Crustless chicken pot pie made in a skillet! Instead of pastry, serve this skillet of chicken pot pie filling over buttered toast for a yummy easy dinner, all made in just 30 minutes!
Crustless chicken pot pie
Crustless chicken pot pie is for people who love the inside of chicken pot pie, but absolutely cannot be bothered to use a crust. Either you don't want to buy pie crust and roll it out, you don't want to make crust from scratch, or it was omitted from your grocery order and you have all the ingredients to make chicken pot pie, except the crust! I'm definitely speaking from experience here!
I feel like I have a good relationship going with my grocery shopper, but how were they to know that all of the ingredients for chicken pot pie in my cart should be put back once you realized store-bought pie crust was out of stock? I don't blame them one bit, because I still made a yummy dinner!
Serving this crustless chicken pot pie over buttery toast was the best decision! My kids thought it was fun to dunk the toast, and since they both love bread, it helped them eat more of their dinner. This is a fun way to stretch my chicken pot pie for two into a meal for my family of 4.
Crustless Chicken Pot Pie Ingredients
- butter
- chicken tenders
- onion
- carrot
- frozen peas: You need ¼ cup frozen, OR, you can absolutely use ¾ cup of frozen mixed vegetables instead of carrot, peas, and corn individually. You might have some leftover from my shepherds pie for two.
- frozen corn
- dried thyme leaves
- flour
- heavy cream
- milk
- salt
- pepper
- 2 slices thick bread: I like thick Texas toast smeared with butter and placed in the toaster oven until fragrant for this recipe. Use your favorite bread, and be generous with the butter! You need to make my strawberry cheesecake toast for dessert with the leftover bread!
How to make Chicken Pot Pie Filling
- To a 10" skillet, add half of the butter and melt over medium low heat. Add the chopped chicken tenders, and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes on each side.
- Remove the chicken from the pan, and then add the remaining half of the butter, followed by the onions and carrots. Let these saute and start to soften over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Next, add the frozen corn, peas, and thyme leaves, stirring everything together. Sprinkle the flour evenly over the skillet, stir it and let it cook for 1 minute.
- Once the flour has cooked for a minute, add the cream and stir very well to bring up any delicious brown bits in the skillet. Then, add the milk, salt and pepper. Let it simmer until it thickens, about 1-2 minutes. Taste, and adjust it for extra seasoning, if needed.
- While everything comes together and thickens, spread butter generously on your toast slices, and serve this crustless chicken pot pie filling over the buttered toast.
I promise your whole family will loves this recipe! It uses ½ a pound of chicken tenders to serve 2-3 people, but you can double the recipe to make it serve more people and use a whole pound of chicken tenders.
Can you make this crustless chicken pot pie ahead of time?
Since my family loves this recipe, I have made the entire filling and stored it in the fridge for up to 2 days before serving. The night you serve it, make the toast, warm the filling through, and serve. You might have to thin the filling with a splash of milk.
Is this recipe gluten free since it doesn't have a crust?
Unfortunately, the filling relies on flour for thickening. However, you can substitute it to make it truly gluten free a few ways. You can dissolve cornstarch in the COLD milk before pouring it into the skillet. You can use a one-for-one gluten free flour substitution, or you can use arrowroot!
If you need gluten free, you should try my sweet potato toast.
What to Serve with This Chicken Pot Pie Skillet
My favorite thing to serve with this easy dinner is a salad with a bright and tangy vinaigrette. A classic Italian salad with a balsamic dressing is the perfect side dish.
Storing Leftover Chicken Pot Pie Filling
If you have any leftovers, move them to an airtight food storage container and place them in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, use the microwave or place it in a pot and heat over low until bubbling. You may need to add a splash of chicken broth to thin it out.
Chicken Pot Pie Skillet
How do you thicken a pot pie filling?
This recipe contains flour for thickening. If for some reason it is not thickening for you, crank the heat up and let it bubble until it is thick.
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Chicken Pot Pie Filling Recipe
Crustless chicken pot pie is all the flavors of a tasty chicken pot pie filling in the fraction of the time!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided use
- ½ pound raw chicken tenders, diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 small carrot, diced
- ¼ cup frozen peas
- ¼ cup frozen corn
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 cup 2% milk
- salt, to taste
- pepper, to taste
- 2 slices thick bread
Instructions
- In a small skillet, add 1 tablespoon of the butter. Turn the heat to medium and let melt while you chop the chicken.
- Add the chicken to the skillet, along with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook the chicken until both sides are brown, about 4 minutes a side. It's okay if the insides are still slightly pink. Remove the chicken from the pan, trying to leave as much butter as possible, and return the pan to the heat.
- Add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the pan, along with the onions and carrots. Saute for 5 minutes over low heat until the vegetables have softened, but not browned. The onions shouldn't brown.
- Add the peas and corn and turn the heat back to medium. Crush the thyme leaves in your hand to release the oils and add them to the skillet. Stir to combine. Sprinkle over the flour and stir to combine. Let cook for 1 minute.
- Add the heavy cream and milk to the pan, along with a few pinches of salt and pepper, to taste.
- Add the chicken back in the pan, and toss to coat it with the sauce. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat until thickened. It should take 1-2 minutes to thicken.
- Meanwhile, toast the bread. Slice it on the diagonal.
- Divide the toast between two plates and top with chicken mixture. Serve immediately.
Notes
frozen vegetables: You need ¼ cup frozen corn and peas, plus chopped carrot. You may substitute ¾ cup of frozen mixed vegetables instead of carrot, peas, and corn individually.
dried thyme leaves: use thyme leaves, not ground thyme for this recipe.
2 slices thick bread: I like thick Texas toast smeared with butter and placed in the toaster oven until fragrant for this recipe. Use your favorite bread, and be generous with the butter!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 727Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1533mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 5gSugar: 13gProtein: 32g
emily says
Hi there,
In the sauté chicken step you say 'it's okay if the insides are still slightly pink." But then no where later in the recipe does it mention finishing off the chicken. I'm just curious, when you make this do you throw the chicken back in at some point? The way the recipe is worded I was expecting to see the chicken cooking off later in the recipe. Thanks for the clarification!
Michael Menninger says
I thought the same thing. You do add it back to the pan to "coat with the sauce" and bring it to a simmer.
However, if you've "diced" the chicken (I wouldn't dice it though, it'd cut into bite-sized pieces) then you should have small even (cubed?) pieces that should cook nicely in 8 minutes. Tenderloins are thinner than a full breast.
The insides will also continue to "cook" while sitting in a bowl waiting to be added back in later.
Michelle G says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was great! So quick and easy and delicious too!
I did make a few substitutions based on what we had on hand: I used 1% milk instead of 2% and with the addition of heavy cream and using butter, I don't feel like I missed out on any richness or creaminess. I also used a frozen mixed veggie blend with peas, corn, carrots and green beans and it worked great!
Thanks for the dinner inspiration tonight! :)
sonic says
I think im goin to try this. I wonder what would go well with this on the side
Helen Fletcher says
Yes, this is great - it's called Creamed Chicken if you are older than 27.
Philip Shapiro says
If you grew up in the 50's - 60's then you'll recognise this, basically, as Chicken Ala King and you probably still crave it. If you didn't, then make this and learn! If possible, eat it while watching The Twilight Zone on Netflix.
Nikki Krakauer says
Chicken ala king needs red peppers (aka pimiento), and mushrooms. No carrots, or corn, just peas, in a white roux.
Ciara says
Very tasty!!!
This was my first time making this and im happy i tried your recipe!
Thank you!
Angelina says
LUV those oldies but goodies! This is a tasty, quick and pretty healthy recipe. I've served it several different ways....over biscuits, over rice, and also over egg noodles. Thank you. :-)
Felice says
My husband cannot have milk or cheese products. He's lactose intolerant. What can I use to thicken the filling instead of using the milk and cream?
Thank you :)
Christina Lane says
Do you have a great almond milk substitute that you use? You need something unflavored. Like, no coconut milk or vanilla soy milk. Unflavored alternative milk.
Mike G says
I bet a thick chick pot pie filling in a toasty pita pocket would be awesome.....going to try it.