This is a recipe I grew up eating around the dinner table with my family often. Maybe you did too? If you were a friend of our family, and had surgery, lost a loved one, or birthed a baby, my mom might have brought you a meal like Chicken a la King, a Jell-O salad, and a plate of cookies. She definitely has the gift of hospitality.
I was looking at all the variations of this recipe on Google, and apparently it usually has mushrooms in it, and a variety of vegetables. My dad hates mushrooms and thinks they are wicked little creatures, and I have to admit, I’ve don’t think I’ve ever really tried one! It was just one of those foods I never had to eat as a kid because of my dad’s aversion, and now I’m just too scared. I really should put on my food-blogger-big-girl-pants and try one, but you know they are a fungus right?
My mom serves her Chicken a la King in those little puff pastry cups. I find those a little tedious to work with- they just don’t rise right for me, and I can’t always find them at the grocery store. So when I make Chicken a la King, I like to serve it over biscuits.
Up until recently, I made the biscuits that come in a tube and startle you half to death when you pop them open. Has anyone ever actually died of a heart attack when opening canned biscuits? I think I’ve come close! Now that I have a great recipe for these Greek Yogurt Biscuits, no more canned biscuits for us!
So mushrooms or not, this is Chicken a la King. Feel free to play with the recipe and make it your own. Then gather your family around the table, or bring some to a friend who could use some encouragement. Don’t forget the Jell-O!
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Chicken a la King
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Simmer
- Cuisine: American
Description
A creamy white sauce with chicken, peas and slivered almonds served over warm biscuits.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chicken base
- 1/3 cup sour cream (or Greek yogurt)
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed or shredded
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large pot, melt butter over medium high heat. Whisk in flour and allow to bubble and brown for a few minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken base.
- Stir frequently until the white sauce begins to simmer, and thicken slightly.
- Turn the heat down to medium low, and stir in sour cream and heavy cream and chicken.
- Allow to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add in frozen peas, and toasted slivered almonds. To toast almonds, pour them into a small dry saucepan over medium high heat, stirring frequently until they are light golden brown. Watch carefully!
- Simmer on low for a few more minutes until the peas are warmed through.
- Serve over warm biscuits, or in puff pastry shells and garnish with chives if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 321
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 236mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8.4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9.6g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 77mg
Keywords: chicken a la king, white sauce, chicken, biscuits, comfort food
sonya shippy says
What is chicken base?
Julie says
Hi Sonya – Chicken base is chicken broth that has been cooked down until it is very concentrated. It usually comes in a small jar, and is sold by the canned or boxed chicken broth. The brand I usually use is called Better Than Bullion. Hope this helps!
Megan says
What am I doing wrong? After I add the cream and Greek yogurt, it seems it curdles! Argh!
Julie says
Megan, I wish I was actually in the kitchen with you so I could be more helpful, but my guess is that the Greek yogurt just hasn’t fully blended into the sauce yet rather than it actually curdling. I would think with more time to simmer it should smooth out? I haven’t ever experienced this, but sorry for your frustration.
Heather Angell says
I made this for lunch today. Very good and pretty easy to make. Everyone liked it. Thank you!
Julie says
So glad! You are very welcome!
Lorraine P says
Ever since I was a child in the 60’s (born Nov 1958), I have only eaten or served Chicken A’ la King with white rice. I grew up with plain long grain rice. My late husband loved par-boiled rice. I use either par-boiled or basmati, which I can’t get enough of and often eat it with things you would normally serve with plain long grain.