Chicken and Leek Pie (Printable version)

Golden, flaky pastry encasing tender chicken, bacon, and leeks in a creamy herb sauce.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
02 - 3.5 oz smoked bacon lardons or diced streaky bacon

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

03 - 2 large leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
04 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 medium carrots, diced
07 - 1 stalk celery, diced

→ Dairy

08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp heavy cream
10 - 1/3 cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk

→ Pantry Items

11 - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
12 - 1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
13 - 1 tbsp olive oil
14 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
16 - 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
17 - 13 oz ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
18 - 1 egg, beaten
19 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Heat olive oil and butter in large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook 3 minutes until beginning to crisp.
03 - Add onion, leeks, carrots, and celery. Sauté 5-6 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add chicken pieces and cook 5 minutes until lightly golden on all sides.
06 - Sprinkle flour over mixture, stir well, and cook 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste.
07 - Gradually pour in chicken stock while stirring constantly. Add milk and cream, bring to simmer.
08 - Stir in Dijon mustard, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
09 - Transfer filling to 6-8 cup deep pie dish. Drape puff pastry over top, trim excess, press edges to seal, cut small center slit for steam vent.
10 - Brush pastry with beaten egg. Bake 30-35 minutes until golden brown and puffed.
11 - Let pie rest 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with additional parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky bacon and sweet leeks creates depth that most pot pies miss
  • The filling can be made ahead so dinner practically serves itself on chaotic nights
02 -
  • Cool the filling slightly before topping with pastry or steam will create soggy spots underneath
  • The sauce must be thicker than you think since it loosens during baking
03 -
  • Trim excess pastry overhang but leave enough to create a thick sealed crust
  • Cut the steam vent generously or you will have pastry blowouts
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