Chicken a la King

A lot of dishes pose themselves as comfort food, and certainly many are comforting. Mac and cheese comes to mind, as does spaghetti and meatballs. But few things can truly nourish the body and comfort the soul like a bowl full of chicken, biscuits and gravy. This comforting chicken a la king dish is just right for those times when you need a meal that’s like a nice warm hug.

By using store-bought frozen biscuits and precooked chicken, you cut out most of the work, but you won’t lose any of the flavor. Another comfort: This recipe for chicken a la king is so easy to make that you’ll probably only need to use the recipe one or two times before you’ve got it down pat.

Chicken a la King Ingredients

• Frozen biscuits: Frozen biscuits are so easy to prepare and so tasty that they’re almost a life hack. Keep some on hand at all times, for this dish and any other time you need some comfort to sink your teeth into.
• Fresh mushrooms: If you don’t have or don’t like mushrooms, there are many things you can substitute for them in this dish. Use chopped chickpeas, sliced zucchini or finely sliced butternut squash.
• Onion: There’s no substitute for onion though. Trying to imagine the culinary world without onions is a scary thought indeed.
• Celery: The chopped celery adds both texture and some flavor to this dish. Its crunch is a great counterpoint to the tender biscuits.
• Butter: The butter should be cubed, so remove it from the fridge and chop it into bits shortly before you commence cooking.
• All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour gives the gravy its rich and creamy texture.
• Chicken broth: If you have a low-sodium chicken broth, go ahead and use that. Why not cut out a bit of sodium when you can?
• Whole milk: Whole milk is strongly preferable to 2% or skim milk, so the sauce texture is correct. If you must use a thinner milk, add extra butter.
• Cooked chicken: If you don’t have precooked chicken on hand, go ahead and roast a chicken breast or chicken thighs, then chop the meat into cubes.
• Pimientos: What exactly are pimientos? They’re a type of pepper with a sweet taste and very little spicy kick. There is also a savory edge to the pimiento.

Directions

Step 1: Bake the biscuits

Bake the biscuits according to the package directions.

Step 2: Make the sauce

In a large skillet, saute the mushrooms, onion and celery in butter until the veggies are crisp-tender. Stir in the flour and salt, mixing until they’ve blended. Gradually stir in the broth and milk. Bring the pot to a boil, then cook, stirring, for two minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

Step 3: Stir in the chicken, and serve

Add the cubed chicken and pimientos to the skillet, and heat everything through. Serve the chicken, sauce and veggies with the biscuits.

Chicken a la King Variations

• Add peas to the mix: Tossing a generous handful of green peas into the pot as you add the chicken and pimientos is a great way to make this chicken a la king recipe a one-pot meal.
• Make the biscuits from scratch: Sure, using store-bought biscuits saves you a bit of effort, but there’s really nothing like homemade fresh biscuits, so if you have the time, whip up a batch. It’s easier than you think.
• Bring some heat: If you like spicy stuff, go ahead and spice up your chicken a la king recipes. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes when you stir in the broth and milk.

How to Store Chicken a la King

The one sad thing about this otherwise delightful dish is that it does not make for great leftovers. The biscuits will end up a mushy mess, so it’s really best to prepare it and enjoy it right away. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to do both of those two things!

Chicken a la King Tips

Why is it called chicken a la king?

Depending who you ask, you may hear a different tale about how chicken a la king got its name. One of the more popular origin stories is that William King created the dish in the 1890s, when he was a cook at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia.

Where is chicken a la king from?

Since there are a few different origin stories surrounding chicken a la king, there are different opinions on where it’s from. Some claim the dish was first made in the United States, in either New York or Philadelphia. Others claim it originated across the pond, in London.

How do you make chicken broth from scratch?

Making chicken broth from scratch is easier than you think! Follow our homemade chicken broth recipe for great results. And if you have leftovers, use it in these recipes that use chicken broth.