some olive oil to my stove top grill and brown some seasoned chicken breasts. Then cut into bite size pieces.

Now back to the dough, start working it with your hands, kneading until you have a ball of dough:

Roll out your pie crust. If using individual pans then roll out the crust and trace and cut a overlapped piece of dough for each individual pie tray. I made one large pot pie so this crust is enough to make a regular size pot pie as well. 

If making individual servings, you will get three servings out of this recipe. Roll out a total of 6 squares for 3 bottom crust and 3 top crusts. I roll my dough onto the roller to make it easier to transfer to my greased pie plate.

To make the sauce in a saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, garlic, and spices till blended.

Slowly stir in the warm water,

milk and

bouillon cubes.

Slowly bring a soft boil and stir constantly for about 2 minutes or until thickened. The consistency should coat the back of a spoon.

Remove from heat and add the frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, celery, whichever you prefer!), then add the chunked chicken.

Fill your pie plate or individual pie pans.

Put the tops of the crusts over this and seal the edges. You can use a fork to make a fluted edge. Make a criss cross slit in the center

Bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes for individual pot pies or until the crust is golden brown. If making one large pot pie you will have to cook it longer. Just watch the pie so it doesn't brown too quickly. Serve the individual pot pies over mashed potatoes or right out of their bowls. 

If the pie tins came with covers you can also cover and refrigerate the baked pies or freeze your pot pies before baking whenever you need a quick meal.

If freezing, wrap the uncooked pot pies with foil and then place in freezer bags. To bake just remove from the freezer thaw a bit and bake. Or to save cooked individual pot pies let cool and cover with each individual cover the tins came with. Store in the refrigerator and then just pop them in the oven to warm up for a quick meal.

I have included some pictures of the little individual chicken pot pies. Just in case you choose to make little ones instead of one big pot pie.

All done!!! Perfect little pies for each person.




Chicken Pot Pie W/Cream Cheese Pie Crust

Pie Crust:
1-2/3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons celery seed, optional
1- 8 oz. package cream cheese, cold
1/3 cup  butter, cold
1/4 teaspoon salt
Filling:
1 whole chicken, pulled from bone and cut into pieces
1/3 - cup butter
1/3 -  cup all purpose flour
2 - teaspoons minced garlic
1/2 - teaspoon salt
dash of pepper
1-1/2 cup warm water
2/3 - cup milk
3 - chicken bouillon cubes
1 - cup frozen mixed veggies
3 - individual sized tin pie bowls
For the crust combine the flour, cream cheese, and butter in a bowl. Cut in the cold cream cheese and butter until you have a crumbly mixture. Then starting working it with your hands, kneading until you have a ball of dough: 

On a floured surface, roll out the dough in to a flat square. Take one of your tin bowls and trace and cut an overlapped piece of dough. Place it into the bowl and softly press it into the corners: You will get three servings out of this recipe. 

Roll out a total of 6 squares for 3 bottom crust and 3 top crusts. Or you will get one large pot pie like mine. To make the filling in a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the flour, garlic, and spices till blended. 

Slowly stir in the warm water, bouillon cubes, and milk. Slowly bring a soft boil and stir constantly for about 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat and add the frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, celery, whichever you prefer!) and the chicken.

Fill the pie shells, put the tops of the crusts over this and seal the edges. You can use a fork to make a fluted edge. Make a criss cross slit in the center: Bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. 

Serve over mashed potatoes or right out of the bowl. If making one large pot pie bake about 30-40 minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn't get to brown on top. If it browns too quickly cover it with foil sprayed with non stick spray. 

Cooks Note: If not serving these over mashed potatoes, add cooked cubed potatoes to the filling