Traditional Hen a la King

This traditional dish is all about hearty, creamy consolation meals deliciousness. It comes collectively shortly utilizing pre-cooked hen, making it excellent 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 private desire. It goes nice over rice, pasta, toast, or biscuits. The choices are all scrumptious so the selection is as much as you!

In the event you 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

Essentially the most velvety, luxurious sauce that’s simply comprised of 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 well-liked within the ’50s and ’60s. It’s a type of recipes you could have loved at grandma’s home, with a scent that brings again fond childhood recollections. It is likely to be a classic dish, nevertheless 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 for those who can to finest management the salt content material and taste. You may all the time salt to style which tends to work higher.
Milk: Entire milk or 2% is most well-liked.
Egg Yolks: Ensure that to mood them slowly with the new sauce to stop scrambling.
Heavy Cream: You may substitute with half-and-half, however the sauce received’t be as thick.
Frozen Peas: No must thaw; they’ll warmth via shortly within the sauce.
Diced Pimientos: Yow will discover them jarred, often close to the pickles and olives within the grocery retailer. You’ll want to drain them nicely.
Hen: You’ve gotten 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 should use leftover hen, 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 you could purchase and shred. Many shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged too!

Frozen Cooked Hen – take a look at 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 evenly greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked via. Chop into chunks and use instantly, 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 via. 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 lightweight stir after which shortly add that total egg yolk combination into your scorching pan whereas stirring shortly 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 substitute the hen on this recipe with about 4 cups of tuna. Simply you should definitely 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.