Description
Classic Chicken a la King is a creamy and comforting dish featuring tender chicken in a rich sauce with mushrooms, peas, and pimientos. Perfect served hot over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits, this recipe takes about 25 minutes to prepare and is a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 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 cup diced pimientos, drained
- 4 cups cooked chicken, chopped or shredded
Instructions
- Sauté 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 they are softened.
- Make the Roux: Stir in 1/2 cup all-purpose flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly to fully incorporate the flour and eliminate any visible specks.
- Add Broth and Milk: Gradually pour in 2 cups chicken broth and 1 1/2 cups milk while stirring continuously. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Temper the Egg Yolks: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 large egg yolks and 1/3 cup heavy cream. Slowly add about 1/2 cup of the hot sauce from the pan into the egg mixture while whisking constantly to temper the eggs and prevent curdling.
- Add Egg Mixture to Sauce: Pour the tempered egg and cream mixture back into the saucepan, whisking continuously. Continue cooking for 2 more minutes to further thicken the sauce.
- Add Peas, Pimientos, and Chicken: Stir in 1 cup frozen peas, 1 cup diced pimientos, and 4 cups cooked chicken. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the peas are heated through and the chicken is warmed. Season with salt and pepper to taste if desired.
- Serve: Serve the Chicken a la King hot over cooked rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits for a delicious, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use cooked chicken from leftovers or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding more milk or broth if needed.
- For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream or use low-fat milk.
- This dish pairs well with white rice or buttered noodles.
- Season with salt and pepper gradually to suit your taste preference.
