Quick & Creamy Chicken A La King
Elevate your weeknight dining experience with this Quick & Creamy Chicken A La King recipe. Crafted to be prepared in just 30 minutes, this dish combines tender poached chicken with a rich, creamy sauce, complemented by earthy mushrooms, sweet peas, and vibrant pimentos. Serve it over fluffy biscuits for a comforting one-dish meal that is both satisfying and delightful. Perfect for busy families or unexpected guests, this dish promises to impress while staying simple and delicious.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
15
Ingredients
Ingredients
refrigerated biscuits
8 (Use large biscuits, such as Pillsbury 'Grands' Flaky Layers.)
cayenne powder or sweet paprika
to taste (Sprinkle over biscuits before baking.)
dry white wine
1 cup (Use a dry white wine for poaching.)
low sodium chicken broth
2 cups (Use it along with the wine for poaching chicken.)
bay leaf
1 (Add to poaching liquid for flavor.)
boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 (Poach in wine and broth.)
vegetable oil or olive oil
1 tablespoon (Use for sautéing mushrooms and onions.)
butter
2 tablespoons (Adds flavor and richness.)
small white mushroom, sliced
1/2 lb (Sauté with onions.)
white onion, chopped
1/2 small (Sauté until tender.)
all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons (Used to thicken the sauce.)
chopped pimiento
3 tablespoons (Adds color and flavor to the dish.)
frozen green peas
1 cup (Add to the sauce for sweetness and color.)
black pepper
to taste (Season to your preference.)
chopped parsley
2 tablespoons (For garnishing before serving.)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven according to the package directions for the refrigerated biscuits.
2
Arrange the biscuits on a nonstick baking sheet and lightly sprinkle with cayenne powder or sweet paprika for added flavor.
3
Bake the biscuits until they are golden brown, which should take about 10 to 18 minutes, depending on the brand you use. Once baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool.
4
In a medium-sized skillet, combine the dry white wine and low-sodium chicken broth and bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the bay leaf for flavor.
5
Carefully drop the boneless skinless chicken breasts into the boiling liquid, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Poach the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes, or until fully cooked.
6
While the chicken is poaching, heat another skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetable oil and butter, allowing the butter to melt and mix with the oil.
7
Once the butter has melted, add the sliced mushrooms and chopped onion. Sauté for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.
8
Stir in the all-purpose flour and cook for another minute to create a roux, ensuring it’s well combined.
9
Remove the poached chicken from the broth and set it aside. Whisk 2 to 2 1/2 cups of the poaching liquid into the roux mixture, ensuring there are no lumps. Discard the bay leaf afterward.
10
Add the chopped pimentos and frozen peas to the creamy sauce, stirring to combine.
11
Cut the poached chicken into bite-sized pieces and return it to the sauce, mixing until well coated. Season with black pepper to taste.
12
To serve, split the baked biscuits in half, placing the bottoms on plates. Generously ladle the Chicken A La King over the biscuit bottoms, then cap with the biscuit tops. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley for added freshness.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Quick & Creamy Chicken A La King?
It is a comforting one-dish meal featuring tender poached chicken in a rich, creamy sauce with mushrooms, peas, and pimentos, served over flaky biscuits.
How long does it take to make this recipe?
This dish is designed to be prepared in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect option for quick weeknight dining.
What type of biscuits should I use?
The recipe recommends using 8 large refrigerated biscuits, such as Pillsbury 'Grands' Flaky Layers.
How should I season the biscuits before baking?
Lightly sprinkle the biscuits with cayenne powder or sweet paprika before placing them in the oven for added flavor.
How long do the biscuits need to bake?
Bake the biscuits until golden brown, which typically takes between 10 to 18 minutes depending on the brand.
What liquids are used to poach the chicken?
The chicken is poached in a mixture of 1 cup of dry white wine and 2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth.
How do I add extra flavor to the poaching liquid?
Add one bay leaf to the wine and chicken broth mixture while it comes to a boil.
How long does the chicken need to poach?
Poach the boneless skinless chicken breasts for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through.
What vegetables are sautéed for the sauce?
Sliced small white mushrooms and half of a small chopped white onion are sautéed until tender.
What fats are used for sautéing the vegetables?
Use a combination of 1 tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter.
How is the sauce thickened?
Stir 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour into the sautéed mushrooms and onions to create a roux, cooking for one minute.
How much poaching liquid is used for the sauce?
Whisk 2 to 2 1/2 cups of the reserved poaching liquid into the roux mixture until no lumps remain.
When should I remove the bay leaf?
Discard the bay leaf after you have finished whisking the poaching liquid into the roux.
What provides the color and sweetness in the sauce?
Chopped pimientos add color and flavor, while frozen green peas add sweetness and vibrant green color.
How should the cooked chicken be prepared for the sauce?
Cut the poached chicken into bite-sized pieces before returning it to the sauce to be coated.
What seasonings are added at the end?
Season the finished Chicken A La King with black pepper to taste before serving.
How is the dish assembled for serving?
Split the biscuits in half, ladle the chicken mixture over the bottom halves, and place the biscuit tops on top.
What is the recommended garnish?
Garnish the dish with 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped parsley for added freshness.
Can I use rotisserie chicken instead of poaching?
Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken, but you will still need chicken broth to create the base for the creamy sauce.
Is this recipe suitable for guests?
Yes, it is an impressive yet simple dish that is perfect for both family dinners and unexpected guests.
What kind of wine is best for poaching?
A dry white wine is recommended for poaching the chicken to add depth to the flavor profile.
How many chicken breasts does this recipe require?
This recipe calls for 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts.
How many mushrooms are needed?
The recipe uses 1/2 lb of small white mushrooms, which should be sliced.
Can I use frozen peas without thawing them first?
Yes, you can add 1 cup of frozen green peas directly into the sauce; they will heat through quickly.
What if I don't have pimientos?
Pimientos add a unique flavor and color, but you could substitute with finely diced roasted red peppers if necessary.
What temperature should the oven be?
Preheat your oven according to the specific package directions found on the refrigerated biscuits you are using.
How do I ensure the sauce is smooth?
Whisk the poaching liquid into the flour and vegetable mixture gradually to prevent lumps from forming.
Is this dish spicy?
The dish is mild, though the optional cayenne sprinkle on the biscuits can add a very slight hint of heat.
Can I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil?
Yes, the recipe suggests using either 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or olive oil for sautéing.
What is the texture of the final sauce?
The final sauce should be rich, creamy, and thick enough to generously coat the chicken and vegetables.