Chicken and Leek Pie (Printable)

Tender chicken and leeks in a creamy herb sauce with smoky bacon, encased in golden flaky pastry.

# What You'll Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into ¾ 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 stick celery, diced

→ Dairy

08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
09 - ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp heavy cream
10 - ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk

→ Pantry

11 - 2 tbsp plain flour
12 - 1¼ 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 - In a large skillet, heat olive oil and butter over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until starting to crisp, about 3 minutes.
03 - Add onion, leeks, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5–6 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly golden on all sides, about 5 minutes.
06 - Sprinkle flour over the mixture and stir well, cooking for 2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste.
07 - Gradually pour in chicken stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Add milk and cream, and bring to a simmer.
08 - Stir in Dijon mustard, thyme, parsley, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 8–10 minutes until sauce thickens and chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat.
09 - Spoon filling into a deep 6–8 cup pie dish. Unroll puff pastry and lay over top, trimming excess. Press edges to seal and cut a small slit in center for steam escape.
10 - Brush pastry thoroughly with beaten egg.
11 - Bake for 30–35 minutes until pastry is golden brown and puffed.
12 - Let pie rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with extra parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The combination of smoky bacon and sweet leeks creates depth you cannot get from ordinary chicken pot pie
  • Everything cooks in one pan before baking, meaning minimal washing up and maximum flavor development
  • The filling can be made a day ahead, so you can assemble and bake fresh whenever you need it
02 -
  • Cool the filling before topping with pastry, otherwise steam trapped underneath will make the bottom soggy instead of crisp
  • Sealing the edges thoroughly prevents the sauce from bubbling over and making a mess of your oven during baking
  • Letting the pie rest for those 5 minutes seems impossible when it smells this good but makes cutting and serving dramatically cleaner
03 -
  • Add a splash of dry white wine after sautéing the vegetables for an extra layer of sophistication
  • Use rotisserie chicken for a 30 minute shortcut that still delivers excellent results
  • For a golden sheen, brush the pastry with egg twice once before baking and once halfway through
Go Back