Julie Clark
Posted:
Chicken a la King
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Chicken a la King is an easy 30 minute dinner recipe full of comforting flavor. It’s a creamy chicken gravy with veggies, best served with buttermilk biscuits, noodles or gruyere mashed potatoes.
A dash of nutmeg is the secret to the chicken gravy’s perfect flavor, just as it is in our chicken stroganoff, chicken gnocchi soup and croissant breakfast bake.
From our kitchen to yours.
Busy home cooks need one skillet 30 minute dinner recipes in a regular rotation. Chicken stir fry and fried chicken tenders are 2 options. This creamy chicken a la king recipe is a welcome addition to the comfort food category.
This is an old fashioned recipe found in many of my old church cookbooks. I brought new life to it this winter, testing it with all-purpose gluten-free flour and it worked perfectly.
Don’t be intimidated by the ingredient list. Most of it is pantry staples that you most likely have on hand.
Enjoy! -Julie
Key Ingredients
- Chicken. I chose to use chicken thighs in this chicken a la king recipe because they stay so tender during cooking. Chicken breasts also work well though! You can even use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken since the chicken gets cooked first.
- Chicken bouillon cube. This adds lots of flavor, so I don’t recommend skipping it. You can always use leftover bouillon cubes to make chicken broth for soup recipes.
- Milk. The higher fat milk, the creamier the gravy will be, so keep that in mind when wondering if you can use skim milk or 2% milk. Full fat coconut milk can be used for a dairy free option.
- Pimentos. Find jarred pimentos in the grocery store near the olives. I also use pimentos in our Christmas green beans, Christmas cheesy potatoes and our award winning chili.
Chicken a la King
Chicken a la King is an easy 30 minute dinner recipe full of comforting flavor. It's a creamy chicken gravy with veggies.
Servings 4
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 small red pepper diced
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms 4 ounces
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups chicken broth or chicken stock
- 1 cup whole milk or half and half or heavy cream
- 1 chicken bouillon cube
- Dash nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ cup frozen peas
- ¼ cup diced pimentos
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme for garnishing
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry, trim off any fat and season with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken thighs and cook 5-6 minutes per side or until cooked through and golden brown. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest. Dice into bite-sized pieces once slightly cooled. 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Sauté for 5–6 minutes, until soft. Scrape up any browned bits for extra flavor. 3 tablespoons salted butter, 1 small yellow onion, 1 small red pepper, 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- Stir in the flour and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- Slowly whisk in the chicken broth and milk. Stir in the chicken bouillon cube, nutmeg and garlic powder. Bring to a gentle simmer, whisking until smooth and thickened (about 2-3 minutes). 1 ½ cups chicken broth, 1 cup whole milk, 1 chicken bouillon cube, Dash nutmeg, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Stir in the cooked chicken, peas, and pimentos. Simmer for another 4-5 minutes until everything is warmed through and the sauce is velvety. Season with more salt and pepper to taste, plus any optional seasonings. Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme. ½ cup frozen peas, ¼ cup diced pimentos, 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- Ladle over biscuits, toast, pasta, egg noodles, rice or mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
Nutrition
Calories: 457kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 193mg | Sodium: 1396mg | Potassium: 793mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1794IU | Vitamin C: 60mg | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 3mg
How to Make Chicken a la King: In Pictures
Dice the veggies:
Sear the chicken thighs:
We love chicken a la king served with biscuits!
