Chicken a la King
Chicken a la King is a creamy, comforting dish that has been a favorite for generations. This recipe combines tender chicken, vegetables and a cream sauce creating a satisfying, elegant meal.
If you’re looking for a classic dish that is both comforting and impressive, Chicken a la King is the perfect choice. This recipe is so easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight dinner.
What is Chicken a la King?
It’s a creamy, comforting dish consisting of chicken, peas, peppers and mushrooms. Perfect served on steamed rice for an easy dinner or topped with puff pastry and baked until crisp and golden for the most delicious pot pie.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Chicken. I prefer cooking the chicken from scratch but this recipe is great to use up leftover cooked chicken breasts or a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- Vegetables: Onion, fresh garlic cloves, celery, carrots, bell peppers, mushrooms and frozen peas.
- Butter.
- Flour.
- Heavy cream. Milk can be substituted.
- Chicken stock/chicken broth.
- Seasoning: Salt, black pepper, fresh thyme. Other herbs like rosemary and oregano would also be delicious.
How to make the best Chicken a la King?
- Cook the chicken: If not using rotisserie chicken, cook and shred or dice your chicken.
- Sauté the vegetables: Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium-high heat then sauté the onion, garlic, celery and carrots until golden brown. Add the mushrooms and thyme and cook. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper.
- Make the sauce: Add the flour to the vegetables and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken stock (the reserved stock from poaching the chicken is ideal), milk and/or cream.
- Combine and serve: Shred the chicken into large chunks then add to the sauce with the vegetables. Season to taste with lemon, salt and pepper and allow to simmer for 10 minutes before serving over rice or mashed potatoes.
Variations and additions
- Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus or green beans will all be delicious.
- Herbs and spices: Rosemary, parsley and oregano will all be delicious. For a touch of heat, add some cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes/chilli flakes.
- Cheese: For a cheesier taste, add a healthy handful of Parmesan cheese or Gruyere to the sauce before serving.
Storing and Reheating
- Storing: Chicken a la king can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until heated through.
Serving Suggestions
We love serving Chicken a la King with rice but it’s also delicious over pasta or baked under a puff pastry crust for an easy pot pie. And even though there are a ton of veggies in this dish, a side of broccoli, green beans or a big green salad will also be delicious as side dishes.
Servings: 6
Calories: 403kcal
Ingredients
To cook the chicken
- 3 lb (1.5kg) chicken
- 1 carrot quartered
- 1 celery stick roughly chopped
- 1 leek washed and roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
for the Chicken à la King
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1-2 cups chicken stock chicken’s poaching liquid
- 1½ cup cream milk can be substituted.
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- carrot finely chopped
- 1 red pepper thinly slicedfinely chopped
- 1 yellow pepper finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 250 g mushrooms sliced
- 2 tsp fresh thyme
- 1.5 cups frozen peas
- lemon juice to taste
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, place the chicken, carrot, celery, leek, onion, garlic and herbs.
- Top with cold water and place over medium heat.
- Allow to the chicken to simmer for 1 hour-1 hour 15 mins until it's cooked through.
- Remove the chicken from the liquid and allow to cool slightly then shred the chicken, discarding any skin, bones and cartillage. I break the chicken meat into large chunks as I don't like it when it loses its texture.
- Drain the stock through a muslin-lined sieve, reserving the liquid. (This makes the most delicious chicken stock so freeze the left-overs in freezer-proof bags for later use.)
- To make the chicken a la king, sauté the onions, carrot, celery and peppers in a few tablespoons of butter until golden brown and softened.
- Add the mushrooms and the garlic and fry for a few minutes.
- Add the thyme and flour and stir into the vegetables.
- Slowly whisk in the stock and cream and allow the sauce to simmer until thick and smooth. Season to taste.
- Stir in the frozen peas and shredded chicken then taste and adjust the seasoning.
- If the sauce is very thick, stir in a splash of milk or stock to thin out the texture.
- Add the lemon juice and allow to simmer gently for 10 minutes.
- Season to taste then serve with rice or side dishes of your choice.
Nutrition
Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 1144mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3457IU | Vitamin C: 102mg | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
This is a scrumptious version of Chicken a la King! I made it with a rotisserie chicken & without mushrooms since my children don’t eat them. Just remember to follow the instructions from step 4 if you have a pre-cooked chicken. Highly recommended recipe!
What a delicious treat! Would recommend this recipe to family and friends ‘Simply Delicious’! Thank you for sharing your easy and tasty recipes with us!
I make this dish, it’s very nice and easy to make. full of tasty after using the fresh chicken stock.
thanks for this. recommended
I still have not ever made this dish! I must make it soon! Pinned!
What an interesting name for a dish! Looks delicious! 🙂