Chicken Pot Pie

Let’s talk about comfort foods!   Making the top ten list is definitely Chicken Pot Pie, a savory dish filled with loads of vegetables and topped with a flaky, buttery crust! Sounds perfect, right? We agree, but if we’re sticking true to our Heart Healthy name, we should probably try and cut down on the cholesterol and saturated fat content! One of our main reasons for starting this blog was to offer our family and friends healthier alternatives to traditional recipes, while not compromising on taste and flavor. After all, we love to eat because the food tastes so good! “Gee, I can’t wait to eat bland food,” said no one ever!  

Easy Chicken Prep

Let’s begin by roasting two boneless skinless chicken breasts. Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet, rub with olive oil, and sprinkle with pepper, salt, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Roast in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.  Remove from oven and set aside until cool enough to handle, then shred using two forks. To make shredding meat easier, we like to use these Char-Broil Meat Claws. We are certainly on board with using tools that help make the cooking process easier and faster!

Let’s Lighten it Up

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You might be wondering how we’re going to lighten up this traditionally rich and heavy recipe. We began by choosing fiber-rich vegetables like acorn squash, sweet potatoes, carrots, and celery.  We added in a few red and purple new potatoes to add a little more body to the dish. While the chicken is roasting, begin chopping vegetables into bite-size pieces. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet and heat on medium heat.  Add in chopped vegetables and cook until they begin to soften about 10 minutes.  Stir in flour and mix thoroughly. Slowly add in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in almond milk and shredded chicken.  No heavy cream in here! Season with pepper, poultry seasoning, garlic powder, and onion powder.  You’re ready to assemble your pot pie! 

That Flaky Phyllo Crust!

It’s not just the tasty filling we are lightening up–we’re tackling the crust, too! Most chicken pot pies are topped with a buttery, flaky pie crust that’s overloaded with fat and calories. We thought we’d skip the pie crust and Greekify our pot pie by topping it with phyllo dough! With just a few sheets of phyllo, you’ll have a light flaky top that will give you all the comfort a traditional Chicken Pot Pie gives! 

Haven’t worked with phyllo dough before? Have no fear! By following a few simple steps you’ll be a phyllo pro in no time.  Unroll the phyllo sheets and lay them flat on a dry surface. Cover with plastic wrap and a damp towel. It’s important to place plastic wrap between the phyllo and damp towel, otherwise, the towel will moisten the sheets and they will stick together. You can assemble your pie in a large baking pan or in individual oven-proof bowls. 

Time to Assemble the Chicken Pot Pie

With a soft-bristle pastry brush, prepare the pan or bowls by brushing a light coating of olive oil on the bottom and sides. Working quickly, remove one sheet of phyllo (covering up the rest) and lay it in the bottom of the pan, with phyllo overlapping the side of the pan. Lightly brush with olive oil. Repeat until you have used 8 sheets of phyllo, lightly brushing each layer with olive oil.  We’ll give you a helpful hint at this point: your phyllo layers do not have to be perfect! There will be some wrinkles, and that’s okay!

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The dough overlapping the sides will eventually become the top of the pot pie. Pour the chicken and vegetable mixture into the pan with the phyllo base. Proceed by using the overlapped pieces of phyllo on top of the filling, and continue to layer new pieces of phyllo to cover the top.  Make sure to brush olive oil between each sheet of the top layer, too. Tuck edges of phyllo dough down around the edge of the pan. Brush olive oil on the top sheet and with a sharp knife score the dough, diagonally and horizontally. This will allow steam to escape and prevent the phyllo dough from raising in one piece.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 -40 minutes or until top is golden. 

We hope you will try this healthier version of Chicken Pot Pie.  Being committed to leading a heart-healthier lifestyle does not mean you have to compromise on taste and flavor!  This recipe is light and airy, full of savory flavors, and the perfect comfort food. Enjoy!

General Phyllo Tips

• If your phyllo dough is frozen, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. 
• Remove phyllo package from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before using.
• Phyllo dries out very quickly, so try to work as quickly as possible when assembling the dish
• Using a soft-bristled pastry brush is important, it prevents the phyllo from tearing.
• Re-wrap any unused phyllo dough tightly with plastic wrap and place back in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.