I had to start here. This is my daughter’s favorite meal, so it’s only fitting that I start here. It was her first three-word phrase, uttered when she was only 17 months old. And if you ask her what she wants for breakfast, lunch or dinner, she’ll sweetly say, “Mama’s Pot Pie.”
She’s onto something here. This is pretty darn good chicken pot pie, loved by everyone from little ones to grandparents. Loaded with chunks of chicken and eight different vegetables (yes!) and herbs in a creamy sauce, this is a great all-in-one meal. I admit that it does take some time, but with some store-bought substitutions (ie. rotisserie chicken and pie crust sheets), it could easily be a weeknight meal.
Warm and comforting, it hits the spot now that fall is here and cooler weather is on it’s way.
When your little one asks for something so often, you make it as often as you can. Mickey and heart shapes and all.
Little Hands Can…
- Toss the vegetables with oil and spread them on a sheet tray
- Shred the cooked and cooled chicken
- Pick herbs, wash them and take the leaves off of the stems.
- Roll out the pie dough and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes for topping the filling
- 4 cups (2 small bags) frozen mixed vegetables (including peas, carrots, corn and green beans)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- ¾ cup chopped yellow onion (one small or ½ medium/large onion)
- ¾ cup chopped celery (about 3 large or 4 small stalks)
- 1 cup chicken broth or stock
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups cooked cubed or shredded chicken (usually from about two medium/large breasts)
- 1 sheet pie dough (homemade or store bought)
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Toss frozen vegetables with oil and spread evenly on a sheet pan. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, stirring vegetables halfway through, until they are slightly browned. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool while you make the sauce.
- In a large saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Cook the onion and celery until soft, but not brown. Stir frequently, about 8-10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small pot, heat the milk and chicken broth together on low heat. You just want to warm them through. Alternatively, you could pour both into a glass microwavable measuring cup and microwave for 1½ minutes to warm the mixture. A warm liquid will help your white sauce thicken more easily.
- When onion/celery mixture is soft, add the flour to the pan and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Whisk in the warm broth/milk mixture and cook until thickened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Add the parsley, thyme, salt and pepper.
- Toss the browned vegetables and chicken in the sauce.
- Pour the filling into a greased 9x12 baking dish or individual ramekins.
- Roll out your pie dough to about ¼ inch in thickness. Invite your child to cut out fun shapes using cookie cutters. Lay the dough shapes on top of the filling, overlapping them to completely cover the top.
- Bake in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden brown.
Recipe adapted from Alton Brown’s Curry Pot Pie
On the Side
This recipe is a rainbow of colors, so it’s a great way to introduce kids to the idea of “eating a rainbow.” “Eating a Rainbow” basically means you should aim to eat a range of different colored fruits and vegetables each day and throughout the week. When you eat red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and white fruits and vegetables, your body gets a more complete variety of nutrients…what it needs to be strong and healthy.
For younger children: Before preparing your recipe, break out your crayons or markers and help your child draw a giant rainbow on a sheet of paper. As you start preparing your recipe, talk about “eating a rainbow” and the colors you see in this recipe. Your child can either draw or write (dictate) the names of the different vegetables and herbs on each color in his rainbow drawing. Yellow corn; green peas, beans, celery, thyme and parsley; orange carrots; and white onions can all be added to the rainbow. What other fruits or vegetables can you think of? Keep your rainbow hanging on your fridge and encourage your child to add to the rainbow each time you make a new recipe.
For older children: Talk to them about the idea of “eating a rainbow” and how different colored fruits and vegetables are what we need to aim to eat each day. Propose this challenge: count how many different colors you eat today and then try to one-up your total tomorrow! This recipe boasts four colors as is, but maybe you could add purple potatoes or red bell peppers?! Challenge them to come up with ways to add colors to the recipes you make together.
For more information and fun activities related to “Eating a Rainbow”, visit https://www.wholekidsfoundation.org OR http://www.todayiatearainbow.com
Disclaimer: As with all of our recipes, my suggestions for how kids can help with a particular recipe are based on what has worked in our kitchen. Your child may be able to help more or less based on their age and/or ability. As always, make sure you are properly supervising kids in the kitchen.
Tina Wagner says
October 1, 2015 at 9:05 PMCongratulations!!!!
I passed it on.
Sally says
October 2, 2015 at 1:29 PMThank you, Titi! Maybe Simon can make dinner for you?!
Lyra says
October 1, 2015 at 9:38 PMLove it Sally!
Sally says
October 2, 2015 at 1:28 PMThank you, Lyra!
Annie says
October 2, 2015 at 11:29 AMLove it Sally! I will have to try it with Abbie!
Sally says
October 2, 2015 at 1:28 PMThank you! And yes, give it a try with Abbie and let me know how it goes. I hope she enjoys both making and eating it.
Sandy says
October 2, 2015 at 7:16 PMBeautifully written! Congrats!! Love this!
Sally says
October 14, 2015 at 2:21 PMThank you, Sandy!
Mary Lou Nall says
October 2, 2015 at 7:39 PMCant wait to see more. I know it will be brest.
Sally says
October 3, 2015 at 7:44 AMThanks, Mom! New post coming soon!
Jenna says
October 3, 2015 at 7:32 PMI knew this would be great! Definitely sharing!
Sally says
October 14, 2015 at 2:21 PMAww, thanks, Jenna!! And thanks for sharing. (P.S. I’m so sorry for my delayed response, some of my comments ended up in my spam folder!)
Stephanie says
October 5, 2015 at 3:09 PMMade this with Braeden on Sunday! He not only had a blast helping with the dough/crust, he gobbled it up like it was his last meal! Can’t wait for the next post!
Sally says
October 14, 2015 at 2:22 PMI’m SOO thrilled to read this!! Your photos were adorable and I love that he had fun AND loved the dish. (P.S. I’m so sorry for my delayed response, some of the comments ended up in my spam folder!)
Brandi says
October 5, 2015 at 5:06 PMLove the “little hands can” section! Great idea…and great name for a cookbook 🙂
Sally says
October 5, 2015 at 9:21 PMThank you, Brandi! Gosh, a cookbook would be a dream!
Erin ruger says
October 5, 2015 at 10:16 PMLove it Sally! Great job and I’ll definitely try the chicken pot pie with carson. Great looking recipe and I love that carson can help. Congrats
Sally says
October 6, 2015 at 11:02 PMThank you, Erin! Carson can help, and Cate too! Let me know what they think.
Samantha says
October 6, 2015 at 5:01 AMThis one was a hit with both kids-so rare! Tyler was a big helper in the kitchen and both loved drawing the rainbows and eating the colors. Love it!
Sally says
October 14, 2015 at 2:23 PMSeriously love hearing this. The pictures you sent me made me beam with pride! Thanks, Sam!
Rachel says
October 14, 2015 at 8:42 AMChicken pot pie here we come! I’m going to cut out bat and pumpkin shapes with pie dough for Halloween. Awesome recipe Sally!
Sally says
October 14, 2015 at 2:10 PMThanks, Rachel! I’m so sorry for my delayed response. Some of the comments ended up in my spam folder. Let me know how everyone likes the Halloween-themed dinner. Great idea!