Description
Classic Chicken a la King is a creamy, comforting dish made with tender cooked chicken, mushrooms, peas, and pimientos in a rich buttery sauce. Perfect served over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce and Filling
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 8 ounces white or cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 (8 ounce jar) diced pimientos, drained
- 4 cups shredded cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
Instructions
- Melt butter and cook mushrooms: In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup salted butter over medium-high heat. Add 8 ounces of sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Make the roux and add liquids: Stir in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly until the flour is fully incorporated. Gradually pour in 2 cups chicken broth and 1 1/2 cups milk while stirring. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Temper eggs and thicken sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 large egg yolks and 1/3 cup heavy cream. Slowly whisk in about 1/2 cup of the hot sauce from the pan to temper the eggs and prevent curdling. Pour the tempered mixture back into the saucepan, whisking continuously. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to thicken further.
- Add peas, pimientos, and chicken: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas, 1 jar diced pimientos, and 4 cups shredded cooked chicken. Cook another 2-3 minutes until peas are heated through and chicken is warmed. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
- Serve: Serve hot over cooked rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits for a complete meal.
Notes
- Serve Chicken a la King over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits for best results.
- Shredded rotisserie chicken works well and saves time.
- To make the sauce richer, use whole milk or substitute with half-and-half.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to your taste preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
