Hen Pot Pie Soup

Hen pot pie at all times hits the spot for me, however let’s be actual, making the crust from scratch isn’t at all times within the playing cards. This soup model provides you all that traditional, comfort-food taste with rather less work. It’s wealthy, creamy, full of tender hen and veggies, and each chew tastes like hen soup for the soul.

If you’re up for it, you’ll be able to at all times make a complete chicken pot pie. It’s nonetheless fairly straightforward.

Quite a lot of recipes use potatoes for the “pie crust” component or canned biscuit dough, however that’s simply not my fashion in any respect. I thought of including some selfmade biscuit dough to behave as dumplings, however a fair higher thought got here to thoughts: Gnocchi! These little potato dumplings are bought dry within the pasta aisle in most grocery shops. You get that very same comfortable, doughy “pie crust” goodness, and truthfully, it is likely to be even higher.

Ingredient Notes

• Boneless Skinless Hen Breast: You’ll want about 1 1/2 kilos. Hen thighs work too should you want darkish meat. Simply trim off any extra fats.
• Olive Oil: Only a bit to brown the hen. You possibly can sub in avocado oil or any impartial oil you’ve bought available.
• Salted Butter: In case you solely have unsalted, that’ll work simply advantageous.
• White Onion: A medium onion is ideal right here. Yellow onion works too if that’s what you’ve bought.
• Carrots: Use 4 medium carrots. You possibly can cube or slice them, no matter texture you favor in your soup.
• Celery Ribs: Go for 4 ribs, sliced.
• All-Objective Flour: This thickens the soup and provides it that creamy pot pie texture. Don’t skip the cooking time, it removes the uncooked flour style.
• Minced Garlic: About 2 tablespoons, which is roughly 6 cloves. Use contemporary if potential, however jarred garlic works too. It simply has a barely extra bitter taste.
• Hen Broth: Go together with low sodium if you’d like extra management over the salt. Retailer-bought or selfmade each work nice. I additionally love Higher Than Boullioun.
• Dried Thyme: Only a contact goes a great distance so as to add that signature pot pie taste.
• Heavy Cream: This makes the soup wealthy and silky. You could possibly swap in half-and-half, nevertheless it gained’t be fairly as thick.
• Frozen Peas: Toss them in straight from the freezer. No have to thaw. Canned peas will work too, however they’re a lot softer.
• Gnocchi: That is your pie crust stand-in! Search for it within the pasta aisle, sometimes vacuum-packed.

Rotisserie Hen Shortcut

Rotisserie hen makes this soup even faster to get on the desk, plus it’s what’s referred to as a “loss chief” which means grocery shops promote it at a loss so it’s the most effective bargains you could find.

You’ll skip the browning step initially. As a substitute, go forward and begin by sautéing the veggies in butter, then proceed on with the recipe. Stir in about 3 cups of shredded rotisserie hen when the recipe requires including the cooked hen again in.

For the reason that hen’s already completed, you’ll simply wish to simmer the soup lengthy sufficient to warmth all the pieces by means of and let the flavors come collectively.

Gnocchi Choices

Gnocchi is the key ingredient that provides this soup that “pie crust” vibe with none baking. You’ll often discover gnocchi in vacuum-sealed packages within the pasta aisle, however refrigerated or frozen gnocchi works too. Shelf-stable gnocchi is tremendous handy and cooks proper within the soup in about 5 minutes.

In case you’re utilizing frozen gnocchi, there’s no have to thaw it. Simply toss it into the simmering soup and provides it a few additional minutes. You’ll realize it’s prepared when the gnocchi float to the highest and are comfortable and pillowy.

You too can discover gluten-free gnocchi at many grocery shops. With gluten-free, you simply wish to prepare dinner it in accordance with the package deal instructions earlier than including it in on the very finish.

Vegetable Add-Ins

This soup is tremendous versatile with regards to veggies. In case you’ve bought extras available or simply wish to enhance the vitamin, listed below are some straightforward add-in choices:

Mushrooms: Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms with the carrots and celery. Sauté till softened and frivolously browned, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Corn: Stir in 1 cup of frozen or canned corn while you add the peas and gnocchi. No additional prepare dinner time wanted.

Child Spinach: Add 2 cups of contemporary child spinach on the very finish, proper earlier than serving. It’ll wilt in only a minute or two.

Diced Potatoes: Peel and cube 1 medium russet or Yukon gold potato into small cubes. Add it in with the broth so it has time to melt, about quarter-hour of simmering ought to do it.

Inexperienced Beans: Use 1 cup of chopped contemporary or frozen inexperienced beans. Add them with the carrots and celery in order that they prepare dinner by means of and keep tender-crisp.

Simply watch out to not overload the pot. About 2 cups of additional veggies complete is an efficient rule of thumb to maintain the steadiness proper.

Adjusting Thickness

This soup is designed to be creamy and hearty, however you’ll be able to completely tweak the feel based mostly on the way you prefer it:

To Make It Thicker: If you need a thicker soup, whisk collectively 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of chilly water. Stir it into the soup after including the cream and gnocchi, and simmer for an additional 2 to three minutes till thickened. You too can scale back the broth by 1 cup at the beginning for a naturally thicker outcome.

To Make It Thinner: In case your soup seems thicker than you’d like (particularly if it sat for a bit), simply stir in an additional 1 to 2 cups of hen broth or water. Add just a little at a time till it’s the consistency you need, then heat it by means of earlier than serving.