Easy Chicken Pot Pie (Make Ahead & Freeze)
Easy Chicken Pot Pie uses cooked shredded chicken mixed with frozen hash browns, mixed peas and carrots, optional diced onion, and chicken gravy to make a hearty filling enclosed in store-bought pie crusts. The pies are sealed, pierced for venting, and baked to achieve a golden crust. This recipe is designed to be made ahead and frozen for convenience.
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken Rotisserie, cooked shredded
- 16 oz hash browns frozen, diced
- 12 oz peas frozen, mixed
- 12 oz carrot frozen, mixed
- 1/4 cup onion optional, diced
- 2 oz chicken gravy or 2-1/2 cups homemade, jarred
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 4 pie crust store-bought refrigerated - 2 packages, unbaked, 1 top and 1 bottom
- 1 large egg optional for egg wash
Instructions
- Chop your cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and measure out 2 cups. Add to a large bowl. If you like your chicken pot pie extra chicken-y feel free to add another cup or two to this pie.
- Also add to bowl frozen hash-browns, frozen peas & carrots, diced onion (if using), 2 jars of gravy and season to taste with salt and pepper. ( I personally add 1-1/2 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp pepper). Stir all together until well combined.
- Remove your store-bought pie crusts from their packages. If they need to come to room temperature first that's fine, just wait a few minutes.
- Place one pie crust into each 9-inch pie plate. Spoon the pot pie filling equally between the two pie plates in the crust. Top with the second pie crusts. Seal the edges by crimping with a fork or your fingers. Poke a few holes with a sharp knife or fork on top pie crusts.
MAKE IT NOW
- Preheat oven to 400°F degrees.
- Optional: use a pastry brush, and lightly brush crust and edges with beaten egg.
- Place pot pie on a baking pan, place in middle rack of oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until top of pie is golden and inside is bubbling. You could use a pie crust shield or cover edges with foil to protect the edges from browning if necessary. Cool for 10 minutes, cut into slices and serve.
MAKE IT A FREEZER MEAL
- Wrap unbaked chicken pot pies tightly in aluminum foil, then place in freezer. Freezes well for 4-6 months.
- To bake from frozen, preheat oven to 400°F. Place pot pie on a baking sheet, place in middle rack of oven and bake, covered for 30 minutes. Remove the foil from the pie, then continue baking for 35-40 minutes or until top of pie is golden and inside is bubbling. You could use a pie crust shield or cover edges with foil to protect the edges from browning if necessary. Cool for 10 minutes, cut into slices and serve.
- To thaw first & bake, place frozen pot pies into fridge for 24 hours. Bake at 400°F, covered for 20 minutes. Remove the foil from the pie, then continue baking for 35 minutes or until top of pie is golden and inside is bubbling. Cool for 10 minutes, cut into slices and serve.
Notes
- This recipe adapts easily to different portion sizes with the same amounts of pie crusts per pie.
- Use pre-cooked rotisserie chicken or bake boneless skinless chicken breasts covered with water at 350°F for one hour for fresh chicken.
- Apply egg wash only before baking if freshly assembled; omit if freezing to prevent crust discoloration.
- Choose metal or foil pans for freezing-to-oven baking to avoid glass pans breaking due to temperature shock.
- For 6 mini individual pies, use the same bake time as the 9-inch pies.
- A 9x13-inch pan requires longer baking: cover with foil and bake 45 minutes, then uncovered for 45-50 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 528
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 528kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 57g | 19% |
| Protein | 18g | 36% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 8g | 40% |
| Cholesterol | 53mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 431mg | 18% |
| Potassium | 424mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 4091IU | 82% |
| Vitamin C | 10mg | 11% |
| Calcium | 41mg | 4% |
| Iron | 4mg | 22% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.