Chicken a la King is a delicious combination of tender Chicken, mushrooms, onions, peas, green peppers, and pimentos in a rich cream sauce. Serve it over rice, egg noodles, toast, or puff pastry shells.
This delectable recipe comes together quickly using baked rotisserie chicken. If you like rotisserie chicken recipes, try chicken and rice soup, chicken Waldorf salad, and chicken cordon bleu casserole.
This is one of my favorite comfort food meals. It reminds me of the beautiful creamy one-pot meals I enjoyed with my brothers and sisters. It is amazing how food can be so nostalgic.
Chicken a la King is a super easy, heartwarming, satisfying meal. It is quick to come together, making it a perfect weeknight meal. This recipe calls for already baked rotisserie chicken, but you can use any leftover chicken. You can pick up a rotisserie chicken at any club warehouse and most grocery stores. Leftovers warm up quickly right on the stovetop.
What is Chicken a la King?
It is a creamy one-pot comfort food dish made with Chicken, mushrooms, peas, onions, green bell peppers, and pimientos. It is traditionally served over rice, noodles, toast, biscuits, or puff pastry shells. For an equally delicious change of pace, substitute cooked tuna or salmon for the Chicken.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
See the complete list of ingredients below on the recipe card.
- Butter: unsalted or salted. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of added salt.
- Mushrooms: cremini mushrooms provide the most decadent flavor, but white mushrooms work well, too.
- Dry mustard: you can substitute regular mustard
- Chicken broth: low sodium is best
- Half and half: or whole milk for a lower fat option. It will not be as rich, but it will still be delicious.
- Peas: frozen peas are best in this dish. They retain their color, shape, and flavor during the simmering process much better than canned or fresh.
- Pimentos: are sweet cherry peppers usually found in the pickle aisle with the other peppers
How to make Chicken a la King
This is the summary version; see the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and the instructions.
Melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add the mushrooms and cook for several minutes. Then add the onion and green pepper, cooking until the veggies soften and the mushrooms brown.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic and dry mustard. Sprinkle in the flour while continuing to stir. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to combine. Simmer until thickened, stirring several times.
Reduce heat to low and stir in the half and half, peas, pimentos, and cooked Chicken. Continue cooking and stirring until everything is hot. If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time to reach the desired thickness. Serve over rice, noodles, toast, biscuits, or puff pastry shells.
Preparation Tips
- Take the time to brown the mushrooms. They taste better that way, and the dish is more visually appealing.
- Drain the pimentos well. You don’t want the juice they are packed in to flavor or color your dish.
- For a lower-fat version, use only half of the butter, half of the flour, and milk instead of half and half. It will still be delicious, just not as rich.
- If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time until it reaches the desired thickness.
Storage and Reheat
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can be reheated in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop on low.
To freeze, first cool completely. Then, spoon into freezer bags. Lay the freezer bags in a single layer on rimmed baking sheets and place the sheet in the freezer. Once fully frozen, stack the bags up on their side in the freezer to save on space. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like to use rotisserie chicken, which is available almost anywhere. You can pick them up at club warehouses, grocery stores, and nearly every Walmart.
However, you can use any baked, poached, or roasted Chicken. You can also use cooked skinless thigh and wing meat.
Once the dish is thoroughly cooled, pack it in freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Lay flat on a baking sheet and freeze. Once fully frozen, stack as desired and freeze for up to 1 month.
To reheat, defrost in the refrigerator, remove from the bag, and place the contents in a saucepan on low. Stir frequently until the mixture reaches the desired temperature. Likewise, pour the contents into a microwaveable bowl and reheat in the microwave for 1-minute intervals at 50% power until the desired temperature.
More Comfort Food
Classic Chicken A La King Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 tablespoons butter ½ cup
- 8 ounces cremini mushrooms or white button mushrooms sliced
- 1 small yellow onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon dry mustard
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 7 ounces diced pimentos well drained
- 3 cups cooked diced or shredded chicken
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter over medium-high heat in a large pot or Dutch oven.
- Add the mushrooms and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the onion and green pepper, cooking until the veggies soften and the mushrooms brown.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the garlic and dry mustard. Sprinkle in the flour while continuing to stir. Cook and stir for about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the chicken broth while stirring to combine. Simmer until thickened.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in the half and half, peas, pimentos, and cooked Chicken. Continue cooking and stirring until everything is hot. If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time to reach the desired thickness. Season with salt and frshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve over rice, noodles, toast, biscuits, or puff pastry shells.
Video
Notes
- Take the time to brown the mushrooms. They taste better that way, and the dish is more visually appealing.
- Drain the pimentos well. You don’t want the juice they are packed in to flavor or color your dish.
- Frozen peas are best in this dish. They retain their color, shape, and flavor during the simmering process much better than canned or fresh.
- For a lower-fat version, cut the butter and cream in half. It will still be delicious, just not as rich.
- If the mixture becomes too thick, add one-quarter cup of chicken broth at a time until it reaches the desired thickness.
Nutrition
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Lily
I loved this over puff pastry, I would have never thought to serve it that way, pure genius. This was such a comforting meal, and the chicken was so tender and amazing, thank you!
Marion royal
What do u do with. The extra. Whip cream? Freeze it. Ty
Beth Pierce
We are always cooking something around here so it never goes to waste but here is an article on freezing whipping cream here
Scott Gordon
This was spectacular! I tried this with my wife and wasn’t let down! I followed your recipe to the T and added a lil bit of Cajun seasoning to my plate for that extra bazaaz! Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe
Beth Pierce
That is great Scott! So glad to hear that you and the wife liked it. I love adding Cajun spice. It really perks up a lot of dishes!
Steve Nadeau
I have been wanting to make Chicken a-la king for a long time since it is one recipe I never saw my Dad make back in the 60’s or 70’s, we used to have it on either egg noodles or mashed potatoes thanks for this recipe
Steve Nadeau
Also could cream of condensed chicken soup be used instead of making the rue?
Beth Pierce
I believe that would work just fine! 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks Steve! Sorry about the delay! Crazy busy day!! I hope you enjoy it!
Betty Gammey
Love it .
I went to my recipe box and found my recipe it could be a northern thing but mine doesn’t call for pimento and green peppers it calls for onion mushrooms celery carrot and peas. But like I said could be a northern thing but yours is GREAT.
Thank you for the differt recipe to add to my box.
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine Betty! Yes there is sometimes much variation between the north and the south. You should see the comments when I post my southern style green beans. LOL! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!!
Pat
Do you add any cheese?
Beth Pierce
No Pat, I do not.
Nancy
What can you use instead of heavy cream!
Beth Pierce
What about half n half?
Ronnie
This looks like such a delicious combination of tastes! I’d love to try this and I’m sure even the cooking is enjoyable. 🙂
Beth Pierce
Thanks Ronnie! I am sure you will enjoy it!
Clyde
I have already heard this one, but never tried to cook it myself. It looks delicious though and not so difficult to cook, I think.
Beth Pierce
No it is not difficult to cook at all! I hope you enjoy it!!
Porsha
You’ve done it again with a delicious 5 star recipe my goodness 🙂
Amanda
This looks so tasty thank you for sharing!
Subhashish
A wonderful dish by the looks of it. And seeing the ingredients makes me believe it should be awesome too. I would give it a try this weekend.
Emmanuel
Chicken a la King is so delicious! I’m craving for it right now. I hope I can cook it soon.
CherishingFlo
I’ve never heard of Chicken A La King! It sounds delicious! I may have to experiment and try it out! It luckily doesn’t seem super difficult
Heather
I’ve never tried anything like this before. I think my family might really enjoy it.
Stacie
I need to make this. I used to make Chicken a la King all the time, but I haven’t in a long time. I love this idea of serving it over biscuits. It looks really good.
Krystle
I grew up with this comfort food served over toast. Love this version with the heavy cream and rotisserie chicken!
Beth Pierce
Thanks Krystle! We love it too! Thanks for stopping by.
Maggie
I grew up with this also, I loved it but my mom always put chopped up hard boiled eggs in hers and no pimentos but I love it either way thanks for sharing this recipe.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome Maggie! I hope you enjoy it!
Rebecca Allen
Are you sure it’s 8oz of pimento. My grocery store has a small jar which is 2 ounces in a larger jar which is for. So I buy two of the larger jars?
Beth Pierce
Yes it is 8 ounces of pimentos. If they are pricey you could get by with 4 ounces. I like pimentos so I put in a healthy amount.