Traditional Hen a la King

This traditional dish is all about hearty, creamy consolation meals deliciousness. It comes collectively rapidly utilizing pre-cooked hen, making it good for these busy nights while 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 non-public choice. It goes nice over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits. The choices are all scrumptious so the selection is as much as you!

If you happen to can’t get sufficient of creamy hen 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 constructed from scratch.
Makes use of pre-cooked hen 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 in style within the ’50s and ’60s. It’s a kind of recipes you might have loved at grandma’s home, with a odor that brings again fond childhood recollections. It is likely to be a classic dish, but it surely’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 possibility to avoid wasting time.
Hen Broth: Use low-sodium broth when you can to greatest management the salt content material and taste. You possibly can at all times 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 new sauce to forestall scrambling.
Heavy Cream: You possibly can substitute with half-and-half, however the sauce received’t be as thick.
Frozen Peas: No have to thaw; they’ll warmth by rapidly within the sauce.
Diced Pimientos: You’ll find them jarred, normally close to the pickles and olives within the grocery retailer. Make sure you drain them properly.
Hen: You might have a wide range of choices—freshly baked, leftover, shredded, canned, and even rotisserie hen all work nice.

Pre-Cooked Hen Choices

When a recipe requires pre-cooked hen, there are a number of nice choices. You need to use leftover hen, however relying on the seasonings and flavors added, that doesn’t at all times work. Listed here are another simple choices:

Rotisserie Hen – many American grocery shops promote cooked rotisserie chickens that you would be able to purchase and shred. Many shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged too!

Frozen Cooked Hen – try the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks.

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

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

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

wooden spoon scooping cooked classic chicken a la king from pan

Tempering Egg Yolks

Tempering egg yolks ensures that the yolks received’t curdle and cook dinner (making scrambled egg chunks) when being added to the new 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 complete egg yolk combination into your sizzling pan whereas stirring rapidly however gently.

Tuna Twist

Over time, many have swapped the hen in Hen a la King for tuna, making a scrumptious twist that seafood lovers will get pleasure from. To make Tuna a la King, merely change the hen on this recipe with about 4 cups of tuna. Simply make sure to use high-quality tuna for one of the best 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. Maintain 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.