Basic Hen a la King

This basic dish is all about hearty, creamy consolation meals deliciousness. It comes collectively rapidly utilizing pre-cooked rooster, making it excellent for these busy nights if you want dinner on the desk quick. Historically you serve it up over one thing, however what you serve it over is a matter of private desire. It goes nice over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits. The choices are all scrumptious so the selection is as much as you!

For those who can’t get sufficient of creamy rooster recipes, strive our creamy chicken soup, our southern style chicken and dumplings or our white chicken chili.

Why Our Recipe

Probably the most velvety, luxurious sauce that’s simply comprised of scratch.
Makes use of pre-cooked rooster and is able to eat in about half-hour.
Serve it over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits for consolation meals heaven!

large skillet of classic chicken a la king ready to serve

Hen a la King was widespread within the ’50s and ’60s. It’s a type of recipes you will have loved at grandma’s home, with a odor that brings again fond childhood reminiscences. It is likely to be a classic dish, however it’s simply as related as ever to have an easy-to-make dinner that the entire household will love.

Ingredient Notes

classic chicken a la king ingredients on table

Mushrooms: Both white or cremini work right here. Slice them your self or purchase the pre-sliced choice to save lots of time.
Hen Broth: Use low-sodium broth in the event you can to finest management the salt content material and taste. You’ll be able to all the time salt to style which tends to work higher.
Milk: Entire milk or 2% is most popular.
Egg Yolks: Be certain to mood them slowly with the recent sauce to forestall scrambling.
Heavy Cream: You’ll be able to substitute with half-and-half, however the sauce gained’t be as thick.
Frozen Peas: No have to thaw; they’ll warmth by way of rapidly within the sauce.
Diced Pimientos: You will discover them jarred, often close to the pickles and olives within the grocery retailer. Remember to drain them nicely.
Hen: You will have a wide range of choices—freshly baked, leftover, shredded, canned, and even rotisserie rooster all work nice.

Pre-Cooked Hen Choices

When a recipe requires pre-cooked rooster, there are a number of nice choices. You should utilize leftover rooster, however relying on the seasonings and flavors added, that doesn’t all the time work. Listed below are another simple choices:

Rotisserie Hen – many American grocery shops promote cooked rotisserie chickens which you can purchase and shred. Many shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie rooster pre-shredded and packaged too!

Frozen Cooked Hen – take a look at the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked rooster strips and chunks.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay rooster breasts out right into a frivolously greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by way of. Chop into chunks and use immediately, or freeze for later use.

Boil Your Personal Hen – place rooster breasts into a big pot of boiling water or rooster broth. Boil quarter-hour, till rooster is cooked by way of. Shred or chop.

Fast Skillet Hen – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place rooster breasts into skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Cook dinner 5 to 7 minutes per aspect.

wooden spoon scooping cooked classic chicken a la king from pan

Tempering Egg Yolks

Tempering egg yolks ensures that the yolks gained’t curdle and cook dinner (making scrambled egg chunks) when being added to the recent pan of simmering sauce. To mood your egg yolks, merely add a scoop (about 1/2 cup) of the sauce combination into the bowl of your egg yolk and heavy cream combination. Give it a light-weight stir after which rapidly add that total egg yolk combination into your sizzling pan whereas stirring rapidly however gently.

Tuna Twist

Over time, many have swapped the rooster in Hen a la King for tuna, making a scrumptious twist that seafood lovers will take pleasure in. To make Tuna a la King, merely change the rooster on this recipe with about 4 cups of tuna. Simply make sure you use high-quality tuna for the perfect taste!

Storage and Reheating Directions

Refrigerate leftovers in an hermetic container for 3-4 days.

Freeze any leftover parts in freezer-safe containers or freezer baggage, as soon as the dish has cooled. Hold frozen for as much as 1 month, and thaw within the fridge in a single day.

Reheat parts within the microwave on excessive in 30-second intervals stirring in between, or warmth in a pan over low-medium warmth till completely warmed.