Freezer Chicken Pot Pies Recipes

FREEZER MEAL RECIPES: HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIE

Steps:

• Stovetop: Place the chicken and 2 cups broth in a large pot or Dutch oven and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Cook the chicken until it is just done (don't overcook or it will dry out) - about 10-12 minutes. If the chicken pieces are large, you may need to pound them or cut them in half so they will cook more quickly.
• Slow Cooker: Or you can place the chicken and broth in a slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours.
• Transfer the cooked chicken to a medium bowl. Pour the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup and reserve. Return the pot to the stovetop (no need to wash it).
• Heat the olive oil in the now-empty pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and peas. Add salt and pepper to taste, if desired. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. While the vegetables are cooking, shred or chop the chicken into small bite-size pieces. Transfer the cooked vegetables to the bowl with the chicken; set aside.
• Over medium heat, melt the 4 Tbsp butter in the empty pot. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the reserved chicken broth and milk. Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes, taking care not to burn the bottom. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
• Remove from the heat and stir the chicken, vegetables and peas into the sauce. Transfer to medium bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled, about an hour (only if freezing the pies and not cooking immediately).
• Unwrap and unroll pie crusts onto lightly floured surface. Cut out 2-3 pastry toppings by cutting around the edge of an overturned pan.
• Divide mixture among the number of disposable aluminum loaf pans you have. Top with pastry and use fork to seal edges.
• Using a paring knife, make 3 steam vents in each crust.
• Tightly wrap each loaf pan in 2 layers of plastic wrap and 1 layer of foil. Freeze for up to 2 months.
• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400. Unwrap frozen pot pies and arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush crust with beaten egg, cover with foil, and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake until crusts are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let pot pies rest 10 minutes before serving.

FREEZE & BAKE CHICKEN POT PIES RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a deep skillet, melt the butter and cook celery, carrots, and onion until tender.
• Pour in the flour, and mix in well.
• Stirring constantly, add in the milk and chicken broth a little at a time, alternating between the two. Bring to a boil and continue stirring until thickened.
• Add chicken, peas, salt, and pepper, and stir until combined. Remove from heat and cool.
• Roll out pie crust and use the foil pot pie dish as a template. Cut a piece of dough for the bottom of the dish that is about an inch (²¹⁄₂ cm) thicker than the widest rim of the dish, and a piece that is the same size as the rim. (Roll dough back out and repeat to make more pieces.)
• Place the larger piece of crust in the bottom of the foil dish, fill with the cooled pot pie filling, and top with the smaller crust piece.
• Pinch together, then seal together with a fork. Cut 4 small slits in the middle of the crust.
• Cover each pot pie with foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
• To bake from frozen, preheat oven to 400˚F (200˚C), and bake for 30 minutes with the foil on top. Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until golden brown.
• Enjoy!

SAVORY CHICKEN POCKET PIES

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a pot and add water to barely cover. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 50 minutes. Skim and discard any foam as it rises on the surface. Remove the chicken to cool continue to boil the broth to reduce and concentrate to about 1 quart. Remove the meat from the chicken and shred.
• To make the filling, melt the butter in a medium-sized hot skillet and add the onion, celery, and carrot. Saute over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the salt and flour and cook for 1 minute more. Add the chicken broth and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 heaping cup shredded chicken and the Parmesan cheese. Cool in the fridge.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter or line a baking sheet.
• To form the pocket pies, work with half of a disk of dough at a time, rolling it out on a floured surface. Using an overturned bowl (about 5 inches across), cut out circles about 3 at a time from each piece of dough. After cutting out all your circles, gather all dough scraps, reroll, and cut out a final time. Place 1/4 cup filling on one side of a dough circle. Wet the edges of the dough with the water. Fold the dough over to form a half circle. Pinch the edge of the dough together. Crimp the edge with a fork. Repeat the process until all the filling is used. The pocket pies can be frozen at this point.
• Place the pocket pies on the prepared baking sheet and chill for a few minutes. Prick each pie on top twice with a fork. When ready to bake, beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water. Brush the egg wash over each pocket pie. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The pies can be cooled and frozen to reheat in the microwave.

A DIFFERENT CHICKEN POT PIE (FOR THE FREEZER)

Steps:

• Topping: Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch chunks.
• In a large saucepan of boiling salted water, cover and cook potatoes until tender, 15 minutes; drain and return to pot.
• Add milk, cheese, butter, salt and pepper; mash until smooth, set aside.
• Meanwhile, cut chicken into 1/2 inch chunks.
• In a separate large saucepan, bring stock to boil.
• Add chicken, mushrooms, onion, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, salt, pepper and nutmeg; reduce heat, cover and simmer until chicken is no longer pink inside, about 6 minutes.
• Stir in peas, mustard and lemon juice.
• In a small bowl, whisk flour with 1/3 cup cold water; whisk into stock mixture and bring to boil.
• Reduce heat and cook, stirring often, until thick enough to coat back of spoon, about 5 minutes.
• Combine chicken/veggie mixture with stock mixture.
• Make ahead Meal: Ladle into four 2 cup ovenproof or foil dishes.
• Spoon or pipe potato mixture over top.
• Let cool for 30 minutes.
• Refrigerate until cold.
• Cover with foil and overwrap with heavy duty foil; freeze for up to 1 month.
• Thaw in refrigerator; remove heavy duty foil.
• Bake on rimmed baking sheet in 400f degree oven or toaster oven until knife inserted in centre for 5 seconds feels hot when touched, 25 minutes.
• Uncover and broil until golden, about 3 minutes.
• OR FOR DINNER TONIGHT: Scrape chicken mixture into 10 cup casserole dish, spoon or pipe potato mixture over top.
• Cover and bake in 400f degree oven until hot, 20 minutes.
• Uncover and broil until golden, 3 minutes.