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This classic Chicken a la King recipe is a creamy, delicious one pan meal you can whip up in under 30 minutes! Goes great over rice, toast, egg noodles or biscuits!

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Rich, creamy Chicken a la King

A great way to use up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken, this easy, creamy and delicious Chicken a la King Recipe is a great one pot meal you can whip up any night of the week. With plenty of veggies and chicken ina creamy sauce, this dish is great over rice, biscuits, or egg noodles, this flavorful classic recipe is a meal the whole family will love.

What goes into the Chicken a la King recipe?

To make this recipe, we will need:

  • 2 tbsp butter.
  • 1 small onion, diced. You can use yellow, white or red onion, whichever you prefer!
  • 1/2 medium green bell pepper, finely diced. Green bell peppers add a bit of tangy flavor to the final dish.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced thinly.
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced.
  • 1 tsp dry mustard powder.
  • 1 tsp garlic powder.
  • 1 tsp onion powder.
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika. This is not traditional, but adds a great touch of smokiness to the dish.  
  • 1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg. I like to use whole nutmeg, and grate it with a rasp grater.
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour. This will work to make a roux to thicken the Chicken a la King.
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth or stock.
  • A 4 oz jar diced pimentos, drained.
  • 1 cup frozen green peas.
  • 1 lb cooked shredded chicken breast (about 2 cups). This is a great way to use up leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken. If you don’t have any cooked chicken on hand, just bake or poach some chicken breast and shred it up!
  • 2 large egg yolks. These add a rich, velvety texture to the final dish.
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream. This goes in with the egg yolks at the very end of the cook time.
Chicken a la King ingredients
cooking down the mushrooms
finished Chicken a la King

How to make Chicken a la King

  1. Melt butter over medium heat in a large deep pan or skillet. 
  2. Add onion and green bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes. 
  3. Add sliced mushrooms and cook, 8-10 minutes, disturbing minimally until most of the moisture is evaporated. 
  4. Add the garlic, stir and cook 1 minute, until just fragrant. 
  5. Add the flour and stir until fully combined with veggies and thick. Cook for about 2 minutes. 
  6. Slowly stir in the chicken stock and drained pimentos.
  7. Stir well to combine and cook until thickened, 5-7 minutes. 
  8. Separate egg yolks, and transfer to a bowl or liquid measure with the heavy cream. To temper the eggs and cream, add a bit of the hot stock mixture at a time to the liquid measure, whisking to combine. Once you have added the hot liquid and combined with the eggs and cream to temper, transfer the mixture to the pot, and stir well. 
  9. Stir in the cooked chicken and peas, and cook 5 minutes more stirring occasionally, until thickened. 
  10. Taste for seasoning, and add additional salted pepper, if desired. 
jarred pimentos

What are pimentos?

Pimentos are small, slightly sweet red peppers. They are tyically sold in jars among olives and other brined items in the grocery store. You can purchase them whole, sliced or diced. For this recipe, I recommend using the diced variety. Then, all you have to do is drain them!

chicken a la king with rice

What to serve with Chicken a la King

This Chicken dish goes great over rice, egg noodles, toast, or rice. If you are low carb, you could also serve it over some cauliflower rice, or cooked spaghetti squash.

served with biscuits

Substitutes and Additions

Here are some swaps and additions you can make to this Chicken a la King recipe to make it your own, or work with what you have on hand:

  • No cooked chicken? You can use baked chicken, quick pan friend chicken, or even cube the chicken and cook it in the pan prior to cooking the onions, green bell pepper and mushrooms, then add back at the end!
  • If you can’t find pimentos, you could use about 1/4 cup diced red bell pepper instead. If doing this, add to the pan when cooking the onions and green bell pepper.
  • If you’d like things a bit lighter, you could try half and half or milk instead of heavy cream.
  • If you are a mushroom hater- you can leave them out.

More great one pot meals:

If you like this Chicken a la King recipe, you’ll love these one pot meals!

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chicken a la king
Print Recipe

Chicken a la King Recipe

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Dinner
Keyword: chicken
Servings: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 small onion, diced 
  • 1/2 medium green bell pepper, finely diced 
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 8 oz baby bella mushrooms, sliced thinly 
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced 
  • 1 tsp dry mustard powder 
  • 1 tsp garlic powder 
  • 1 tsp onion powder 
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg 
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken stock 
  • 1 4 oz jar diced pimentos, drained
  • 1 cup frozen peas 
  • 1 lb cooked shredded chicken breast (about 2 cups) 
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

Instructions

  • Heat butter over medium heat in a large deep pan or skillet.
    2. Add onion and green bell pepper, season with salt and pepper, and cook until softened, 5-7 minutes.
    3. Add sliced mushrooms and cook, 8-10 minutes, disturbing minimally until most of the moisture is evaporated.
    4. Add the garlic, stir and cook 1 minute, until just fragrant.
    5. Add the flour and stir until fully combined with veggies and thick. Cook for about 2 minutes.
    6. Slowly stir in the chicken stock and drained pimentos.
    7. Stir well to combine and cook until thickened, 5-7 minutes.
    8. Separate egg yolks, and transfer to a bowl or liquid measure with the heavy cream. To temper the eggs and cream, add a bit of the hot stock mixture at a time to the liquid measure, whisking to combine. Once you have added the hot liquid and combined with the eggs and cream to temper, transfer the mixture to the pot, and stir well.
    9. Stir in the cooked chicken and peas, and cook 5 minutes more stirring occasionally, until thickened.
    10. Taste for seasoning, and add additional salted pepper, if desired.
    Serve hot over cooked rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits.

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